Tag Archives: Lewiston Maine

Franco-Americans in Maine’s political history

Franco-Americans of Maine

Then and Now– A French sub-title for this blog might be, “Plus les choses changent, plus elles restent les mêmes”. (The more things change, the more they stay the same.) Maine’s political analyst and author Professor Christian Potholm, has often recognized the importance of the Franco-Americans voters.  Writing in one of his many books about […]

Franco-American Collections in the Digital Commons

Lewiston City Planner Doug Greene

LEWISTON, ME– As a member of the Board of Directors with the Franco-American Collection, at the University of Southern Maine Lewiston-Auburn College (USM LAC), I am learning about the timely importance of the “Digital Commons”. This resource for research and scholarship is open to the on-line universe, for the purpose of retrieving valuable data about […]

March is “Celebrate French in Maine” month: Events recognize Franco-Americans

Juliana and Richard L'Heureux at the French Cultural Center in Boston on March 5, 2019

First of all, I want to thank my social media friend Doris Perrault Pelletier for adding this following quote to the message I posted about the Francophonie kick-off celebration, hosted at the French Cultural Center, on March 5, in Boston: Doris Perreault Pelletier  “It’s wonderful that there is a celebration for Franco Americans. Society has […]

Above the Fold – an essay about Sister Myriam

Bells of Peace

A  startling  World  War  history  lesson  leaped  out  of  a  1940, Lewiston Maine newspaper,  yellowing  with  age,  in  an  above  the  fold headline:  “Une  Jeune  Relig’euse  de  Lewiston  tuée  France”. This essay is my tribute to the life of Sister Myriam*. World nations are recognizing the centennial anniversary commemorating the signing of the Armistice ending […]

Snowshoes in Franco-American history and culture

Antique snowshoes

Even in the July heat, when Maine air temperatures hovered in the upper 90’s F, the thought of another winter is, always, only 6 months away.  Snow shoes (raquette à neige), relics of winters past, were a generous loan provided to me for the purpose of adding them to the archives and exhibits in the Franco-American […]

Honored Franco-American musician couple perform during St. John Baptist program

Don and Cindy Roy of Gorham

LEWISTON, Me–   It was a special occasion to enjoy the performance of the talented Don and Cindy (Lebrecque) Roy, when the talented musical couple from Gorham performed on Friday, June 22,  at the Saint John Baptiste celebration held at the Franco-Gendron Center, on Cedar Street in Lewiston. In fact, the talented Maine musical duo will […]

My travel hobby – Discovering French culture

The Cathedral

A visit to North Carolina to stay with friends for a few days confirmed, once again, how French culture is often surprisingly evident, wherever we happen to travel. Recently, we were hosted by our friends the Dubays at their lovely North Carolina home. Don Dubay is a Lewiston, Maine native and his wife Gail is […]

Le Mois de la Francophonie – March events

Le Mois de la Francophonie in Boston

Bonjour French Cultural Center in Boston with Mitch Thomas and Jacynthe Jacques. It was an honor to be among colleagues who were invited to celebrate the launching of Le Mois de la Francohonie, at a well attended event hosted by the French Cultural Center of Boston. Leading the welcome for the approximately 120 attendees were […]

Why they came: Franco-American immigration

Why they came

A presentation on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at the University of Southern Maine Lewiston Auburn College Franco-American Collection, highlighted important histories about Maine’s immigrants. French-Canadian, Franco-American and recently the French-Africans are now part of the history of French immigration into Maine. Lorraine Masure chronicled her Franco-American family’s immigration in “Growing Up Franco-American With No Patent […]