DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m a Maine-based documentary filmmaker. At the moment, I’m producing a film with the support of French broadcaster TV5 Monde and I’m searching for the following media to use/license:

Radio emissions in French from Lewiston’s WCOU or WFAU between the dates of 1909 and 1968.

Articles mentioning Ku Klux Klan activity in Lewiston and the surrounding areas, including the August 10, 1924, cross burning atop David’s Mountain.

Archival news articles specifically related to Lewiston’s Franco-American community, which may include: Little Canada, The Grand Trunk Station, Franco-American workers at the various mills, and activities in the Catholic Church/parishes throughout the city.

Please also let us know if there is any archival film footage of the previously mentioned topics. I would be extremely grateful for any information you can provide. My contact information is
quintanilla.daniel@gmail.com — Dan, no town

ANSWER: This sounds like a very interesting project that I’m sure Sun Spotters will sink their teeth into. Prepare for some correspondence. Have you contacted/utilized these resources? Lewiston Sun Journal Archives (Lewiston Evening Journal and Lewiston Daily Sun, (sunjournal.com); staff and volunteers at The Franco Center (francocenter.org); the libraries at Bates College (bates.edu/library), Central Maine Community College (cmcc.edu), and University of Southern Maine at Lewiston (usmlibraryadmin@maine.edu); as well as the Auburn (auburnpubliclibrary.org) and Lewiston Public Libraries (lewistonpubliclibrary.org). The Maine Historical Society (mainehistory.org) and The Maine Memory Network (www.mainememory.net) are also both incredible resources. Sun Spots has a few readers who are past employees of WCOU and WFAU so I hope they reach out to you.

Please keep us informed of your progress!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I grew up in Lewiston during the 1950s and 1960s. When I was maybe 10 years old or so a new store opened at the corner of Oak and Park streets, now the site of Oak Park Apartments. Would anyone know the name of that store when it first opened? A few years or maybe several years later the store was called Sparks but I think it had another name before that. It definitely had a warehouse feel to it, but sold items similar to five-and-dime stores. Thank you so much for any light you might shed on this for Me. —JoAnne, Freeport

ANSWER: I’m quite certain there are Sun Spotters of a “certain age” who will jump on this question with an answer. Stand by!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Shaw’s has been bagging our groceries in nice thick plastic carry bags and a lot of us do not need so many to reuse.  Would you be so kind as to ask nonprofits to write to Sun Spots with their names and phone numbers so we could get these bags to them? We’re looking to lend a hand. — No name, no town

ANSWER: The Shaw’s where I shop has receptacles in the entryway for customers to leave their used bags. If you don’t see it when you first walk in, ask an employee. As far as giving the bags to nonprofits, thrift stores, food banks, and animal shelters come to mind immediately, as do stores that sell used books. Their protocols may have changed because of the pandemic so call first to see what these places are accepting at this time.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name. We won’t use it if you ask us not to. Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

 

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