Continental Mill pre-1900
Photo taken pre-1900 of the Continental Mill, one of many Lewiston-Auburn mills which attracted immigrant labor to the area. This mill is located across the street from Little Canada and…
Building torn down to make way for St. Mary’s Church 1907
Photo taken in 1897 of the building that was torn down to make way for the building of St. Mary’s Church at the corner of Cedar and Oxford streets, across…
Bells ringing throughout Lewiston and Auburn
Recently discovered files and news clippings in the Franco Center’s archives provide more information about the bells on various buildings in Lewiston and Auburn, including the former St. Mary’s Catholic…
Immigration mural depicts path to Lewiston
Standing in front of the immigrant mural is Normand Saucier. A photo of him as a young boy is in the mural which is featured in our main stairwell connecting…
St. Mary’s Church before and after rehabilitation
St. Mary’s Church, a historically significant building, has undergone repair work, improvements, and rehabilitation work under the stewardship of the Franco Center, a nonprofit organization that hosts live performances and…
Fundraising efforts underway for building repairs and improvements
The former St. Mary’s Church, now the Franco Center, is a historically significant building that is now a center for performing arts, weddings, community events, and more. The church was…
Architectural and historical facts about the Franco Center building
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form 1995 written by architect Russell Wright (2022 updates will be added) St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston, Maine 04240, Androscoggin…
Calendar Raffle Winners through July 31, 2022
1-Jul Ruth Linnehan 2-Jul Heather Hunter 3-Jul Doris Welding 4-Jul Theresa Labbe 5-Jul Erika Douglass 6-Jul Irene McNaughton 7-Jul Heather Hunter 8-Jul Rachel Cyr 9-Jul Pauline Perham 10-Jul Arthur Fortin…
Anchor and Cross Symbolism
The anchor is a Christian symbol of safety, hope, and security, for its primary function is that of mooring a ship or boat. The safety of a ship in dangerous…
Visit us to see the Madonna at the Franco before it’s moved to the Basilica
Updated to add: The Basilica is creating a home for religious items from local Catholic churches that have closed over the years. These items, such as our beautiful Madonna medallion,…