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  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
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  • Learn
    • Learning with MaineMILL
    • For Teachers
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    • Permanent Collection
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    • October 25th Memorial and Archive
    • Virtual Exhibits
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Constance Desjardins

Constance was born and raised in Lewiston, ME. She shares how her family came from Canada to Maine, growing up in Lewiston in the 30s and 40s, what the community was like, and her time as a clerk in the Bates Division of the Bates Manufacturing Company.

Germain Letourneau

Germain Letourneau was a worker at the Hill and Bates Mill. He initially discusses his family and then his jobs as a supervisor at the mills, including a strike he helped organize. He also describes the step-by-step process of making yarn.

Emeril Bergeron

Emeril Bergeron worked in the mills for forty years. He discusses both the differences in the communities of Lewiston and Auburn and the community of the mill. He also details the generational differences between education and his family’s views on it. Finally,...

Donald Caron

Donald Caron was a mechanic in the textile mills from the 1940s to 1970s.  He discusses growing up in Lewiston. This includes his schooling, religion, and the community in both Lewiston and Auburn. He also discusses other childhood memories and his experience being...

Bruce Hanley

Bruce has been involved in the shoe industry from a young age. In this interview, Bruce describes how he co-founded a shoe-company, the Lewiston and Mill community, the innovation of new technology, and competition within the shoe industry.
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