Sunday, June 9, 2019 -

The call came that the former Camden Yarns Mill, soon the new location for Museum L-A, was on fire. Firefighters, warned by passersby at the park, quickly gathered on the scene to contain the fire. Work was hindered due to the smoke from smoldering beams and not being able to identify the origin of the fire until much later as the basement of the building. Officials called it flameless combustion, undetermined but most probably caused by a human element. It was found that vandals had cut through a boarded up window and vandalized the many one of a kind artifacts that had been painstakingly saved.





Unfortunately, the high estimated costs of the damage were not included in the Museum’s budget. The artifacts were torn, strewn all over and now smoke damaged. Electricity was cut off so the full extent of damage done to the cellar ceiling and first floor have not been fully viewed yet.





Museum L-A, the owner of the site, has already invested $1.5 million and years of hard work in the hope of moving to their new location soon. As an "institution of the community" of Lewiston and Auburn, the museum is associated with several major community development programs and is a partner to many organizations. With a mission to bring generations together around culture and history, many children, students and elders come daily to follow educational programs. As a symbol of French-American twin cities, the museum promotes tourism in the region.





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Individuals and organizations can support the museum by clicking the donate button above or by sending a check to: Museum L-A, 35 Canal Street, Box A7, Lewiston, Maine 04240.