100 Years Ago: 1922

The new organ has arrived and been placed in position in the West Auburn church. It will be used for the first time at the regular service on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, standard time.

50 Years Ago: 1972

Band uniforms sought by the school Department for the Lewiston High School Band are among the items on which bids will be opened Wednesday by Controller Lucien Gosselin. The department needs 60 uniforms and 60 sets of white spats. Also sought are eight majorette outfits and a conductor’s uniform.

25 Years Ago: 1997

The baker’s dozen of poets offered a wide spectrum of free verse, rhyming verse, and everything in between during a recent meeting of Bethel Area Poetry Society. “We’re a very diverse group,” said Dorothy Duddy of Albany Township, poet and co-founder of the group along with Newry’s Rockie Graham. And diverse they are. Mary Palmer of Paris has published nine books of poetry, including the “Mother Goose” series for children. Her lighthearted short stories describe Maine wildlife and resources such as the Turtle. “The Turtle lives inside his shell, Guess he likes it rather well. It goes with him if he should roam. It’s like a miniature motor home.” Palmer also writes more serious poetry, all with a Maine flavor of paralleling nature with the human experience. John Gibbs of Bethel has been writing poetry for 13 years. His poems contain a nervous edge, often dealing with abusive relationships and devastating illnesses. “It’s a way of expressing myself,” following a reading of his poem that described “a disease that was stealing my grandmother’s mind.”

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