100 Years Ago: 1924

Alfred Sweeney, general manager of the Androscoggin & Kennebec Railway, said Friday afternoon that the official news of the decision of the Public Utilities Commission authorizing straight 10 cent fares had not been received and therefore he could not say when the company would put them into effect. Probably right away, giving, of course, the three day notice required by the commission.

50 Years Ago: 1974

A group of young people residing in the Pleasant Valley area of Lewiston have channeled their energies during this school vacation into constructive activities.

The youngsters, ranging in age from three to 13, have been busy on a clean-up detail of an island at Hillmount and Tremont Streets. They have picked up trash (which they hope will be picked up by Public Works Department trucks) and plan to plant some hardy plants as soon as the ground is workable.

Children working on the project are Kevin and Scott Lafrance, Jason Plante, Wendy O’Malley, Donna, Mike and Danny Breton, Reynold Theberge, Normand and Jeanann Dutil, Donald Goulet, Marc and Susan Bouvier, Nicole and Michele Bisson, Marcel Grenier, David Peak, Shelley and Rolinda Johnson.

As soon as the little island is all spruced up, the children plan to tackle another place in the area that needs “spring cleaning.”

25 Years Ago: 1999

Mike Rowe volunteered to change his car number from 24 to 12x in honor of friend and former car owner Dave Kimball.

He allowed Kimball’s son, Jason, to climb through the passenger’s side window of the red Chevrolet Monte Carlo and scatter his father’s ashes about the premises.

Then someone asked Rowe to say a few words. Stop right there. “No, I wanted to win the race first,” he said.

As a day-long cloud ceiling lifted — symbolically, perhaps? — to reveal brilliant spring sunshine, Rowe pulled away from Sam Sessions to capture the season opening Dave’s World 150 Northeast Pro Stock Association race.

Members of the Kimball family congregated around the car, fighting back tears as Jason climbed in to join Rowe in a triumphant victory lap.

Jason had saved a handful of ashes. When the car coasted to a stop at the finish line, he climbed out and sprinkled them softly in victory lane.

That’s when Rowe accepted the microphone, exhibiting emotions rarely seen following his previous championships or 200 plus victories.

“This was an awesome day,” Rowe said, his eyes misting.” I just wish Dave could be here.”

Kimball died of a brain aneurysm on March 22, one day after his 45th birthday.

Together, the Gardiner businessman and the Turner driver won a track championship here in 1991 — the first year the track reopened under the management of Dave St. Clair.

Rowe, now driving for the Ontario-based team of Jerry Hicks, dogged Sessions during five restarts before squeezing underneath him in lapped traffic during the lengthy green flag.

“The 12x is done,” said Rowe, “It’s always been awesome at this track, and the Good Lord gave us one more special day.”

The look in the eyes of the Kimball family said it’d be a day they’ll never forget.

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

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