Dear Sun Spots: I’m inquiring about the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston.

Could you please give some history of its existence in the area. I would like to know where it is located today and what its purpose is in the community.

I know many people outside of the Lewiston area who don’t know too much about what it is, and what it does. Thank you. – John Kezal, Rumford.

Answer: According to the Franco American Heritage Center’s Web site, the following is its history:

In the 1860s, the first French-speaking Canadian migrants came to Lewiston-Auburn to work in the textile mills and shoe shops. In 1907, many arrived at the Grand Trunk Rail depot on Lincoln Street in Lewiston where they settled in an area known to this day as Little Canada. In 1907, St. Mary’s Parish was established in the Little Canada neighborhood. It served the people and became an important focal point for the population.

At one time, St. Mary’s Parish was a thriving and well attended church, however with the decline of the industries that encouraged families to populate the neighborhood, the church began to suffer financially. The Catholic Diocese of Portland announced that it would be closing St. Mary’s as of July 1, 2000. Many people in the community wanted to preserve this symbol of Franco-American culture. After closing St. Mary’s Church, the Franco American Heritage Center at St. Mary’s was established, as a performing arts, museum and learning center.

For more information, consider e-mailing [email protected] or [email protected]. You can also call the center at 783-1585 or 784-9586.

You might also check in with Michael Lord of the Androscoggin Historical Society for more on the area’s history. You can reach him at 2 Turner St., Unit 8, Auburn, ME 04210-5978, 784-0586.

Dear Sun Spots: I would like to make a request of all your wonderful readers. I am looking for an 1958 Amaracus, yearbook, from Monmouth Academy. This is the 50th reunion year. We moved in a hurry in 2001 and it was lost. My husband is very ill and has a weak heart. He has always felt bad because of the loss. I would like to replace it for him. If anyone out there would be willing to make one available to me as a gift or for a small fee, I would be very grateful. I can be reached via e-mail at [email protected] or via post at 802 Church Hill Road, Apt. 10, Leeds, ME 04263. – Faith Burnham, Leeds.

Dear Sun Spots: My sister and I have been doing some research on family history. While we were doing that we found some names of places in Maine that we can’t locate on any map or by checking with the county office. One was written under a picture of a house. It said our house in Cabbage Holler. It probably was in the Sumner, Hartford or Carthage area. The others were places our ancestors had lived. One was Pine, the other was New Meadows. If anyone knows where these places were or are, we would appreciate the information. Thank you for any help you can give us. I can be reached at 743-7261. – Bety Jones, Norway.

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In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to [email protected].