100 years ago, 1917
Shirkers will not find the Lewiston fire department an agreeable organization to ally with from here on. There has been no general claim that such persons have heretofore belonged to the department, so the action of the Lewiston fire commissioners, in session Friday night, may only be in the line of a precautionary measure. At any rate, a rule was there formulated that the captains for the different companies of the department shall report the names of shirkers in their companies to the chief.

50 years ago, 1967
Auburn police got a call this morning from a local religious leader stating a dog was blocking the entrance to his church, and wouldn’t let anyone in. Reporting the incident was Rev. Donald Hinkley, pastor of the Elm Street Universalist Church. Police responded, and on arrival found that the dog — a German shepherd —had decided to be a nuisance elsewhere. At least, he was gone.

25 years ago, 1992
The bid process for the renovation of the parking area at the historic Dingley Building in Lewiston is under way, with the work scheduled to begin June 14, school officials said Wednesday. Assistant Superintendent James Tracey said the work, which is expected to cost no more than $100,000 to complete, will be paid for with a bond issued by the city “two or three years ago.” Greg Ninow, the architectural design manager at Harriman Associates in Auburn, said the building’s parking area will be repaved and a 10-foot planting strip will be added. “We’ll shave six inches off the paved area around the bottom windows to keep the water away from them,” Ninow said. “Also, we’ll do a little landscaping to replace the 100-year-old elm trees that were taken down last summer.”

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