In addition to illustrations, the display features antique maple sugar harvesting tools

LEWISTON – The Franco-American Heritage Collection at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College has an exhibit on the maple sugar season, traditionally a time of celebration in French-Canadian culture at the end of long, harsh winters.

In the top photo Pauline Allard, second from left, is seen hosting a taffy-making party at her home. The photo appeared in the April 1967 issue of the Bates Spinner, a newsletter for employees of Bates Mill. Mrs. Allard worked at the time as “Floor Lady” in Packing and Shipping.

After the children filled a cup of fresh snow from Mrs. Allard’s front yard, she boiled the taffy mixture of brown sugar, butter and water. She would test the mixture for consistency by dropping dabs of it on the packed snow. It was ready to pour when it stayed on top of the snow without sinking.

She would then pour the hot taffy on the snow to cool and harden. Once it had cooled sufficiently, the children could scoop it with a spoon or roll it up on a fork. The taffy-making activity, often occurring right after a storm, has been a popular tradition with local Franco-Americans.

In addition to illustrations like those above, the display features antique maple sugar harvesting tools, provided by Jillson’s Sugar Shack of Sabattus.

The Franco-American Heritage Collection, formerly known as the Centre d’Heritage Franco-Americain, is the largest repository of Franco-American archival material in the state, with material on local history, government, religion, language, education, industry, sports and the arts.

Visitors are welcome from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and 8 a.m. to noon Thursdays. For more information, call 753-6545 or visit the Web at www.usm.maine.edu/lac/franco.