100 years ago, 1918

Two hundred fifty Red Letter day captains and helper, armed with their crimson blazoned badges of “red letters” flooded Lewiston and Auburn with literature for Anti-Tuberculosis relief Friday. The letter, which the association has for several years found the most satisfactory method of appeal, are delivered at every door and collected with the offerings from the same door on the following day. The Red Letter day campaign of 1918 is conducted with the definite purpose of war relief for the splendid sanatorium which the association has nearly completed is not only greatly needed for present work, but will be still more urgently needed in the near future for soldiers.

50 years ago, 1968

The Fish Street Bridge in Turner Center was swept into the Nezinscot River early Thursday morning when heavy rain and winds washed, away the supporting abutment on the Keenes Mill side of the river. Twelve families were isolated, this being the only land approach to the area. Town road crews and farmers in the area worked rapidly to make a temporary road leading from Fish Street to Parish Road, across fields and small wood lots owned by Sherman Varney and Bill Morris. The bridge apparently went out about 6 a.m. Reports were heard that Gus Hood of Keenes Mills had been over the span with his milk truck around 3 a.m.

25 years ago, 1993

Auburn taxes would rise by 4.80 percent, but residents would not have to pay for trash disposal under a proposed $44.2 million budget drafted by City Manager Steven Lewis. All city employees who agreed to accept a wage freeze last year would receive what Lewis termed a “modest” cost-of-living increase under his draft budget, which will be the subject of several public hearings in early May. Lewis will formally present what he calls a “maintenance budget that contains a moderate tax increase in order to keep essential services” May 4 at 7 p.m. at the Auburn Middle School in a workshop where citizens will be able to ask questions. The budget includes $20.8 million for school operations, $19.9 million for city functions and a $3.7 million capital improvements budget that would include $1.51 million for local road reconstruction.

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

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