100 years ago: 1925

“Already over 300 have registered for the National Mutual Savings Bank convention at Poland Spring the week of June 18th. This ensures an attendance of from 500 to 700 people from all over the United States, chiefly the Eastern and Mideastern states.

“It is the most influential and interesting convention of the year in Maine, in many respects.

“Among the speakers will be secretary Jardine of the Coolidge cabinet . . . probably perhaps Vice President Dawes; Governor Brewster and . . . the editor of the Lewiston Journal will attempt to make a few remarks also at the dinner, by way of comment on current matters.

“Ladies will attend the affair and it will be the formal opening of the Poland Spring House for the season. The entire hill will be given over to the bankers.”

50 years ago: 1975

“U.S. Congressman William Cohen thinks Maine can, and should, do its share to help the United States absorb the thousands of Vietnamese refugees evacuated from Saigon in the last few weeks.

“At his Lisbon Street Lewiston office Saturday afternoon, the Maine Republican said he agrees with Gov. James B. Longley, who offered state assistance in caring for the new refugees. ‘An example of true humanitarianism,’ said Cohen referring to the governor’s actions.

“Cohen’s comments indicate a split between himself and his fellow Maine Republican in Congress, David Emery, who last week replied to Longley’s offer by stating the refugees would be ‘better off’ in other states.

“‘The governor’s words were not popular ones, I’m sure, but it was the right thing to do, and say,’ commented Cohen, adding he felt the offer of temporary help for refugee children especially was commendable.

“‘I’m sure the governor was speaking out of Christian conviction that everyone should help out. If every state said it didn’t want any refugees, what would we do with them? Throw them over the sides of the ships again, throw them back in the water?’ asked the second-term congressman.”

25 years ago: 2000

“A malicious virus (nicknamed ‘the Love Bug’) with the reproductive propensity of a rabbit brought havoc to e-mail users throughout Maine Thursday.

“Wrapped in a message of love, the virus, once opened, infected mailing lists and swamped businesses, governmental agencies, schools and individuals with unwanted duplicates. The virus also deletes certain popular audio and picture files found on millions of machines, replacing them with a copy of itself.

“‘You can run but you can’t hide,’ said Marc Pellerin (a financial adviser for Advest). ‘It’s a sad statement that there are people out there who want to bring you down.'”

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