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...
Gerard worked as a Loom Fixer Supervisor for the Bates Manufacturing Company. He discusses how he got his diploma from the International Correspondence School and went from a fill-in to supervisor, his experience in service, his family history, and the particular...
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...
