100 years ago, 1915
Three men escaped from the county jail in Auburn Friday night and up to 3:30 o’clock, Saturday, afternoon had not been captured. These men were being held for the grand jury on larceny charges. It is believed that the men made their escape between the hours of 12 and 2, Saturday morning. One of the men had keys to the padlock of his cell and thus must now have in his possession a key to 32 cell locks in Auburn jail. The cell which he and another of the three occupied is the last at the rear of the lower tier of cells and unlike other cells had a door with wide grating. It allowed him to reach his arm out and unlock the padlock. A double door leads to the yard in the rear of the jail. There is a padlock for such door on the inner side but the locks are not the same as those for the cell. These two locks were sawed with a buck saw in the escapee’s possession. The frame for it he had manufactured from chair legs in the jail.

50 years ago, 1965
International dignitaries attending the Presidential Inaugural Ball on Jan. 20 will walk beneath more than two miles of pipe and 20,000 square feet of blue and gold awnings and tents prepared and set up for the occasion by the Lewiston-Auburn Awning Co. of Auburn. Ralph Raymond, president of the local concern, confirmed to the Journal today reports in circulation that his company had been selected by the National Democratic Committee to provide all the awnings and tents for the ball in Washington, D.C.

25 years ago, 1990
At a time when successful companies like L.L. Bean are looking at ways to cut costs by reducing personnel, American Stabilis Inc., Lewiston, has landed two lucrative contracts with major companies and will add up to 80 people to its work force. The company makes commercial heating equipment and accessories. Owner and president Roger Michaud said Thursday he plans to hire 30 people immediately for a second shift, and, based on current orders and sales forecasts, predicted he will add another 45 to 50 within the next three months.

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