With only one more year until the end of the millennium and century, it may
be time for Franco-Americans to consider blending some old New Year's
traditions with modern French flair.
Of course, what better time to change habits than on New Year's Day? Until
recently, New Year's was especially important to Franco-Americans because
families typically gathered at the patriarch's home, either at the home of the
father or a beloved pepere (grandfather) to receive the annual New Year's
blessing, almost like
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C 12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
Norris, Calleigh Mae, born Aug. 24 to Dean and Terry Norris, East Livermore.
Grandparents: Craig and Susan Gammon, Canton, Ralph Norris and Ginette
Couture, Leeds. Great-grandparents: Frank Cox, Fayette, Mary Moulton, Jay.
Regardless of where Franco-Americans or French Canadians live, there is
absolutely no rival to the nostalgia, sheer joy and holiday spirit associated
with "Reveillon."
During past years, when gift giving was less important, French families
traveled many miles in bad weather to attend midnight Mass together, sing
French carols and enjoy each other's company at Reveillon. This is a sacred
seasonal celebration, especially so because large French families sincerely
treasure the chance to be together.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C 12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
One way to tell the difference between a Franco-American holiday turkey and
all other traditional preparations of the bird is the unusual ground-meat
stuffing.
Although most cooks prepare a bread stuffing for holiday fowl, a traditional
Franco-American stuffing consists of ground hamburger sauteed with butter,
onion and heavily seasoned with a variety of spices. Sometimes, mashed
potatoes or crushed saltine crackers are added.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C 12, Brunswick, ME 04011, telephone 721-9629.
Two important symbols of the University of New England's Franco-American
history are now permanently housed in a newly dedicated Heritage Plaza.
Twenty 20 years ago, St. Francis College in Biddeford Pool became the
University of New England and home to Maine's only medical school.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C 12, Brunswick 04011, telephone 721-9629.
Almost everyone in Sanford knows Barbara Caouette, 63, as a passionate sports
fan and terrific female basketball player. Recently, she won a gold medal in
the Maine senior Olympics for playing basketball. Not surprising, she is also
a great Sanford High School football fan and proud of the team's recent
championship season.
As an ethnic group, Franco-Americans like Caouette are dedicated sports fans
and a large number of teen-agers play school sports. For example, Caouette
played varsity women's bask
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to : 152
McKeen St., Unit C 12, Brunswick, ME 04011, telephone 721-9629.
French religious influence in Montana was affected by French Jesuits and the
missionary nuns from Montreal who came to help them. A recent visit to Montana
discovered one example of our shared Jesuit history with Maine.
French Jesuits came to the North America with a zealous mission. More than
building forts side-by-side with French colonial soldiers or supporting the
struggling 17th century settlers, these passionate clerics came to baptize and
convert all of New France to Roman Catholicism.
Sister Mary Juliana St. Pierre, 74, of Stevens Avenue, a member of the
Sisters of Mercy, died Wednesday at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Mercy in
Portland.
She was born Rita Mary Julia St. Pierre in Brunswick, a daughter of Arthur
and Alice Laliberte St. Pierre. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary
education from St. Joseph's College in 1972.
Franco-American Juliet Messier, 90, of Brunswick is a rare person in an
exceptional generation of storytellers. Her observations span nearly the
entire 20th century.
Although she would like to write her stories, she is simply too busy enjoying
life, gardening and playing bridge.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears on Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick 04011 or calling 721-9629.
Archeological digs in Maine are uncovering artifacts left behind by people
who lived many thousands of years ago.
Although early Franco-American artifacts cannot compare in antiquity to
ancient tools and weapons discovered recently in Maine, there are equally
interesting stories about how the common ax holds special significance for
colonial French settlers in the St. John River Valley. More than just a tool,
the ax was a cultural symbol of survival.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursday's. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Continuing with "parlons livres" (book talks), Elmer Parent of Hampton, N.H.
recommends "The Will to Win," by Bill Heller with Ron Turcotte.
"The Will to Win" is a biography about the French-Canadian equestrian hero
Ron Turcotte, a native of New Brunswick. Turcotte is the jockey who rode the
famous Triple Crown winner Secretariat, the phenomenal chestnut colt often
called "The Horse of the Century." At the height of his jockey career,
Turcotte was considered the most successful jockey in the history o
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C 12, Brunswick, ME 04011, telephone 721-9629.
St. Andre Home Inc. has a tradition of caring for women and children in
Maine. Keeping close to the agency's French-Canadian roots, a new program and
group home opened this month in Lewiston, where 60 percent of the city's
population is of Franco-American lineage.
In 1935, the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec, a French-speaking religious
order, came to Biddeford because the local priests at St. Andre's Parish asked
them to help unwed mothers. At that time, the clergy were distressed about the
proble
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Elmer K. Parent sent a question via e-mail: ``Have you thought about
publishing a book about noteworthy Franco-Americans and other Francophones?''
asks Parent.
Frankly, writing a book about tourtiere (pork pies) recipes has come to
mind, but it would be a little more difficult to write about noteworthy
Francos. Many Franco-Americans simply shy away from fame.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick 04011, or calling 721-9629.
If there is a formula for success in American musical theater, it must
include these ingredients: popular song, vivid dance movement, comedy and
emotion. "Fiddler on the Roof" combines them all and creates a real standard
for New York theaters. Bold, colorful, confident and touching, "Fiddler"
kicked off PCA Great Performances' 1998-'99 Broadway series.
The theater professionals at Merrill Auditorium proved once more that even
the most demanding road show can be mounted and performed in Portland. An
im
Yard sales are great places to find interesting old books at unbelievably
low prices. For example, a recent find about Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
(1656-1680) gives more insight into why this Indian woman was so special to
the French Jesuits who settled New France.
Twenty-five cents purchased a 1962 paperback, ``Kateri of the Mohawks'' by
Marie Cecilia Buehrle.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Franco-Americans who write stories about their past capture some colorful
images. What follows is a story from the Lousier family's 60-year reunion
storybook.
Many Franco-Americans born during the 1920s through the 1930s recall the
colorful image of ``the ragman.''
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Two prominent Franco-American attorneys will join Maine's lawyers and
judges to celebrate a renewed religious celebration called ``The Red Mass.''
Attorneys Severin Beliveau from Hallowell and the York County District
Attorney Michael Cantara from Biddeford will participate in the solemn
religious tradition on Oct. 2 in Falmouth. They believe the celebration of The
Red Mass is a tribute to the highest values lawyers aspire to as they uphold
the tenets of justice and fairness for all.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
Byline: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's
Franco-American population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by
writing to 152 McKeen St.,Unit C12, Brunswick 04011, or calling
721-9629.
This week, in a series of ``parlons livres'' (book talks), we review a
history of the French Jesuit missionaries between 1634-1670.
``The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century,'' written in
1895 by noted historian Francis Parkman, is the second in a series of 12
literary histories written by this prolific writer and historian.
Franco-American and Acadian artisans are well-kept secrets in an ethnic
culture known more for traits like productive work ethics and strong family
values rather than conspicuous creativity.
Although Franco-American artists are exceptional, especially in their
ability to create detailed woodworking and paintings, the culture itself does
not easily support artistic expression. In fact, to be exceptional can be a
contentious trait in the Franco-American culture, where a quiet presence is
typically re
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
During the bloody battles of World War II, numerous Franco-American
families shared the grief and the pride of having many children on the front
lines. Their true famliy stories bring home the drama of the hit movie
``Saving Private Ryan.''
In the movie starring Tom Hanks, the War Department sends a platoon into
German-held territory to save a mother's last son from imminent death after
her three other sons are killed.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Dan Menard of Memphis, Tenn., routinely sends newspaper clippings from
Louisiana newspapers to help me update Maine's Franco-American and Acadian
descendants about their cousins living down South. Acadians in Louisiana have
distant roots in Northern Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
Recently, Menard sent an article describing the Aug. 15 celebration of
``National Day of the Acadians,'' an annual celebration held on the Feast of
the Assumption (a Marian feast day in the Roman Catholic Church) i
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or by calling 721-9629.
Patricia Bean, a reader from Buxton, asks where she can find more
information about Kateri Tekakwitha, as reported in a recent column?
``I always wanted to know more about her ever since a friend of mine played
her life in a play I saw,'' she says.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or by calling 721-9629.
Franco-American families commonly find a link somewhere in history dating
back to the colonial settlers of New France. One reader from Old Orchard Beach
wonders if information in an old Acadian cookbook might connect her husband's
family to the book's co-authors. They could be cousins. Perhaps other readers
can help.
Priscilla Roy Gallant, 67, and her husband, George, 72, are interested in
finding the authors of ``A Taste of Acadie,'' a wonderful cookbook published
in 1978 and written by Marielle C
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Byline: Will Bartlett
Maria ``Mieke'' Stevenson, 70, a nurse and restaurant owner who experienced
firsthand the ravages of World War II, died Sunday at her home on Scarponi
Drive after a long illness.
Mrs. Stevenson grew up in the German-occupied Netherlands during World War
II. For a long while, German soldiers occupied her family's home in the city
of Nijkerk.
Franco-Americans who enjoy learning about Roman Cathlolic saints and their
feast days must be happy to know that Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) could one
day be canonized.
The blessed young Mohawk Indian maiden was converted to Christianity by
French Jesuit missionaries in Quebec. On July 14, the Catholic Church
celebrated her annual feast day. If she is canonized, she would be the first
saint of New France, therefore, of the North American continent.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Byline: Results, Granite State Race Services
1. Johannes Mabitle South Africa 28:18
2. William Kiptum Kabirer Kenya 28:19
Caption: PHOTO: 1 b&w, 6 color
Staff photos by Gregory Rec\ Johannes Mabitle, William Kiptum,
Hezron Otwori and Peter Ndirangu, from left, constitute the lead pack in
Saturday's Peoples Beach to Beacon 10K at Cape Elizabeth. Mabitle, of South
Africa, was the winner in 28 minutes, 18 seconds, beating Kenyans Kiptum and
Ndirangu by one second. Otwori, another Kenyan, was fifth in 28:24.
Spectators cheer on racers at the Beach to Beacon 10K on Saturday. Spectator
support was strong all along the Cape Elizabeth course, as many runners
Summertime for Franco-Americans is the season for family reunions.
Occasionally, as many as five generations from one family will reunite and the
age span in one gathering can cover most of the 20th century.
Franco family members from around the world return to their roots in Maine
and Canada by the thousands each summer to revel in the cool air and renew
their family ties.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or calling 721-9629.
There are several explanations about the origins of tourtiere.
Franco-Americans are quick to explain that tourtiere is a meat pie seasoned
with spices such as cinnamon and cloves. Typically, tourtiere is served during
the holidays (les fetes). Almost every Franco-American family has its own
special recipe.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Gilbert Lamarre, a Franco-American who recently moved to Kennebunkport from
Massachusetts, asked for more information on summer reading material about the
French heritage in New England.
Lamarre wants a bibliography on French history and culture in Maine and in
New England so he can find the books.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or by calling 721-9629.
Maria Chapdelaine,'' a French-Canadian novel written in 1914, helped send
the spiritual message at the recent La Kermesse French Mass. The Mass is a
highlight of the La Kermesse Franco Americaine held every June in Biddeford.
About 500 people attended the Mass under the big tent. Father Marc Caron,
35, co-chancellor of the Diocese, said the Mass mostly in French. The
liturgical music, too, was bilingual, performed by youth choirs from Notre
Dame de Lourdes, St. Andre's Parish, and St. James School.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick 04011, or by calling 721-9629.
Father Marc Bernard Caron is a distinguished Franco-American Roman Catholic
priest. His quiet and intellectual manner is a result of his good
Franco-American upbringing as the son of a Lewiston dentist. Last year, he
became chancellor of the Portland Diocese, which covers the entire state of
Maine, a position he shares with Sister Rita Mae Bissonette.
Although Caron is only 35 years old, he learned to speak English after
growing up speaking French at home.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or by calling 721-9629.
Finding materials for summer reading on Franco-Americans demands the
attention of someone who likes research as much as history.
Although there are plenty of books written about Franco-Americans, many are
out of print or not widely available. It would be interesting to see one
library or bookseller feature a complete Franco-American section. Presently,
only the Writers and Publishers Alliance on Pleasant Street in Brunswick, and
the Springvale Library, come somewhat close to having several differen
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Maine's Franco-Americans might look to Woonsocket, R.I. if they ever hope
to organize a first-class museum about their culture.
Several past columns were written about a fascinating new Franco-American
museum in Woonsocket called, ``The Museum of Work and Culture.'' This museum
stands out from small historic Franco-American museums because the
high-quality exhibits are interactive.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
A recent visit to the Museum of Work and Culture,'' in Woonsocket, R.I.,
revealed a wealth of information about the Franco-Americans of New England.
Particularly interesting was the exhibit on traditional ``triple-decker''
apartment houses.
``Triple-deckers were once the hallmark of a Franco-American
neighborhood,'' says Anita Rafael, curator of the museum.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Me 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Maine's ''Schooner Fare,'' a nationally-known folk trio of talented
musicians, sang an unexpectedly powerful song called, ``Quebecois,'' at a
recent fund-raising concert in Portland.
This was a surprise for people like my husband and me, who enjoyed the
beauty of the lyrics and song written by the trio's own Tom Rowe.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Social workers at Saint Andre's Home in Biddeford, Lewiston and Bangor
recently learned more about their professional French heritage from Sister
Mary Rose McGeady, president of Covenant House in New York City and a member
of the Sisters of Charity religious order.
She spoke recently about the contributions of the French Ursuline Sisters
who settled in Louisiana in the 17th century.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or calling 721-9629.
Tracing Franco-American genealogy back 15 or more generations to the first
French immigrant is quite an accomplishment. Finding out where in France a
particular ancestor was born is more difficult.
Many medieval European church records no longer exist, making the work of
tracing pre-17th century records quite challenging.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, or calling 721-9629.
A new museum dedicated to explaining the ethnic experiences of
Franco-Americans is only about a three-hour drive southeast to Woonsocket,
R.I. ``The Museum of Work and Culture'' opened in October, in a rehabilitated
9,000 square foot textile mill building in the Blackstone River Valley. It
might be worth the trip to see this extensive museum to observe it as an
example for other similar ideas and potential projects in Maine.
In the museum exhibits, the focus is primarily on the lives of
French-Can
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
After two weeks that brought Frank Black, The Bogmen, Our Lady Peace, Marc
Cohn, Dick Dale and Maceo Parker to Portland, this weekend finds the club
scene catching its breath.
Smaller acts are in order while clubs prepare for the next run of shows
that include Jerry Jeff Walker, Battershell, Royal Fingerbowl, Jeb Loy Nichols
and, farther down the road, the Saw Doctors. Think of it as a weekend of
re-runs - a chance to revisit some of your more familiar shows.
Memo: Ben Monaghan is a free-lance writer who lives in Portland.
Followers of Maine politics already know about the writings of Bowdoin
College professor Christian Potholm. He is a Franco-American's biggest
political fan.
In fact, Franco-Americans should award Potholm the Maine equivalent of a
Pulitzer Prize for his writings about the Franco-American voter. It can be
said that Potholm actually ``discovered'' the Franco voter.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
My husband and I this month visited the Louvre, in Paris, France, and took
a Sunday tour.
As well as being the national art museum of France, the Louvre is world
renowned for the vastness of its truly amazing collection. Actually, the
building was built by French kings. The architecture dates to at least 1515,
when King Francois I decorated the Louvre to be a ``pleasure palace'' on the
River Seine.The basic floor plan includes four wings surrounding a square
courtyard. Although the building is quit
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
A recent news report about Franco-Americans in Maine kindles a
long-standing debate about retaining the French language for the purposes of
trade and commerce in the state. This issue is as old as the first
French-Canadian who migrated into New England.
Although use of the French language in Maine has declined in recent years,
it continues to be the dominant second language in many households. It is a
primary language in the St. John River Valley communities.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
Several weeks ago, a letter from Wilhelmina Pilger, of Moody, asked for
help to find a book, written by ``a good author,'' about colonial Quebec City.
Her request was answered by a York Beach reader, Arline Hamel.
Hamel writes, ``The book is called `Shadows On the Rock,'' by Willa Cather.
It is a great story''.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
Correction: Correction published Thursday, April 16,
1998: In a letter published Tuesday about the state's river rafting
bill, the state's former chief warden was incorrectly named. He was
Parker Tripp, not Norman Trask. Trask served as deputy commissioner
of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and retired in
1994.
Runner's advice on buying sneakers
As a runner, I read with interest Tom Vanderbilt's column on ``sneaker
wars.''
Le Dimanche de Paque (Easter Sunday) is not as big a fete (holiday) as Noel
(Christmas) for most Franco-Americans. Although Easter Sunday is the most
important religious holiday to Roman Catholics, particularly in the Eastern
Rite of the Catholic and Orthodox sects, Francos tend to regard it as the end
of the Lenten (Le Careme) season.
Easter is, after all, a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Actually, in the Franco tradition, Easter is also time to celebrate an
end to a wi
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
Sometimes, a reader's question about Franco-Americans is more interesting
that anything a columnist can create. This is particularly so when the
question comes from someone just learning about the Franco-American culture.
A recent letter from Wilhemina Pilger of Moody, who says she is not a
Franco-American, raises a specific question accompanied by an abundance of
insightful information.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
A newly published novel by Pulitzer Prize winning New England author, E.
Annie Proulx, fictionally weaves the stories of French-Canadian U.S.
immigrants with the experiences of other European groups.
``Accordion Crimes'' is Proulx's recent serial about 20th century
immigrants. Proulx uses a simple accordion to eventually tie the serial
sections of her book into a bona fide novel. Although the book is being
favorably reviewed by many critics, the novelty of the story, for
Franco-Americans, is realiz
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
My favorite Franco-American history story began hundreds of years ago when
dozens of young French country maidens were adopted by the compassionate King
Henri IV for the purpose of immigrating to New France, where, hopefully, they
would marry a French soldier.
The story is called, ``Des Filles du Roi'' (Daughters of the King). In this
poignant story, dozens of young 17th century French women actually became the
first generation of ancestors of many thousands of Franco-Americans. Today,
these brave
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
Franco-American culture is long on history but rather short on heroes.
Although the French presence in North America dates back to Samuel de
Champlain in the middle 16th century, there are few folk heroes associated
with this experience. Most prominent historic figures have been missionary
priests, especially French Jesuits.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: 152
McKeen St., Unit C12, Brunswick, Maine 04011, telephone 721-9629.
In Quebec, Maine's close French neighbor to the North, the issue of
self-determination is one unique history story that does not fade over time.
At least one Maine native living in Quebec has a first-hand opinion about this
sensitive political issue. Will Quebec eventually become independent of
Canada?
Barry Rodrigue is an Augusta native who is presently a researcher at the
laboratory of historical geography in the Geography Department at the
University of Laval in Quebec. Rodrigue is also a resear
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O.
Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.
In the narrow, 52 percent to 48 percent victory scored this month by those
who wanted to repeal Maine's gay rights law, Franco-American voters played an
important role.
Christian Potholm, a political pollster and Bowdoin College professor,
notes that in 1995, the state's Franco-Americans voted on the side of gay
rights in another referendum (as did a narrow majority of the state's voters),
but this month flipped their votes in communities with a strong
Francoinfluence. Their votes were crucial to t
Several readers want more information about a report recently published by
the Commission to Study the Development of Maine's Franco-American Resources.
The Commission was appointed by Maine's Legislature in 1997 to study the
general demographic, language, and educational trends of Maine's
Franco-American community.`Just how many Franco-Americans live in York
County?'' There are 48,816 people of French ancestry in York County, which is
about 29.7 percent of the total population.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O.
Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.
Franco-Americans might get a sense of ``deja-vu'' from Governor Angus
King's mention of an ``east-west'' highway extending due west from Bangor to
Montreal, Canada, during his State-of-the-State address last week in Augusta.
History tells us that Franco-Americans blazed that general area long before
transportation experts decided on the value of building a road in that general
direction. Indeed, tens of thousands of French-Canadians braved the hazards of
Colonial America to migrate from Montreal an
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O.
Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.
An interesting report about Maine's Franco-Americans was recently released
by the Maine legislature.
From an historical perspective, the report is a well-written primer about
the entire Franco-American history and culture in Maine. It begins with a very
short history, proceeds to describe activities that are working in the culture
today and makes recommendations about how the Franco-American resource in
Maine can be better utilized for economic advantage.
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O.
Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.
It was over a year ago when Mauriel Poulin of Springvale called with a
question about a French-owned territory in North America. ``Do you know about
some islands near Nova Scotia that are still owned by France?'' she asked.
Poulin was reading a map of the Maritime Provinces whereby some small
islands and an archipelago off the southern coast of Newfoundland were labeled
as owned by France. These are not Canadian islands. They are the very last
remnants of the French Colonial empire in North America
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O.
Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.
Heidi Jo Johnson and Paul J. L'Heureux were married Oct. 25 at Woodford's
Congregational Church. A reception followed at the Portland Club.
The bride is the daughter of James C. Johnson of Scarborough and Linda M.
Brooke of Sarasota, Fla. The bridegroom is the son of Richard and Juliana
L'Heureux of Brunswick.
More new ideas are surfacing about celebrating the coming millennium, which
is just two very short years away. Franco-Americans love any excuse for a
sortie (party). Obviously, the millennium will be the memere (grandmother) of
fabulous reasons to celebrate ethnic culture, history, and family heritage.
Along with creating a family time capsule for the millennium, another idea
is to sew a family quilt. This idea is not original. Actually, it was first
written about in a book titled, ``The French-Can
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O.
Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.
The holiday season is the traditional time when special requests are
generally granted simply because it is the season for giving and sharing.
Therefore, it was easy to grant the special request from Alan Mittelstaedt,
the editor of this column, when he suggested I continue writing about Les
Franco-Americains, despite feeble attempts at ``adieu''.
Actually, it is the various and unique special requests from readers who
keep the column going from one year to the next. Readers like Margaret Baldwin
f
Memo: Juliana L'Heureux's column about southern Maine's Franco-American
population appears Thursdays. She can be contacted by writing to: P.O.
Box 1023, Sanford, Maine 04073, telephone 324-7494.
