Roland talks about growing up in Lewiston and the struggles of growing up in the great depression. He talks about all of his work at Shapiro Shoe; the work environment and the social aspects of it all. He describes his work in the cutting room specifically in the...
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.
Roland Gosselin, the oldest of nine children, worked as a weaver in the Bates Mill for 48 years and as a business agent for the union office. He shares stories about his family, his time in the mill and union, as well as his involvement in his community, the Richelieu...
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...
