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.
Dorthy Charpentier was a repairer at two different shoe factories during her career after she had to drop out of school to work. She discusses her job, working at the mill, and modeling shoes. She also discusses her family’s jobs at the mills, including her...
Blanche talks about the jobs her family held after moving to Lewiston, primarily in the mills. She discusses how she started in the Androscoggin Mill, and the jobs she had before eventually retiring. Blanche also shares some of the social activities she and her...
Nancy Higgins worked as a stitcher in at the Bates Mill. She discusses her work and her eventual role as a supervisor. She also mentions when the mills started closing as well as unions at the workplace.
Irene worked at the Bates Mill in the winding room with cotton. In this interview, Irene discusses the workers at the mill, including what child labor looked like at the time. She also discusses her family’s transition from Canada to Maine.
