Connecticut to pick tobacco, gradually taking on
For people of faith visiting the Valley, they can
higher-skilled positions at jet-engine manufacturer
expect a warm welcome in any of the dozen or so
Pratt & Whitney-United Technologies Corp.
churches that, as much as the farmers’ barns
and other businesses.
and potato houses, constitute an integral
part of the region’s physical, historical and
St. John Valley residents deal
cultural landscape. French people in the
equally well with the vagaries of the
St. John Valley have a deep attachment to
five-month-long winters as they
their Catholic faith, which is evident
do with planting potatoes, corn
in the number of churches,
and oats, or their own vegetable
other parish buildings, historic
and flower gardens in summer.
cemeteries and wayside crosses
Life proceeds according to the
that dot the region. Church
calendar. Spring brings people
steeples dominate the landscape
outside after the long hibernation
and are, in general, the region’s
winter imposes, one punctuated by
tallest man-made structures.
Christmas celebrations including festive light
displays and family suppers. At the first sign
Lyness is the assistant coordinator for
of spring, people are outside, repairing the
CMA 2014-Maine.
damages of winter to their houses, driveways
and other property; cutting, stacking and
drying wood in preparation for the next
winter; and painting their houses or tarring
their driveways, dethatching their lawns, and
readying their gardens for planting.
Marble Cross commemorates the Acadian Landing site in St. David parish, Madawaska, Maine.
Photo by Paul Cyr, courtesy of the Maine Office of Tourism.
SUMMER 2013
17