Pauline Labbe was born in Lewiston in 1942. Her mother had worked as a doffer at Hill Mill, and her father worked in the shoe industry. Labbe joined her mother working at Hill Mill after graduating high school. She discusses the presence of French-Canadian culture...
Norm Perault was born and raised in Lewiston, where his father worked at the Bates Mill as the supervisor for the boiler room. Norm started work at the Bates mill at 16, but left shortly after to become a lumberjack. A supervisor for the Hill Mill later made a bet...
Irene Harvey was born and raised in Lewiston in Little Canada. In 1960, when Harvey was in her teens, she left school to begin work in order to contribute to her family. She soon followed in her father’s footsteps, and began working in the shoe factories alongside...
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.
Jerry Roussaeu was born in Auburn in 1930 to a French Canadian family. After receiving his Social Security card when he was thirteen, he began working in the brickyard to contribute to his family. He discusses what daily life was like growing up in the 1930s and 40s...
