100 Years Ago: 1925

Let us introduce to you Mrs. J. Charles MacDonald, minister. Many Lewiston and Auburn people know her well as a minister’s wife. Not so many are aware that she is a preacher. Yet she has performed double duty and knows the best, if not the worst, about both jobs; and she declares that being a minister is not half so hard as being a minister’s wife.

If you choose to look her up at the head of one of the Sunday School departments in the Court street Baptist Church you will find a woman of rarely pleasing, strong personality, characteristic feminine graces, and a wholesome womanliness that is convincing, though not at all aggressive. There is a poise in her still girlish manner that commands respect; her voice is “well-modulated, with carrying power; she is mentally alert; and there is the ring of sincerity in her words that carries home. You’d like this woman-preacher,” with the emphasis on the woman!

Although this Auburn woman has held two pastorates in eastern Maine, this local parish, of which her husband is the pastor, has never heard her preach. And they have been here over four years.

The discovery that she could stand with ease and assurance behind a pulpit and give the people a Bible message was made by many of the folks, for the first time, when a few weeks ago her name appeared as the supply for the Lisbon pulpit, while the pastor there. Rev. T. Ernest Ham came to Auburn to fill Mr. MacDonald’s place for that Sunday.

50 Years Ago: 1975

Lewiston Police Chief Lucien Longtin said today his men will use discretion in enforcing the 25 mile per hour speed limit on Bartlett Street, good news to motorists who find the speed limit in that area difficult to maintain, when climbing the steep hill.

Thursday, the area of Bartlett. Street between Androscoggin Avenue and Birch Street was posted with speed limit signs and radar enforcement warnings. The Journal attempted to find out how easily a motorist could maintain the limit and yet make it over the steep hill.

“We realize that it’s almost impossible to go up the hill and come down at 25 miles per hour, and we will use discretion. Our intention is to keep the speed down,” Chief Longtin told The Journal this morning. His superior officers have tested the limit in cruisers and reported to him that it is, indeed, difficult to comply with the law. Longtin, indicated, however, that while his officers will be lenient, motorists must also use discretion:

“The limit is not necessarily for those coming down, but for those going up who think they need to go 50 miles per hour around the curve at the base of the hill in order to make it over.”
“If we strictly adhered to the limit we’d bag everyone who traveled the hill,” he noted.

25 Years Ago: 2000

The Thomas E. Lahey Foundation announces its scholarship recipients for 1999-2000. This year recipients are: Stephen Adamson Jr., a graduate of Edward Little High School, who is attending University of Maine, Orono. He is the son of Stephen and Cathy Adamson of Mechanic Falls.
Marc Amnott, a graduate of Edward Little High School, is attending Quinnipiac College, Hamden, Conn., and is the son of Paul and Connie Amnott of 19 Fairway Ct., Auburn.

Matthew Auger, a graduate of Edward Little High School, is attending Eastern Maine Technical College in Bangor and is the son of Lucien and Peggy Auger of 94 Broadview Ave., Auburn.

Aaron Chiaravelotti, a graduate of Lewiston High School, is attending University of Vermont in Burlington and is the son of Rick and Margaret Chiaravelotti of Lewiston.

Lynn Marie Girouard, a graduate of Lewiston High School, is attending Central Maine Technical College in Auburn and is the daughter of Leo and Therese Girouard of 70 Gagne St., Lewiston.

Sadie Roy, a graduate of Lewiston High School, is attending Plymouth State College, Plymouth, N.H., and is the daughter of Rejean and Florence Roy of 17 Swale Lane, Lewiston.

Carly Wiggin, a graduate of Edward Little High School, is attending Suffolk University in Boston and is the daughter of James and Robin Wiggin of 35 Milton Lane, Mechanic Falls.

The Thomas E. Lahey Foundation was established to honor Tom Lahey, an outstanding Lewiston athlete and successful businessman who died Oct. 3, 1987, at the age of 43.

The purpose of the foundation is to assist local youth in the pursuit of excellence in academic, athletic and cultural activities. Since its inception the foundation has raised more than $170,000 and awarded nearly $60,000 in scholarships.

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