100 Years Ago: 1924

A pear tree in the orchard of Walter I. Clark on Cedar street in Belfast, regardless of the lateness of the season has just come into full bloom. Frequently there is an occasional blossom that comes out at this season of the year and often strawberry blossoms are found, but this tree. entirely out of season has taken on the June bloom. The tree is four or five years old and in good healthy condition, but seems to be trying to reverse the season and thus far is meeting with good success.

50 Years Ago: 1974

Rock and tomato throwing incidents were reported to Auburn police Tuesday night.

Michael Lachance informed police that some youngsters threw a rock at his car as he was turning from Lake Street onto Shepley Street. The owner of the 1962 Rambler did not know if there was any damage to his auto, as it was dark, he said. Cecile Jacques of Fern Street reported that children tossed tomatoes at passing cars on her street around 10 p.m.

Officer Michael Gervais found no one was in the area when he arrived at the scene.

25 Years Ago: 1999

People who know where they come from have a sense of community and connectedness. That’s the belief of a group of people in Rumford who are pushing ahead an oral history project set up to help celebrate the town’s 200th birthday.

Linda MacGregor, the interviewer and organizer of a year long project aimed at finding and telling the stories of nearly 100 Rumford people, said knowing one’s roots, and the achievements and accomplishments of people both living and dead, can also boost the area’s image and teach an appreciation for the town.

MacGregor and the Advisory Council for the Rumford Oral History Project explained the purpose to about 60 community, school and public leaders at a reception Thursday night.

She said she was asked why she was so deeply involved in the work since she is officially “from away” one of her parents is from Mississippi, the other from Indiana, and she spent her childhood in Ohio.

“I’ve been coming here for 35 years. My first summer was at Howard’s Pond, and I was gripped by this place, the beauty of the area, the kindness of the people and the sense of continuity,” she said.

Just recently, she and her husband, Jim, a Rumford native, moved to the town full time. It’s that sense of continuity and the knowledge of the town’s past and present that she hopes will impress and positively affect the young people of the area.

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