100 Years Ago: 1921

Members of three firms of architects — Tooker & Marsh of New York City, Haynes & Mason of Fitchburg, Mass., and Harry S. Coombs of Lewiston — demonstrated their proposed plans for the new Edward Little High School building in Auburn Thursday evening to members of the special committee on the new building, members of the city counsel, and members of the school board. When the meeting adjourned, after a four-hour session with the three architects, several members had  become sleepy with the great mass of statistics and had departed one by one for home. E. Farrington Abbott of the city counsel advocated immediate action, but only three or four members of the school board remained in the room and it was thought that a full board should be present when a decision was made. Another meeting of a special committee will be called soon at which time one of the three plans will be selected and the fortunate architect will then come to Auburn for a conference with the committee in regard to a revision of his plans.

50 Years Ago: 1971

Interested boys and girls of the Lewiston Recreation Department playgrounds on Wednesday, Aug. 18, will be transported to the Monmouth Theater for a matinee performance of “Big Klaus And Little Klaus,” the popular Hans Christian Anderson play. Minimum age for registration for the event is ten years and all registrations, along with the fee, which covers the matinee performance and transportation must be turned in to all the playground supervisors no later than Friday. A number of supervisors will attend the matinee performance with the children. Further Information may be obtained by contacting any of the playground supervisors at the sixteen playground areas throughout the city.

25 Years Ago: 1996

Mississippi bluesman Big Jack Johnson, dubbed the “Oil Man,” will appear at the Cellar Door in Auburn Wednesday. The show is co-sponsored by Cellar Door owner Scott Folsum and The Southern Maine Blues Society. Johnson, an acclaimed blues artist, was named as Best Live Performer in 1994 by “Living Blues” magazine, and Most Outstanding Blues Musician in 1995. The 56-year old Johnson is touring in support of his album, “We Gotta Stop this Killing” recently released on M.C. Records. This album incorporates the diverse influences of Delta, country and lectric blues that influences Johnson’s singing and guitar playing. Johnson will be accompanied by his regular band, “The Oilers,” made up of Hooter Saslaff on bass, Chet Woodward on drums, and David Earl on electric guitar. Johnson was born in 1940 in Lambert, Miss., into a musical family. In his own words, “My old man was a musician. He played violin, guitar, banjo, and mandolin. I also had two older brothers who played guitar.” There wasn’t nothing for me to do but play all them guitars hanging around the house.

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

Copy the Story Link