100 Years Ago: 1918

“Rounding up shirkers is a big problem,” says Chief Field of the police department, “as the work has just about been doubled.” Chief Field said this in a conversation with a Journal reporter this morning. John Googin, chairman of the board, came to me the very first week I took office with 268 names to look up. He said that he had not received a particle of help, from the previous administration and he asked what the new force could do. It was a busy week as we were just being organized, but we investigated each of the names in five days. In the months of March and April, I sent an average of two alleged slackers a week to Fort Devens. In all, we have rounded up about twenty-five. It has required a real amount of work.

50 Years Ago: 1968

From the Journal forum:

The members of the High Street Congregational Church would like to thank Mr. Norris Ingorsol, superintendent of the Parks and Recreation, Woodbury Brackett and Mr. Bernard Murphy, administrative assistant to the city manager, for the prompt action they displayed in response to a petition requesting an increase in programs made available to low income people. It was specifically urged in the petition that Pettingill Park be fenced in and that the stairs leading to the area of the ball park from Dennison Street to be removed, as they were in hazardous condition and make available to tot lot facilities without prohibitive fees.

25 Years Ago: 1993

Auburn Adult Education is offering computer camp for children in grades two through seven at Edward Little High School during the weeks of July 10 and July 26. The sessions are designed for students to expand their computer skills for future use, using educational puzzle game programs covering keyboarding, reading, predicting outcomes, cause and effect thinking, spelling, geography, science, social studies, virtual reality, music and math. More than 40 of the newest and most popular educational games and programs will be available for student use.

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