Maine Memory Network

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 6 of 13

"In 1960 a picker was paid around 25 cents per full barrel. It wasn't until around 1980 that potato pickers could earn a dollar per barrel."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 5 of 13

"If the section is too long, the picker would get behind and probably would get discouraged. The unpicked potatoes would be in the way of the truck…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 8 of 13

"… were good at good - natured bantering with the pickers Typical suggestions, criticisms, and encouragements that are given to potato pickers are: 1."

Architecture & Landscape database - Database Collections

"Tompson, Portland John Pickering Thomas, Portland Eaton Tarbell, Bangor Olmsted Brothers, Boston Stockly & Leahy Associates, Portland Wadsworth and…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 10 of 13

"… on the barrels> As you can see, the younger pickers did not seem to mind a break. Students such as these would pick 15 to 40 barrels of potatoes…"

John Martin: Expert Observer - Intro: pages 48-64

"Wood George W. Pickering Rufus Prince Arvida Hayford J. A. Cushing Benjamin Kimball George B. McClellan Memphis riot Impeachment discussions…"

Historic Hallowell - Sweat on the Kennebec ~ Hallowell Steam and Boom Company

"… Boom Company, The river was literally their home! Pickers, sorters and raftsmen can be seen working the sorting boom in a view looking north on the…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Potato Harvest Memories - Page 1 of 5

"The pickers would make about 25 to 30 cents for a barrel. Her family would use the money to buy clothes for school."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 9 of 13

"Conant is walking across the field by two potato pickers. On the right, two men are loading a barrel by hand."

Highlighting Historical Hampden - Buttons

"A new man- a rag picker- then ripped all the buttons and buckles off of the sheets and clothes. The cloth was used to make the paper at the mill, and…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 3 of 13

"… things down, but gave a break to the potato pickers and other field workers. Worn lags would have to be replaced with new ones."

Camden Public Library

View collections, facts, and contact information for this Contributing Partner.

Architecture & Landscape database - John P. Thomas

"John Pickering Thomas (1886-1944) was born in Portland in 1886 and grew up on Deering Street near his grandfather William Widgery Thomas, a noted…"

Historic Hallowell - Logging

"On each log was an identity mark, so the pickers and sorters could identify the logs that were supposed to be made into rafts to go to other mills."