Looking Back on April 12

100 years ago, 1918

A label of the liquors seized at the lower station of the Maine Central Thursday evening by Deputy Sheriff Luce, one of the special deputies appointed by the State, shows that it has a retail value of approximately $9,156. Deputy Luce has so far obtained no clue to the owner of the goods. All the distilled contraband bore the Hayner label. So far the disposition of the liquors has not been determined. Listed were 1,471 quarts of whiskey; 328 qts. rum; 280 qts, gin; 200 qts. alcohol; 1,600 pints beer.

50 years ago, 1968

Plans for a bicycle inspection and safety program for Auburn youngsters — and for a “bicycle roadeo” — were announced today by Auburn Police Officer David Dee, who will head the campaign. Officer Dee said final arrangements are not complete but the campaign will involve a bicycle inspection, a bicycle roadeo, and a program of talks to school children. The officer said he will kick off the drive Friday, speaking to youngsters at the Auburn Central School and at Lake Street School. A film on bicycle safety will be used to dramatize the importance of safety to the youngsters.

25 years ago, 1993

If one food were to be chosen to represent the staple of the Franco-American diet in Maine at the turn of the century, the pig would win hooves down; that’s what caterer Tony Bussiere has found as he’s researched the eating and cooking habits of Maine’s largest immigrant population for the upcoming Franco-American Celebration to be held at Lewiston-Auburn College Sunday. The occasion will include a free buffet for which he will prepare toutiere (pork pie), coq au vin, scalloped apples and turnips, cretons du Quebec, creme brulee Quebecoise, sugar pie, peach squares and strawberry cottage cheese salad. Bussiere, the manager of LA Cafe at the college and owner of All-Occasion Caterers, has gotten a lot of ideas from his 92-year-old grandmother, Mabel Provencher Bussiere.

The material in Looking Back is reproduced exactly as it originally appeared, although misspellings and errors made at that time may be corrected.