Biddeford Mills Museum

04/13/2026

Lewiston stitcher “Gil” St. Pierre is shown here hemming sheets. In this clip from Nov. 1940 issue of mill magazine, the Pepperell Sheets, it is reported that Gil; “rolls up quite a storm on the bowling alleys.” Did you know that many mill workers across New England loved to go bowling in their free time, so much so that many mills had their own bowling leagues! Have you ever had a perfect game? What’s your best score?

Learn more about mill girls like her at our website: biddefordmillsmuseum.org

04/10/2026

Jane Wilder, pictured here stitching Percale Slips at the Lewiston Factory, was a Mill Girl working for the Pepperell Mills in 1940. This clip from the Nov. 1940 issue of the mill magazine, the Pepperell Sheets, says: “If you want to know about horse racing, ask Jane, for that’s her hobby.” What’s your hobby?

Learn more about mill girls like her at our website: biddefordmillsmuseum.org

04/08/2026

You know those thick fuzzy blankets in hotels or your grandparents house? Maybe you owned one yourself! If you’ve seen one before, there's a good chance you saw a Vellux blanket! The Vellux blanket was first invented in 1966 by Francis Spencer at the Pepperell Mills! “Vel” for velvet and “lux” for luxury, the Vellux blanket saved the Biddeford mills, providing them with new work for the next 40 years. Come see the full history at the Biddeford Mills Museum’s exhibit on the story! Or visit oue website: biddefordmillsmuseum.org

04/06/2026

Marie-Anna Toussaint, born circa 1893, October 4th in Quebec, Canada, worked with her father in the Pepperell Woolen Mill in 1910. On July 3rd, 1911, in Manchester, New Hampshire, she was married to fellow Canadian Ernest Henault. She and her husband are buried together in Mount Calvary Cemetery, in Manchester, New Hampshire

Learn more about mill girls like her at our website: biddefordmillsmuseum.org

04/03/2026

Hold that smile!
This is Miss Lillian St. Denis, a Biddeford Mill Girl working in the Pepperell Mills in 1939. In this clip from the mill magazine, the Pepperell Sheets, we meet Lillian; “one of our efficient rayon winders in Plant A, who has taken up photography as a hobby. Pepperell, knowing this fact, has appointed Lillian photographer for the Fall River Mills, giving her an opportunity to practice and further advance her knowledge in this line.” [March April issue 1939]

Read more of the Pepperell Sheets on our website: biddefordmillsmuseum.org

04/01/2026

What happens if you work somewhere for 30 years?
Workers at the Pepperell Mills from the 1940s through 2009 when the mills officially closed, would receive badges based on the time they had spent working. 5, 10, all the way through 30 year workers were eligible for a uniform badge they could wear to show their time and dedication to the mills. Would you wear your hours on your sleeve? Let us know in the comments!

Learn more at our website: biddefordmillsmuseum.org

03/31/2026

“Lady Pepperell Sheets” weren’t just for the household. Hospitals and other institutions bought Pepperell products as advertised in this 1930 advertisement from the Pepperell Sheets, the Pepperell Mills company magazine. Advertisements for Pepperell products were printed in magazines like Life, Colliers, and Look magazine bringing Biddeford textiles to the entire nation. The Pepperell Mills would even invite advertisers from across the country to tour the mills, placing their product on radio and in magazines.

Find more like these on our website: biddefordmillsmuseum.org

03/23/2026

Did you know that the Pepperell Mills had locations as far out as Lewiston? 1941 Mill Girl Yvonne Bussiere worked at the Lewiston Bleachery, doing the scalloping on sheets and pillowcases. She was featured in the March 1941 issue of the mill magazine, the Pepperell Sheets, made for mill workers at the time. An anecdote about her reads; “Yvonne is an excellent cook as many of her co-workers will testify.” maybe she brought treats into work, I want a co-worker like that! If you were going to bring something homemade into work, what would you bring? Let us know in the comments!

Learn more about the mill girl at our website: biddefordmillsmuseum.org

03/21/2026

03/20/2026

Aurelie Bolduc was born on May 14th, 1866, in Quebec, Canada. By 1910 she had moved to Biddeford, and was working as a cotton mill spinner, along with her husband, Achille Danis, a cotton mill stubber. They went on to have 6 children, only two of whom, Achille Arthur Danis and Lena Danis, survived. Today Aurelie and her husband are buried side by side in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Biddeford.

Learn more about Biddeford's mill girls at our website: biddefordmillsmuseum.org

03/19/2026

What if you could show people your job rather than tell them?

During the 1940s the Pepperell Mills provided their employees with educational boxes their kids could bring to parent days at school. These boxes showed the process of producing textiles, from raw cotton to finished material. These boxes gave a small sample of each step in a textile’s making. Tag yourself! What step are you?

Learn more about the textile process at our website: biddefordmillsmuseum.org