Staff Writer

 After the last Vellux blanket rolled off the line and WestPoint Stevens closed its doors forever, Scott Joslin came across a treasure trove of artifacts of Biddeford’s long manufacturing tradition.

“I thought we should at least get this all in one room,” said Joslin, who works with mill developer Doug Sanford to revitalize the space.  

Items found tucked in corners of all departments included laboratory equipment, machinery, signs and other memorabilia.

Framed illustrations, photographs and the clock that set all clocks throughout the mills now sit among the dozens of items Joslin and other volunteers have collected. The artifacts will be displayed in a permanent Mill Museum intended to document the city’s rich manufacturing history.

The museum will be in the same area currently used for the indoor farmers market near the intersection of Main and Alfred streets. Inside, framed photographs already hang on the wall and artifacts sit on shelves that line two rooms. The last piece of Vellux blanket ever produced sits alongside samples of  various blanket colors produced in the mill. The last piece came off the line at 12:20 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009.

Residents got a peek at the items last year during a surplus sale at the mill. Since then, Joslin and a seven-member steering committee have moved forward to establish the museum as a nonprofit.

“We’re excited about it. It should have a permanent place in the city because the mills essentially created the city,” Joslin said.

A mill museum bean supper will be held 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 7 at the North Dam Mill Event Center at 2 Main St. in Biddeford. Former mill employees are encouraged to attend to visit with friends and share ideas for museum plans. The dinner is $6 for mill veterans, $8 for adults and $4 for children.

Dana Peck of Arundel said the Arundel Historical Society will provide the dinner and supports the effort to open the museum. Francis Spencer, the man who invented the Vellux blanket that kept the mills in operations for decades, lived in Arundel. Many Arundel residents also worked in the mills.

 “It is a good thing for people to remember how important this whole mill community was,” Peck said. “There have been a lot of good people who came through this city.”

Peck worked in the mills as a young man, as did his grandfather and uncle. He said the bean supper is an opportunity for mill veterans to see people they may have fallen out of touch with since the mills closed. The historical society hosts several community dinners each year.

“It’s a great community builder. It’s amazing, everyone from 85 to 10 shows up,” he said. “They see people they haven’t seen in years to talk about their lives and renew friendships. Some of these people worked their whole lives in the mills. This is a great opportunity to catch up and talk about the good old days.”

Joslin said he hopes the dinner will energize mill veterans about the idea of creating a museum dedicated to telling the story of the Biddeford mills. The museum still needs a director and volunteers to staff it and lead tours.

“The goal is to engage as many mill veterans as we can. We think they’re the key to telling the story,” he said. 

Joslin encourages anyone who is interested in helping with the museum or in loaning or donating display items to call 282-5577 or write to museum@pepperellmillcampus.com.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.