100 Years Ago: 1925

A bolt of lightning, in the midst of a high wind storm bearing alternate rain and snow Thursday afternoon struck and burned a large hay barn in Bowdoinham owned by E.P. and W.B. Kendall, grain dealers.

50 Years Ago: 1975

The cities of Auburn and Lewiston are in the process of applying for funds under the Urban Mass Transit Act to subsidize Hudson Bus Co. operations. If the application is approved, it will provide a dollar for dollar match of the subsidy money made available by the two cities. It’s reported that since Auburn and Lewiston began subsidizing the bus line, ridership is up 28 to 29 percent.

25 Years Ago: 2000

The “wow-feeling” is still spreading at the Sun Journal following an announcement Thursday that the paper has been named one of the “World’s Best-Designed” newspapers and one of the top 10 in the United States.

The honor was bestowed by the Society of News Design, an organization of 2,500 publishers, editors, designers, artists and photographers spread over more than 50 countries. It recognizes general excellence in all aspects of newspapering, including writing, design, photography, graphics, storytelling, headlines and local “voice.”

The contest is co-sponsored by SND and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in Syracuse, N.Y. A total of 321 newspapers entered the “Best-Designed” competition.

“This is a world-class honor,” said Sun Journal Publisher James Costello Sr., “and we are extremely proud to receive this recognition. This puts the Sun Journal among an elite group of community newspapers.”

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