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From left to right: Gary Desjardins, Vice Chairman, OTIS FCU Board of Directors, Duane Lake, Chairman, OTIS FCU Board of Directors, and Greg Bizier, Maine’s Paper & Heritage Museum President.
OTIS FCU has donated $5,000 to Maine’s Paper & Heritage Museum, located in Livermore Falls. This donation brings the museum closer to its goal of raising $25,000 to match a grant received for building repairs.
Built in 1906, the museum’s building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Due to the age of the building, the foundation, gutters, and roof are in need of repair.
To fix the foundation and gutter system, the museum received a $25,000 matching grant from the Historic Preservation Fund. The grant requires that the museum raise $25,000 in matching funds by the end of November 2023. According to Museum President Greg Bizier, the organization has raised $8,000 toward this grant before OTIS FCU’s donation.
Regarding the decision to support the museum, OTIS FCU President/CEO Chris Bouchard shared, “The paper industry helped shape this community and provide for generations of families as well as businesses both near and far. Being a credit union founded by local millworkers, it’s in our heritage. The remarkable individuals who volunteer at this museum are committed to preserving our community’s unique history in the paper industry. We are honored and privileged to be able to provide support to Maine’s Paper and Heritage Museum.”
OTIS Board of Directors Chairman Duane Lake and Vice Chairman Gary Desjardins encourage those who have relatives that worked in the paper industry to consider donating to Maine’s Paper & Heritage Museum in their memory. Businesses in the area can also submit a donation.
The museum is funded by private donations and run by volunteers. It is open on Saturdays from 10:00 am – noon from June through August or by appointment.