You Had a Job for Life Read online

  Former shipping department employee Bruce Blodgett gave me a tour of the mill and provided me with a list of about a dozen former mill workers to get me started. These early interviews convinced me I had struck gold.

  By the end of Millie’s course, in late February 2010, I had interviewed eight former mill workers, and by then I realized I was a willing captive of a far greater project. That spring, I continued work on the mill project under the auspices of an independent study with Millie; she challenged me to write a book proposal that spring. I was hooked.

  I wish to say a special thanks to my first interviewee, Francis Roby. He couldn’t have been more gracious in helping me get started. Thereafter, it was easy to approach potential interviewees. I also wish to thank his wife, Arlene Roby, who shared the 1936 and 1938–1942 diaries of Cy Hessenauer, a logger with a poetic outlook. Selections from his diary were published in “I Have Earned My Place: A Logger’s Year, 1936,” which appeared in Northern Woodlands, Spring 2015.

  Early in the project, Joe Berube, paper machine tender, local historian, and author, suggested I contact Gloria White about historic photographs. Gloria, a former mill worker, whose husband, mother, father, and many other relatives also worked at the mill, had been collecting and digitizing photographs of town history. She graciously shared scores of photos she had collected, and she has helped me locate many more. I could not have gathered so many photos of Groveton’s paper mill without the assistance of Gloria and her husband, Doug White. Doug also served as a fact checker who answered all manner of questions about the mill and mill photos.

  By the summer of 2013 I had accumulated over one hundred hours in seventy-two taped interviews with fifty-six individuals who had worked at the mill or grown up in Groveton. The following people graciously submitted to one or more interviews: Bill Astle, Dave Atkinson, Bill and Iris Baird, Web Barnett, Lawrence Benoit, Joe Berube, Irene Bigelow, Bruce Blodgett, Thurman Blodgett, Joan Breault, Neal Brown, Shirley Brown, Tom Bushey, Louise Caouette, Ted Caouette, Pete Cardin, Roger Caron, Albert and Simone Cloutier, Greg Cloutier, Lorenzo Cloutier, Armand Dube, Leonard Fournier, Kathy Frizzell, Albert “Puss” Gagnon, John Gonyer, Betty Gould, Raymond Jackson, Belvah King, Mickey King, Gerard Labrecque, Pauline Labrecque, Lawrence LaPointe, Elaine LeClere, Shirley MacDow, Wilson “Hoot” McMann, Sandy Mason, Dave Miles, Herb Miles, Gary Paquette, Hadley Platt, John Rich, Rosa and Roland Roberge, Francis and Arlene Roby, Murray Rogers, Fred Shannon, Sylvia Stone, Pamela Styles, Raymond and Lorraine Tetreault, Channie Tilton, Cecil Tisdale, James C. Wemyss Jr., and Sandy White.

  I enjoyed each and every one of the interviews I conducted for the mill project. I was always made to feel welcome and was delighted that the former mill workers I interviewed were eager to share their experiences in the mill. Thank you, one and all. You are the chorus for this drama.

  Most of the mill photographs are in the possession of the Groveton Region Economic Assistance Team (GREAT). I am deeply grateful to the members of GREAT for allowing me to use some of their photographs for this book and for other mill-related projects. I hope someday there will be a place in Groveton where some of these treasures can be displayed for the public.

  I also wish to thank the many people who graciously shared photographs with me: Joe Berube, Roger Caron, Greg Cloutier, Becky Craggy, Becky Crawford (daughter of the late Warren Bartlett), Donna and Charlie Jordan, Dave Miles, Jim Wemyss Jr., and Sandy White.

  After I had assembled a good deal of material, I began to offer public presentations in which I showed photographs and played clips from some of the interviews I had conducted. Becky Craggy and Elaine Gray of the Northumberland Town Office were unfailingly helpful arranging these presentations in the town meeting room in the old Moose Lodge. Bill Tobin loaned his sound system for my presentations. On various occasions, Ron Pelchat, Nathan Gair, or Kyle Haley made video recordings of these presentations.

  Barbara Robarts invited me to make a presentation at Weeks Library in Lancaster, where she is librarian. Barbara has been a valuable source of information on local and regional history, as well as the extensive historical holdings of Weeks Library. I am truly grateful to Barbara for all the help she has provided me over the years.

  Eric Becker guided me through the (for me) tricky task of digitizing the cassette recordings of the mill project interviews. I am technologically challenged, and Eric showed the patience of a saint as I struggled to learn the process.

  Jim Wemyss Jr. submitted to ten formal interviews and countless other visits and phone calls. He always grumbled that he was busy, and he always forgot the clock when we began reminiscing about the mill.

  Dave Atkinson, the mill superintendent when the mill closed, helped me understand the final years of the mill. He has graciously answered numerous subsequent queries, and he reviewed portions of the manuscript.

  Richard Pult, my editor at the University Press of New England, has always believed in the project, and has offered sound, sometimes tough, advice. He has challenged me to improve—and shorten—the original manuscript.

  Greg Cloutier, one of the livelier storytellers I interviewed, has been supportive of the project from the moment I requested my first interview with him. Rather than list all the ways he has helped out, I will simply state: You Had a Job for Life would not have seen the light of day without Greg’s support.

  I dedicate You Had a Job for Life to my wife, Rachel O’Meara. She has encouraged me, sustained me, endured countless hours of noise while I transcribed the interview tapes, and tolerated never-disappearing piles of papers all over the living room sofa while I organized notes and wrote the book. Thank you, Rachel, my love.

  Notes

  CHAPTER ONE The Life of the Town

  1. History of Coos County, facsimile of the 1888 edition (Somersworth: New Hampshire Publishing Co., 1972; originally published by W. A. Fergusson & Co., Boston, 1888), 72. Georgia Drew Merrill is the probable, albeit uncredited, editor.

  2. Locals called Rumford, Maine, home of a large paper mill, “Cancer Valley.” Maine’s Bureau of Health Chronic Disease Surveillance Project found in the period 1984–1988 that the Rumford area had high rates of emphysema, asthma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lung cancer, and aplastic anemia. Mitch Lansky, Beyond the Beauty Strip: Saving What’s Left of Our Forests (Gardiner, ME: Tilbury House, 1992), 58–59.

  3. Undated memo, written probably in August 1954, in possession of the Groveton Mill Oral History Project.

  CHAPTER TWO Feeding the Mill

  1. Coos County Democrat (hereafter Democrat), August 19, 1891.

  2. “The Lumber Business,” editorial in Democrat, October 3, 1894.

  3. Democrat, October 12, 1892.

  4. Democrat, August 2, 1899.

  5. Democrat, January 20, 1909.

  6. Gropaco News, Christmas 1920, 6.

  CHAPTER THREE Making Paper

  1. Scientists did not implicate the bleaching process of pulp mills with dioxins until 1983, eleven years after the Groveton pulp mill had been shut down. Peter von Stackelberg, “White Wash: The Dioxin Cover-Up,” Greenpeace 14, no. 2 (March/April 1989), http://www.planetwaves.net/contents/white_wash_dioxin_cover_up.html.

  CHAPTER FOUR Prosperous Plant

  1. Democrat, July 15, 1891. (Note: owing to poor quality of microfilm “283” feet is probably correct. Possibly it could read 233.)

  2. Democrat, September 23, 1891. It is likely that many accidents and injuries went unreported.

  3. Democrat, February 10 and 17, 1892.

  4. Democrat, July 20, 1892.

  5. Democrat, July 31, 1895.

  6. Democrat, March 23, 1966.

  7. Democrat, May 6, 1896.

  8. Democrat, June 3, 1896; June 10, 1896.

  9. Democrat, July 22, 1896.

  10. Democrat, January 30, 1901.

  11. Democrat, July 17, 1901.

  12. Democrat, April 10, 1907.

  13. Democrat, October 9, 1907.

  14. Groveton Advertiser, March 16, 19
10.

  15. Groveton Advertiser, October 11, 1910.

  16. Democrat, September 1, 1897; November 8, 1905; February 28, 1906.

  17. Democrat, May 26, 1897.

  18. Democrat, May 4, 1898.

  19. Democrat, April 20, 1898.

  20. Democrat, October 5, 1898; October 19, 1898.

  21. Democrat, November 1, 1899.

  22. Democrat, May 12, 1897.

  23. Democrat, April 6, 1898.

  24. Democrat, December 14, 1898.

  25. Democrat, December 27, 1899.

  26. Democrat, February 10, 1904.

  27. Democrat, January 11, 1905.

  28. Democrat, February 8, 1905.

  29. Democrat, July 25, 1906.

  30. Democrat, January 8, 1908.

  31. Democrat, April 29, 1908.

  32. Groveton Advertiser, September 3, 1913; October 29, 1913.

  CHAPTER FIVE Ratville, NH

  1. Democrat, July 11, 1917.

  2. Groveton Advertiser, May 11, 18, and 25, 1917.

  3. Paper Makers Journal, February 1919, 17.

  4. Paper Makers Journal, August 1917, 8.

  5. Paper Makers Journal, February 1919, 17.

  6. Groveton Advertiser, September 7, 1917; Paper Makers Journal, October 1917, 24–25.

  7. Paper Makers Journal, December 1917, 32; January 1918, 8.

  8. Paper Makers Journal, March 1918, 28.

  9. Paper Makers Journal, September 1919, 3; “Organizer Parker’s Report for June,” Paper Makers Journal, July 1920, 28.

  10. Paper Makers Journal, October 1917, 25.

  11. Groveton Advertiser, May 28, 1920.

  12. Gropaco News, Christmas edition, December 23, 1920, 1.

  13. Gropaco News, April 14, 1921, 12.

  14. Democrat, June 8, 1927.

  15. Democrat, February 27, 1935.

  16. Democrat, November 11, 1936, November 25, 1936.

  17. Democrat, December 9, 1936.

  18. Democrat, October 6 and 13, 1937; November 18, 1937.

  19. Democrat, January 12, 1938; February 16, 1938.

  20. Democrat, April 6, 1938.

  21. Democrat, September 4, 1935.

  CHAPTER SIX Three Generations of Wemysses

  1. Diary of Cy Hessenauer, 1938–1942, August 13 and 18, 1940. Photocopies in author’s possession.

  2. “Transfer of Paper Mill Is Probable This Week,” Democrat, August 14, 1940; Democrat, January 8, 1941.

  3. “Northumberland a Thriving Village,” Democrat, March 31, 1937.

  4. “Police Guard Paper Mill,” Democrat, October 18, 1939; November 15 and 22, 1939.

  5. “Friendly Relations at Wyoming Mill,” Democrat, January 8, 1941.

  6. “Strike at Paper Mill,” Democrat, October 1, 1941.

  7. Hessenauer diary, 1938–1942, September 23, 1940, and January 15, 1941.

  8. “Union and Company Agreement,” Democrat, July 9, 1941.

  9. Democrat, October 31, 1945.

  10. Democrat, July 19 and 26 and August 2, 1944.

  CHAPTER SEVEN Crown Prince

  1. Interview with Irene Bigelow, conducted by her daughter, Gloria White, on October 14, 2010.

  2. Democrat, September 18, 1946.

  3. Democrat, October 9, 1946.

  4. Democrat, September 18, 1946.

  5. Democrat, September 25, 1946.

  6. Democrat, November 6, 1946.

  CHAPTER EIGHT The Perfect Balance

  1. Democrat, May 14, 1952.

  2. Democrat, May 21, 1952.

  3. Democrat, May 28 and June 4, 1952.

  4. Democrat, June 25, 1952.

  5. Democrat, April 12, 1950.

  6. Democrat, September 26, 1962.

  7. Anders Knutsson, “Health Disorders of Shift Workers,” Occupational Medicine 53 (2003): 103–8; Joseph LaDou, “Health Effects of Shift Work,” Western Journal of Medicine 137 (December 1982): 525–30.

  8. The story appeared in Peter Riviere, “‘Jimmy, Jr.’ Honored at Plant Ceremony,” Caledonian-Record (St. Johnsbury, VT), July 29, 1998.

  CHAPTER TEN A Fateful Decision

  1. Wall Street Journal, June 6, 1968, 34.

  2. Democrat, September 2, 1970.

  3. Democrat, September 13, 1973; October 18, 1973; October 25, 1973.

  4. Democrat, March 22, 1973.

  5. Democrat, June 14, 1973; July 19, 1973.

  6. Democrat, July 26, 1973.

  7. Democrat, August 9, 1973.

  8. Democrat, October 25, 1973.

  9. Democrat, March 28, 1974.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN End of an Era

  1. Jack Hiltz, “GM Reviews Events, Progress,” Papermaker, August 1981, 1.

  2. J. Hiltz, “No. 1 Boiler Conversion,” Papermaker, May 1982, 1–2.

  3. Gregory Cloutier, “No. 1 Boiler Conversion Update,” Papermaker, April 1983, 4.

  4. Democrat, April 30, 1980.

  5. Jack Hiltz, “A Company Newspaper Fulfills a Need,” Papermaker, December 1980, 1.

  6. Susan Breault, “Alkaline Size: Practice Makes Perfect,” Papermaker, May 1982, 3.

  7. Democrat, September 16, 1981.

  8. Democrat, October 7, 1981.

  9. Democrat, October 14, 1981.

  10. Democrat, November 11, 1981.

  11. Ivan Fallon, Billionaire: The Life and Times of Sir James Goldsmith (Boston: Little, Brown, 1992), 359.

  12. Manchester Union Leader, July 13, 1983; Fallon, Billionaire, 375, says JR paid $149 million.

  CHAPTER TWELVE The Worst Years

  1. Jack Hiltz, “New Records Set,” Papermaker, June 1983, 2.

  2. Peter Riviere, “James River: From Wood Chips to Blue Chips,” Democrat, January 4, 1984.

  3. Funding Universe, “Fort James Corporation History,” c. 1997, http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Fort-James-Corporation-Company-History.html.

  4. Democrat, August 24, 1983; September 4, 1985.

  5. “Campbellettes,” Papermaker, May 23, 1985, 5.

  6. “History is Made in Northern Mountains,” Papermaker, August 1, 1985, 1.

  7. Democrat, August 7, 1985.

  8. Democrat, January 1, 1986; February 19, 1986.

  9. Democrat, January 15, 1992; March 11, 1992.

  10. Bill Sleeper, “Bill’s Corner: The Challenge That Lies Ahead,” Papermaker, April 21, 1988, 2; Greg Cloutier, “What Is Co-Generation and How Does It Affect Us?,” Papermaker, October 29, 1987, 1; Bill Sleeper, “Bill’s Corner: The Beat Goes On,” Papermaker, August 18, 1988, 2.

  11. Harold A. Goldsberry and James E. Maher, “North American Fine Paper Producers Continue Alkaline Paper Conversion,” Pulp & Paper Magazine, April 1993, http://www.risiinfo.com/db_area/archive/p_p_mag/1993/9304/93040124.htm.

  12. Kasy King, “The Alkaline Challenge,” Papermaker, May 3, 1990, 1, 3.

  13. John Kushe, “John’s Corner,” Papermaker, August 31, 1989, 2; John Kushe, “John’s Corner,” Papermaker, November 2, 1989, 2; Jim Bailey, “Manager’s Notebook,” Papermaker, May 3, 1990, 2.

  14. James M. Matheson, “James River Restructuring: An Opportunity for Groveton,” Papermaker, November 8, 1990, 1.

  15. Democrat, August 22, 1990.

  16. Democrat, September 12, October 10, November 21, and December 5, 1990. Jim Bailey, “Manager’s Notebook,” Papermaker, December 20, 1990, 2.

  17. Democrat, January 23, 1991; April 24, 1991.

  18. Democrat, November 6, 1991.

  19. Donna Jordan, “James C. Wemyss and Groveton Paper Board,” Coös Magazine, November 1991, 4–7.

  20. Democrat, December 18, 1991.

  21. Democrat, January 15, 1992; February 5, 1992.

  22. Democrat, February 19, 1992; April 8, 1992; May 20, 1992.

  23. Senator Patrick Leahy and Senator Warren B. Rudman, “Letter of Clarification,” in The Northern Forest Lands Study of New England and New York, by Stephen C. Harper, Laura L. Falk, and Edward W. Rankin (Rutland, VT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1990), 90.


  24. Harper, Falk, and Rankin, Northern Forest Lands Study, 3, 164.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN The Best Years

  1. Democrat, October 21, October 28, 1992.

  2. Jack O’Brien, “Wausau Papers Makes Dream Acquisition—Acquires Groveton from James River,” PaperAge, September 1993, 10; Jack O’Brien, “Wausau Paper Mills’ President and CEO Arnold M. Nemirow Named PaperAge Papermaker of the Year,” PaperAge, December 1993, 8.

  3. O’Brien, “Wausau Papers Makes Dream Acquisition,” 12.

  4. Democrat, April 14, 1993.

  5. Democrat, March 3, 1993; March 10, 1993.

  6. Martha V. Creegan, “Colored Paper Still Coming from Mill,” Caledonian-Record, May 7, 2001.

  7. Edith Tucker, “Wausau Union Voting on Labor Contract,” Democrat, March 26, 1997.

  8. Peter Riviere, “Paper Mill Expansion Will Allow Overnight Deliveries,” Caledonian-Record, August 28, 1993.

  9. Journal staff, “Wausau Paper Loses CEO,” Milwaukee Journal, July 21, 1994.

  10. Peter Riviere, “If Paper Mill Changes to Oil Woodsmen’s Jobs Could Be Lost,” Caledonian-Record, April 26, 1994; Peter Riviere, “Workers Are Called Back as Paper Demand Increases,” Caledonian-Record, September 30, 1994.

  11. Pam Bouchard, “Natural Gas Pipeline a Step Closer to Reality,” Berlin Daily Sun, January 30, 1996; Edith Tucker, “Wausau Will Invest $8 Million at Mill,” Democrat, July 23, 1997; Tom Craven, “No Correlation?,” Wausau Happenings, April 1999, 1.

  12. Edith Tucker, “Wausau Union Voting on Labor Contract,” Democrat, March 26, 1997.

  13. “Go to Groveton for County’s Best Pay,” Berlin Reporter, April 4, 2000. Berlin, another paper mill town, averaged $600, Lancaster averaged $440, and Colebrook $368.

  14. Barbara Tetreault, “Wausau Contract Rejected,” Berlin Daily Sun, March 27, 1997.

  15. Edith Tucker, “Wausau Union Voting on Contract,” Democrat, March 26, 1997; Peter Riviere, “Union Vote Today on Five-Year Wausau Paper Mills Contract,” Caledonian-Record, March 26, 1997; Barbara Tetreault, “No Strike at Wausau,” Berlin Daily Sun, March 27, 1997; Peter Riviere, “Strike Vote Fails,” Caledonian-Record, March 28, 1997.