-1950,11 Paul Nadeau house on Pine st, Stratton MEMORIES OF STRATTON in 1940's The Great Depression had overtaken the farmland and produce did not sell. The farm was sold; a car was purchased and off to the Maine lumber camp we went. We lived there for 6 months while Mom (Rose-Aimee) and Dad (Paul-Emile Nadeau) looked for a house. I mainly remember the rats. They were everywhere and all over us at night. Mom spent half the nights chasing them away for fear they would bite us. They didn't; but they did help themselves to Louise's doll. This first house in Stratton was meager by today's standards. It had 3 small bedrooms, a living room, a central kitchen with a pot bellied wood stove (our only source of heat and heated water), running cold water - hand pumped at the sink, a bathroom with overhead water storage (no more outhouse and potties under the bed for us!). There was access to the attic from the bathroom ceiling. There was a dirt cold cellar accessed by staircase (no more trap door in the kitchen floor) and a covered hole in the ground for winter meat storage. We had electricity; bottled milk and dry ice (for the icebox) were delivered to the door on appointed days. All in all, this was a great improvement over farmhouse living. I remember the snowdrifts - so high that Dad could not get out through the front door. He had to exit through the window to clear a path. Walking to school, I could see little but the road ahead. WWII was upon us. I remember that meat, gasoline, flour and sugar were rationed. The first time we went to the attic, we found several bags of flour and sugar that had been left by the previous owners. Mom made taffy in celebration. Meat ration coupons were exchanged for gasoline coupons so Dad could come home from the lumber camp every day. This is not to say that we went without meat. Dad hunted deer and bear and brought home his portion of horsemeat when horses had to be killed at the lumber camp. The deer and bear were never far from the house since the deer foraged in our garden and bear tracks were found on the property. Once, after shooting a bear, 2 cubs were found nearby. They were brought down to town and I remember that one of them was displayed in the center of town for several months. I remember Maurice Nadeau being drafted for the war and Mom's anguish when Dad received his draft notice. The Forster Company had Dad exempted as essential to the business because he was bilingual (lumber was a vital resource to the war effort). For entertainment, the Nadeau clan visited at each other's homes; every summer we'd visit the Bolducs and the Nadeaus in St. Martin; several times yearly we would simply cross over to Quebec to refill my prescription for asthma cigarettes, buy French novels for Mom and visit with Raymonde. I remember going to 2 movies (Mighty Joe Young and Bambi ). Evenings, we sat around the radio for the news and to listen to the Canadian series "Seraphim Poudrier". We children ran around in the yard and played in the attic. For the life of me, I can not understand how it came that there were so many planks with protruding nails on the lot. The nails pierced through shoes and feet. Mom would simply sit us on the kitchen table, pull the nail out, soak the foot in Epson salt and cauterize with iodine. It's a miracle we didn't get tetanus. In those days, seeing the doctor was limited to serious/out of control situations; there was no medical insurance or paid time off and money was tight. Richard has written about his injuries at the lumber camp. Dad had several. One evening he came home with a rag-bandaged foot. He had axed his heel and had sewn the flesh back together. Mom simply treated wounds with Epson salt and iodine. The last accident was the worse and occurred after the war, when we lived in our second house. Dad drove himself back home at midday, his clothes soaked with blood and on entering the kitchen, he dropped to the floor. His chainsaw had rebounded to him and had ripped open his chest, barely missing his heart. The doctor sewed the flesh and bandaged. The next morning, Dad went back to work. In earlier years, one doctor's visit put us all in quarantine for a full month. Both Richard and Louise had scarlet fever. A sign was posted on the front door and only Dad could have contact with the world outside. Mom had the worse of it all - caring for the sick and then having to burn everything that could not be disinfected. After that ordeal, Louise had tonsillitis and, since tonsils were considered useless and prone to infection, Richard and I were made to join her. We made a quick trip to Quebec for the surgery. One of my duties was to pick up mail at the Post Office and deliver Mom's messages to family along the way. I enjoyed doing this. I remember frequently stopping by at Henry &Georgette's, Maurice's place, Tante Anne's (Elizabeth Joly's sister) and Raymond & Ida's house. I have fond memories of these visits. On Sundays we went to church. There were few Catholics in the area so the priest rotated Sunday services between Stratton, Eustis, Rangeley and Oquossoc where he resided. This poor pastor was alcoholic and unstable at the altar; and spent a great deal of time cajoling in the Stratton hotel. Rumors of unseemly behavior abounded; letters of complaint were sent to the Bishop but nothing changed until our Confirmation ceremony when the Bishop saw him crash into the sacristy plate glass door during services. The pastor was replaced. I later met up with him at the girl's boarding school in Lewiston; he was still hidden there years later when I worked at the adjoining home for the elderly in 1952. The war was ending, rations were lifted and the economy was in recovery. Mom bought a refrigerator, a washing machine, a set of china and gradually our clothes and toys were purchased from the Sears catalog. Most importantly, the era of suspicion against us immigrants was passing. Older children stopped chasing me to school and calling me French frog. The neighbors were no longer calling the sheriff when men from the lumber camp stayed overnight at the house. Living conditions improved. Mom and Dad bought a two- family house and rented out the second story. A year later, Richard, Louise and I were sent to boarding school in Lewiston. We stayed there for three years, coming back to Stratton during the summer, and then we moved to the city - Auburn. Our contacts with the Nadeau family became less frequent as years passed. But now, thanks to Richard's long active interest in our family genealogy and his addiction to computers, it is possible to rekindle and develop new relationships. I hope that all cousins will share a snapshot of their family life. It takes some effort but it is worthwhile if it helps us bond and understand each other and our parents. Nicole Nadeau Nemeth Stratton Memories Addendum Here is what I can add to Nicole's memories in Stratton: I remember that first car. It had a front window that could be opened and had a little fan on the dashboard. It had thin tires on wheels with big iron spokes and back doors which opened frontward. I believe it had a rumble seat as well. Andy and I used to play in it after it lay derelict on the lot on Pine street at our second house, now still owned by Morin--to whom we sold it. It was in this car that I got caught by Mom when I was about to cut off Andy's penile head with my jackknife on a dare (in jest of course) when we heard Mom's frantic rap on the window. Remember that Andy? After this I never saw Andy's....., nor the car again. I remember Louise's chewed-up doll. I didn't know it was rats that chewed off it's nose and feet. I think it is pictured on the porch of the picture of our Pine St. house. Louise still has the cradle build by Mom of slats. We were always cautioned to stay close to the house when playing outside because of frequent visits by bears. I also remember the small room and stove in our first Stratton house (now owned by Batchelders) where I once burned myself. Rubber tires were rationed during the war so dad put one tire over another to prevent wear. I still have many of Dad's traps as well as his bucksaw. I believe that bear was kept caged in the cellar of the Stratton Plaza (hotel) until it mauled a person. The mother bear was killed by a single shot, bolt-action 22 rifle! The movies you mentioned were my first ones. We saw them at the theater in Stratton. The deer for the original film "Bambi" were obtained from a farm (now known as the Bambi farm) in Stratton. I also remember "Saraphim Poudrier". It was a family affair to listen to it. Dad carried a scar from the backside of his shoulder to his sternum from that chainsaw wound. When Louise and I had Scarlet fever, we found great sport in chasing Nicole to kiss her. When we children fought, Mom would make us kiss to end the fight. I remember that Quebec trip for the tonsillectomy and the treat to ice cream cones after. I remember wanting to be carried because I was tired of walking and the ride on the Ferry across the St. Lawrence. I remember once when Dad drove behind that priest. He zigzagged all over the road and Dad was afraid to pass him. Richard Nadeau First Memories by Lorraine Morin Dear Richard: Thanks for the birthday message. My first memory of you was at your home in Lewiston. You sat me on your lap and had me look through a microscope at a drop of blood. I think this was also the same visit when your mother was telling about a snake that belonged to you escaping in your house and being loose. Your house seemed like a very interesting place to live but I was worried about the snake. Also our family's first experience with pizza was at your house. The first black person I saw was at Louise's graduation. She was either a midget or a very fat little kid. I was scolded for staring at her. I remember thinking Louise so beautiful. Well, those are my early memories of you and your family. Lorraine Captain by Richard Nadeau, Felix Richard wrote: When we lived in Stratton, around 1949, and dad was boss at a lumber camp, one of the lumbermen brought to the camp a puppy collie which was subsequently kicked on the head by a horse. Fearing that the dog would never be normal, the owner gave dad the dog, which I named "Captain". I remember Captain breaking through a lumber camp window to follow dad and I to Canada on a trip to recruit workers. For miles he ran behind the car and refused to give up. We finally took him with us and dropped him off just before the lines and waited for him on the other side of the border where hew rejoined us. This was repeated on the return trip. Captain was my constant companion and was always ready to protect me against the bullies when we moved to Auburn in 1952. Soon after moving, however, it became apparent that Captain was not going to adjust to urban life and he was given away. Only recently did I learn that Captain was given to Raymond in Stratton. I asked Felix about a collie dog which he might have had. Yes, he once had a collie which they named "Bruce". I've been told that Bruce saved one of Raymond's children from the river and also saved another from being run over on the road in front of their home. What do you remember about this wonderful dog Felix and Louise? How about you Nicole, Marcel or Loraine? Felix Nadeau wrote - Feb 28, 2002: Hi everybody, Richard, thanks for the photo and story about Captain (Bruce). He did save at least one of us kids but the story is vague since we were so young at the time. This dog was incredibly loyal and very protective of us kids. However as he grew older he became cranky and became a threat to people passing by the house. Dad had to have him put away (I think that Honore Dube was the one who did him in). In any case, Captain would get my vote as the number one Nadeau Pet of all time! Felix Nadeau - Feb 28, 2002
Felix at age 4 or 5 with Captain/Bruce (story above) From Felixe's collection
-1950,7 Richard Nadeau
1-05321 Pauline's collection Richard Nadeau
-1950,9 Louise Nadeau in Stratton
-1950,10 Nicole Nadeau in Stratton
I loved to read comic books
l/r: Gerard, Charly, Paul, Richard and Linda in front Taken around 1954 From Linda's collection
Richard and his uncle Gerard. Taken at Fernand's farm in St. Jean De Lande Linda's collection
-1950,12 Stratton Richter-building (town hall, movie theater, jail) fire. Rose Nadeau in fur coat. Burned in 1946?
-1950,16 top left: Henry Bolduc and wife with unknown person. Two old ladies are left Elisabeth Joly Nadeau and sister Anne Joly Arsenault. Next row kneeling at left is Rose, Ida's sister and Ida. Children at left is Louise, Richard, Nicole and Ida's niece. Picture taken in Stratton.
-1950,20s Who caught the fish? Nice brookies. Richard Nadeau holding them up. Louise just getting out of the car and Nicole standing before her. Thanks Louise for this entry.
-1960 Rose, Richard, Nicole, Louise at the picnic spot on the back side of Lake Auburn
-1960,1 l/r:Louise, Richard, Nicole Taken in the early 50's. Same place as above From Louise's collection
I believe that this is the same picnic spot as above -- only several years later (perhaps the year we moved to auburn)
Same place as above
At the usual picnic spot on the backside of lake Auburn
Same place as above
same place on the road
The wooden structure in the background is a spring. The blanket on the ground was for the picnic. |
