100 years ago, 1917
Circus day in Lewiston! Sparks’ circus, which has often been to Maine but is new to these cities, is at Lee Park. It arrived Sunday morning from Belfast, and many small boys kindly chaperoned their parents to see the unloading of the horses, elephants, camels and heavy, canvas-covered wagons. By the middle of the forenoon all of the tents, with the exception of the “big top” itself, had been raised. The parade started this morning coming thru Main street to North bridge, down Main street in Auburn, across Broad street bridge to Lewiston again, and up Pine street to the grounds. There were three bands, a score of riders and a half dozen open cages of wild animals, while a herd of four elephants and two camels brought up the rear.

50 years ago, 1967
The case of the missing Kennedy Park bench was quickly solved today. Police said they received a report Sunday afternoon that a bench was missing from the park. Police said a man saw two men walk away with it in the direction of Walnut and Bates Streets. Later, it was learned that the two men were employees of the Lewiston Public Works Department. Someone had complained to police that the bench was not secure, and police in turn contacted the Public Works Department.

25 years ago, 1992
When law enforcement cadets study public safety communications at Lewiston Regional Technical Center this fall, they will be working with a $3,000 state-of-the-art system donated by Radio Communications Management Inc. of Falmouth. Maurice “Butch” Hyde, commander of the technical center’s law occupations program, said, “It’s not just show-and-tell here. We’re trying to simulate actual working conditions.” For starters, Hyde envisions his teenage cadets helping with communications during the Lewiston Police Department’s annual bike rodeo, and working in-house at Lewiston High School dances and open houses.

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