Collection + Exhibits
Object of the Month
Get a glimpse of the past with highlighted artifacts from the museum’s collection.
With more than 10,00 artifacts in our collection, there’s a lot to learn about. Come along with us as we unearth one item a month and take a deep dive into its use, significance, and any community stories connected to its history, meaning, or purpose.
From archival photographs to awards, manufacturing tools and inventions to locally made holiday ornaments from a once renown manufacturer—get a glimpse into the past, right now.
September 2026: Bates Pension Plan Booklet
Labor Day is a federal holiday established to honor and recognize the American labor movement, acknowledging the essential contributions of laborers to the nation’s development and success.
An example of labor benefits is summarized in this 1972 booklet from the Bates Manufacturing Company detailing their pension plan. Under this plan, a worker could receive a normal pension after age 65, provided they had accumulated more than 15 years of service with the company. For every year of “Credited Service,” an employee earned $1.35 per month toward their pension. Therefore, an employee with 40 years of service would receive a monthly pension of $54.00. The plan also offered an additional guarantee: 36 months of pension payments would be assured, and in the event of the retiree’s death, their beneficiary would continue to receive these payments.
Did you miss a past Object of The Month?
We’ve gone through a treasure trove of items from our collection over the years. Scroll through and see what you may have missed.
January 2026: Weaving Inspection Tools
These tools were meant for the inspection, mending, and hand picking of any imperfections in the weaves and textiles in the Lewiston mills. With regular use these tools developed a gorgeous patina and are a testament to the careful eye of the workers to ensure that...
December 2025: Snowshoe Club Uniform Jacket
This uniform jacket, features the signature gray and scarlet colors of Lewiston's Le Montagnard snowshoe club. Founded in 1922 by Louis-Philippe Gagné, Le Montagnard was the first club of its kind in Lewiston. Each snowshoe club had a unique uniform, identifiable by...
November 2025: Snowshoe Club Pins
Lewiston was a significant center for snowshoe clubs in the 1950s, boasting 17 different organizations. These clubs were popular, even drawing participation from other New England towns with large French-Canadian populations. Each club was distinct, with its own...
October 2025: Costume Fun
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 work.
September 2025: Instruction Book for Weaving Machine
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. Weaving...
August 2025: Shoe Anvil
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...
July 2025: Mr Millard
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 Maine is also...
June 2025: Rock n Roll Bedspread
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...
May 2025: Veterans Honor Board
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...
Help preserve Maine MILL artifacts
Antique and vintage items need a lot of maintenance to prolong their lifetime. Help us to preserve and care for these historical items and representations of our community’s history by donating today.