100 Years Ago: 1924

The Lewiston-Auburn Symphony orchestra was officially organized at a meeting Sunday in the quarters at the First Universalist church, Lewiston, where rehearsals are held. Fred Bumpus of Auburn, veteran musician, was elected president of the association; B. H. Dingley, vice- president; Isaac J. Martin, business manager; Mabel MacGibbon, secretary, treasurer; Wilfred Trembley, leader: Roger MacGibbon, organizer. The following directors were elected to office: Herbert White, John Scruton and Roger MacGibbon.

The orchestra starts off with an active membership of 28. It is expected that when fully organized the personnel will comprise 60. The charter will be left open this season so that all members taken in I now will be charter members.

The objective is to offer Lewiston and Auburn at least three large public concerts annually, the first to be sometime in February. undertaking has the unqualified approval of Mayors Brann and Cummings and Homer N. Chase, acting secretary of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce as well as Dennis A. O’Brien, secretary of the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce.

50 Years Ago: 1974

An Auburn police officer chased a dog early this morning only to wind up with the animal’s collar, but later the dog’s owner I ended up with his pet’s collar plus a court summons.

The unusual incident started out innocently enough. Shortly before 5:30 a.m., a Josslyn Street resident complained to police about a barking dog keeping everyone in the neighborhood awake.
Patrolman Mark Warner was dispatched to the area and couldn’t immediately hear any yapping dog. He stayed in the area awhile and about  45 minutes later, located the apparent nuisance animal wandering about the streets. The officer gave chase and managed to catch the dog but the wily animal managed to get away leaving only a collar in Warner’s hands.

The collar contained identification so Officer Warner paid a visit to the dog’s owner who was handed his pet’s collar, plus a court summons for allowing a dog to roam at large.

25 Years Ago: 1999

Paul Lavoie handed presents Monday to the mayor, his congressman and a U.S. senator. Then he gave a gift box to his “special guest.”

“This is the man who taught me right from wrong,” said Lavoie, who introduced his father, Charles Lavoie, 91.

The younger Lavoie hugged and kissed his father. And then he told of the long nights and early mornings on the family dairy farm in Lewiston when he was a boy and of his father harvesting the hay after midnight. The seven-day-a-week work ethic stuck, he said.

It made him a better businessman, he said. Lavoie and partner David Sullivan were honored Monday for their work in creating Performance Product Painting Inc. In May, the pair was chosen as Maine’s Small Business Persons of the Year by state leaders within the U.S. Small Business Association. In the spring, there was an official banquet attended by the governor. But this ceremony was aimed at the workers and the other people who helped make the company a success, said Paul Lavoie.

They don’t get to go to the banquets and fancy awards dinners, he said. “And they’re why we’re here.”

The event was held on a production floor at the Auburn plant. Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. John Baldacci attended, as did Mayor Lee Young and SBA Regional Administrator Patrick McGowan.

Machinery was pushed aside to make room for tables, decorated in Christmas red and green. After working Saturday to help ready the plant for the event, the 37 workers had Monday off. Each was given an embroidered ball cap and windbreaker, and they sat together in the audience as dignitaries took their turns applauding them.

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