Leo W. Grunwald was born in 1938 in Belfast, Maine. He grew up and attended school in Bucksport where he played baseball and basketball, graduating in the class of 1956. "Leo is always helping out people that need an extra hand," said his late wife, Joanne, in Still Mill, where his family's connection to the mill is told:

My grandfather, A.R. Grunwald, Sr., was brought to Bucksport from Corner Brook, Newfoundland, in 1929, to start the mill, Maine Seaboard Co. He was superintendent of the Sulphate Dept. which took in the acid plant, lime rock and other chemicals to make paper. He was one of the first people to move into the Townsite which the mill built for the executives coming in.

My dad, A.R. Grunwald Jr., went to work in the mill around 1932 and worked for 44 years as a millwright. He left before he could retire as he had cancer and could no longer work. He moved into the Townsite in 1938, the first hourly person to have a Townsite home.

My Aunt Ruth Grunwald Coombs worked as a mill secretary before she married. Working together, she and Lillian Rosen stayed friends till death. My older brother, Bill, came back from the Navy and went into the mill for 44 years, working on #1 and 2 paper machines. His son, Billy, also worked in the mill, in the train shed.

I went into the mill in June of 1961 also after returning from the Navy... 38 1/2 years on #4 paper machine before retiring. My son, Leo II, worked there for 30 years as a maintenance worker. 

Many mornings we left work to go up north or down east to fish or hunt a day, then come home to get a couple hours' sleep before going back to work. There always was someone wanting to go. 

After retirement we formed the Young Retiree Group to have coffee at the waterfront. We like to think we solved a lot of problems and good ideas for the town. We had our good buddy Dick Stubbs, "Stubby," to pass on information in case you were late or sick. We had people join us from all different walks of life, not only mill workers—from boats pulling in, buses and cars traveling to "Bar Harbor or visiting our little town, having dinner at MacLeod's or getting a ice cream at Wahl's. I always stop at McDonald's to get my coffee and talk or say hi to the "Senior" Seniors, as they like to stay warm (winter) or cool (summer). They miss the beauty of the waterfront and talking to the walkers. We also sadly watch them tearing down our beloved mill but hopefully something of beauty will replace it? I've had a good job with the mill and can't complain but I feel sad to see it go.

We took pride in our jobs. I ended up on the #4 paper machine. I started in the wood room and worked in about every department, then Albert (Red) Ridell got me a job on #1 and 2 papermachine in 1966. I stayed there til I retired Dec. 31, 1999 (Machine Tender)....They always rewarded good workers but always remember, don't mess with hard workers.  

—excerpted from "Good Money, Good Friends, Good Life—36 Years Without a Sick Day" from Still Mill.