100 Years Ago: 1922

If you’re a boy and live in Lewiston-Auburn and between the ages of 10 and 13 years and don’t know how to swim, here’s your chance. On Wednesday and Friday mornings classes in swimming will be conducted for any boy who is interested enough to register before Wednesday. There are no strings to this offer. It means any boy in the ages specified and he needs no connection with YMCA or any other body with no admission charge of any kind. Instruction will be by the physical director and parents are assured that complete supervision of the boys will be carried on thru the instruction.

50 Years Ago: 1972

The new K-Mart Shopping Center is nearing completion on its site on Center Street. The outside work has been just about completed with the parking area completely hot topped. The complex includes a 84,000 square-foot K-Mart, adjoined by a 20,922 square foot food market. There will  be room to park over 600 cars on the 31 acre site.

25 Years Ago: 1997

About 150 youths from this small community in the Mount Vernon area are growing food for the needy under an initiative by residents to provide innovative work options for young people. On a recent day, a half dozen worked on developing a garden at Woods End Farm on Old Rome Road to produce vegetables for the First Baptist Church food bank. The sun was hot and the black flies were swarming, but the teens looked happy, talking as they plowed the ground. It’s a learning experience. “I’d be just watching TV right now otherwise and it pays good. It pays the bills at least,” said 15 year old John Willard. Kryne Thibeau, 15, also said she likes the work. The garden is one of several community related projects, sponsored by Alive and Well, a group of about ten residents headed by Terri Bourke. Resident Pat Jones said they banded together because the town was struggling with juvenile crime and they wanted to take a positive approach to working with youths. Everyone put their heads together with ideas, said Jones of the process that led to Alive and Well. Initiatives include starting a new thriving outdoor explorer group, a radio station and a community center project. A cafe is planned soon.

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