100 years ago, 1913
A fire which threatened to sweep the north side of Main street from Chapel street, completely gutted the building at 224 Main street in which were located the Central Garage on the ground floor and the L. & A. Bowling Alleys on the second floor, Sunday morning. The total damage is estimated at $54,600, partially covered by insurance. The fire started either in the garage repair shop or in the tenement above, the cause not being definitely known at this time. A series of explosions quickly followed and, before the men in charge of the garage who were in the café next door for breakfast could save any of the 12 or 15 automobiles inside, the whole interior of the building was a mass of flames.
50 years ago, 1963
Ernest Malenfant, former Lewiston mayor who is seeking to again assume that office in the municipal election next Monday, said last night that many things need investigation in what he termed the “happy family in the different departments.” He also contended that Mayor Donia J. Girard had claimed the candidate had “hard feelings” against the city’s industrial development department. On this, Malenfant said he has “sympathy for the taxpayers.”
25 years ago, 1988
Jail Supervisor John Lebel today rekindled plans to house minimum-security prisoners in converted basement offices in the Androscoggin County Building since the county’s legislative delegation last week approved the idea. Lebel had temporarily scrapped the idea two weeks ago when he discovered the area was not large enough to house the projected 10 to 20 prisoners. But he has since found additional unused basement space that makes the plan feasible.
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