Rita Morin worked in the shoe department. She discusses her childhood with 8 siblings and her transition to working in a shoe factory. She also describes the jobs in the mills that her family had and the community in her department.
Roland talks about growing up in Lewiston and all the activities that were available for kids to do in the 60s and 70s. He describes his family and his father’s BBQ chicken restaurant. He talks about working at Falcon Shoe and how he went from begging for his...
Tom LeVeen starts by sharing his experience growing up in the Worcester area, as the son of a mill owner. He talks about working at Bates Mill as the president. LeVeen speaks of the challenges that occurred when the Bates Mill was financially struggling in 1980s. He...
Jason Gosselin worked in the dyeing lab of the Bates Mill in 1993. He shares his family’s history with the mill, the end of the mill, and the knowledge he gained while working in the lab.
Jackie and Gerry LaFrance worked in the Bates mill, Jackie analyzing sugar and Gerry working with weaving, dye, and eventually a lab colorist and defect inspector. Gerry discusses the turnover of owners at the mills, and he and Jackie both talk about community events...
