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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Photo courtesy Museum L-A | of | Share this photo

    Bates Manufacturing workers inspect the quality of the fabrics for missed loops or errors in this vintage photo.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Photo courtesy Museum L-A | of | Share this photo

    In this archival photo, Ray Corey and Ralph Moyes lace together designs on punch cards — a precursor to the computer — at Bates Manufacturing. The holes in the cards programmed the loom to weave a certain pattern.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Photo courtesy Museum L-A | of | Share this photo

    Herbert Hecker designing a bedspread on point graph paper in a vintage photo. Hecker worked in Bates Manufacturing's design department.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Photo courtesy Museum L-A | of | Share this photo

    Two employees are surrounded by bobbins in this archival photo from Bates Manufacturing, which was started in Lewiston in 1850 by Benjamin Bates and in business for more than 140 years, closing 20 years ago. 

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Photo courtesy Museum L-A | of | Share this photo

    A woman checks on one of the then-newer machines at Bates Manufacturing in the Bates Mill Complex in this vintage photo.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Photo Courtesy Museum L-A | of | Share this photo

    A Bates Manufacturing worker makes bobbins from the large thread cones in a vintage photo.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Photo courtesy Maine Heritage Weavers | of | Share this photo

    Danny Fitzsimmons, who today works at Maine Heritage Weavers, started at Bates Manufacturing in Lewiston in 1974, when he was 18. He's been around textiles ever since.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Tom Platz stands on the first floor of Bates Mill No. 5.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Machinery remains on the second floor of Bates Mill No. 5, once used by Bates Manufacturing.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Remnants of Bates Manufacturing remain on the second floor of Bates Mill No. 5.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Remnants of Bates Manufacturing remain on the second floor of Bates Mill No. 5.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Rolls remain on the second floor of Bates Mill No. 5. They've been left in place since the business closed in 1992.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Old looms, once used by Bates Manufacturing, remain on the second floor of Bates Mill No. 5.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Old looms, once used by Bates Manufacturing, remain on the second floor of Bates Mill No. 5.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Bates Manufacturing occupied space on the first floor of Bates Mill No. 5.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Bates Manufacturing occupied space on the first floor of Bates Mill No. 5.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Material would have been brought between the first and second floors of Bates Mill No. 5 when Bates Manufacturing utilized the Bates Mill No. 5.

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    Bates Mill photos for 04/04/2021 - Daryn Slover/Sun Journal | of | Share this photo

    Material used for bedspreads remains on the second floor of Bates Mill No. 5.

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