When members of the York County Genealogical Society of Franco-Americans met at McArthur Library in Biddeford last week, they invited relatives of past presidents of the group to join them as they unveiled a plaque in their honor. Left to right are Michele and John Landry and Carl Pepin – John is a grandson and Carl is the son of the first President, Ray Pepin; former President Pat Frechette, and current President Fred Soucy. Next to Soucy in the back is Andrea Blais, whose grandfather was President Robert Blais; and former longtime President Raoul Goulet. In front of Soucy are Leslie St. Ours and Yvette Gaudette, daughter and wife, respectively, of former President Ray Gaudette; and Diane McGonagle and Helen Treadwell, daughters of former President Ray Cote. Tammy Wells Photo
BIDDEFORD — Can you name your great- great-great grandmother? Do you know where she came from, if she worked outside the home, and where she is buried?
Did your ancestors work in one of York County’s numerous textile mills?
Members of the York County Genealogical Society of Franco-Americans honored past presidents of the organization, which was founded in 1981, on Oct. 19. Tammy Wells Photo
Were they among droves French immigrants who came to Maine and other New England states from Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada for work?
Members of the York County Genealogical Society of Franco-Americans likely know those answers about their own families — and maybe about yours. They are inviting others whose interest is piqued by history and their ancestors to join them.
On Wednesday, Oct. 19, several members gathered to honor those who have served the society as president, both past and present — and invited relatives of those past presidents to join them.
The society was founded in 1981 and organized as a nonprofit in 1982.
It maintains an extensive research collection, which is housed at McArthur Library in Biddeford. Members will meet there at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 for their next workshop meeting.
In an April 27, 2017 Ancestry.com blog, author Rebecca Dalzell said family history research is the second most popular hobby in the United States, according to stories at the time in USA Today and Time magazine. Gardening, according to USA Today, is apparently the first.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
