Looking Backward

The north

10 years ago

March 16, 2000:Watertown retail gasoline prices have risen about 50 cents per gallon in the last 15 months, a gas station survey shows. The average price for low-octane unleaded at 25 Watertown-area gas stations was $1.62 per gallon. Per-gallon prices ranged from $1.57 to $1.64 for five stations in the survey.

25 years ago

March 16, 1985:The three-day Expo '85 began Friday in Ogdensburg. If predictions hold true, about 15,000 people will visit the Ogdensburg Free Academy Golden Dome by Sunday. Within the first three hours Friday evening nearly 2,000 people had arrived. Expo is a display of more than 80 businesses, groups, public and law enforcement agencies and craftspeople.

50 years ago

March 16, 1960:The Watertown City Council is eyeing a proposal of the Freeman Bus Corp. that its city franchise be amended to abandon service on the so-called Gotham Street line. Company President Robert C. Freeman said he is proposing abandonment for "lack of business."

75 years ago

March 16, 1935:The local division office of Internal Revenue experienced the busiest period in filing income tax returns this year since 1923. About 4,000 returns were filed here.

100 years ago

March 16, 1910:Philip V. Danahy, Albany, representing the State Charities Aid Association, held a conference with the members of the county building committee in the matter of the proposed tuberculosis hospital. He expressed himself as being pleased with the manner in which the matter was being administered and said that the appropriation of $15,000 for site and hospital was ample if judiciously expended.

125 years ago

March 16, 1885:The Brockville Recorder says: "Some of our townsmen sat in their chairs at home last night and listened to an excellent concert given at Gouverneur, an American town, many miles across the river. They were indebted to the telephone for the treat. When the B.L.C. minstrel show takes place we will reciprocate."

The world

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Today is Tuesday, March 16,the 75th day of 2010. There are 290 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On March 16, 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlet Letter" was first published.

Thought for Today:"Nearly all our disasters come from a few fools having the 'courage of their convictions."' — Coventry Patmore, English poet (1823-1896).