LEWISTON – Who says things aren’t worth saving? Some people collect small things. Harvey Desgrosseilliers, a local resident, hates to see beautiful architectural pieces being torn down or thrown away.

His wife, Rachel Desgrosseilliers, executive director of Museum L-A, is trying to save the industrial heritage of the community. The museum is working to develop a plan for the creation of a new museum for Lewiston-Auburn and like her husband, Rachel feels that saving important architectural pieces is important. She would like to incorporate them into the design of the museum’s new home as an innovative way to help save the community’s memories.

Upon tearing down the Empire Theater, Desgrosseilliers and historical commission requests of the owner resulted in the salvaging of many artifacts from the theater, including the original ticket booth, marquees, line of seating, the chandelier and sconce from the lobby and the old popcorn machine among other items.

Harvey Desgrosseilliers decided to donate some of his treasures to the new building effort. Cote Crane offered to help in transporting the mahogany rotunda that was the inside entrance of the old Auburn Post Office and a 10-foot-long hall bench from Bates College (taken out more than 40 years ago).

The items were kept in storage by Harvey while awaiting a place of honor someday. That day is here.

Before it was demolished around 1970, the “old” Auburn Post Office stood on the northeast corner of Turner and Franklin streets – the latter no longer exists. Michael C. Lord, executive secretary of the Androscoggin Historical Society, noted that the building “pointed toward the northern end” of the Androscoggin County Building and was situated across from the parking lot between the county building and the YMCA. It was built about 1909 and was torn down as part of urban renewal

Harvey said W. E Cloutier, Contractors were demolishing the building when he asked to get in with his then landscape crew to try and save the rotunda and more. Desgrosseilliers donated the original post master door along with the heavy brass chain chandeliers that were hanging in the lobby and the mahogany paneling from the post master’s office. He has stored and moved the huge items several times since 1970.

In addition, since Museum L-A is presently starting to do oral histories of shoe workers, Harvey and Rachel donated a huge safe along with some of the architectural pieces from the former Gooseberry Barn in Auburn. The well-known Minot Avenue structure was the Gross Estates, a shoe baron’s house.

Harvey’s family often asks him, “Why keep all this?” Harvey says, “Who knows who could use it some day.”

Museum L-A, incorporated in 1996, is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of the Industrial Revolution and its workers in Lewiston-Auburn. The museum works to preserve the heritage of the community so that future generations can take pride in and learn from the culture that produced manufactured products and created a strong community.

Museum L-A is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located at 35 Canal St. in the Bates Mill building above Davinci’s. For more information, contact the museum at 333-3881 or e-mail Rachel Desgrosseilliers at [email protected].