by Mary Grow Middle Easterners, Waterville, & Irish, Augusta The French-Canadians and the Irish were not the only groups coming to the central Kennebec Valley from other countries. Stephen Plocher wrote in his Waterville history (found on line) that in the 1860s, people he called “Syrian-Lebanese” from Syria (Lebanon and Syria were French mandates until […]
by Mary Grow VASSALBORO, ME — The May 17 Vassalboro School Board meeting was Chairman Kevin Levasseur’s last, after 21 years on the board, and was marked by expressions of appreciation on both sides. Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer and board members thanked Levasseur for his service, and Pfeiffer assured those present that, “I still know where […]
by Mary Grow CHINA, ME — China Transfer Station Committee members decided at their May 17 meeting they will not recommend a new building to shelter the second compactor just north of the main trash hopper, because cost estimates are too high. Instead, they plan to investigate a cover to protect the controls and container […]
by Mary Grow CHINA, ME — After a long discussion at their May 23 meeting, China Select Board members unanimously voted to buy a new Volvo loader from Chadwick-BaRoss, Inc., of Westbrook. Director of Public Services Shawn Reed urged them to make an immediate decision. Prices are rising weekly, he said; if board members put […]
by Mary Grow (See part 1 of this series here.) French-Canadians Part & other Catholics The story of French-Canadian immigrants in the Augusta and Waterville area, as presented by the writers cited, is partly a story of separateness and discrimination evolving into cooperation and mutual respect. * * * * * * Steven Plocher’s on-line history says Québecois began to […]
by Mary Grow CHINA, ME — China Director of Public Services Shawn Reed has consensus support from the town Road Committee for his paving plans for this summer, which involve extensive use of chip seal rather than asphalt resurfacing (see The Town Line, May 12, p. 2). Reed and Doug Fowler, representing All States Construction, […]
by Mary Grow VASSALBORO, ME — At a brief special meeting May 10, Vassalboro School Board members unanimously hired Ira Michaud as the new principal at Vassalboro Community School (VCS). Michaud will take office July 1, succeeding Megan Allen, who resigned earlier this spring and plans to return to teaching. He is currently ending his […]
by Mary Grow VASSALBORO, ME — Public works issues – 2022 paving plans and the need for a new truck – were the main topics at the May 12 Vassalboro select board meeting. Road Foreman Gene Field said Vassalboro received seven bids for road repaving this summer, all higher than the proposed 2022-23 budget can […]
by Mary Grow Augusta Two distinctly non-British peoples who came to live mainly in Augusta and Waterville, the largest manufacturing centers in the central Kennebec Valley in the 19th and early 20th centuries, were French-Canadians who came south from Canada’s Québec Province, and Middle Easterners, especially Lebanese and Syrians. This article will talk about French-Canadians […]
by Roland D. Hallee There has been a lot of discussion and controversy lately about the plight of whales in the North Atlantic, in particular about the Right Whale, and their interaction with lobstermen. Maine’s lobstermen have fought national conservation groups over federal gear rules and fishery closures intended to protect endangered whales. During a […]