Fernand Labbe decided to leave high school in 1956 so that he could begin work at the mills. He worked for a number of years at Hill Mill, where he met his wife. Labbe outlines his roles in the mill, and discusses his experience in the workers union, and a strike that...
Norm Perault was born and raised in Lewiston, where his father worked at the Bates Mill as the supervisor for the boiler room. Norm started work at the Bates mill at 16, but left shortly after to become a lumberjack. A supervisor for the Hill Mill later made a bet...
Noel Morrell was born in Waterville in the late 1920s, and grew up with his family in Lewiston. Morrell worked as a printing press operator at Bates Mill from around 1952 until he was laid off in 1983 during the company’s downsizing period. He discusses the...
In 1918, when Ernest Lamontagne was two years old, his family moved from French Canada to Lewiston to work. Lamontagne talks about growing up in Lewiston, describes his family life, and his experience working at Bates Mill.
Roger Farnum came of age in Lewiston and Turner during the 1940s. After marrying, he began working in the shoe industry in Lewiston. He discusses his role buying materials from suppliers to sell to shoe companies, unions strikes, and explains how he was impacted when,...
