DEAR SUN SPOTS: Reading an article in the paper recently about the orphan trains reminded me of hearing about the “potato trains” that went from Lewiston to up around Flagstaff or Stratton or up that way years ago.

I never knew if it was a famine or too many people to feed, but they hauled old people and youngsters too young to work. They were left up there with bags of potatoes to sustain them. Some died because they were too old or sick.

I wonder if the man at the Androscoggin Historical Society would know about these. I know they were French people and some Anglicized their names so they would not be recognized as having been up there. — No Name via email

ANSWER: Bates College professor emeritus Doug Hodgkin of the Androscoggin Historical Society said he was not familiar with potato trains.

James Myall, coordinator of the Franco-American Collection at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College, emailed the following:

“Very interesting, but I haven’t heard anything about this incident myself. I do know that before the antipoverty programs of the 1930s, towns were responsible for their poor and hungry citizens.

“In past columns I know you’ve fielded questions about the city poor farm, and I’ve heard that Lewiston and other places would often try to reduce their expenses by sending those who couldn’t support themselves out of the city to farm. That sounds like what your reader is describing.

“I’ll add that Franco-Americans anglicized their names for many reasons. It could be, as your reader says, that the families didn’t want to be known for having been so down on their luck that they were sent away.

“But their names might have been changed for other reasons. Sometimes people with French names wanted to “fit in” and hide their French heritage; other times they just wanted people to be able to pronounce their names properly!

“In my experience, it was rare for families to change their names to hide a secret past.”

Perhaps readers will have memories or stories from their grandparents to share.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am on cloud nine after reading this morning’s (April 29) newspaper.

I can’t begin to thank No Name, Hebron for the words to two of my favorite songs and the trouble and time he took to copy them down.

Is it possible for me to have his phone number or home address? My son lives in Hebron.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. — No Name, Gray

ANSWER: Sun Spots cannot give one reader another reader’s private information without his or her permission. Perhaps No Name, Hebron will write to Sun Spots and give that permission.

Meanwhile, Sun Spots will be glad to look up the lyrics for the third song you requested, “Still,” if you provide a little more information. (More than one song can have the same title.) Can you tell her who sang the song or about when? Can you recall any of the words?

With additional information, she should be able to find the lyrics online.

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