• The trolley wire broke at the turnout on College street near Holland Street in Lewiston early last evening, causing considerable excitement. The wire was very much alive and had to be handled with the greatest care. A crew of men soon arrived with the repair car, and the break was soon repaired.

• The first United States flag, adapted by Congress, June 14, 1777, having the stars and stripes, was made, it is said, out of a soldier’s white shirt, an old blue Army overcoat, and a red flannel petticoat, and was hoisted by our Army at Fort Stanwix (near Rome), N.Y., during Burgoyne’s campaign in 1777.

50 years ago, 1957

• The gasoline price war in both the Lewiston and Portland areas apparently is over, and gasoline prices are scheduled to begin a gradual climb back to the normal prices, which prevailed before the “war” started.

Regular gasoline locally was selling at 27.9 cents a gallon before the price slash, which saw at least one station go as low as 23.9 cents a gallon for regular gas.

• Lewiston’s playgrounds and swimming pool will open at 9 a.m. next Tuesday, Recreation Department Director Nathaniel J. Crowley announced yesterday. Some 27 trained supervisors and life guards have been appointed to supervise playground activity.

25 years ago, 1982

• Sweats are out of the locker room and gymnasiums and are out onto the streets. They are literally “everywhere” – seen on dance floors and in dining rooms as well as on the jogging trails, shopping malls and classrooms.

Styles once relegated to the gym have become the status fashion for men and women, and the “sweats” are numerous enough to be featured in their own fashion show.

• It’s probably a sign of progress that the question is being asked at all. After all, until a few years ago, no one would have bothered to ask if fish caught in the lower Androscoggin River were safe to eat – for the simple reason that fishing in the polluted Andy would generally be considered evidence of insanity.

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