100 years ago: 1925

“SOUTH PARIS — Mr. and Mrs. Sanger Maxim and their three daughters, the family of Scott Martin, James Jackson, and Mr. Aldrich escaped from the Myron Maxim block in their nightclothes Friday night after they had been aroused by the Maxim’s dog, Cutie. The faithful animal, after giving the alarm, was burned to death.

“The Maxim block is a three story wooden structure situated in Market Square. It was burned flat, and the Pythian block, a three story brick building, was badly damaged. The loss is estimated at about $40,000.

“All the occupants of the building were asleep when the dog began to whine and bark. The members of the Maxim family were aroused to find their rooms filled with smoke and crackling flames, and they hurriedly warned the others of the impending danger. It is thought the dog, waiting until the last of his human friends should have left, was overcome by smoke and was unable to get out.”

50 years ago: 1975

“As of April 1, the total assessed value of real estate in the City of Auburn was $122,955,907.

“According to Tax Assessor John M. Lochhead’s report for the March Municipal activities report, this figure indicates an increase of $4,550,877 for the
year.

“Lochhead’s office processed 20 building permits, 23 plumbing permits and 68 property transfers during the month. The annual mailing of notices and taxpayers lists were also completed during March. These included 1,108 watercraft, 687 resident taxpayers, 187 non-resident, and 250 taxpayers lists, or a total of 2,241.”

25 years ago: 2000

“It’s official: Pennesseewassee Stream running through downtown Norway has been designated a “Kids Water” fishing spot, one of 25 in the state set aside for children only.

“Already this season, dozens of neighborhood children have been fishing from the bridges at Pike’s Hill Road and Greenleaf Avenue, trying their luck at catching some of the brook trout stocked by the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

“The Kids Water designation applies from the town-owned dam at Main Street, which controls the flow from Pennesseewassee Lake, downstream to the dam at Route 26. Only children under age 16 may fish there without a license from April 1 through May 31, under new rules in this year’s DIFW Open Water Fishing Regulations.”

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