Looking Back on July 18

100 Years Ago: 1923

The woodworking plant of Joseph A. Shaw on Mount Vernon Avenue, Augusta, was totally destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon with a loss of about $35,000. A brisk breeze carried burning embers to surrounding buildings which were partially damaged. The fire truck on the way to the blaze collided with a coupe and auto truck, partially wrecking them; and one of the occupants, Charles A. Milliken, father of ex-Governor Milliken, received several broken ribs and other injuries.

50 Years Ago: 1973

A packed house of close to 100 people was regaled by the musical, “In Revue,” at the Thomas Playhouse in South Casco last night. The show was a ribald, roaring success. “In Revue,” which will run through August 4, is a revival of Rodgers and Hart music – some of their best numbers grouped by subject matter into separate sections and further divided between Acts I and II. But the whole, much greater than the sum of the parts, adds up to a tour-de-force of some fine and, yes, old songs.

25 Years Ago: 1998

Flames ripped through a vacant four-story apartment house at Bartlett and Birch streets in Lewiston early Friday night, forcing the evacuation of nearby homes and knocking out electrical power and cable service for blocks. Police said the fire’s origins were suspicious. Fire inspectors remained at the scene late Friday night searching for a cause.

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