Historical Mural
Within the lobby of Fleet Bank on Park Street are two large works of art which illustrate the history of Lewiston, Maine. The large mural is 18 x 91/2 feet. It illustrates a native Indian spearing fish, a young brave ready for the hunt, and a Canadian trader bartering with a brave of the local Anasagunticook tribe.
These murals were the result of Dean Cornwell's extensive research into the ways of Maine's earliest people. Colors, facial characteristics, and geographical detail are clearly visible. Look carefully at the waterfall in the scene, it can still be seen crossing over the bridge between Lewiston-Auburn.
The Androscoggins or Anasagunticooks was an Indian Tribe belonging to the powerful Abnaki Nation. They speared Maine salmon from the thundering, cool, and clear waters, of the powerful Androscoggin. Indians from miles away fished and hunted this plentiful region. The Lewiston Falls was a landmark to the Indians as they traveled from the east to west, to northern wilderness and the southern regions of the Abnaki Nation.
Long ago what is now Lewiston-Auburn was an important crossroads traveled by the Anasagunticooks, Sebago, Canabis, Roccomeko, Penobscott, and Pennacook Indians. Their trails brought them to this region which was a center for trade. Later these same trails brought the white settlers who built a settlement in this area.
The Indian mural shows how these native hunters replenished their food supply before the long journey. A Canadian Trader barters for furs. He carries a tempting meal on the barrel of his gun.
A second mural features a kitchen scene of colonial Lewiston many years after the indians left the area. The second mural is 111/2 x 6 feet. The people in this smaller mural are 50 inches high. The year is 1795 and the Colonial kitchen was the most important place . The huge fireplace is the center of the kitchen.
Mother and daughters are busy cooking, spinning wool, and weaving cloth. Warm clothing must made for the cold Maine winters. Food must be prepared stored for the long cold winter months.
Father must be a master at all trades, including making shoes for the family. A young boy leans on his black powder rifle as he watches his father make a new pair of shoes. The boy longs to go hunting and bring home meat for the table.
There are no idle hands in colonial times, every family member must do his or her part to help the family survive.
It was through hard work and crafty handiwork that helped Lewiston develop into an important industrial center during the turn of the century. These hard working and skillful settlers helped build our present community.
Dean Cornwell's mural beautifully expresses our past. These two murals are located in the now closed Fleet Bank in downtown Lewiston. The murals remain in the building and are considered part of Lewiston's historical treasures.
History Lewiston "Unit " Martel School
Created by D.
Letourneau ©1999 Revised 2003
Materials compiled from files of the third grade teachers of
Lewiston.
Special thanks to Fleet Bank for allowing me to photograph their
murals.
