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Dave Rancourt

Dave Rancourt started as a hand sewer in shoe factories and eventually worked his way up to owning a small business. He discusses the department of hand sewing and what it was like to manage employees there. To read the transcription, scroll past the first two...

Ed Koss

Ed Koss was a shoemaker who worked in various factories in Central America. He recounts his job in the shoe industry, and how he went from working in Maine to running factories in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He also discusses how globalization has changed the...

Ann Bousquet

Ann Bousquet was born and raised in Lewiston. In her interview, she talks about the differences between Lisbon street in the 1920s to now and what it was like growing up in a big family.  She shares her experience working in the mills first starting as a spot cleaner,...

Andre Giasson

Andre Giasson was born and raised In Auburn. He shares his experience being one of 8 children while his dad was working at the mills. He also talks about his own experience working as a weaver and hand sewer at Bates Mill. He mentions what the working conditions were...

Beatrice Caron

Beatrice Caron was a mill worker from 16 to 63 years old. She discusses her family’s transition from Canada to the U.S. and the Quebecois who worked at the mills. The seniority structure of the mill, including how people moved around jobs, is recounted as well....