Imagine how much the world has changed in the past 100+ years. Alice Bertrand reflects upon the highlights of her life in Biddeford since 1919. She is fondly remembered by many as their first-grade teacher at St. Joseph’s Elementary School.
Her crystal-clear recollections convey her appreciation and passion for life, her family, her friends, her education, her twenty-five-year career as a teacher and her music.
She emphasizes the importance of being kind and consciously creating positive experiences with others to build a lifetime of beautiful memories that will serve to bring you happiness.
ALICE COTÉ BERTRAND
INTERVIEW DETAILS
Date of Interview: January 16, 2021
Location: Bertrand residence, Biddeford Maine Interviewer: Nicole Morin-Scribner
Transcriber: Nicole Morin-Scribner
SELECTED INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
- Stories from her father’s experience as an immigrant from Quebec, starting as a 9-year-old child working in the Pepperell mills.
- The challenges that her father overcame despite discrimination and lack of a formal education. “Every night he would take his machinist book out and work at problems. He (eventually) became a master machinist.”
- The role that music played in her life including studying the piano for 18 years, being the organist at church and being invited to play the piano at major events in the city.
- What life was like in her neighborhood growing up; Main Street on Friday nights; dating in the 1940’s; taking the trolley to see the bands at the OOB Pier.
- Recollections (and a funny story) about Mayor “Papa Lausier”
- Impact on life during the Depression, World War II.
- “I went to Boston to see my husband get shipped out. All we could do was wave as he marched in front of us. We had no idea where he was going. He was sent to Yokohama, Japan for 2 years.”
- Her working career and how she got into teaching.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Birthplace: Biddeford Maine
Education: St. Joseph’s High School
University of Laval, Quebec music degree
Ethnic Identification: Franco-American