100 years ago, 1917
Lewiston-Auburn armories were busy places Thursday. The orders to move Friday and Saturday entailed considerable work. There are men without equipment, the lack being especially glaring in places, as the parade of Wednesday showed. There are men without rifles and uniforms, but these will be supplied at Portland, in all probability. Photographs of the companies were taken, companies were marched to different sections of Lewiston and drilled, and in Auburn the same busy scene was presented. The Lewiston armory drew many spectators as the men in uniforms assembled outside of the building.

50 years ago, 1967
(Photo Caption) THE END OF A PLAYGROUND — This is all that remains of the Bates Street Playground in Lewiston. The fence and playground equipment has been taken down and awaits “re-assignment.” The land now belongs to the Lewiston Urban Renewal Authority which plans to have the area cleared, under contract. The fence is to be put up at the Lincoln Street Playground. Recreation Director Frank Torrey said the basketball equipment will be installed elsewhere.

25 years ago, 1992
Softball, country music, cloggers and beans. It doesn’t get much more down-home than that, and the Oxford Hills Rotary Club 40th Annual Bean Hole Bean Festival had it all. This day-long family event was held under ideal summer weather conditions at the Oxford County Fairgrounds Saturday, netting just over $10,000 that will be returned to the community in the form of service projects sponsored by the Rotary Club. Thomas Kennison, president-elect of the Oxford Hills Rotary Club, estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 people attended the festival, with diners enjoying the beans from 4 until 7 p.m. Just under 400 pounds of beans were served during that time.

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