Dear Sun Spots: I am a former resident of your area, having lived there until 1988. Now I need some info and think Sun Spots might be the answer.

I was raised in 15 different homes before the age of 14 and am preparing a bio for my descendants. I would like to know if any readers have any pictures of the Healy Asylum taken in the late ’30s and also a picture of a day care called Mrs. Paquette’s, which was in Little Canada about the same time. I also lived at 948 Lisbon St., which I believe was across from where Mr. Castonguay started his potato chip business. I remember going to buy warm chips on Fridays. There was no label on the bag.

I would be glad to pay all postage and I have many children in the area who will send me the paper. I can be reached via e-mail at Jennysjournel@aol.com or via post, Pauline Belisle, 1710 W. Erie B101, Springfield, MO 65807.

By the way my Uncle Al Mercier and my daughter Cyndy Bell worked for your paper at one time. I am very excited about this project and hope to get some response. Thank you. – Pauline (Charest) Camire Belisle, Springfield.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, you may want to contact the Androscoggin Historical Society to see if they might have any in their archives. You can reach them at 2 Turner St., Auburn, (207) 784- 0586.

Also, according to an article in the Connections section of the Sun Journal in April, the Franco-American Heritage Collection at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College received a significant donation of French documents concerning local and regional history from Catholic Charities of Maine’s St. Paul Center in Augusta. The center was originally the mansion of former Gov. John Fremont Hill (1901-1905) before becoming an Oblate Retreat House in the early 1950s. Over the years, books and documents from many private collections came to be housed there. For instance, items from local institutions such as the Healy Asylum, St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Novitiate and the Marcotte Home are now being returned to Lewiston for historical preservation. You may also want to contact them. You can reach them at Franco-American Heritage Collection Lewiston-Auburn College / University of Southern Maine, 51 Westminster St., Lewiston, ME 04240, (207) 753-6545, (207) 753-6500, (207) 753-6555 or via e-mail at franco@usm.maine.edu.

Sun Spots: I would like to locate a person(s) who could repair a National Cash Register dating approximately 1904. It has been in the family business for many years and used daily (in full working condition) until just recently. It’s like losing an old friend with many stories to tell, hopefully with more to come. And I was the last one to “turn the handle” on it. Please help. – Peggy Susbury, Rumford.



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