An old loom is being refurbished. When the work is completed it will be on display at the Biddeford Mills Museum.
For more than 150 years, the mills powered by the Saco River were a defining feature of Biddeford. To preserve that part of the city’s history the Biddeford Mills Museum was created where some of the old mill apparatus is on display. For several years, the Biddeford Mills Museum has had in its inventory a small loom, standing less than two feet tall. Assumed to be an early sales model for display in a manufacturer’s sales room, it held a badly discolored piece of woven fabric and weaving threads that were tangled and broken. Several small pieces of the machine were also missing. Nonetheless, to the Biddeford historians, it was a valuable asset that simply needed some loving care.
Earlier this year Ray Henault, a volunteer with the Biddeford museum, reached out to Rick Randall who heads the loom display at the Lowell National Historical Park in Lowell, Massachusetts. Rick and his wife, Cathy, are both Park Rangers at the Lowell Park. Cathy ran and repaired old looms at the American Textile Museum in Andover before joining the Lowell facility. Together they were well prepared to accept the challenges of this miniature loom, so the apparatus was delivered to Lowell in late February.
Photographs were taken first for documentation. Cleaning was the next step. Plans were made to replace the rotted leather harness straps. They will clean and use as much of the original fabric as possible and clean, but leave, the old paint.
In July, Henault received a photo of the work-in-progress from Cathy. She reported that careful cleaning with the help of the Lowell curatorial staff is revealing the beautiful craftsmanship of the loom. The photo shows the process of replacing the broken leather straps. Soon the wooden parts will be treated to prevent further deterioration.
When the work is completed, the newly restored loom will become a centerpiece of the Biddeford Mills Museum.
The Biddeford Mills Museum provides tours of the mill from June 2 to Oct. 15. Reserve tour tickets at least 24 hours in advance at https://biddefordmillsmuseum.org/tours. All tours start from the Pepperell Center at 40 Main St. in Biddeford.
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