100 Years Ago: 1924

Impressive flag raising exercises by the visiting Patriarchs Militant in front of Abou Ben Adhem Hall, Auburn, opened the second day’s program Wednesday. Several hundred were in attendance when the halyards were raised, carrying a huge American flag, which as it unfolded sent a shower of tiny ones floating to the street on the heads of the brilliantly uniformed Patriarchs.

Hobbs Band played “America” as everyone stood at attention. Previous to this Mayor Charles S. Cummings, himself an Odd Fellow for 38 years, welcomed the visitors numbering almost 1,000 to Auburn. In his address he told of the special qualifications why Auburn was an Ideal city for the Patriarchs Militant, saying that the fraternal spirit was dominant; that Auburn’s business and industrial workers were friendly and didn’t know what a strike meant. After paying tribute to the Odd Fellows, he said, pointing toward the falls, that more money potential value runs over the Falls every day than is represented by all the gold dug in California.

“When we are fully awakened to this,” he said, “California will be looking this way.”

50 Years Ago: 1974

Five Lewiston residents were among 13 Maine delegates attending the second annual convention of the National Right-to-Life Committee this past weekend at Washington. Among approximately 1,500 Pro-Lifers at the meeting were Attorney and Mrs. John Beliveau, Mr. and Mrs. Yvon Pellerin, and Mrs. Gemma Granger.

25 Years: 1999

Because a June 11, 1999 article was unavailable we are offering an article from June 11, 1998

James Longley Jr. learned Wednesday that you can go home again — at least for a news conference to kick off your general election campaign for governor.

Longley returned to Lewiston, where he was born and raised and where a bridge and school carry the name of his father, the late James Longley Sr., the state’s first independent governor.

Nearly 25 years after Lewiston voters backed his father, the younger Longley, a Republican, hopes the city will help him unseat popular independent Gov. Angus King.

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