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...
Kyle Rancourt was born in 1984 to a family who had owned shoe businesses for generations in Lewiston. Kyle discusses his memories of his parents’ business from when he was a child, to now, as he’s followed in his their footsteps to work in the shoe industry. He...
Herb Koss was born in Lewiston in 1935 following his parents’ arrival to the area. They were originally from Russia, arriving in Massachusetts first before moving up to Maine. His father and his uncle pulled together money to open their own shoe shop up here in...
Laurette Boulay was born in Lewiston in 1920, and she and her family returned to Canada soon after. When she was just shy of 16 years old, Boulay returned to Lewiston on her own to work and live with her aunt and uncle. From when she was 18 to in her early fifties,...
