Dr. Louis J.
Martel
Louis
J. Martel was born in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. Dr.
Martel came to live and to practice medicine in Lewiston,
Maine in 1873. He became a naturalized citizen of the
United States in 1879 and urged his fellow countrymen to
do the same, frequently helping them financially to do
so.
Dr. Martel was very active
in the local community. His hard work and dedication to
the needs of the local citizens was seen in many areas.
He was a leading force in the founding of St. Mary's
Hospital. He was also co-funder of Le Messager, a French
newspaper published in Lewiston from 1880 to 1966. Dr.
Martel was founder of l'Institut Jacques Cartier, an
organization which help immigrants of french extrations
to settle in Lewiston. A brick building, corner of Walnut
and Bartlett streets, was his last Lewiston
home.
The Franco-Americans
citizens urged city officials to name this school in
honor of Dr. Martel. Members of l'Institut Jacques
Cartier presented a framed photograph of Dr. Martel,
together with a brief record of his activities to be
displayed at Martel School. They hope that Dr. Martel's
examples will serve as inspiration to pupils of this
school, that, they too, may devote some part of their
lives to the betterment of this city and its
residents.
