In this week’s Artscape segment, reporter David Wright sat down with Anne Conway, Director of the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket.
This transcript has been edited for clarity.
David Wright: We’re here in your office in Woonsocket, where I gather the French connection runs deep. Tell us about that.
Anne Conway: Absolutely. Here at the Museum of Working Culture, we really celebrate all things French. The museum primarily tells the story of immigration to Northern Rhode Island and to Woonsocket of the people who came to work during the industrial revolution.
David Wright: These were les habitants who came to work in the mills.
Anne Conway: Oui, exactement. So our story starts in about 1875 when people came to work and to find a better life for themselves and their children.
David Wright: Now we’re at a moment of friction in the longstanding friendship between Canada and the United States. Not to start things off on a sour note, but I gather there was friction even in those early days that some of the French Canadian mill workers faced hostility from the Irish, from the Yankees, and from others?
Anne Conway: Yeah, they did. And they faced hostility for leaving as well. So it was not always well seen by the clergy and by some people that felt like they were just deserting their homeland. So the people, I think, were brave. They wanted to come and make a better life. And they found themselves in the cities and towns, not just in Woonsocket, but all over New England where we needed a workforce. We needed la main d’oeuvre that we say in French. And once they got here, they settled and they formed their Petit Canada.
David Wright: And maybe because of that hostility, they had tight knit communities often centered around particular parishes.
Anne Conway: Yes, they build their own parishes. We had Le Precieux Saint, we had Saint Anne, and people gathered, not just for religious purposes, but it was really their social network. It was all the parishioners who got together to play games and to start their libraries and exchange recipes. And I’ve spoken with people here in Woonsocket who said, you know, my grandmother never spoke English and never needed to.
David Wright: There’s a strong hockey culture in Woonsocket, the Mount St.Charles Academy.
Anne Conway: Yes.
David Wright: Founded by French Canadian monks. There were French Canadian baseball players, including a Hall of Famer?
Anne Conway: Famer. Yes, Napoleon Lajoie. who became a baseball hero. Even to this day, he still has some averages that have not been beat. So, he’s from Woonsocket, yes, and a French Canadian immigrant.
David Wright: And how much of that French Canadian influence survives here?
Anne Conway: Oh, that’s a tough question. I think when you really speak with folks, especially, if you meet someone with a French Canadian last name, you certainly know that the person will have a story, will have a family story that most of the time they’re very, you know, eager to share. I don’t think you see the French in your day to day life here in Woonsocket as you did years ago. You don’t really hear the language anymore in stores and restaurants like you did. You know, people don’t speak it fluently, but they certainly love to have a chance to, to speak again and to hear the music and connect with the arts. And that’s what we try to do. So it’s not just about the past, which we preserve the past, but we also want to show what is going on in the world right now in French culture and, and what’s happening in the arts.
David Wright: Right. You’ve already had one event that’s about Quebecois cinema.
Anne Conway: Oui.
David Wright: And you’ve already had another event talking about French Canadian quilts.
Anne Conway: Correct.
David Wright: And of course, Rhode Islanders love trivia. Coming up, you’re going to be having a trivia night, All Things French.
Anne Conway: All things French. So that’s going to be at Ciro’s Tavern here in Woonsocket. It’s a very cool place. We’re going to have all you can eat appetizers. They have great food. We’re going to be asking questions about Quebecois culture, but about things from around the globe.
David Wright: Just to give people a little bit of a leg up, I’ve been digging into French trivia, Rhode Island related, in preparation for this interview, and I gather that the ties to France go back even further than the Industrial Revolution, all the way back to the explorers. French People were among the first Europeans to set foot on Block Island and in Newport.
Anne Conway: Yes, yes.
David Wright: There’s a section of East Greenwich known as French Town because of French Huguenots that settled there.
Anne Conway: Yeah, yes.
David Wright: Later during the Revolution. Rochambeau and Lafayette were very much on the scene in Newport.
Anne Conway: Yes, with General Washington, and certainly it is something that the people of Newport are very proud, as they should. And the people of the Alliance Francaise of Newport have done quite a bit with the Rochambeau trail and they’ve been very involved and they join us also with this Francophonie celebration. So we’ll all be together on March 27th at the state house to raise the flag of Francophonie. And I’m glad you mentioned the folks in Newport because they certainly are a very big part of this La Encophonie celebration.
David Wright: Now, we’re at an odd moment for your museum because the Museum of Work and Culture is, for the moment, closed for renovations.
Anne Conway: Yes, we had, unfortunately, we had a water related event on January 15 that forced us to close for a renovation. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Things are going well and we should be reopened to the public on April 15th.
David Wright: So the events of this series are taking place around the state?
Anne Conway: Yeah, all over the place. We’re very, very fortunate to have so many good partners who have opened their doors to hold our events for this year. The grand finale for La Francophonie will be at a theater in Cumberland.
David Wright: This is at the Blackstone River Theatre. The featured performers will be who?
Anne Conway: It will be a group called Grosse Ile. They are a wonderful French Canadian Quebecois musical group, a trio, and they play some very old and interesting instruments.
David Wright: I found a clip of theirs on YouTube. Let’s give it a quick listen.
[music]
Cajun bluegrass, that sounds like almost the Celtic vibe.
Anne Conway: Yeah, they are a blend of Celtic and French Canadian, but this group is really amazing and I hope that many people join us on March 30th.
David Wright: Well, the festival is called La Francophonie. You can find more information where?
Anne Conway: Yes, on our website. On www.rihs.org and I do want to mention that for those of you who will attend Salute to Spring or Bonjour Printemps, you will also get to have a serving of poutine.
David Wright: Anne Conway, director of the Museum of Work and Culture at Moonsocket. Thanks so much for talking with us. Anne Conway: My pleasure.
