100 years ago,1910

Many of the delivery teams in these cities have now discarded wheels for runners, although in places the snow is thin and crisp furnishing not the best of sleighing. In the country towns there was plenty of snow for good sleighing, but the high wind of yesterday distributed the snow rather unevenly leaving many bare places.

50 years ago, 1960

RUMFORD — ‘Twas only a shanty, but it certainly provided a let-down for Ernest Roy of Bryant Pond and Everett Burnham of Mexico.

The two were enjoying a smoke in the warmth of the smoking shanty beside the Maine Central railroad tracks here Saturday when they were unexpectedly dumped — shanty and all — into the frigid waters of the canal.

A Maine Central switching engine pushing a pulp car became derailed by ice, struck the shanty and knocked it into the canal.

Roy swam ashore while Burnham was pulled to safety by the engine’s crew. Neither appeared to be hurt.

25 years ago, 1985

Maine’s governor read letters from President Ronald Reagan and the Soviet ambassador, praising Samantha Smith’s efforts to bring world peace, as officials launched a drive Tuesday to raise $25,000 for a statue of the celebrated schoolgirl.

Gov. Joseph E. Brennan unveiled a clay replica of the statue by Maine sculptor Glenn Hines in a ceremony at the Auburn Mall.

The statue depicts Samantha holding a dove with a bear cub behind her.