Cecile Brodeur was born and raised in Lewiston, she speaks about growing up in a big family and having to work in the mills with her 11 siblings at 18 in order to support the family. She worked in the card room at the Bates Mill, and she talks about her experience...
Bernadette Cloutier worked in the Production Department of the Bates Mill, her job was to decide the color of the spread and to change the colors on the looms. She shares how she got started, in the finishing room and then operating the switchboard. Cloutier describes...
William ‘Bud’ Lewis worked as an engineer for the Bates Manufacturing Company Inc. from 1949 to 1985, then became a consultant until 2000. In this interview, he discusses growing up during The Great Depression in Portland, Maine, the history of the...
Real Fournier worked at the Bates Mill in the winding department. He discusses strikes at the mill as well as the snowshoe club at the mill he was a part of. He also talks about the people in Lewiston as well as events he participated in.
Ray and Rita Thibault worked various jobs in the shoe mills. Ray discusses his job as a pattern maker and Rita talks about her childhood and work as well. Both speak positively of the shoe industry.
