Maine Memory Network

Growing up on a potato and dairy farm
by Paula Woodworth

Life growing up and working on a potato and dairy farm was hard work but fun in Aroostook County.

Maine and the Atlantic World Slave Economy
by Seth Goldstein

How Maine's historic industries are tied to slavery

My paper making history
by Rick Simoneau

The history of my grandfather, father, and I working in the mills instilled a sense of community

Too Small to Have a Town Drunk
by Scott Maker

Vignettes from Downeast Maine

I worked for International Paper for 40 years
by Peter Crosson

I was never bored working in instrumentation at International Paper

Canadian immigrant founds worlds largest paper company in 1898
by Hugh J. Chisholm

Hugh J. Chisholm founded International Paper, which was the world's largest paper company in 1898.

If you wanted a good job, the mill was the place to be.
by Brent Gay

Changes in the paper industry, labor strikes, and the community around International Paper's mills

My career as a chemical engineer for S.D. Warren Paper Company
by Charles Dodge

I worked in S.D. Warren's laboratory, and developed paper coatings, like Ultracast technology

Starting Chebeague Island Oyster Company
by Caitlin Gerber

Farming oysters in Casco Bay

There were years when it was fun to go to work at the paper mill
by Bruce Dyke

My 39 years working for International Paper was a great job for a guy like me.

Aroostook Potato Harvest: Perspective of a Six Year Old
by Phyllis A. Blackstone

A child's memory of potato harvest in the 1950s

The future of potato growing
by Dan Blackstone

Informed by six generations of potato farming

The Start of Brewing in Maine
by Alan Pugsley

Master brewer Alan Pugsley talked about the beginning of brewing in Maine

The tradition of lobstering
by Sadie Samuels

I learned to fish from my Dad and will lobster the rest of my life

A Lifelong Romance with Retail
by George A Smith

Maine's once plentiful small retail stores.

Peace in Maine
by Rebekah Tower

My story is about my family vacations to Maine when I was growing up.

A Smart Horse
by Lynn Peasley Sanborn

The horse brings the hay home while the boys are swimming.

Backup Captain
by Shannon & Asa Richards

Our family’s deep connections to the maritime and fishing communities

First night on the pulp pile at zero degrees, to mill foreman
by Arthur Benedetto

I worked my way up in International Paper, moving from the pick ax pile to a foreman on computers

I'm fortunate to live in Livermore Falls
by Kenny Jacques

I've seen a lot of changes in Livermore Falls, and hope we will reinvent again soon.

Isolation!
by Leslie

Having only moved to Maine alone 8 months prior, had to freeze my life

It was like a family in the mill
by Arnold R. Couture

I saw a lot of changes at the International Paper Otis Mill during my 26 years as an electrician

My Italian grandparents and visiting their homeland
by Sherry Judd

A story about my Italian ancestors in Maine and how I found my family in Italy.

My Paper Industry career and setting up a museum
by Sherry Judd

I worked in and around the Paper Industry all my life. Now I run Maine's Paper and Heritage Museum.