This photograph from our archival collection is captioned, “Bob Larrabee ‘clowning around’ in the Bates Classing Room.” The fun hat he wears conveys a sense of lightheartedness that likely helped ease the intensity of the Classing Room’s demanding...
Andre Langlois’s name is marked on the inside of this instruction book for the Bates Mill weaving machine. This detail reminds us of the contributions of thousands of individuals, like Langlois, who were key to the success of the Lewiston and Auburn mills....
This cast iron cobbler’s shoe anvil, used for making and repairing footwear, represents the late 19th and early 20th centuries when shoe manufacturing was central to the economies of Lewiston and Auburn. The Maine MILL’s new location at 1 Beech Street, which will open...
This picture of a mallard duck was found in part of our archives. With a nest and a box labeled ‘Mr. Millard’, it seems like the Bates Mill may have had a duck employed! Maine is home to numerous species of aquatic birds, while being known for puffins...
This Bates bedspread was donated to us earlier this year, and is in great condition. Featuring a very complicated and elaborate design, this bedspread would have taken a lot of work to create. Starting with artists drafting the design, to being turned into punch...
Located outside our permanent gallery, the names listed are those who worked at the Bates Mill and served during World War Two, either through the draft or volunteering. On the left side are the women who served, with their names marked on the board with a...
