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LEWISTON — Twenty-seven people took a test run of the Franco Trail L-A trolley bus Friday, May 24. Museum L-A led the daylong event.
“Even the participants who were born in the cities felt like they learned more about Franco-American history from the tour” said Catherine Picard, the Quebec intern and creator of Franco Trail L-A. “People left with a smile and memories of a good day full of interesting activities.”
Even those on the streets took part — as the trolley bus traveled down Lisbon Street, people to come onto the sidewalks to take pictures.
The tour began at 9 a.m. with the Franco-American Collection at USM-LA, and an introduction of the major themes of the tour.
Camden Martin, the tour guide for the day, led the group through a downtown visit of Lewiston-Auburn, touching upon major Franco-American heritage landmarks, such as Dr. Louis Martel’s house, Le Messager newspaper, Wallace School, Healy Asylum, Little Canada, Garcelon House and more.
Participants stopped at The Village Inn on High Street in Auburn for a seafood lunch and met four generations of the Vallee family.
The tour group then walked across the footbridge from Auburn’s Bonney Park to Lewiston’s Simard-Payne park, admiring the riverfronts and seeing the cities from a different angle learning the link between industry and nature.
While on the Lewiston side, Rachel Desgrosseilliers, executive director of Museum L-A, answered
questions asked about the sign posted on the former Camden Yarns Mill building — “Future Home of Museum L-A.”
The climax of the Franco immersion took place at Museum L-A, where the bus tour group heard the story of how community of Lewiston-Auburn grew. Museum staff led a tour of the exhibitions showing local textile, shoe and brick-making industries all while incorporating life stories of local workers.
They also toured Baxter Brewery, in the mill, and got a chance to learn about the Bates Mill’s architecture.
The day finished at the Gendron Franco Center with a tour, dinner and a show featuring the music of Nel Meservier and Friends. The meal served could be considered typical of a French-American meal.
“The test run having been a success is great since we will be looking to use it as a tourism tool in the future,” said Desgrossielliers. “So far Museum L-A has received visitors from 43 states and 12 countries so now our community will have a product to offer bus tour operators and other businesses in the area can benefit from all the people interested in coming to learn about our community.”
Other organizations and businesses working with Museum L-A on their tourism tour include Sts. Peter and Paul Basilica, Gendron Franco Center, Franco-American Collection at USM-LA, the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, the LA Metro Chamber, NorthEast Charter & Tour, and local hotels and restaurants.
The Franco Trail L-A is also a walking tour of downtown Lewiston and Auburn, based on French heritage. You can find the Franco Trail L-A as a paper map, a website and an app. For more information see www.francotrailla.com
PHOTO: A trolley bus provided by NorthEast Charter & Tour takes the test run of the Franco Trail L-A FRiday. (Submitted photo)
