Our Heritage and History of The Center
In the 1860s, the first French-speaking Canadian migrants came to Lewiston-Auburn to work in the textile mills & shoe shops. In 1907 many arrived at the Grand Trunk Railroad Depot on Lincoln Street in Lewiston where they settled in an area known to this day as 'Little Canada'. In the same year, St. Mary’s Parish was established in the Little Canada neighborhood. The parish served its new residents and became an important focal point for the population.

At one time, St. Mary's Parish was a thriving and well-attended church. However, with the decline of the industries that encouraged families to populate the neighborhood, the church began to suffer financially. The Catholic Diocese of Portland announced that it would be closing St. Mary's as of July 1st, 2000. Many people in the community wanted to preserve this symbol of Franco-American culture. After closing St. Mary's Church, the Franco-American Heritage Center was established as a performing arts and cultural facility.