100 Years Ago: 1922

The Mass. Minimum Wage Commission has handed down a decision increasing the minimum wages of women and girls employed in laundries by approximately 75 percent. The boards recommend to employers that they pay experienced employees of not less than $13.50 a week; learners and apprentices not less than $12.50 a week; all other female help not less than $6 per week. Approximately 8,000 workers are affected by the decree.

50 Years Ago: 1972

“I like to eat here because my friends do, and it’s fun to eat with my friends!” Those are the sentiments of Theresa Dube of  Blake St., Lewiston, one of about 325 youngsters who participated in the Summer breakfast program on the very first day of the program at Kennedy Park this morning. Playground supervisors had to be quick with their hands to keep pace with the children as they filed through the bath house facility and were served helpings of cereal milk, and raisins. “I like cereal best,” declared Kimberly Vigue of Bates St., who participated in the program last year, too. She’s looking forward, she said, to the swimming lessons, which also got underway this morning. The cereal was the drawing card to others as well, including Linda and Valery Tripp of Chestnut St., who brought their neighbors along for the fun. Robert Murch of Knox St. stated emphatically: “I like it all and have fun.” He would have no more to say before going off to sit with friends, and to consume his bundle of food. Dripping wet from her qualifying test in the pool Catherine Ann of  Bates St., who participated in the program last year, too. “I Like it ‘cause you eat here, swim and just have fun.” she told the Journal, a big smile on her face. “I came here because I wanted to have fun,” she said. She especially can’t wait to start learning how to swim, one of the major undertakings of the summer. Mark and Kevin Boucher of Bartlett St. and Richard and Star Lynn O’Connell of  Bartlett St. came to Kennedy together this morning. “We all like to eat together,” said Mark, spokesman for the group. The program, now in its third year at Lewiston, is also offered at Lincoln, Cedar, Dingley and Frye Playgrounds and at the Tot-Lot at Marcotte Park.

25 Years Ago: 1997

The annual festival of Holy Family Days for Holy Family Parish will be held from June 25-29. Those in charge are Chairman, Mike Poulin; children’s games, Karen Lussier; bake sale, Simonne Nadeau, and ice cream shoppe, Rita Culliton. Tickets can be bought for Smokey’s Carnival rides for 75 cents per ride (if purchased ahead). Also on Thursday and Friday noon box lunches will be available: Clear lobster meat or rib eye pepper steak with chips, dessert and soda for $5.75. Orders of five or more will be delivered in the area or orders may be picked up in the church hall, 607 Sabattus St. Advance orders will be taken. There will be a ribeye steak dinner Saturday at 5 p.m. (served under the tent).

The material used in Looking Back is produced exactly as it originally appeared although misspellings and errors may be corrected.