The State of Maine began opening the highways in 1935. They contracted with local drivers to plow designated sections of road.
Grand Isle’s first State contract for plowing went to Abel L. Levesque (not to be confused with fellow Grand Islian Abel. H. Levesque who lived next to Abel L. on the same street). Abel L. Levesque had a 1934 or 1935 Dodge truck when he started. He was responsible for keeping the roads clear from St. David to the Van Buren line.
Levesque Street in Grand Isle’s town center is named after Abel L. Levesque.
When he retired, his son Rene Levesque took over the State plowing contract. Lionel ‘Ti Nel’ Levesque was his wingman, raising and lowering the wing plow while Rene drove. Rene and Ti Nil plowed together for many, many years. They had a sand shed by Mt. Carmel and used to shovel by hand to fill the truck bed with sand until they later got a loader.
Angela Soucy remembers one night when Rene and Ti Nel saved her family’s house from burning in a winter snowstorm. Her parents, Guy Lizotte and Laurette Gendreau Lizotte, had fed Angela and her sisters and everyone had settled in for the night. Before going to bed, Guy cleaned out the wood stove to bank the fire for the night. He put the metal bucket of ash and embers out on the porch to cool down in the cold.
Well, the coals were still hot and began heating up the wooden porch planks underneath the bucket. Before they knew it, while the family slept, the planks caught on fire. Rene and Ti Nel were out plowing in the snowstorm and just happened to look over as they drove by and spotted the flames. They stopped and ran up to the house and woke up Guy even as they grabbed the bucket off the porch and put it in the snow and put out the flames. They were lucky.
The house still stands today as you head through the east side of town. It’s the blue house on the river side of the road with the beautiful old apple tree in the yard with the American flag wood art leaning against its trunk.
The Town of Grand Isle also had plowmen who cleared the roads. One of the first Town plowmen was Vincent Beaulieu, Mina Beaulieu Dionne’s father. She remembers he plowed in Lille and up in the back roads, including Doucette Settlement and Corbin Road.
We welcome anyone’s memories of these and other plowmen through the years!
August 25, 2022
SCHOOLS OF RECORD IN GRAND ISLE, ME
Research of the Grand Isle/Lille school records stored in the Guidance Dept of the Van Buren School revealed
the following schools existed as far back as 1923. We found no records on file going back further than 1923.
Possibly, records prior to that time were lost or may be filed in the Dept of Education at State level. The
search continues.
We know the schools existed but we don’t yet know when each first came into existence nor do we know
when their use was discontinued and why. Maybe this information can be found in the town records. We also
know based on the children who attended each school that these were community schools, catering to
children residing within a few miles from their location and that each school taught all classes in one building.
The search continues.
School No 1 – located on the North end of town near the house of Jean Bouchard (presently owned by Robert
Dunbar); on record it is also called Brann School (possibly for former Governor Louis Jefferson Brann, Maine’s
56 th Governor, who lived July 6, 1876 – February 3, 1948).
School No. 2 – located in the center of Grand Isle, originally built in 1905 with one main front door. In 1938 a
second front door was added. This school building was built closer to the main road (US No. 1) This school
was completely torn down and rebuilt as brand new school in 1965. It was built much closer and parallel to
the railroad tracks. The school was originally named Lincoln School after the 16 th President. All lay teachers
until 1938 when the Nuns came. Father Albert Charette, the first Pastor, invited the Sisters Servants of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary (the Good Shepherd Sisters) (Les Soeurs du Bon Pasteur) from Quebec to teach in
the school.
School No. 3 – built in the vicinity on the river side of the road from the former Paul E. Dionne residence (more
recently John F. Dionne). Also referred to as Washington School.
School No. 4 - Adjacent to the Lille Church, known as the Notre Dame School Taught by Daughters of
Wisdom. When did the nuns come and left?
School No. 6 – located in Doucette Settlement corner of Doucette Road and what is now Mizpah road. Back in
the day, this was a town road connecting US No. 1 to Lavertu Settlement.
**There was a school house in the vicinity of Desjardins and Gendreau Road located on Madawaska land;
past Fred Lavoie’s house (Mack Lavoie’s Parents) but closer to Gendreau Road.
School No. 7 - located somewhere on Grivois Road (concessions des Grivois) Exact location unknown.
School No. 8 - located somewhere on the Grand Isle side on the Parent road. (concessions des Parent)
NOTE: important to note that we found no reference to School No. 5. Maybe this one existed prior to our
records, of 1923.
The determination of general location of each school except Lincoln and Notre Dame, is based on the
knowledge of the names of the kids and the general location of where they all lived.
Anyone who may have information or pictures on this subject, please contact me at 895-6949.
Experience the charm and nostalgia of our landmarks and historical buildings. Immerse yourself in the unique stories and culture of our city and discover the hidden gems that have been preserved for generations. Join us on a journey through the past and explore the iconic buildings and landmarks that define The Greater Grand Isle Historical Society.
We think that the history and lives of our town are fascinating and vibrant. Here we share some of the stories and memories of life in the Greater Grand Isle area through the ages, including today.
Enjoy!