BIDDEFORD — In the early years of the 20th century, the mill industry in Biddeford began recruiting weavers from from Albania and Turkey that were skilled in making innovative patterns new to many Americans. These pioneers left their homelands behind to settle in the area, but retained their Islamic faith when they arrived in Maine.

Like many Franco-American immigrants before them, the Pepperell Mills of Biddeford offered a new life and economic security, but many of these Islamic men came to Maine alone.

Their stories have not been forgotten and will be the subject of a free Fireside Chat called “The Islamic Experience in Biddeford” hosted by the Biddeford Historical Society at 7 p.m. at the Biddeford Meetinghouse on Meetinghouse Road on Friday night.   

“They were here to make money and send it home, and then go back to the Ottoman Empire once they reached their goals,” said Louise Merriman of the Biddeford Histroical Society. “Some of them stayed. They owned corner stores and local businesses and were never to see their homeland again.”  

Albanians and Turkish Islamic immigrants who arived in the United States prior to 1920 were mostly from rural backgrounds and migrated to America because of poor economic conditions, political concerns, or to escape being drafted into the army. 

“Many of these men perished in the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918,” Merriman said. “It was the deadliest flu in history, taking down one-third of the world’s population and many, many lives in Biddeford.”

Some have said that Biddeford was the site of the first mosque in North America, but Merriman said those claims have yet to be substantiated.

“We do know that these early Islamic immigrants used the second floor of the Counting House to pray,” she said. “It was an open and empty space that the Pepperell provided for religious worship.”

Residents of modern-day Biddeford can find evidence of the early Islamic community in Biddeford by visiting Woodlawn Cemetery on West Street in the city. In one section there, some tombstones face a different direction than in other sections of the cemetery.

Those tombstones are of Islamic settlers in Biddeford and were specifically placed to face Mecca, Some also contain engravings of the star and crescent, representing Islam.

Merriman said this Fireside Chat will attempt to answer the questions of who these men were, how did they experience Biddeford and how did they help Biddeford mills reach the next step in their technological evolution? 

According to Merriman, the Biddeford Historical Society is a window into Biddeford’s rich and vibrant history dating back to the early 1600s and everyone is welcome to attend the Fireside Chats, which are held monthly. 

“The Biddeford Historical Society’s Fireside Chats are an important way to bring Biddeford’s 400 years of history to life,” she said. 

Admission to the fireside chat is free, but donations will be accepted. Desserts and refreshments will be provided to participants. 

For more information, send an email to [email protected]. 

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at [email protected]