10 years ago

From the Journal Tribune: “A cold, empty building near the railroad tracks on Main Street is poised to become a time-cherished after-school option for students once again. Southern Maine Boxing, displaced in June by the closure of the YMCA’s downdown branch, is working on rebuilding its program from scratch in the new location, with 30 eager would-be boxers waiting in the wings.”

50 years ago

From the Biddeford-Saco Journal: “Rep. Nicholas Danton, of (Old Orchard Beach) today called for an investigation and evaluation of various state appointive boards and committees and the competency of their members. Danton requested the probe following the recent announcement by the State Board of Education it is not in favor of the construction of York County Vocational School.”

100 years ago

From the Biddeford Daily Journal: “The biggest fire, in monetary loss, in the history of Biddeford, occurred Friday night and this morning when about one-half of the $200,000 storehouse of the Pepperell Manufacturing company, on Lincoln and Pearl streets, was damaged, with contents, to the extent of half a million dollars. Six thousand bales of cotton and a large quantity of manufactured cloth were partially destroyed.” — Jeff Lagasse

Today in History

Today is Friday, Oct. 30, the 303rd day of 2015. There are 62 days left in the year.

On this date:

In 1735, the second president of the United States, John Adams, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. In 1864, Helena, Montana, was founded. In 1938, the radio play “The War of the Worlds,” starring Orson Welles, aired on CBS. In 1945, the U.S. government announced the end of shoe rationing, effective at midnight. In 1953, Gen. George C. Marshall was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Albert Schweitzer received the Peace Prize for 1952. In 1961, the Soviet Union tested a hydrogen bomb, the “Tsar Bomba,” with a force estimated at about 50 megatons. The Soviet Party Congress unanimously approved a resolution ordering the removal of Josef Stalin’s body from Lenin’s tomb. In 1974, Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the eighth round of a 15-round bout in Kinshasa, Zaire, known as the “Rumble in the Jungle,” to regain his world heavyweight title.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On Oct. 30, 1965, the miniskirt had its “coming out,” of sorts. British model Jean Shrimpton scandalized onlookers by showing up for Victoria Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, in a white, sleeveless shift dress that had a hem four inches above her knees. (Shrimpton was also criticized for not wearing a hat, gloves or stockings to such a formal occasion.)

Ten years ago

The body of Rosa Parks arrived at the U.S. Capitol, where the civil rights icon became the first woman to lie in honor in the Rotunda; President George W. Bush and congressional leaders paused to lay wreaths by her casket.

Five years ago

President Barack Obama implored voters to resist a Republican tide, warning that if the GOP prevailed in midterm elections, all the progress of his first two years in office could be “rolled back.” Comedians Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart headlined a “Rally to Restore Sanity and/ or Fear” in Washington attended by tens of thousands.

One year ago

Israel closed all access to Jerusalem’s most sensitive religious site, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, in a rare move that ratcheted up tensions after the attempted assassination of a Jewish religious activist and the killing of a Palestinian suspect in the case by security forces. Thomas Menino, Boston’s longest-serving mayor, died at age 71. — By The Associated Press