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Ernest Lamontagne

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. 

Laurent Rivard

Laurent Rivard was born in Lewiston in 1920, and grew up in what was called “Little Canada”. He began working at the Androscoggin Mill at 18 after finishing school, and with the exception of two years spent in the army, Rivard would continue to work in various mills...

Lucille Barret

Born in 1925, Lucille Barret was raised in Little Canada and shares her experiences having grown up there. She worked at the Bates Mill for a very long time, starting in 1952 until 1995. She was a stitcher for the bedspreads for about 48 of the 50 years she worked...

Emma Pelletier

When she was eleven years old, Emma Pelletier’s family left their home in St. Ludger, Canada for Lewiston. She began working in Bates Mill as a battery hand as soon as she was big enough to work, eventually becoming a room girl. Pelletier describes her roles at the...

Ray Berube

Ray Berube was born in Danville and grew up in New Auburn, sharing his experiences growing up in the French community of Auburn. Around the time he was 12 or 13 he started working in the brickyard, where he would cover the bricks in sand so they wouldn’t dry out too...