100 Years Ago: 1923

Enlargement of the DeWitt Hotel, by building an annex extending over the vacant lot just above the hotel on Pine street, is under consideration, according to an unconfirmed report.

With the new armory-auditorium, larger hotel accommodations are now desired more than ever before, and the enlargement of the DeWitt, is believed by many who have looked into the matter, to be the logical solution.

There is sufficient available land adjoining the site of the present building, for an annex that would double the capacity of the hotel. The proposed addition will be thoroughly modern and fireproof, it is understood, and that as soon as it is completed, work of renovating the present building will begin.

When questioned in regard to the report, A. D. Mower, agent of the Franklin Co., owners of the DeWitt, stated that he knew nothing of any plan to enlarge the hotel.

50 Years Ago: 1973

Advertisement

House and Senate committees have started background investigations on vice presidential nominee Gerald R. Ford as a prelude to confirmation hearings.

Majorities in both houses have said they plan to vote for the 60-year-old Michigan congressman, unless something unexpected turns up in his background.

Ford, already given a vice presidential office, jet plane and entry to intelligence briefings and Cabinet meetings by President Nixon, said he doesn’t know of anything that could cause problems.

25 Years Ago: 1998

Passengers from the Queen Elizabeth I received carnations and postcards featuring the ship with the Portland Headlight as a backdrop as the enormous cruise ship arrived Tuesday.

Portland officials want to keep passengers happy as they continue to work to bolster the city’s reputation among cruise ship operators.

The city wants to attract more cruise ships like the QEII, which was expected to pump as much as $260,000 into the local economy.

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

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