-
Rachel Hortense Morin, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin, Part 1
Rachel Hortense Morin
Rachel Hortense Morin, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin, July 29, 1993, in Orono, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Also present, Benoit Bouchard. R. Morin reminisces about living on French Island in Old Town: family history; neighbors; games and entertainment; businesses; nicknames; meals; Christmas; family relationships and economic activities; learning English in school; St. Joseph's School and the nuns; and nuns and priests from French Island. Interviewee frequently lapses into French.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2773_c1502_01
Part 2. mfc_na2773_c1502_02 -
Rachel Hortense Morin, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin, Part 2
Rachel Hortense Morin
Rachel Hortense Morin, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin, July 29, 1993, in Orono, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Also present, Benoit Bouchard. R. Morin reminisces about living on French Island in Old Town: family history; neighbors; games and entertainment; businesses; nicknames; meals; Christmas; family relationships and economic activities; learning English in school; St. Joseph's School and the nuns; and nuns and priests from French Island. Interviewee frequently lapses into French.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2773_c1502_01
Part 2. mfc_na2773_c1502_02 -
Bella Nadeau, interviewed by Carol Nichols, Part 1
Bella Nadeau
Bella Nadeau, interviewed by Carol Nichols, 1993, at her home in Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Nadeau talks about growing up on French Island in Old Town, including: movie theaters and music; St. Joseph's school; sawmill; stores and restaurants; LaBree's bakery; playmates and children's games; night school for adults; dangers of trains; delivering milk to the neighborhood; mourning customs; saw mills and woolen mill; wash day; and plumbing.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2774_c1503_01
Part 2. mfc_na2774_c1503_02 -
Bella Nadeau, interviewed by Carol Nichols, Part 2
Bella Nadeau
Bella Nadeau, interviewed by Carol Nichols, 1993, at her home in Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Nadeau talks about growing up on French Island in Old Town, including: movie theaters and music; St. Joseph's school; sawmill; stores and restaurants; LaBree's bakery; playmates and children's games; night school for adults; dangers of trains; delivering milk to the neighborhood; mourning customs; saw mills and woolen mill; wash day; and plumbing.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2774_c1503_01
Part 2. mfc_na2774_c1503_02 -
Walter Nadeau, interviewed by Genie Wollstadt, Part 1
Walter Nadeau
Walter Nadeau, interviewed by Genie Wollstadt, December 9, 1993, at his home in Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Nadeau talks about growing up on French Island in Old Town; parent's work; schools; children's games; father's grocery store; community telephone; transportation and transition to automobiles; businesses on the Island; 1934 flood; neighbors; funerals and weddings; medicine and doctors; sewing circles; 4th of July; employment opportunities in the Old Town area; and the Great Depression.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2776_c1505_01
Part 2. mfc_na2776_c1505_02 -
Walter Nadeau, interviewed by Genie Wollstadt, Part 2
Walter Nadeau
Walter Nadeau, interviewed by Genie Wollstadt, December 9, 1993, at his home in Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Nadeau talks about growing up on French Island in Old Town; parent's work; schools; children's games; father's grocery store; community telephone; transportation and transition to automobiles; businesses on the Island; 1934 flood; neighbors; funerals and weddings; medicine and doctors; sewing circles; 4th of July; employment opportunities in the Old Town area; and the Great Depression.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2776_c1505_01
Part 2. mfc_na2776_c1505_02 -
Meledore Ouellette, interviewed by Barbara Ouellette, Part 1
Meledore Ouellette
Meledore Ouellette, interviewed by Barbara Ouellette, 1994, at her home on French Island in Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Ouellette discusses her memories of French Island. Topics include: the locations of houses and businesses; LaBree's bakery; stores on the Island; funerals; neighborhood relationships; keeping animals for food; jobs; food; boxing; Shuffle Inn; baseball games; and swimming.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2777_c1506_01
Part 2. mfc_na2777_c1506_02 -
Meledore Ouellette, interviewed by Barbara Ouellette, Part 2
Meledore Ouellette
Meledore Ouellette, interviewed by Barbara Ouellette, 1994, at her home on French Island in Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Ouellette discusses her memories of French Island. Topics include: the locations of houses and businesses; LaBree's bakery; stores on the Island; funerals; neighborhood relationships; keeping animals for food; jobs; food; boxing; Shuffle Inn; baseball games; and swimming.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2777_c1506_01
Part 2. mfc_na2777_c1506_02 -
Melvina Paradis, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin. Part 1
Melvina Paradis
Melvina Paradis, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin, June 11, 1993, at her home on French Island in Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Also present, Benoit Bouchard and Velma Paradis. M. Paradis discusses her experiences on French Island; family history; her parent's work; schools on the Island and off; World War I; getting teeth pulled before dentists; cooking, growing, and preserving food; sewing circle; Catholic churches in town; arrival of electricity and running water; neighborhood relationships; and weddings.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2778_c1507_01
Part 2. mfc_na2778_c1507_02 -
Melvina Paradis, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin. Part 2
Melvina Paradis
Melvina Paradis, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin, June 11, 1993, at her home on French Island in Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Also present, Benoit Bouchard and Velma Paradis. M. Paradis discusses her experiences on French Island; family history; her parent's work; schools on the Island and off; World War I; getting teeth pulled before dentists; cooking, growing, and preserving food; sewing circle; Catholic churches in town; arrival of electricity and running water; neighborhood relationships; and weddings.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2778_c1507_01
Part 2. mfc_na2778_c1507_02 -
Cecile Pietrowski, interviewed by Carol Nichols and Adeline “Connie” St. Louis, Part 1
Cecile Pietrowski
Cecile Pietrowski, interviewed by Carol Nichols and Adeline “Connie” St. Louis, August 14, 1993, in Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Pietrowski talks about her experiences living on French Island in Old Town: short cuts; building patterns; bootlegging and home brew; Great Depression and food; women's baseball; boxing; nicknames; children's entertainment; holidays and traditional food; changes on the Island; women working outside the home; Shuffle Inn; why it was once called Skin Island; LaBree's bakery; churches and schools; father's work as a policeman.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2779_c1508_01
Part 2. mfc_na2779_c1508_02 -
Cecile Pietrowski, interviewed by Carol Nichols and Adeline “Connie” St. Louis, Part 2
Cecile Pietrowski
Cecile Pietrowski, interviewed by Carol Nichols and Adeline “Connie” St. Louis, August 14, 1993, in Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Pietrowski talks about her experiences living on French Island in Old Town: short cuts; building patterns; bootlegging and home brew; Great Depression and food; women's baseball; boxing; nicknames; children's entertainment; holidays and traditional food; changes on the Island; women working outside the home; Shuffle Inn; why it was once called Skin Island; LaBree's bakery; churches and schools; father's work as a policeman.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2779_c1508_01
Part 2. mfc_na2779_c1508_02 -
Joseph C. “Spike” Richard, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin and Benoit Morin. Part 1
Joseph C. Richard
Joseph C. “Spike” Richard, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin and Benoit Morin, July 29, 1994, at his home in Bradley, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Richard talks about growing up on French Island in Old Town; and his involvement in the boxing matches held on the Island. Other topics include: schools; family relationships; his time in the CCC; children's entertainment; parent's work; traditional food; electricity; homebrew; and WWII, with the National Guard in Florida and New Zealand.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2780_c1509_01
Part 2. mfc_na2780_c1509_02
Part 3. mfc_na2780_c1510_01 -
Joseph C. “Spike” Richard, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin and Benoit Morin. Part 2
Joseph C. Richard
Joseph C. “Spike” Richard, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin and Benoit Morin, July 29, 1994, at his home in Bradley, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Richard talks about growing up on French Island in Old Town; and his involvement in the boxing matches held on the Island. Other topics include: schools; family relationships; his time in the CCC; children's entertainment; parent's work; traditional food; electricity; homebrew; and WWII, with the National Guard in Florida and New Zealand.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2780_c1509_01
Part 2. mfc_na2780_c1509_02
Part 3. mfc_na2780_c1510_01 -
Joseph C. “Spike” Richard, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin and Benoit Morin. Part 3
Joseph C. Richard
Joseph C. “Spike” Richard, interviewed by Amy Bouchard Morin and Benoit Morin, July 29, 1994, at his home in Bradley, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Richard talks about growing up on French Island in Old Town; and his involvement in the boxing matches held on the Island. Other topics include: schools; family relationships; his time in the CCC; children's entertainment; parent's work; traditional food; electricity; homebrew; and WWII, with the National Guard in Florida and New Zealand.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2780_c1509_01
Part 2. mfc_na2780_c1509_02
Part 3. mfc_na2780_c1510_01 -
Rebecca St. Louis Paul, interviewed by Carol Nichols and Adeline “Connie” St. Louis, Part 1
Rebecca St. Louis
Rebecca St. Louis Paul, interviewed by Carol Nichols and Adeline “Connie” St. Louis, June, 1993, about French Island, Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Paul discusses schools; children's entertainment; neighborhood relationships; holidays, including Lent, Halloween, Christmas; camping; food traditions; stores; and changes on the Island.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2781_c1511_01
Part 2. mfc_na2781_c1511_02 -
Rebecca St. Louis Paul, interviewed by Carol Nichols and Adeline “Connie” St. Louis, Part 2
Rebecca St. Louis
Rebecca St. Louis Paul, interviewed by Carol Nichols and Adeline “Connie” St. Louis, June, 1993, about French Island, Old Town, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. Paul discusses schools; children's entertainment; neighborhood relationships; holidays, including Lent, Halloween, Christmas; camping; food traditions; stores; and changes on the Island.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2781_c1511_01
Part 2. mfc_na2781_c1511_02 -
Gloria Thornton and Doris Nadeau, interviewed by Albert Michaud, Part 1
Gloria Thornton and Doris Nadeau
Gloria Thornton and Doris Nadeau, interviewed by Albert Michaud, November 1993, at the Thornton's home in Milford, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. The two sisters reminisce with their younger brother, Albert Michaud, about growing up on French Island in Old Town: schools; swimming and boating on the Penobscot river; bathing suits; Fourth of July; river drives of logs and pulpwood; New Year's celebration; businesses on the Island; Prohibition and bootlegging; nicknames; prejudice against the French; ice skating and sledding; Lent and saying the rosary; sewing circles; taking in boarders; neighborhood relationships; changing French names to English; and the Shuffle Inn.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2774_c1504_01
Part 2. mfc_na2774_c1504_02 -
Gloria Thornton and Doris Nadeau, interviewed by Albert Michaud, Part 2
Gloria Thornton and Doris Nadeau
Gloria Thornton and Doris Nadeau, interviewed by Albert Michaud, November 1993, at the Thornton's home in Milford, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project.The two sisters reminisce with their younger brother, Albert Michaud, about growing up on French Island in Old Town: schools; swimming and boating on the Penobscot river; bathing suits; Fourth of July; river drives of logs and pulpwood; New Year's celebration; businesses on the Island; Prohibition and bootlegging; nicknames; prejudice against the French; ice skating and sledding; Lent and saying the rosary; sewing circles; taking in boarders; neighborhood relationships; changing French names to English; and the Shuffle Inn.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2774_c1504_01
Part 2. mfc_na2774_c1504_02 -
Estelle Voter and Henrietta Taylor, interviewed by Albert Michaud, Part 1
Estelle Voter and Henrietta Taylor
Estelle Voter and Henrietta Taylor, interviewed by Albert Michaud, December 3, 1993, in Eddington, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. The two sisters discuss life on French Island in Old Town, Maine: family relationships and history; children's entertainment; childbirth; schools; 1936 flood; funerals and mourning customs; holidays, especially New Year's Eve, Christmas, Mardi Gras, dating customs; Skin Island; woolen mill; boxing; and blood stoppers.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2782_c1512_01
Part 2. mfc_na2782_c1512_02 -
Estelle Voter and Henrietta Taylor, interviewed by Albert Michaud, Part 2
Estelle Voter and Henrietta Taylor
Estelle Voter and Henrietta Taylor, interviewed by Albert Michaud, December 3, 1993, in Eddington, Maine. For the "Islands and Bridges" project. The two sisters discuss life on French Island in Old Town, Maine: family relationships and history; children's entertainment; childbirth; schools; 1936 flood; funerals and mourning customs; holidays, especially New Year's Eve, Christmas, Mardi Gras, dating customs; Skin Island; woolen mill; boxing; and blood stoppers.
Listen
Part 1. mfc_na2782_c1512_01
Part 2. mfc_na2782_c1512_02
In the early 1990s, a community-based oral history project was co-sponsored by the Maine Folklife Center and the Franco-American Center at the University of Maine. The project generated a series of 35 oral history interviews focusing on the culture and history of the French-Canadian immigrant community located on French Island, Old Town, Maine.
The project resulted in the book Nos Histoires de L'île: History and Memories of French Island, Old Town, Maine (1999) published by the community group of the same name. The book includes some of the over 1,000 photographs collected by the organization, interview excerpts, and articles. For images included in the publication, please visit the book's companion website, Nos Histoires de L'île: Our Stories of the Island.
Founding members of Nos Histoires de L'île are James Bishop, Benoit Bouchard, Reta Graham, Harold Lacadie, Albert Michard, Albert Morin, Amy Morin, Bernice Morin, Carol Nichols, Cecile Pietrowski, Adeline St. Louis, and Genie Wollstadt, many of whose voices may be heard in this collection of oral interviews.
Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing.