{"id":1278,"date":"2012-06-10T20:55:51","date_gmt":"2012-06-10T20:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/researchbdev.wpengine.com\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/?p=1278"},"modified":"2026-05-05T14:40:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T14:40:58","slug":"harvey-and-rachel-desgrosseilliers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/oral-histories\/harvey-and-rachel-desgrosseilliers\/","title":{"rendered":"Harvey and Rachel Desgrosseilliers"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_1375\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1375\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1375\" src=\"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/files\/2012\/06\/harvey-and-rachel-desgrosseilliers.jpg\" alt=\"Harvey and Rachel Desgrosseilliers\" width=\"300\" height=\"458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/files\/2012\/06\/harvey-and-rachel-desgrosseilliers.jpg 300w, https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/files\/2012\/06\/harvey-and-rachel-desgrosseilliers-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/files\/2012\/06\/harvey-and-rachel-desgrosseilliers-250x381.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1375\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Harvey and Rachel Desgrosseilliers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Harvey and Rachel Desgrosseilliers both come from parents born in Quebec, Canada, who immigrated to Maine as young children. Harvey grew up in logging camps outside Bethel in the headwaters of the Androscoggin River as a young boy before moving with his family to the Lewiston-Auburn area, where he helped his mother who worked in local restaurants. Harvey later worked other odd jobs around the Twin Cities before becoming a licensed arborist. Rachel was born and raised in Lewiston-Auburn, graduated from St. Louis University, and studied to become a nun before entering the private sector. She has been a past member of the Maine Tourism Commission, a founder of the popular Lewiston-Auburn Great Falls Balloon Festival, and the former CEO of St. Mary\u2019s Regional Medical Center. Harvey and Rachel also ran Gooseberry Barn and Six Corners Landscaping in Auburn for almost two decades. Rachel is currently director of Museum L-A in Lewiston. Together with Harvey, they remain active in local efforts for historic preservation and economic development. They live in Minot, Maine.<\/p>\n<p>Interview conducted on December 2, 2011 in Minot, Maine.<\/p>\n<p><strong>External links:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/museumla.org\/\">Museum L-A<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greatfallsballoonfestival.org\/\">Great Falls Balloon Festival<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Audio: <\/strong>click titles below to begin listening<\/p>\n<p><div id=\"mp3jWrap_0\" class=\"mjp-s-wrapper s-graphic unsel-mjp  verdana-mjp\" style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span id=\"playpause_wrap_mp3j_0\" class=\"wrap_inline_mp3j\" style=\"font-weight:700;\"><span class=\"gfxbutton_mp3j play-mjp\" id=\"playpause_mp3j_0\" style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span>&nbsp;<span class=\"group_wrap\"><span class=\"bars_mp3j\"><span class=\"loadB_mp3j\" id=\"load_mp3j_0\"><\/span><span class=\"posbarB_mp3j\" id=\"posbar_mp3j_0\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"T_mp3j\" id=\"T_mp3j_0\" style=\"font-size:14px;\">1. The Androscoggin as a dumpsite<span> - Interview Excerpt #1<\/span><\/span><span class=\"indi_mp3j\" style=\"font-size:9.8px;\" id=\"statusMI_0\"><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><span class=\"s-nosolution\" id=\"mp3j_nosolution_0\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><script>\nMP3jPLAYLISTS.inline_0 = [\n\t{ name: \"1. The Androscoggin as a dumpsite\", formats: [\"mp3\"], mp3: \"aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXNlYXJjaC5ib3dkb2luLmVkdS9hbmRyb3Njb2dnaW4tcml2ZXItaW4tdGltZS1hbmQtcGxhY2UvZmlsZXMvMjAyNi8wNS9oYXJ2ZXktZGVzZ3Jvc3NlaWxsaWVycy1leGVycHQtMS5tcDM=\", counterpart:\"\", artist: \"Interview Excerpt #1\", image: \"\", imgurl: \"\" }\n];\n<\/script>\n\n<script>MP3jPLAYERS[0] = { list: MP3jPLAYLISTS.inline_0, tr:0, type:'single', lstate:'', loop:false, play_txt:'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;', pause_txt:'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;', pp_title:'', autoplay:false, download:false, vol:100, height:'' };<\/script><br \/>\n<div id=\"mp3jWrap_1\" class=\"mjp-s-wrapper s-graphic unsel-mjp  verdana-mjp\" style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span id=\"playpause_wrap_mp3j_1\" class=\"wrap_inline_mp3j\" style=\"font-weight:700;\"><span class=\"gfxbutton_mp3j play-mjp\" id=\"playpause_mp3j_1\" style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span>&nbsp;<span class=\"group_wrap\"><span class=\"bars_mp3j\"><span class=\"loadB_mp3j\" id=\"load_mp3j_1\"><\/span><span class=\"posbarB_mp3j\" id=\"posbar_mp3j_1\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"T_mp3j\" id=\"T_mp3j_1\" style=\"font-size:14px;\">2. A lot of people breaking wind and rotten eggs<span> - Interview Excerpt #2<\/span><\/span><span class=\"indi_mp3j\" style=\"font-size:9.8px;\" id=\"statusMI_1\"><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><span class=\"s-nosolution\" id=\"mp3j_nosolution_1\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><script>\nMP3jPLAYLISTS.inline_1 = [\n\t{ name: \"2. A lot of people breaking wind and rotten eggs\", formats: [\"mp3\"], mp3: \"aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXNlYXJjaC5ib3dkb2luLmVkdS9hbmRyb3Njb2dnaW4tcml2ZXItaW4tdGltZS1hbmQtcGxhY2UvZmlsZXMvMjAyNi8wNS9yYWNoZWwtaGFydmV5LWRlc2Nyb3NzZWlsbGllcnMtZXhjZXJwdC0xLm1wMw==\", counterpart:\"\", artist: \"Interview Excerpt #2\", image: \"\", imgurl: \"\" }\n];\n<\/script>\n\n<script>MP3jPLAYERS[1] = { list: MP3jPLAYLISTS.inline_1, tr:0, type:'single', lstate:'', loop:false, play_txt:'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;', pause_txt:'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;', pp_title:'', autoplay:false, download:false, vol:100, height:'' };<\/script><br \/>\n<div id=\"mp3jWrap_2\" class=\"mjp-s-wrapper s-graphic unsel-mjp  verdana-mjp\" style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span id=\"playpause_wrap_mp3j_2\" class=\"wrap_inline_mp3j\" style=\"font-weight:700;\"><span class=\"gfxbutton_mp3j play-mjp\" id=\"playpause_mp3j_2\" style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span>&nbsp;<span class=\"group_wrap\"><span class=\"bars_mp3j\"><span class=\"loadB_mp3j\" id=\"load_mp3j_2\"><\/span><span class=\"posbarB_mp3j\" id=\"posbar_mp3j_2\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"T_mp3j\" id=\"T_mp3j_2\" style=\"font-size:14px;\">3. The stinking river and tarnished silver<span> - Interview Excerpt #3<\/span><\/span><span class=\"indi_mp3j\" style=\"font-size:9.8px;\" id=\"statusMI_2\"><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><span class=\"s-nosolution\" id=\"mp3j_nosolution_2\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><script>\nMP3jPLAYLISTS.inline_2 = [\n\t{ name: \"3. The stinking river and tarnished silver\", formats: [\"mp3\"], mp3: \"aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXNlYXJjaC5ib3dkb2luLmVkdS9hbmRyb3Njb2dnaW4tcml2ZXItaW4tdGltZS1hbmQtcGxhY2UvZmlsZXMvMjAyNi8wNS9yYWNoZWwtZGVzZ3Jvc3NlaWxsaWVycy1leGNlcnB0LTEubXAz\", counterpart:\"\", artist: \"Interview Excerpt #3\", image: \"\", imgurl: \"\" }\n];\n<\/script>\n\n<script>MP3jPLAYERS[2] = { list: MP3jPLAYLISTS.inline_2, tr:0, type:'single', lstate:'', loop:false, play_txt:'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;', pause_txt:'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;', pp_title:'', autoplay:false, download:false, vol:100, height:'' };<\/script><br \/>\n<div id=\"mp3jWrap_3\" class=\"mjp-s-wrapper s-graphic unsel-mjp  verdana-mjp\" style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span id=\"playpause_wrap_mp3j_3\" class=\"wrap_inline_mp3j\" style=\"font-weight:700;\"><span class=\"gfxbutton_mp3j play-mjp\" id=\"playpause_mp3j_3\" style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span>&nbsp;<span class=\"group_wrap\"><span class=\"bars_mp3j\"><span class=\"loadB_mp3j\" id=\"load_mp3j_3\"><\/span><span class=\"posbarB_mp3j\" id=\"posbar_mp3j_3\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"T_mp3j\" id=\"T_mp3j_3\" style=\"font-size:14px;\">4. Class divisions in Lewiston-Auburn<span> - Interview Excerpt #4<\/span><\/span><span class=\"indi_mp3j\" style=\"font-size:9.8px;\" id=\"statusMI_3\"><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><span class=\"s-nosolution\" id=\"mp3j_nosolution_3\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><script>\nMP3jPLAYLISTS.inline_3 = [\n\t{ name: \"4. Class divisions in Lewiston-Auburn\", formats: [\"mp3\"], mp3: \"aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXNlYXJjaC5ib3dkb2luLmVkdS9hbmRyb3Njb2dnaW4tcml2ZXItaW4tdGltZS1hbmQtcGxhY2UvZmlsZXMvMjAyNi8wNS9yYWNoZWwtZGVzZ3Jvc3NlaWxsaWVycy1leGNlcnB0LTIubXAz\", counterpart:\"\", artist: \"Interview Excerpt #4\", image: \"\", imgurl: \"\" }\n];\n<\/script>\n\n<script>MP3jPLAYERS[3] = { list: MP3jPLAYLISTS.inline_3, tr:0, type:'single', lstate:'', loop:false, play_txt:'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;', pause_txt:'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;', pp_title:'', autoplay:false, download:false, vol:100, height:'' };<\/script><br \/>\n<div id=\"mp3jWrap_4\" class=\"mjp-s-wrapper s-graphic unsel-mjp  verdana-mjp\" style=\"font-size:14px;\"><span id=\"playpause_wrap_mp3j_4\" class=\"wrap_inline_mp3j\" style=\"font-weight:700;\"><span class=\"gfxbutton_mp3j play-mjp\" id=\"playpause_mp3j_4\" style=\"font-size:14px;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span>&nbsp;<span class=\"group_wrap\"><span class=\"bars_mp3j\"><span class=\"loadB_mp3j\" id=\"load_mp3j_4\"><\/span><span class=\"posbarB_mp3j\" id=\"posbar_mp3j_4\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"T_mp3j\" id=\"T_mp3j_4\" style=\"font-size:14px;\">5. The power of the river to renew Lewiston-Auburn<span> - Interview Excerpt #5<\/span><\/span><span class=\"indi_mp3j\" style=\"font-size:9.8px;\" id=\"statusMI_4\"><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><span class=\"s-nosolution\" id=\"mp3j_nosolution_4\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><script>\nMP3jPLAYLISTS.inline_4 = [\n\t{ name: \"5. The power of the river to renew Lewiston-Auburn\", formats: [\"mp3\"], mp3: \"aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXNlYXJjaC5ib3dkb2luLmVkdS9hbmRyb3Njb2dnaW4tcml2ZXItaW4tdGltZS1hbmQtcGxhY2UvZmlsZXMvMjAyNi8wNS9yYWNoZWwtZGVzZ3Jvc3NlaWxsaWVycy1leGNlcnB0LTMubXAz\", counterpart:\"\", artist: \"Interview Excerpt #5\", image: \"\", imgurl: \"\" }\n];\n<\/script>\n\n<script>MP3jPLAYERS[4] = { list: MP3jPLAYLISTS.inline_4, tr:0, type:'single', lstate:'', loop:false, play_txt:'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;', pause_txt:'&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;', pp_title:'', autoplay:false, download:false, vol:100, height:'' };<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Harvey and Rachel Desgrosseilliers both come from parents born in Quebec, Canada, who immigrated to Maine as young children. Harvey grew up in logging camps outside Bethel in the headwaters of the Androscoggin River as a young boy before moving with his family to the Lewiston-Auburn area, where he helped his mother who worked in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1278","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-oral-histories","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1278"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1278\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1516,"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1278\/revisions\/1516"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/research.bowdoin.edu\/androscoggin-river-in-time-and-place\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}