Bernard Charest was a hand sewer at the shoe mills. He discusses how he learned how to sew quickly and efficiently from various skilled sewers. He also discusses the people and politics of the shoe industry and how it has changed. He also talks about how he traveled...
Dana Pride was a shoe worker who specialized in hand sewing. He discusses growing up in Lewiston during the 1970s and 1980s and the past of his family who also worked in the shoe mills. He also talks about the camaraderie sewers had and recounts what a hand...
Conrad Duchette was born in Lewiston, ME to a family with 24 siblings and moved to Turner, ME at 10 years old. He later returned to Lewiston at 18 to work in the shoe shops. He talked about the scariness of the shoe industry shutting down and how he managed to hold...
In his interview, Charles Poliquin, describes growing up in a big family in Lewiston and the changes in the community. He shares his experience working in the Lown and Falcon shoe shop and trying to support his family after dropping out of school at 15. Poliquin...
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...
