100 Years Ago: 1921

“Well, the bridge is saved,” laughed the Lewiston police officer. “This is the first fire I’ve had this week, but last week I had four.” The fire he referred to was a smouldering blaze in the hard-wood planking of the southerly footwalk of the North Bridge, which he had just extinguished with a milk-canful of water, During the last week, frequent small fires have been started in the planking of the bridge on both footwalks. They have been laid to various causes, but it is generally believed that lighted cigarette butts are to blame for most of them.

50 Years Ago: 1971

At least part of the new third bridge is reaching the steel girder stage and work continues at a rapid pace on construction of the river cross piers. One of the Auburn’s side piers is completed and the other in the form stage. A picture taken from Boxer Island looking back toward the Auburn shore shows cars in the background are parked along the North River Road. Steelwork is being assembled on Boxer Island.

25 Years Ago: 1996

Taking part in Steve Belleau’s and Martha Sirois’ fifth-grade “Wax Museum” recently at Pettingill School in Lewiston was Ben Reynolds, playing Benjamin Franklin. As part of their project, “A Journey Across Time,” students and their parents created background scenes, gathered costuming and helped research historical characters which were presented to assemblies of students and parents upon completion.

The material used in Looking Back is produced exactly as it originally appeared although misspellings and errors may be corrected.