100 years ago, 1916
At an assembly of the students of Lewiston High school yesterday morning an interesting talk along the lines of “Education and Experience” was given by Prof. William Hawley Davis of Bowdoin College. Prof. Davis likened the methods of learning to a tree branching out on one side with experience and on the other with education. He justified the educational institutions as supplying in that way what would otherwise be learned by experience.

50 years ago, 1966
Today’s chilly weather and the large amount of snow cover didn’t hamper progress in connection with Lewiston’s vast water improvements project, as skin divers, after chopping through 21 inches of ice, examined Lewiston’s water intake pipe at Lake Auburn. Doing the underwater work were Donald Bernard of Auburn and Auburn Police Officer Roger Ouellette, who were pretty well chilled when they emerged from the large lake. William Adams Jr., Lewiston’s public works director, said that the close-up examination and also pictures taken by the divers will be helpful in planning the cleaning and relining of water pipes at the pumping station.

25 years ago, 1991
Gray town employees could get a retirement plan under a proposal that would replace a pay increase this year with the long-term benefit. The Town Council approved the plan, presented by Town Manager Paul Bird on behalf of the employees, following its final budget review Wednesday night. According to Bird, the town has never offered a retirement plan to any of its employees with the exception of the town planner, town manager and tax assessor, who is shared with New Gloucester. The plan proposed would allow each employee to choose a percentage of his salary, from 1 to 6 percent, to be put into a retirement account annually and matched by the town. In addition, Bird suggested that a one-time retroactive extended benefits offer be made to compensate employees who have been with the town for more than 10 years.

The material in Looking Back is reproduced exactly as it originally appeared, although misspellings and errors made at that time may be edited.