Reach School visits the museum
Reach School students and staff walking the same path the mill workers walked for 84 years. Photo by Larry Wahl
September 19, 2024
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, students from the Reach School visited the Bucksport Paper Mill Museum to see the artifacts currently on display. Mill Museum Working Group members Chip Stubbs, Arline Smart Lamarche and Larry Wahl were all in attendance, with Chip leading the presentation. Reach School Director Seth Laplant and teacher Holly Cough accompanied the students.
As students crossed the street and walked toward the museum, they followed the same route the mill workers followed when the mill was still operating.
Once they arrived at the museum they were greeted by Chip who began his presentation by showing them the pulp grinding stone in front of the museum and explaining how it was used.
Inside the museum building, the students explored the artifacts on display, including pieces of the first and last paper that was produced at the mill.
One of the questions asked was what the mill had done for the community. Chip, with help from Arline, explained some of the ways that the mill and its workers had served the local community, from donating to fundraisers held at the main gate to helping with installation and repair projects throughout the area.
Thank you to the students and staff for taking an interest in our museum and for spending some time with us learning about the paper mill.
Chip welcomes students and staff to our museum and begins his presentation with showing them the pulp grinding stone outside. Photo by Arline Smart Lamarche
Students listen to Chip explaining what the grinding stone's purpose was and the path that the pulpwood took to become paper. Photo by Arline Smart Lamarche
The grinding stone offered an interactive, hands-on display, with many of the students feeling the texture for themselves. Photos by Arline Smart Lamarche (above) and Larry Wahl (below)
Students checking things out and thinking of questions they will ask. Photo by Larry Wahl
Chip pointing out the first paper that was made at the mill and the last paper that was made there. Photo by Arline Smart Lamarche
Reach School Director Seth Laplant asks Chip about what the mill had done for the community. Photo by Arline Smart Lamarche
With Arline's help Chip explained what the mill had done for the community over the years, from fundraising at the main gate, people selling raffle tickets inside the mill and outside at the main gate, United Way, and projects throughout the area that workers from the mill were sent out to install or repair. Photo by Arline Smart Lamarche