100 Years Ago: 1922

Pope Benedict breathed his last at 6 o’clock Sunday morning. The news was hurriedly communicated from the papal bedchamber to the principal ante chamber, and was announced by Monsignor Pizzardo, deputy papal secretary of state, just as the ponderous bells of St, Peters, overlooking the Vatican courtyard, began tolling. the hour of six. Then one by one the bells in Rome‘s 400 churches joined in the horologic symphony that marked the passing of the head of the Roman Catholic church.

50 Years Ago: 1972

A crowd of approximately 8,000 racing fans were on hand Saturday and Sunday at the Lewiston Fairgrounds to witness the fifth annual Western Maine Snowmobile Championships sponsored by the Lewiston-Auburn Exchange Clubs. Contestants trailered their snow-machines from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Canada to participate in the two-day event to garner points to boost their individual standings and also compete for trophies and nearly $5,000 in prize money. The star racer of the day was Bob Martin of Lancaster, N.H. He took three first places, an extremely unusual feat on the racing circuit, which guaranteed him permanent possession of the coveted Exchange Club Governor’s Trophy standing over‘three feet high.

25 Years Ago: 1997

The Lost Valley Handicapped Ski Association will hold its eighth annual Ski-A-Thon from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday at Lost Valley. People can ski or snowboard for free with a $25 or more donation. Rentals. are available. Area business sponsors will provide a free T-shirt to the first 100 participants, and the largest donor will receive a 1997-98 season pass to Lost Valley. Pledge sheets may be found at Shaw’s, Shop ‘n Save, Sam’s, Play It Again Sports, Lost Valley and area schools. The association is a nonprofit organization manned by trained volunteers who provide free instructions and equipment to any physically or mentally challenged people with a desire to participate. Currently about 100 participate in the program, representing  Auburn, Mechanic Falls, Spurwink, Monmouth, Winthrop and Baxter schools.

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