MF 004 Aroostook County Oral History Project.
Number of Interviews:
119
Dates when interviews were conducted: 1971-1972
Finding Aides: Abstracts; subject and town index
Access Restrictions: none
Aroostook Oral History Project. 1971—1972.
Project conducted under the auspices of the Cary Library in Houlton, Maine,
which resulted in a collection of 119 cassettes, totaling 73 hours, with
interviews of more than 150 people covering a wide range of topics, including
early county history, early farming and machinery, the Aroostook War,
railroading, lumbering, potato farming, maple sugar making, folksongs, folklore,
folk medicine, politics, town meetings, cross-border migration, smuggling,
Indians, sporting camps, schools and schooling, tall tales, superstitions, and
many other aspects of the county's cultural heritage. Tapes in French and
Swedish have not been abstracted and have only brief descriptions of contents; a
general index for the collection by subject and town is available in house.
1654 One cassette tape recorded by Charlotte Lenentine Melvin. Brief index.
Topics include:
introductory history of Aroostook County; general factors controlling historical
development;
process of settlement; international rivalry - U.S. and British Provinces; and
boundary
controversy. Effects of the Webster-Ashburton treaty on Aroostook County. C38
CD0218
2826 Interview of Solomon Saucier in Fort Kent conducted in French, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Topics include: a personal narrative of his life as a farmer, lumberman,
and railroad
worker; Ben Marquis’ lumber works; information about the Allagash, farming, barn
building,
lumbering, the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, maple sugar making and whiskey
making. C 39
CD0219
2827 Interview of Joseph St. Germain of Wallagrass conducted in French circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Topics covered include a personal narrative about his life lumbering and
road building;
Great Northern Paper Co; grindstone roads; building the Wallagrass bridge; the
origin of the
name Wallagrass; and a discussion of how Patten became known as a lumber
capital; information
regarding pulpwood operations; Staceyville; a description of living quarters
during log drives.
Note on cover states that it is a good source on all phases of lumbering in
Aroostook and
Penobscot counties. C40 CD0220
2828 Interview of Michel Fournier conducted in French in Edmunston, Maine, circa
1971-72.
Brief index. Topics covered include: a personal narrative of farming, churning,
the Bangor and
Aroostook Railroad, the Canadian Pacific Railroad, lumbering, the U.S. post
office, folk
medicine, and superstitions. Interview of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Cyr and Mrs.
Michel Fournier
conducted in French in Edmunston, Maine, circa 1971-72. Content includes
discussions about
education, farming, social life, homemaking, superstition, and Indians. C 41
CD0221, CD0222
2829 Interview of Orvila Saucier of Eagle Lake conducted in French, circa
1971-72. Brief index.
Topics include: a personal narrative, information about farming, potato
harvesting, flour mills,
lumbering and the origin of new Canada; information about sheep herding and
railroads. C 42
CD0223
2830 Interview of Charles Cote and Firman Daigle of Edmunston conducted in
French, circa
1971-72. Brief index. Contents include personal narratives of both men, maple
syrup making,
doctors and medicines they employed, farming, land clearing, information about
the maple syrup
process, farming, religion, and a song by Mrs. Charles Cote. C 43 CD0224
2831 Interview of Onezime Cyr of Fort Kent conducted in French, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
Topics include log house construction, social life, a smoke house, salting meat,
candle making,
dyeing wool, home remedies, shoe making, schools, harvesting crops, and early
prices on
commodities. C 44 CD0225
2832 Interview of Eugene Beaulieu and Edgar St. Pierre of Fort Kent conducted in
French, circa
1971-72. Brief index. Topics include schools, travel, lumberman’s wages, outdoor
ovens,
blacksmithing, farming, maple syrup operations, schooling, women’s activities,
home brew, and
New Year’s celebrations. C 45 CD0226, CD0227
2833 Interview of Theophile Freeman of Fort Kent conducted in French, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Topics include farming, cattle and sheep raising, the origin of Soldier
Pont, taking the
train there in 1912, the settlement of the area, the Irish potato famine, the
first schoool at
Wallagras Road, the first church at Wallagras in 1887, Father Demarch,
amusement, home brew
& whiskey making, maple syrup operation, Drs. Sirois and Page, the first
airplane, & life c 1972.
C 46 CD0228
2834 Interview of Fedime Morin of Madawaska conducted in French, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
Topics include information about being a law enforcement officer, early law
enforcement history,
prohibition and early jails, ancedotes of his long career, and advances in
equipment. There is no
side 2. C 47 CD0229
2835 Interview of Mrs. Dan Cyr of Madawaska conducted in French, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
Topics include life as a housewife, birth, wedding and funeral customs,
amusements and making
maple syrup. C 48 CD0330
2836 Interview of Mr. and Mrs. Rene Guerette of Madawaska conducted in French,
circa
1971-72. Brief index. Topics include farming, butchering, soap making, French
foods, education
and church life. Interview of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Cyr of Madawaska conducted in
French. No
transcript or index. C 49 CD0331 - CD0332
2837 Interview of Mrs.Leonie Albert of Madawaska conducted in French, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Topics include life in St. David’s Parish, and a personal narrative
relating to education,
amusements, religious customs, food, and household arts and crafts. C 50 CD0333
2838 Interview of Alice Hebert Daigle of Madawaska conducted in French, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Topics include schools in Madawaska by districts, teaching experiences,
and the Acadian
Cross at St. David. C 51 CD0334, CD0420
2839 Interview of Alice Hebert Daigle of Madawaska conducted in French, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Content include a dialogue between Alice Diagle and her sister Alma
Hebert, information
of all aspects of 38 years of teaching in Madawaska schools, curriculum, wages,
education
requirements. C 51 CD0421
2840 Interview of Raymond Daigle of Madawaska conducted in French, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Tape cover lists contents, including information about St. Basile ferry,
the first auto in
Madawaska, Ferry boats, the Allagash, Fort Kent, Frenchville, Madawaska, St.
David, Grand
Isle, Van Buren, Flanger and its uses and a personal narrative. C 52 CD0422
2841 Interview of Tom Dufour of Madawaska conducted in French. Brief index.
Topics include
the history of the Dufour family, the origin of the name, Violette Brook,
Acadian expulsion,
Indian encounters, and the story of Fort Kent Trust Co., Madawaska Branch. C 53
CD0423,
CD0424
2842 Interview of Mrs. Xavier Dufour of Madawaska conducted in French, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Topics include the tannery in Van Buren for shoe making, schools and
schooling,
superstitions, childbirth at home and home remedies. C 54 CD0425
2843 Interview of Felix Dufour of Madawaska conducted in French, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
Topics include amusements, fishing, church in St. David, a personal narrative,
schools, maple
syrup making, home remedies, and lumbering along the Allagash. C 54 CD0426
2844 Interview of Rose Lajoie of Van Buren conducted in French, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
Topics include recollections of life on the farm, and a personal narrative. C 55
CD0427,
CD0428
2845 Interview of Antoine Lebel of Van Buren conducted in French, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
Topics include personal background, lumbering, log drives, planting and
harvesting wheat,
potatoes, ferry boats, a shingle mill, a starch factory, and horse racing. C 56
CD0429-CD0430
2846 Interviews of Isadore Dumont and Earnest Soucy of Van Buren conducted in
French, circa
1971-72. Brief index. Topics include the Cyr plantation, settling of Madore
Road, a personal
narrative, including information about school life, amusements, home crafts,
holiday
celebrations, a personal narrative, information about a raspberry factory and
stores in the area. C
57 CD0431-CD0432
2847 Interviews of Mrs. Euphemie Dubay and her sister Margarita of Van Buren and
Mr. and
Mrs. William Paradis of Van Buren conducted in French, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Topics
include a personal narrative, an Indian story, Margarita’s song about potato
picking, discussion
about 69 years of marriage, farming, automobiles, amusements, homemade toys, and
shoemaking. C 58 CD0433
2848 Interviews of Flora C..S. St. Pierre of Van Buren and Margaret Walsh of Van
Buren
conducted in French, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Topics include a personal
narrative, early
telephone service, farm life, a lumber camp, raising 21 children, all aspects of
homemaking,
cooking, knitting, a personal narrative about being the chief operator of New
England Telephone
Co. in 1911, World War I, the armistice message received and sent to Washington,
and
comments on Van Buren. C 59 CD0434 - CD0435
2849 Interview of Euphemie Daigle Oulette of Van Buren conducted in French with
some
English, circa 1971-72. Topics include farming, schooling, household duties,
sheep and wool
processing, spinning and frolics. C 60
2850 Interviews of Mrs. Remi Daigle of Van Buren and Isaac Harris of Van Buren
conducted in
French, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Topics include potato planting and
harvesting, house
furnishings, amusements, Christmas celebrations, a blacksmith shop, cleaning
wool, description
of Van Buren in 1910, the Hamlin Lumber mills, the St. John Lumber Co., the
Bangor and
Aroostook Railroad, the ferry crossing on St. John, automobiles, and the Keegan
house. C 61
2851 Interview of Christian Albert of Van Buren conducted in French, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Topics include a personal narrative about being a river pilot on the St.
Lawrence,
education of a doctor, the flu epidemic of 1918, information about Mrs. Michaud,
Albert’s
pharmacy, doctor’s fees and means of payments, and ice house operations. C 62
CD0436
2852 Interview of Henry Anderson of New Sweden conducted in Swedish, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Topics include history of the colonization of New Sweden by 51 Swedes
from Goteburh,
Sweden in 1887, names of settlers and activities of the first two years, social
life, and Christmas
celebrations. C 63 CD0437
2853 Interviews of Annie Lindsten and Georgie Lindsten, of Westmanland, Elsie
Soderberg of
New Sweden, and Fritz Anderson of Stockholm, conducted in Swedish, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Topics include personal narratives of childhood and youth in
Stockholm/New Sweden
area, Lebanon Days (now New Sweden), farming, farm life, education, social life
and customs,
church history, and Christmas tradition. C 64 CD0438-CD0439
2854 Interview of Henry Anderson of New Sweden, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Topics include
history of original settlers, recruitment of Swedes into region, original crops
planted,
development of town, anniversary celebrations discussion, town characters, fires
in the
community in the 1880-90s, schooling in the same period, introduction of
different technologies
into the area, mills, the B&A branch in the region, social activities, reasons
for Swedes coming to
Maine, and his descendants. C 65 CD0440
2855 Interview of Fritz and Lilly Anderson of Stockholm, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Topics
include history of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, lumbering activities and
mills, California
Settlement, history of mills, the Great Depression, schools and schooling,
farming and farm
machinery, social life, and ice cutting. C 66 CD0441 - CD0442
2856 Interview of Mrs. E. Anderson, Mrs. A. Fogelin, and Mrs. E. Soderberg of
Stockholm, circa
1971-72. Brief index. These three daughters of early Swedish settlers discuss
their family origins,
early life in New Sweden and Stockholm, women’s work on farms, the Great
Depression and its
effects, bringing up families, social life, the community welfare organization,
illnesses and
remedies, recipes, and Christmas cooking. C 67 CD0443
2857 Interview of Mr. and Mrs. George Nelson of Stockholm, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Topics
include stories of family origins, the Stockholm Lumber Company, the effects of
World War I on
the region, the flu epidemic, raising a family in the period, Stockholm in 1919
- prosperity, fires
and firefighting, and the first automobiles in the area. C 68 CD0444
2858 Interview of Axel Tall of Stockholm, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Tall
discusses his family’s
background, schooling, East Jemptland, teaching in Stockholm and Caribou,
changes in the
educational system over time, his father’s employment, mills, log hauling,
farming, and a
comparison of the welfare state between its inception and the 1970s. C 69 CD0445
2859 Interviews of Gussie Beaulier of Ashland and Lyle Gardner of Ashland, circa
1971-72.
Brief index. Topics include stories of log cutting and log drives, wood
operations, mechanics of
the drive, work day on the drive, big Sheridan mills, towns of Stetson and
Blanchard, tales from
the log drives (extensive lumbering vocabulary used), stories, poems, and songs
from the late
1800s, early 1900s - no original or local material. C 70 CD0446 - CD0447
2860 Interview of Katherine Coffin of Ashland, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Coffin discusses her
early life, a Ricker classical instrument, musical training, lumbering business,
the first cars in the
region, dentists, drugstores, and social life. C 71 CD0448 - CD0449
2861 Interviews of Climena Sylvester of Ashland and Benton Craig of Ashland,
circa 1971-72.
Brief index. Topics include a history of Ashland and of Grange Number 247;
history of the local
potato house and potato shipping, early memories of hand operations before
electricity, the first
potato and reefer cars, gradual technological improvements, the process of
shipping to Searsport
and Boston, and recent developments in the town’s history. C 72 CD0450 - CD0451
2862 Interview of Lyle Gardner of Ashland, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Gardner
talks about the
history of the local cheese factory circa 1880, the location of Carter Brook, a
description of the
building, toting, a description of tasks, horses, tote wagons, and tote sleds,
the Ashland lumber
company, camp life, and sings a song. C 73 CD0452
2863 Interview of Joseph Theriault and Mr. Clukey of Ashland, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
Theriault and Clukey discuss the history of the Sheridan Mills settlement, the
establishment of
the mill community of Sheridan, bootlegging, wages at the mill, shipping lumber,
the livery
stable, railroad-tie making, building up the Ashland branch of the Bangor and
Aroostook
railroad, Russians and Polishas laborers, Walter Brenan - a woodsman at Oxbow
Flats, guiding,
and a blacksmith shop. C 74 CD0453
2864 Interviews of Ora Daggett of Portage and Georgie Orcutt of Ashland, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Daggett discusses the Lombard Steam Log hauler including a general
description of its
use, anecdotes, and lumbering. Orcutt talks about his experiences as a telephone
operator,
working for the Independent Telephone Company in 1906 and the Aroostook
Telephone
Company. C 75 CD0454 - CD0455
2865 Tape contains a series of barn dance, square dance, and popular music songs
from the
1920s onward, performed by Mac Beaulier, guitar; Leo Michaud, banjo; and Dana
Rafford,
fiddle, circa 1971-72. C 76 CD0456
2866 Interviews of Delta Ellis and Climena Sylvester of Ashland, Maine, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Ellis discusses the history of Ashland and the Advent Christian church.
Sylvester talks
about the history of Union and Congregational church. C 77 CD0457 - CD0458
2867 Interview of Reverand George Plante of Ashland, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Plantediscusses Catholic churches in the Ashland area; missions in Ashland, Sheridan,
and Portage; the
first parish attempt in 1889 and second attempt in 1900; the parish founded in
Sheridan in 1902;
the church at Frenchville; difficulties in the 1930s; and developments in the
community between
the 1960s and 1970s. C 78 CD0459
2868 Interview with Elizabeth M. Rafford of Ashland, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief
index.
Rafford talks about early Ashland schools, the Wrightville school in Sheridan
and its subsequent
certification; a description of a one room classroom; the Doak School on Maridis
Road between
1917-1919; social gatherings in Wrightville; the Doak school districts; and the
economic
hardships of the region. C 79 CD0460
2869 Interviews with George C. Sawyer of Ashland, Maine and Frank W. Howes,
circa 1971-72.
Brief index. Sawyer discusses the Hayden murder and the lynching of Jim Cullin
in Mapleton.Howes, a team driver in Oxbow, talks about early farms and farm sites on the
road between
Oxbow and Knowles Corner; the California Road of 1849; and the story of the name
and history
of the road. C 80 CD0461
2870 Interviews with George Young and Fred Coffin of Ashland, Maine, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Young discusses recollections of his youth, the grist mill, early
telephone services in
Ashland, a visit from woodsmen, early churches, early roads and conditions, and
early lumbering
companies and conditions. Coffin talks about the history of the Ashland Library,
building the
railroad, lumber and work trains, passenger service at Fort Kent, and station
agents. C 81
CD0461 - CD0462
2871 Interview with Ira McNally of Ashland, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
McNally talks
about guiding: cooking in wood camps, guiding on Machias Lake in 1912, a typical
day,
including license costs and guiding fees, cooking in wood camps and on drives,
the Ashland Mill
Company circa 1916, menus, animals, and cook and cookee chores. C 82 CD0464
2872 Interview with Ira McNally of Ashland, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
McNally
discusses the old Ashland Livery stables, a general description of stables and
activities, theAshland blacksmith shop and blacksmithing, the Ashland race track, sulkey
racing, racing on the
ice, hog butchering and whiskey making. C 83 CD0465
2873 Interview with Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Keaton of Caribou, Maine, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
The Keatons discuss life in a lumber camp, the ferry across the St. John River,
the establishment
of a customs office, lumbering, Christmas in the woods, log drives, an alcohol
plant in Caribou,
hunting, and the Realty mill. C 84 CD0466
2874 A tape-recorded collection of French customs and folklore of Caribou Maine,
including
French folksongs, frolics, seasonal customs, superstitions, religious
observations, and legends
based on historical fact. Collected by Susan Collins as a school assignment. C
85 CD0467
2875 Interviews of W.F. and Ruth Howard of Fort Fairfield, Maine and Earl Dow of
Fort
Fairfield, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief index. The Howards talk about early
railroads, the Bangorand Aroostook line, the early railroad and telegraph services, and duties of the
station master.Dow discusses his father’s experiences as a fireman, and his own experiences as
a freight
handler, a clerk and an auditor. C 86 CD0468 - CD0469
2876 Interview of Mrs. Olive Stevens Johnston of Fort Fairfield, Maine, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Johnston discusses the Stevensville settlement in Fort Fairfield, family
mills, housing,
electricity, and water systems. C 87 CD0470
2877 Interview of Edward Johnston of Easton and Fort Fairfield, Maine, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Johnston discusses the history of potato farming and potato handling
industry, the
background and development of the growing and handling of potatoes in potato
houses, the
introduction of farm machinery, different varieties of potatoes, early potato
handling techniques,
the effects of railroads on farming, and modern improvements to the region. C 88
CD0471
2878 Interview of Rommy Haines of Fort Fairfield, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Haines
talks about reading from the diary of James Thurlough, the early county
commissioner, the
Aroostook Vally Starch company, Danes in Fort Fairfield, agriculture, sawmills,
the Plymouth
grant and early settlers, early schools, communicable diseases, poverty, covered
bridges, and a
school fire. C 89 CD0472
2879 Interviews of Lewis Ayoob and Lester Parker of Fort Fairfield, Maine, circa
1971-72. Brief
index. Ayoob discusses Syrians in the Fort Fairfield town band, the arrival of
Syrians in the
region, itinerant peddlers, foods, and funeral customs. Paker talks about his
history with the town
band, a general history of the town band, dance playing and locations and
different occasions,
and the location of the old band stand. C 90 CD0473 - CD0474
2880 Recording of fol
Fort Fairfield, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Tape includes the “Maiden’s
Sacrifice” by Dr.
James Hanay - of Malecite folklore, and “Riverside Cemetary,” a poem by Chandler
Cushman
Harvey, owner and editor of the Fort Fairfield Review (1902-1940), and “Kingdom
of Pines,” a
poem by George F. Ashby. Haines discusses the Maple Grove settlement, a history
of the Haines
family, the first school and first church, Quakers in the region, the
Bangor-Aroostook Railroad,
and the potato industry. C 91 CD0475 - CD0476
2881 Interview of Rose Trask Johnston and Pearl Trask Robinson of Fort
Fairfield, Maine, circa
1971-72. Brief index. Johnston and Robinson discuss farm life and personal
reminiscences. C 92
CD0477
2882 Interviews of Hazel H. Cushman and Mary Towle Kimball of Fort Fairfield,
Maine, circa
1971-72. Brief index. Cushman discusses the history of J. Wingate Haines and the
Quaker Maple
Grove clay, a Civil War letter from Daniel Haines to his brother Fred, a story
of Fred’s invention
of the first horse-drawn cultivator, marketing potatoes, a letter from the
Lewiston Weekly dated
Sept. 5, 1906 by the Agricultural editor, and a portrait of six propsperous
farms. Kimball talks
about Mary Estes Towles’ genealogy, letters by Mary Estes Towles to her
grandmother dated in
1888, and her aunt Mrs. Elmira Tibbetts from 1889, and excerpts from a cookbook
compiled in
1888, which included recipes and household hints. C 93 CD0478 - CD0479
2883 Interviews of Zella Carson Cogswell, Ike Carson, and Marion French of Fort
Fairfield and
of James Bernard of Fort Fairfield, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Cogswell,
Carson, and French
discuss the Carson family background, Wellington House - the first frame house,
shops and
buildings in the early 1920s, circus days, Marion’s story about the Aroostook
War with
biographical details of Warren Johnson, a reading of a draft call of Feb. 28,
1839, and local
sketches from Presque Isle - the Loyal Sunrise - June 7, 1865. Bernard talks
about a history of
Aroostook county from Stewart Holbrook on the B & A, the forest boundary
controversy, and the
results of the Aroostook war. C 94 CD0480 - CD0481
2884 Interview of Carl Rasmussen of Fort Fairfield, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Rasmussen talks
about his early life in New Denmark, New Brunswick, potato growing in Aroostook
circa 1904,
wages in the period, working at a smokehouse and grainery, storage, pressing,
and the sale of
hay, barn raising, and the potato industry between 1905 and 1910. C 95 CD 0482
2885 Interview of Belone Pelletier of Fort Kent, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Pelletier discusses
his childhood experiences, working as a cookee in a lumber camp, cookee stories,
the logistics of
log transportation, how to make coal, drives around Fort Kent, how goods were
transported into
the woods, the ethnic makeup of crews, logging stories, stories relating to his
marriage,
discussion of different lumber companies, and the town layout.C 96 CD0483
2886 Interview of Belone Pelletier of Fort Kent, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Pelletier talks about
a grist mill, music at lumber camps, early stories in the region, introduction
of cars in Fort Kent,
the use of animals for lumbering camps, experiences on the drive as a cookee,
and this history of
lumbering corporations in relation to St. John. C 97 CD0484
2887 Interview of Tom Pelletier of Allagash, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Pelletier discusses
lumbering and boating on the Allagash, the origin of Dickey, a description of a
steam log hauler,
the origin of the name Allagash, the origin of the Allagash Pelletier family,
the origin of Knicker
brook, the ferry on the Allagash in the summers, Governor Sewell, schools in the
area, a general
narrative on householding, a description of a bateau, and J.T. Michaud of the
Michaud farm. C
98 CD0485
2888 Interviews of Tom Pelletier of Allagash and Aaron and Rosie Jackson of St.
Francis, circa
1971-72. Brief index. Pelletier discusses Native Americans and their artifacts,
the end of
lumbering and the Temiscouata railroad, Indian burial grounds, and the ice dam
and a 13 day
flood. The Jacksons talk about the Allagash cave, Grand Falls, Horse race
rapids. Interview also
contains a bear story told by Mrs. Jackson, and a song by Mrs. Jackson learned
75 years
beforehand. C 99 CD0486 - CD0487
2889 Interview of Aaron and Rosie Jackson of St. Francis, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. The
Jacksons discuss log drives, life in the lumbering camps, the Corporation, Ed
Pond, the inventor
of booms, and Big Rapids. C 100 CD0488
2890 Interview of Aaron and Rosie Jackson of St. Francis, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. The
Jacksons discuss rivermen and guides, the flood of 1893 and its effects on the
area, weather
comparisons, education, and canoe making. Also songs by Aaron and Rosie. C 101
CD0489 -
CD0490
2891 Interview of Jim Connors of St. Francis and Allagash, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Connors
discusses a guided tour up the Allagash river, the St. Francis and St. John
Rivers as boundary
rivers, tales of Old Tom Gardner, a famous guide, Connors, New Brunswick, the
Temiscouata
railroad, reminiscences of daily life in earlier years, food, remedies,
knitting, and other daily
chores and habits. C 102 CD0491
2892 Interview of Jim Connors of St. Francis and Allagash, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Connors
talks about hunting and fishing along the St. John River Valley, a poetry
reading of “The Bells of
St. Michele” by Drummond and “Spring Riches”by Catherine Shelley, growing up in
Allagash
and St. Francis, family background, pine lumbering and logging days, and
present-day logging
practices. C 103 CD0492
2893 Interview of John Lewis Page of Fort Kent, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Page
talks about an
old footbridge, personal material, the first doctor in Fort Kent (Dr. Sirois),
the family-owned
footbridge across the St. John River, activities concerned with the bridge,
smuggling and the
custom official, and an animal cemetery. C 104 CD0493
2894 Interview of Edith Kelly of Allagash, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Kelly
discusses well
digging in the Allagash, the quality of clay produced from drilling for pottery,
and how the
discovery of the clay led to a career in making and selling pottery - Alla Ware
Pottery. C 105
CD0494
2895 Interview of Sophie Pinette Brown of Fort Kent, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Brown talks
about teaching at age 13 in 1886 in the back settlements of Fort Kent and Eagle
Lake, the
difficulties of teaching French-Canadian children with English textbooks, and
her brother-in-law
John’s career as an early surveyor of Fort Kent. C 106 CD0495
2896 Interview of Eva McBriety of Allagash, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Tape
includes
discussion of women’s work, housewifery, social events, and winters cooking at
lumber camps.
C 107 CD0496
2897 Interview of Patricia Desjardin of Fort Kent, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Desjardin
discusses the Fort Kent Mill Company - its organization and purposes, Niles and
Tom S.
Pinkham, owners circa 1919, logging and log drives, flour mills, river rights
and the Pinkham
businesses. C 108 CD0497
2898 Interview of Fred Putnam of Houlton, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Putnam
talks about farm
equipment from 1897, the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, the Birdseye-Snyder Pea
operation of
the 1950s, lumber mills, transportation in the early 1900s, more information
about the Bangor
and Aroostook Railroad, transporting potatoes to Houlton, agricultural fairs,
winter recreation,
farm life in 1900, barn raising, and Louis Sockalexis, for whom the Cleveland
Indians were
named. C 109 CD0498
2899 Interview of Fred Putnam of Houlton, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Putnam
talks about farm
equipment, the Houlton race tracks fair associations, the Houlton Agriculture
Society circa
1898), the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, the Houlton Foundry, horse dealers,
horse trading the
first car in the region and reaction from the horses to it, medical service,
electricity, Albert A.
Burleigh and the B&A, the Unitarian church histroy, the Ricker Classical
Institute, and town
meetings. C 110 CD0499
2900 Interview of Mrs. Stella Oliver of Houlton, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Oliver discusses her
family background, living and cooking in a lumber camp, personal experiences
with horses, a
comparison of life in earlier years versus the 1970s, horse contests, state
children, and senior
citizens. C 111 CD0500
2901 Interview of Asael Logan of Houlton, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Logan
talks about his
family background, river drives along the East Branch and the Penobscot, woods
equipment,
lumbering procedures, log riding, an Indian story about Johnny Daylight, Martin
Emerson of
Island Falls, a Hulling Machine along the East Branch, wages, step dancing, a
poem by Fred
Logan entitled “The Penobscot Lumber woods,” and George Knox stories. C 112
CD0501
2902 Recording of Asael Logan playing fiddle; Don McAtee on guitar; and Eric
Richards of
Houlton, circa 1971-72. Tape includes typical square and country music with
comments on well
known fiddlers in the area: Claire Lake and Clifford Lockhart; callers Ambrose
O’Donnell and
Lawrence Carmichael of Monticello - a fiddle maker; the songs: “Wreck at
Altoona” and “Haste
to the Wedding,” and a comparison with southern style fiddling. C 113 CD0502
2903 Interview of William Cumming of Houlton, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Cumming
discusses his work as a weather observer since 1915; and official observer for
the area since
1935; weather records; peculiarities in the Houlton area related to the weather;
and the use of
charts in lawsuits, road building, and such. C 114 CD0503
2904 Interview of William Cumming of Houlton, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Cumming talks
about his career as a druggist starting as an apprentice in 1910 - his duties &
wages; the
standardization of drugs; the “tough end” between 1910-1920; patent medicines,
home
medicines, doctors’ attitudes; store prescriptions; narcotics, aspirin; the
quack Montana Harry,
horse medicines, the names of doctors and dentists between 1910-1940; Put
Bennett & Linneus;
and rat control. C115 CD0504
2905 Interview of William Cumming, George Cumming, and William Jordan of
Houlton, circa
1971-72. Brief index. The three men discuss a trip to Mount Katahdin - reasons
for the trip, the
Togue pond camps; the Depot camp along Sandy Stream; the Basin Pond Camp;
Chimney Pond;
Governor Brewster’s registration book; meeting an Appalachian mountain club
member from
Boston, the South Peak, the Knife Edge, Ponoma Peak, the Dudley Trail, other
climbs, and black
flies and fly dope. C116 CD0505
2906 Interview of Bruce Campbell of Houlton, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Campbell traces the
route of the Great Houlton fire of 1902 and identifies residences and businesses
lost. C117
CD0506
2907 Interview of the Lydia Trask Putnam Chapter of the Daughters of the
American Revolution
in Houlton, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Tape includes information of the
genealogical
backgrounds of the members of a DAR chapter in a small New England town. C 118
CD0507
2908 Interview of Albin V. Larson of Houlton, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Larson
discusses his
Swedish family background, industries in Stockholm, mill work hours and
responsibilities, Atlas
Plywood in Stockholm, Greenville, and Houlton, Atlas and Huber of Patten, and
Larson’s
Plywood Barrels. C 119 CD0508
2909 Interview of Dr. Lore A. Rogers of Patten, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Rogers
discusses his early recollections from childhood to college, medical facilities,
women’s work,
recreation, early lumbering and lumbering procedures, the beginnings of
lumberman’s museum,
and a description of area characters and tales. C 120 CD0509
2910 Interview of Mrs. Louise McLeod of Limestone, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Tape
includes readings from an autograph book that came from Sibley, Iowa, to
Limestone between
1880 and 1883. C 121 CD0510
2911 Interview of Mr. Elden Tapley of Madawaska, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Tapley
discusses the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, the international bridge, a story
of Robert
Connors, railroads, the first automobile, and World War I. C 122 CD0511
2912 Tape of Madawaska Centennial of 1969 - Pageant with lyrics and music. The
tape was
narrated by Alvey Dubois and Geraldine Chasse, and contains information about
the Maleseets
(Malecites), Acadians, the Aroostook War, Mt. Carmel Chapel, the first town
meeting, the
Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, education, and the finale and credits. C 123
CD0512
2913 Interview of Bernadette Mayhew of Madawaska, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief
index.
Mayhew discusses transportation - specifically crossing the river in a basket,
social customs, the
convent in St. Agatha, smuggling, the daughters of Isabella, a church history,
automobiles, and
hotels in the area. C 124 CD0513
2914 Interview of Ernest Chasse of Madawaska, Maine, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Chasses
discusses the background of the Chasse family (Acadian), farming equipment and
methods, both
old and new, roads, St. David’s Parish, the Madawaska Historical Society, and
loading and
inspecting potatoes. C 125 CD0514
2915 Interview of Mrs. Geraldine Chasse of Madawaska, Maine, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
Chasse reads of articles of the Madawaska Historical Society, and discusses the
events leading to
the Aroostook War, Donald Fraser of the Fraser Paper Company, Peter Keegan,
Patrick
Theriault, French missionaries, and the Mt. Carmel church. C 126 CD0515
2916 Interview of Mrs. Geraldine Chasse of Madawaska, Maine, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
Chasse reads articles from the Madawaska Historical Society, and discusses the
USS
Madawaska, fiddleheads, holiday customs, carding wool, Albert Bakery,
recreation, the St.
Agatha Parish, the First Church bell, the International Bridge, and the Malaceet
Legend of
Melobiannah. C 127 CD0516
2917 Interview of Mrs. Frances Levasseur of Madawaska, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Levasseur
talks about the founders of Madawaska, the First Acadian convention in 1910, the
wooden cross
in St. David’s, Native Americans and bark canoes, household arts, customs and
religion, the great
famine of 1797, and household affairs. C 128 CD0517
2918 Interview of Franklin S. Cunningham of Presque Isle, circa 1971-72. Brief
index.
Cunningham talks about his lifetime in education, his personal background, early
eaching in
Mapleton, teaching in Presque Isle, normal schools, country schools, the
development of Presque
Isle into a city, the town band and concerts, traveling shows, and the rewards
of a long career. C
129 CD0518
2919 Interview of Murray Murphy of Presque Isle, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Murphy discusses
work as a woodsman, his life activities, early contact with the woods,
arrowheads and pottery,
building of railroads, recreational camps, Native American remains, the “Tragedy
of the St. John
River,” a poem on a Mohawk attack, forestry service, great fires, early
fire-fighting equipment,
and his father’s farm in Ashland. C 130 CD0519
2920 Interview of Augusta Christie of Presque Isle, a Maine State Legislator,
circa 1971-72.
Brief index. Christie discusses her experiences as a teacher, a farmer’s wife,
and a legislator, her
family background in Ashland, school days in a one-room schoolhouse, her
business career, early
political activities, Depression years, World War II years, and comments on her
legislative
career. C 131 CD0520
2921 Interview of Dorothy Dingwall of Presque Isle, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Dingwall talks
about the Army Base in Presque Isle during World War II - the reasons for the
base, kinds ofplanes, the role of the base on the Atlantic run to Europe, the Arctic Rescue
team, hospitals forthe wounded, prisoners of war, visiting V.I.P.s, a comparison with Vietnam
anti-war attitudes,
and the building of the Limestone base. C 132 CD0521
2922 Interview of Mrs. Avis Dudley of Mapleton, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Dudley talks about
life in Castle Hill and Mapleton, early school days, the David Dudley store, the
Cullin Murder
and lynching, early Mapleton memories, horses, a visit to a lumber camp, life as
a farmer
between 1918 to the 1960s, Depression years, the Dudley Homestead restaurant,
and the
Northern Maine fair in the 1920s. C 133 CD0522
2923 Interview of Harold Glidden of Presque Isle, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Glidden discusses
the story of WABM (radio) and WAGM (television) from the beginning in 1931 in
Mars Hill up
through 1972. Includes radio stations in Mars Hill, Houlton, and Presque Isle. C
134 CD0523
2924 Interview of Charles Watson of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Watson tells a story
about the Civil War in Calais, and discusses bottling works, his brother’s
grocery store, stores on
Main Street, and an earthquake in October 1924. C 135 CD0524
2925 Interview of Ernest Soucy of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Soucy
talks about his
life as a storekeeper, the establishment of a department store in 1941, general
description of all
areas of storekeeping, La Croix mill, chapel eddy siding, modernizations in
storekeeping, sports
in Van Buren, ice racing, the tannery, farming and a raspberry factory. C 136
CD525
2926 Interview of Everett Dionne of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Dionne discusses
shingle making, Cutler’s mills, ferries and crossings, the Violettes’ camps, the
Van Buren circuit,
and French Spite Songs by Michael Thibodeau. C 137 CD0526
2927 Interview of Mathilda Derosier of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Derosier talks
about life on the farm, a walking trip to Old Town, and information about a
black plaque or the
black plague. C 137 CD0527
2928 Interview of the Farrells and Michauds of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Tape
includes information about Acadian and Irish families living along the St. John
River, and a
genealogy of the Farrell and Michaud families. C 138, side 1 CD528
2929 Interview of Elmer Violette of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Violette discusses
the history of the Violette family from the Acadian settlement in 1785 to
present, and the sawmill
on Violette brook. C 138, side 2 CD0529
2930 Interview of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Poirier, Sr. of Van Buren, circa 1971-72.
Brief index. The
Poiriers discuss a Van Buren town meeting from 1916 or 1917, Joe B. Herron, the
Price brothers
mill, the ferry slip locations on the St. John river, the international bridge
at Fort Kent, and
French songs sung by Mrs. Poirier. C 139 CD0530
2931 Interview of Marcella Belanger Violette of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Violette
discusses the history of the St. John River valley and Acadians from
approximately 1787 to 1911,the northeastern boundary controversy, the role of the church, education, and
different types of
French spoken in the area. C 140 CD0531
2932 Interview of Mrs. James Franck of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Mrs. Franck
talks about life as a game warden’s wife, winter amusements, and traveling by
the Bangor and
Aroostook railroad. C 141, side 1 CD0532
2933 Interview of Mary Jane Michaud of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Michaud
discusses schools and school teaching. C 141, side 2 CD0533
2934 Interview of Mildred Smith Gagnon of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Gagnon
discusses biographical data on Peter Charles Keegan from the early 1900s, St.
Mary’s College,Thomas Smith, the superintendent of schools, lumber mills, army service for 17.5
years, and her
two terms in the state legislature. C 142 CD0534
2935 Interview of Gerald Gagnon of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Gagnon
talks about
the legend about Robert E. Lee, Powers Creek, the Gagnon genealogy, and tales
told to him byhis grandfather. C 143, side 1 CD0535
2936 Interview of Henrietta Dionne of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Dionne discusses
a housewife’s activities, Christmas, bridal shower and wedding traditions,
gardening, soap and
lard making, and schooling. C 143, side 2 CD0536
2937 Interview of Mrs. Frances Levasseur of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Levasseur
talks about the Honorable John Rice Frank, the Van Buren school choir, French
songs common
to the valley, and a Madawaska territory song. C 144 CD0537
2938 Interview of Justina P. Marquis of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Marquis
discusses the genealogies of the Marquis and Michaud families, the history of
Van Buren, town
officials, church affairs, and the Violette homestead. C 145 CD0538
2939 Interview of Sister Bertha Duperry of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief
index. Tape includes
a history of the Keegan post office between 1907-1971 and Charles Keegan; a
history of the
Duperry family; the railroad from Bangor to St. John River, Europeans and North
American
Company controversy, Van Buren history quiz, a short report on potato houses by
a sixth grader,
an article from the Portland Sunday Telegram from November 6, 1955, a centenary
of the
Diocese of Portland, and St. Daigle’s parish . C 146 CD0539
2940 Interview of Martha Cyr of Van Buren, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Cyr
discusses the Cyr
geneology, schooling at the Good Shepherd Convent in 1900, open air studies -
astronomy,
violin-making, maple sugar making, and spring tonic. C 147 CD0540
2941 Interview of Everett Cary of Washburn, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Cary
discusses his
memories of Washburn, education, fires, ferries, a bridge, farming, the
Aroostook Valley
Railroad, the Ku Klux Klan, and recreation. C 148 CD0541
2942 Interview of Blanche Price of Washburn, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Price
talks about the
Aroostook Valley Railroad, World Wars I and II, and mills in the area. C 149
CD0547
2943 Interview of Helen Haines and Arthur Plissey of Washburn, circa 1971-72.
Brief index.
Haines and Plissey discuss schooling in Washburn and in general in 1921, school
transportation
and early roads, school cirriculum, sports, planting, the Veneer mill, and fires
in Washburn in
1924 -25. C 150 CD0548
2944 Interview of Alta and Earl Munson of Washburn, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
The Munsons
talk about Tommy Patterson, silent movies, fires, the ferry from Aroostook
Valley Park to
Washburn, and Crouseville. C 151 CD0549
2945 Interview of Myrtle Smith of Washburn, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Smith
discusses the
history of Washburn (highlights), the Washburn Library, newspapers, education,
the Aroostook
Valley Railroad, craftsmen, blacksmiths, and dressmakers, itinerant peddlers,
religious services,
and socials and recreation. C 152 CD0550
2946 Interview of Autice Jardine of Washburn, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Jardine talks about
the Canadian Pacific Railroad which was built to compete with Bangor and
Aroostook Railroad,
and an excursion to Boston on Washington’s birthday on the B&A. C 153 CD0551
2947 Tape includes a reading by Myrtle Jardine of a term paper by Larry Wilcox
on the history of
Washburn. C 154 CD0552
2948 Interview of Axie Fox of Washburn, circa 1971-72. Brief index. Fox
discusses the history
of Wade, schools, and a Stanley steamer. C 155 CD0553
2949 Interview of Evelyn Flewelling of Crouseville, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Flewelling
discusses the history of Crouseville, a log drive, the advent Christian church,
and education. C
156, side 1 CD0554
2950 Interview of Carol Blackstone of Perham, circa 1971-72. Brief index.
Blackstone discusses
the history of Perham, the Baptist church, schools, railroads, mills, the maple
sugar industry, and
professional men, including politicians, doctors, and ministers. C 156, side 2
CD0555
3111 Interview of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Cyr and Mrs. Michel Fournier conducted in
French in
Edmunston. Tape cover states content includes discussions about education,
farming, social life,
homemaking, superstition, and Indians. C41 Side 2.
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