100 Years Ago: 1921

General Diaz, at the State banquet in his honor at Boston Thursday night, invited Americans to discover the land of Columbus. “In 1492 Columbus discovered America,” he said. “In 1921, I say to you, ‘Come and discover Italy.'”

50 Years Ago: 1971

A program of folk songs will be presented by a group of Y Teens from Edward Little High School at the annual World Fellowship meeting of the Young Women’s Christian Association. Singing songs of various countries represented in the United Nations will be June Howard, Joni Bush, Diana Carrigan, Sheila Carrigan, Anne Asselin, Roxanne Griffin, Wendy Albiston, Holli Heath and Carol Ann Parker. James Chaplin is the director.

25 Years Ago: 1996

The Bridgton Historical Society has accepted a gift of a two seated horse-drawn sleigh from Janet Merrill in memory of her parents, Luella Sherman Boothby and Philip T. Boothby. who were longtime summer residents of Bridgton. The sleigh has elaborate painted decorations done by artist John Mead Jr., formerly of North Bridgton, who died in 1895. Mead painted houses, carriages and sleighs for a living and is known for his paintings of fish. One of his paintings was displayed at the Chicago World’s fair in 1893. The society’s sleigh, which Mead probably painted somewhere during the 1860s, is a mustard yellow that may have originally been an ivory color. The sleigh is outlined with black and green striping, with fancy red scroll work. Three circular landscapes depicting lakes, trees and mountains are set in the scroll work on the sides and front panel. The society will hold an informal holiday open house at the  Gibbs Avenue Museum and Archives on Sunday. Dec. 18, from 3 to 4 p.m. and will have the sleigh ready for exhibition at that time. The facility is also open for research during the winter months on Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 to 4 pm and by chance or appointment. The society operates “Narramissic,” the ongoing restoration of the 19th century farm located off Ingalls Road in South Bridgton.

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