100 Years Ago: 1925

Karl Dresser, Vienna butcher, in terror carried a red-lettered note to the police — a note, “written in blood,” he declared. “I will see you at your shop at ten o’clock tonight,” the note read.

The missive later was proved to have been written in lipstick by a woman customer who came to the shop to pay a bill.

50 Years Ago: 1975

A woman delivering newspapers in New Auburn early Thursday morning alerted firefighters after she spotted a house ablaze on Paul Street.

No one was hurt in the 3 a.m. fire, but firefighters initially thought a man and his three children were inside the burning house at 54 Paul St.

“At first we thought all four of them were trapped inside,” said fire Inspector Gary Simard. “The house was totally engulfed.” Homeowner Robert Estes eventually showed up and told fire crews that he had been away and that his children were with a babysitter.

“The house was totaled, but the firefighters saved a dog,” Simard said. “It was tied to the house so that it could go in and out of the basement. The firefighters got him away from the house when they got there.”

The cause of the blaze was still being investigated Friday night. Simard said investigators were ruling out some possible causes and that it did not appear suspicious.

He credited firefighters for getting control of the fire as quickly as they did. He also praised newspaper carrier Barbara Perkins for reporting the blaze.

25 Years Ago: 2000

Northeast Bank recently held an employee recognition evening to thank all employees and to acknowledge several individuals for outstanding service and sales achievements for the year. The Employee of the Year Award and the internal and external service awards were given to employees nominated by their peers and chosen by senior management.

The Employee of the Year Award was presented by Jim Delamater, president and chief executive officer, to Linda Cote, an underwriter in the Mortgage Processing Department. She has been with the bank for three years and currently works in the Engine House office in Auburn.

A. William Cannan, executive vice president, presented the Internal Customer Service Award to Mary Ellen Hadley, deposit servicing, and the External Customer Service Award to Erin Hurley, cash management.

Awards were presented to several employees for outstanding efforts in the community and to the bank: Stacy Chenevert, Community Service Award; Lena Bagushinski, Enthusiasm Award; Fonda Violette and Susan Wixom, Outstanding Sales Award.

In addition, each department manager announced a “Star of the Year” for his or her division. Awards were presented to: Pam Varney, accounting; Lori Davies, operations; Judy Lizotte, trust; Mary Ann Brown, consumer lending; Diane McManus, commercial lending; and Pam Morgan, retail lending.

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