On the outskirts of Hallowell is a large, old-fashioned looking building in which is made all the sandpaper that goes out of Maine. There is but one other factory in New England. The concern was swallowed up by the trust some five years ago, and is now a part of the American glue trust, as glue forms such an important factor in the making of sandpaper.

50 Years Ago, 1956

The retail price of milk is scheduled to drop in the Lewiston-Auburn area this Sunday under a seasonal decrease ordered by the Maine Milk Commission.

The change will put the retail cost per quart at 22 cents and the cost per pint at 13 cents.

For the first time the consumers will get a reduction for bulk purchases. The price in cans from 8 to 19 quarts will be 19 cents a quart and in cans from 20 to 40 quarts will be 18½ cents a quart.

The changes, effective Sunday, are part of the seasonal pattern, down in the spring and up in the fall, designed to spur milk production off-season.

25 Years Ago, 1981

There are three major urban mass transit systems in Maine – Citibus in Bangor, the Greater Portland Transit District in greater Portland and Hudson Bus Lines in Lewiston-Auburn. It’s entirely possible that within five years, one or all of them may be out of business.

Of the three, only Bangor’s Citibus operates without major federal government subsidies. In the past, that has seemed a burden; in the very near future, it may prove to be its salvation.

Fewer than 10 years ago, urban mass transit systems appeared to have a bright future. The price of crude oil was beginning to rise, gas stations were displaying green and red flags to notify drivers of the status of their limited supply and lines of cars could be seen waiting at gas stations for their turn at the pump.

Commuters, it was then predicted, would be parking their private cars and riding the buses like never before.