100 years ago, 1916
Favored by fair weather and perfect conditions, Tuesday evening, the Greek play and illumination of the Bates Campus was more than a success. For two days the many strings of red, white and blue lights on the campus attracted the attention of passersby, while the rehearsals of the play, “Iphigenia,” gave promise of an excellent production. At dusk, Tuesday, these lights were turned on, while from all directions thru the semi-darkness came the Greek actors in costume. A large band stand had been erected and the music soon attracted a large crowd. Long before the play began, people were standing five and six rows deep outside the circle of seats which was reserved. Between 1,500 and 2,000 people witnessed the play, while it is estimated that 500 more were on the campus during the evening.

50 years ago, 1966
It features no death-defying acts, no pretty dancing girls, no wild animals from the jungles of Africa, no singers who have appeared before the crowned heads of Europe. In fact it features hardly anything of an entertaining nature, and yet it consistently outdraws any attraction that has ever appeared in Maine. What is it? It is the annual Maine Products Show. This year’s renewal of the event that stirs up so much interest among Maine natives and summer visitors alike is scheduled for the Lewiston Central Maine Youth Center, Aug, 23-26.

25 years ago, 1991
The Minot Growth Management Committee Wednesday night listened as Fergus Lea of AVCOG reported on work to date with the town’s natural resources inventory. Lea presented a series of maps and overlays, which identified the locations of important aquifers, ground water recharge areas, as well as non-forested wetlands, flood plains, watersheds and areas with important farm land soils.

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