BIDDEFORD — During World War II, men and women were needed to serve in the armed forces, and military recruiters scoured the country looking for potential soldiers.
The country’s mills were popular with recruiters, said George “Pete” Lamontagne, a former mill worker, because that’s where they could find scores of able-bodied men and women. Thousands of those workers left their jobs at the nation’s mills to answer their country’s call, including many in Biddeford.
After the war, as a symbol of appreciation to its employees who entered the service, the Pepperell Mill commissioned five bronze plaques, one each for mills in Biddeford, Lewiston, Fall River, Mass., Lindale, Ga. and Opelika, Ala. Mill workers also contributed funds at the time.
Each Honor Roll plaque lists the names of workers who left their employ to serve during the war years ”“ some of whom never returned.
In Biddeford, approximately 300 mill workers who left for the war are listed on the plaque. There are stars next to 11 of the names, symbolizing those who died in the line of duty.
In 1946, the year after the war ended, the Biddeford plaque was hung in Pepperell Hall, at 180 Main St. It was later moved to the Spencer Building on York Street, where it remained until about 2010.
One day, as Lamontagne and Don Guillerault, both former WestPoint Home mill employees (Pepperell eventually became part of WestPoint), were walking in the mill district, they noticed the plaque wasn’t in its usual spot.
“I said, ”˜What happened to the plaque?’” said Guillerault, “and (Lamontagne) said ”˜I’m not sure.’”
A search for the plaque began.
“I found it lying flat on a wooden pallet,” said Lamontagne. “The right-hand corner was in water. It was starting to oxidize. It had paint on it and 65 years worth of grime.”
The plaque was moved to another location, “and I started cleaning it,” he said.
Cleaning the item was no easy feat. It’s 6 feet by 41 inches and weighs 350 pounds.
Using dishwashing liquid and non-abrasive wax, it took Lamontagne 41 hours to complete his work.
Now, he said, “there’s a big, big difference.”
Lamontagne, along with Guillerault, who are both Biddeford Mills Museum board members, led tours of the mills this summer. Tour groups passed the sign as it was being worked on, said Lamontagne. Looking at the list of names, “people on the tour said, ”˜That’s my father,’ or, ”˜That’s my uncle,’” he said.
On Sunday, Biddeford company Spectrum Signs placed the plaque on the exterior of mill building 36 at 100 Main St. The building is the future home of the mill museum, which is set to open in May.
Lamontagne said he likes the new location because it’s more visible to the public.
“I think it’s important to all to see who left their employ” to serve during WWII, he said.
“Now people are going to be able to go there and look at the plaque and see the names and recognize a grandfather or a great-grandfather,” said Lamontagne.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I would walk by that plaque,” said Guillerault. “I always held the plaque in reverence because my father explained the meaning of the plaque.”
Making the plaque visible is important, he said, because “it shows we are remembering the people who worked there and who put their lives on the line for their country.”
“This is a historical thing for Biddeford,” said Harvey Beaulieu Jr., another former mill worker. The plaque, he said, “belongs to the people.”
Mayor Alan Casavant noted the historical significance of the plaque in a proclamation on Thursday.
“This tribute is so important and a real bridge between the past and today,” said Jeff Cabral, vice president of the Biddeford Mills Museum and director of the McArthur Library.
On Sunday at 2 p.m., there will be a rededication of the Honor Roll plaque at 100 Main St., Biddeford. The program will include a reading of the plaque proclamation by Casavant, a performance by Biddeford Middle School and Biddeford High School chorus members, and an unveiling of the Honor Roll plaque by Rene Gobeil, who is listed on the plaque.
In case of rain, the event will be held inside Building 36 at 100 Main St.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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