100 years ago, 1914
A fortune in jewelry and precious stones is on exhibition in the rooms of the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce! Conservative estimates of the value of the display made at the present convention of the Maine Retail Jewelers Association by manufacturers of jewels places it at not less than $50,000. One exhibit alone is figured at nearly $15,000 while the smallest value placed on a single line of goods shown is $3,000. It is the largest exhibit of this class of merchandise ever shown as an exhibit at any kind of a convention or fair in Maine.

50 years ago, 1964
The Poland Spring Hotel playhouse was destroyed by fire early this morning. The building, an unused wooden structure, was located at the rear of the resort’s main building. Flames could be seen for miles. The hotel’s management said the playhouse, not occupied by personnel, had some rooms on the second floor. It contained a complete motion picture theater about the size of the Empire Theater in Lewiston and stored there was a large number of chairs. The playhouse was part of the resort buildings which had been in use for many years. It had not been used to any extent the last two or three years.

25 years ago, 1989
Three months after the oldest building in Lewiston was purchased at a real estate auction, the new owner has given the go-ahead to take it down. Earlier this week, workers from Roland’s Demolition began dismantling the structure one piece at a time. Work is expected to be completed by next week. “I’m really sad to see the oldest house go down,” said John Jenkins, who purchased the property along with five other parcels for $250,000 at an auction July 14. The two-story Federal-style home, moved to its present location at 418 Main St. in the 1860s or ’70s, was built in the mid to late 18th century but had undergone such extensive renovations that it was virtually unrecognizable. During latter years, the structure had housed a grocery store and a beauty salon. This turn of events appears to leave the Merton Parker home at 47 Russell St., built in 1781, as the oldest standing building in the city.

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