100 Years Ago: 1923
George C. Filteau of Lewiston has become business manager of “Le Messager,” Lewiston’s French-language newspaper, succeeding L. N. Gendreau of Lewiston, who has retired because of ill health. Mr. Filteau remains managing editor also, but has an assistant now, Louis Gagne of Quebec. Jean B. Couture is editor-in-chief of the paper. His son, Valdor Couture, has entered the collection department of the paper.
50 Years Ago: 1973
The Maine Masque Theatre will present Story Theatre in the Bingham Hall Auditorium on Oct. 22. The Paul Sills production is a free-form of theatre with music based on the fables of Aesop and the Brothers Grimm. The production is presented under the aegis of the University of Maine’s Department of Speech. A significant portion of the expense is being borne by the University Patrons of the Arts. The free performance, the fourth in the Gould Academy Concert Lecture Series, is open to the public and will be held at 8 p.m.
25 Years Ago: 1998
Hot tubs for mothers-to-be are easing the final stages of labor at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center’s birthing unit. Dr. Kit Gardner of Auburn is delighted with the results she has seen with the tubs over several months of use.
“It’s something you didn’t read about in the textbooks,” she said. “It’s not just for convenience and comfort. It’s smart medicine.”
Analysis of hot tub use at St. Mary’s has shown a dramatic decline in the need to perform Caesarean section deliveries, Gardner said.
Although tub baths are ruled out during pregnancy, Gardner said there’s no problem with it at this last stage.
In April, Laurel DePuy of Litchfield gave birth to a daughter, Brooke, It was the second child for Laurel and her husband, Richard DePuy, so she had plenty of reference for comparison. She has no doubt her time in the hot tub was a significant factor in bringing her labor to a quicker, easier and natural conclusion. Being a registered nurse in the St. Mary’s birthing unit, she’s seen the reaction of many mothers.
“It totally relaxes you. It actually takes an edge off the contractions,” DePuy said. She recalled that she was having long and very uncomfortable labor, but as soon as she gave the hot tub a try, dilation progressed rapidly and Brooke was born soon after.
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