LEWISTON – Museum L-A recently received a $7,500 grant from an anonymous donor through the Maine Community Foundation to support a key component of its Shoeworkers Oral History and Photo Documentary Project.

Grant funds will be used to record, transcribe and preserve oral histories of 45 people who worked in local shoe shops. The histories, along with documentary photographs, will form the basis of upcoming museum exhibits and programming.

“This grant will allow us to get going on this important project to preserve the stories of the lives of our shoeworkers,” said Rachel Desgrosseilliers, executive director of Museum L-A. “As with the mill workers, these people are getting on in years and it won’t be long before there will be no one left to tell these stories that are so important to the community.”

The museum plans to hold a Shoeworkers Reunion in the near future and will compile a list of interview candidates from attendees.

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 some of the world’s finest manufactured products and created a strong community.

Museum L-A is open weekdays and is located at 35 Canal St. in the Bates Mill Complex. For more information, call the museum at 333-3881 or e-mail Desgrosseilliers at [email protected].

A statewide organization, the Maine Community Foundation works in partnership with donors and community groups to strengthen Maine. For more information, visit the foundation’s Web site at www.mainecf.org or call toll-free 1-877-700-6800.