
Looking back to the old days of Laconia and Pepperell Mills

Start of tour on 2nd floor...largest room in Biddeford

Awesome framing and columns

To "connector" walkway to 36-3

View from inside "connector" into 36-3

1st view inside 36-3. Used to store bales of cotton after 1915 fire destroyed old wood storage building.

2nd view of storage area. Very little sunlight so as not to yellow the cotton.

Pete Lamontagne explaining the fireproof features of the storage area.

Small port garrison style windows in storage room. This is not where the "fort" was located.

Elevator from 36-3 to where?

Conveyor chute from bale storage.

Conveyor path to next process

Conveyor exit and stairway down to private offices??

Private offices. We came in through the door on the right. The blue glass door goes to Main Street green doors. Note the open door to the safe.

No more money in the safe!

Safe manufacturer name plate above safe door.

Little closet for imported cigars and licquors. Must be why there is a sprinkler head in it.

Fireplace with Pete Lamontagne and Don Guillerault, tour guides...aka "docents".

Exit from the office.

Looking up upon exiting office into stairway.

Looking down Main Street

"Great Wall of Biddeford"

Looking up the :Great Wall"

Signage on the "Wall" explaining where the Fort actually was located....along the banks of the Saco river.

Private entrance, green doors on the "Great Wall" on Main Street.

Up river view from new foot bridge spanning the Saco River.

Down river view from new foot bridge spanning Saco River. Tannery used to be on the left, now is a restaurant.

Outside view of a "connector" walkway between buildings.

Vellux department

Suspended floor above "lagoon". Note the turnbuckles as this floor needed to be periodically adjusted.

Lagoon...canal system for the hydro power at the beginning of the textile era in Biddeford. This is below sea level.

Water entered via these 3 canals beginning on the right, from behind Deering Lumber, then powered the Laconia Mills on the left, then exiting out to the Saco River

Because this area is below sea level, it is most definately affected by the tides. Often in spring time the eels would jamb the turbines.