100 Years Ago: 1923
In accordance with the usual custom, two members of the Stanton Bird Club went out to the sanctuary on Christmas day and took the census of birds. They saw Downy woodpeckers, blue jays, crows, evening grosbeak and several chickadees.
50 Years Ago: 1973
The breakfast meeting for the Beth Abraham Sisterhood held recently at the Auburn synagog was highlighted by a talk on equal rights amendment by State Rep. Joyce E. Lewis.
It was announced that a Bar Mitzvah committee has been formed and will cater to Bar Mitzvahs for members of the Beth Abraham Congregation. Members of the committee include Mrs. Norman Geller, Mrs. Richard Wilner, Mrs. Robert Allen, Mrs. Edward Koss and Mrs. Milton Weiner.
25 Years Ago: 1998
Old Fort Western will celebrate the new year in 18th-century style when it hosts the new year open house from 1 to 3 pm Sunday, Jan 3, at the fort.
For many New Englanders, New Year’s Day was more publicly celebrated than Christmas Day, said fort director Jay Adams. People stopped by one another’s homes and even exchanged small gifts. The holiday also provided an opportunity for taking stock, both of one’s financial condition (accounts were often settled at the first of the year) and of one’s’ spiritual assets. As it does now, a sense of a new beginning certainly prevailed.
To remind the public that the holidays were less generally observed than they are now, James Howard’s Company will also be on hand to demonstrate everyday activities that would have been part of garrison life at the fort during the French and Indian War.
New Year’s open house admission is free. Donations in support of educational programming at the fort will be accepted. Old Fort Western is open for walk-in visits the first Sunday of every month now through April.
The material used in Looking Back is produced exactly as it originally appeared although misspellings and errors may be corrected.
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