Read more about Dec. 13, 1972, in the SunJournal.com archives.

100 Years Ago: 1922

Auburn pedestrians using Goff Hill are grateful for a liberal sprinkling of sand on the sidewalks.

50 Years Ago: 1972

Today marks the 25th birthday of the Maine Turnpike and the 100-mile pike is doing record business. Executive Director Frank A. Howe said Tuesday that the Silver Anniversary will find the toll road with the 1972 traffic record already topping the 1971 record. He predicted more than 11 million vehicles will have used the road this year by Jan. 1.

The Maine Turnpike was the nations first wholly financed by revenue bonds.

25 Years Ago: 1997

(from a Bobbie Hanstein photo)

ON EXHIBIT: “Christmas Rose Heart,” sculpted by Wilton artist Barbara Hathaway, is on exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

Wilton painter Barbara Hathaway shyly pulls out a photograph of her sculptural ornament, “Christmas Rose Heart,” which is on exhibit in the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. The 3 1/4-inch heart-shaped ornament floats a row of tiny, burgundy-colored roses, green leaves and a neatly tied pink bow. The work on the piece is very detailed, yet diminutive in size and seems to say, “A very patient person made this.”

Considering this is Hathaway’s first attempt at sculpture using a modeling compound, the accomplishment becomes even more amazing.

Well-known in the area for her oil painting work and for teaching privately for 16 years, Hathaway has just finished her first session of classes at Jay Adult and Community Education classes.

“We had our last class on Tuesday and my students have all hung their paintings at the Adult Community Education Center. I was very impressed and pleased with their work — and their enthusiasm,” she said. “I like to stress originality, as opposed to just copying what I do. I want the students to paint originals — not copies,” she stressed.

She explains that as a self-taught artist ready to dive into any and all mediums, it was a natural jump from oil painting to the sculptural work of her ornament.

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