Saint Louis Church in New Auburn
Background of Saint Louis Church in New Auburn’s “Little Canada” St. Louis parish at 32 Dunn Street was established in 1902 and served the mostly French Canadian neighborhood in New…
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Franco Americans memorialized in monument
The marble memorial next to the front steps to our building pays tribute to Franco Americans: Ce Monument Est Dédié Aux Franco-Americains de Lewiston-Auburn Between 1860 and 1930 thousands of French Canadians…
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Dance Card from 1933
This dance card, which is more like a booklet, from 1933 was donated to our Franco American Heritage Museum Collection. Dance cards sometimes had a fancy cover or a logo…
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FRANCO CENTER: Our Significance, part 7
When the former St. Mary’s Church was in danger of being demolished, the Franco Center convinced the Roman Catholic Diocese in Portland to transfer ownership to the Center. We are…
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FRANCO CENTER: Our Significance, part 6
With your participation, the Franco Center will continue as it has for 22 years to reverse situations of cultural loss and missed opportunity in our multi-purpose facility where history, culture,…
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FRANCO CENTER: Our Significance, part 5
Another reason the Franco Center is important to our community: There is a need to continue redevelopment of Lewiston-Auburn’s mills and historic structures in order to keep the local economy…
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FRANCO CENTER: Our Significance, part 4
Another reason the Franco Center is historically significant for our community, state, and worldwide: Franco-American traditions are dying out. In Lewiston-Auburn, the generation of people who lived the immigration experience…
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FRANCO CENTER: Our Significance, part 3
This is one reason why the Franco Center is important: Franco-Americans represent the second largest ethnic group in New England, numbering approximately two million people. They are the largest ethnic…
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FRANCO CENTER: Our Significance, part 2
The Franco Center’s early board members and staff created an impressive 428-seat Performance Hall in the Upper Hall of the former St. Mary’s Catholic Church with a yearly Performance Series…
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FRANCO CENTER: Our Significance, part 1
Our original commitment upon forming as a nonprofit was to document and showcase the contributions of Franco-Americans, who represent approximately two million people in New England, including 300,000 in Maine.…
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