Well technically, she was four days short of her 103rd birthday, but it seems only fair to round up.

Alice Plante Maillet was a first cousin to my Grandma, Lucie Plante Vayo. Alice was one of 15 children born to Jean Baptiste and Rose Anne Plante.

That’s right: 15.

And here they all are:

Did a thousand questions just rush into your brain? Sure, times were different when Alice was born in Lewiston, Maine, in 1899. But still, how did they survive to take that incredible photo?

Thanks to Alice’s great-niece Elaine, we have three pages of notes. They were assembled for a presentation at Alice’s Centennial Commemoration on February 28, 1999.

Here are some of the highlights:

Jean & Rose Anna

In the late 1800s, people from Canada would move down to Lewiston every fall in order to work in the mills. In the spring, they would return to their homeland to plant and harvest the crops. Richard and Obeline Gilbert and their family of five children took part in this annual migration from St. Marie-de-Beauce, Quebec, Canada to Lewiston, Maine. The Gilbert family would operate a boarding house and restaurant on Canal Street for the mill workers each year. Their oldest child, Rose Anna, would assist her mother in preparing and serving the food. A young fellow by the name of Jean Plante visited the restaurant frequently, taking notice of Rose Anna. Mother Gilbert recognized Jean’s interest in her daughter and said to Rose Anna, “I think Jean has an eye on you.”

Jean and Rose Anna married in the fall of 1891. Their fifth of fifteen children was Alice Amanda, who was born on February 26, 1899.

One hundred years later, her friends and family learned more about her life:

Alice was baptized the next day by Reverend J.A. Harpin. Her godparents were her mother’s siblings Maurice and Amanda Gilbert. She spent her childhood days playing with her brothers, sisters, and friends. She remembers removing her shoes to play in the puddles after a rainstorm, and she enjoyed partaking in the spring ritual of playing marbles. Alice claims that she was the “lucky one” at that game. She also considered herself very fortunate when her father would give her a penny because that would buy her a large lollipop at the corner store.

Jean and Rose Anna had to be very frugal in order to raise a family of 15. Alice’s mother would make all of the clothes for the family, and her father would take advantage of items on sale. Alice remembers the children following him anxiously into the house as he carried a three-foot-long bunch of bananas. She also recalls that he would encourage them to eat lots of eggs after he had brought home several dozen, the bargain food of the week.

One cherished memory involves a train trip to Canada.

Alice was just four; her father worked for Grand Trunk Railroad and could get them free tickets. They went to visit grandparents Richard and Obeline Gilbert.

Alice recalls her grandmother’s offer to make her pretty. She couldn’t quite understand how tying pieces of rags in her hair would improve her appearance until hours later when her straight hair was transformed into long beautiful curls. Other childhood memories include picking blueberries and raspberries at a farm owned by Mr. Fortin, the milkman. She recalls becoming very frightened when snakes exited from the stone wall and equally scared when the country outing required that she cross a train track.

Alice attended school at the Dominican Block for the first time when she was seven years old.

The teachers were Les Dames de Sion de France. Alice remembers them as “distinguished” or high-class nuns. She used to remain after school and assist her teacher with chores, so in appreciation she was given a photograph of her class.

The following year she transferred to St. Peter’s School, receiving instruction from the Dominican Nuns from France. After the fifth grade, her mother decided to keep her at home to help with her younger siblings. Although her formal education was short-lived, Alice continued to educate herself as a result of her enjoyment of reading.

For six years, Alice took piano lessons. By the time she was 12, her family owned a piano. She played well enough by then to entertain them.

But then it was time to start earning money:

In 1914, Alice and her friend secured jobs at the Bates Mill before the legal age of 16. When an inspector came around they forgot to fib about their age, revealing their true age of 15. They were immediately removed from the work scene, but returned a year later for full-time employment.

Alice earned $5.51 a week. She kept the 51 cents but gave the $5.00 to her parents to help with the family’s expenses, The spending money allowed her to buy treats such as five cents worth of peanuts, and fund day trips with her friends to Old Orchard and Casco Bay.

When Alice was a young adult, she helped sell admission tickets to the social gatherings at the Concours du Cercle Canadien. It was here at the age of 19 that she met William Maillet. She had to turn the collected money over to him, as he served as the treasurer, or “homme de confiance” of this organization. When all were admitted to the gathering, Alice joined in the fun. A Mrs. Lebel served as the fortune teller and was very good at reading palms. She told Alice that she would have a long life.

Alice and Willie dated for one and a half years, sharing common interests. They would attend movies at the Empire Theatre, and he loved to come to the house to play the piano. He also enjoyed playing with Alice’s younger siblings.

On Monday, September 5, 1921, Alice Plante became Alice Maillet.

The ceremony, performed by Father Ferir, included three additional engaged couples in the chapel of the old Saints Peter and Paul Church.

Their wedding reception was at Alice’s parents’ home on Lisbon Street, a 10-room apartment on the fourth floor.

Alice and Willie left by train for their honeymoon in Boston. They stayed at a nice hotel, which was recommended by her Aunt Bella. They visited the city by horse and carriage and dined at many different restaurants. When they returned to Lewiston, they occupied a room in the home of her sister-in-law’s relatives for a year before moving into their Blake Street apartment. Willie worked as a painter with his father and Alice continued her job at the mill.

On March 28, 1923, Alice gave birth at home to their first child, Lionel.

Shortly after the baby was born, they moved to 55 Maple Street, a fourth floor apartment that the Maillet family would occupy for 33 years. Their second child, Laurier, or Larry, was born five years later, on May 22, 1928. With two young children at home, Willie was faced with finding a new job when the painting business folded. He would visit the mills every day and ask if there was work available. Impressed with his persistence, the Pepperell Mill offered him a job in the cutting room, where he cut sheets and pillowcases to size.

On October 4, 1933, Alice gave birth to their daughter, Therese, at St. Mary’s Hospital. Therese enjoyed playing with her older brothers and with Alice’s youngest sister, Mary-Jeanne.

The Depression Years followed …

… resulting in hard times without jobs, but with the help of family, they were able to survive until they both returned to work. Willie returned to the Pepperell Mill and Alice found employment at the Continental Mill.

Lionel, Larry, and Therese grew up attending St. Peter’s School. As a family, they visited relatives, listened to French programs on the radio, read, and played the piano. Alice would make all of the uniforms and clothes that were needed for school. In 1942, she became ill and spent time recuperating under the care of her sister Rose Anne Hemond in the fresh country air of Minot.

After graduating from high school, Lionel served during World War II. He settled in California and married Therese Gravel. In June of 1951, Alice’s daughter-in-law became very ill, so Alice boarded a plane for the first time in her life and headed for California. What was supposed to be a one-day trip to the West Coast ended up being several. The stop-over in Chicago became an overnight in the airport terminal due to striking airline employees. The second leg of the flight took her to Arizona before she finally landed in California. For the next four months, Alice cared for her daughter-in-law and three granddaughters.

Larry served in the Korean War and settled in Connecticut after marrying Lewiston native Yvette Lachance. Alice and Willie’s daughter, Therese, lived with her mother for the rest of her life.

On September 5, 1971, Willie and Alice celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Three years later, Willie passed away at the age of 77.

Through the years, Alice remained active with her church, helping family members, playing piano, and attending weddings and parties.

Family members remember her keeping busy with needlework, crocheting, and playing Parcheesi.

Alice lived to be four days shy of 103 years.

When asked what she attributed her longevity to, Alice replied, “I didn’t spend a lot of time worrying, but always accepted what life had in store for me.”

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