100 years ago, 1911

Two deaths and several prostrations resulted from the continued heat of Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday the temperature dropped several degrees but it was still oppressively hot. Wilfred Levesque was overcome by the heat yesterday afternoon and died. A 3-month-old Auburn infant died as the result of the heat. The figure of 102 in the shade, reached at one o’clock, Tuesday, broke all records locally.

50 years ago, 1961

An underground explosion blew off four manhole covers on College and Fair streets in Lewiston last night.

A leak in an illuminating gas line was believed responsible for the early-evening blast.

The explosion, while blowing off the manhole covers and tearing up some pavement, apparently did not do much damage. An auto may have set it off by driving over and rattling one of the manhole covers, creating a spark.

25 years ago, 1986

After a delay caused by “the usual start-up problems,” Maine’s newest broadcast television station, Channel 51, will be on the air by Sept. 1, station manager Donald C. “Josh” McGraw said Thursday night.

With headquarters and studios in Portland, WPXT-TV will broadcast from a 3-million watt transmitter in Gray, which McGraw said will provide reception from Kittery to north of Augusta.