Community Corner

Who Am I? Elphege Nadeau!

The answer to yesterday's "Who Am I" contest is provided by Irene Blais, President of the Woonsocket Historical Society.

On the first Tuesday of every month, Woonsocket Patch readers can identify the person in a photo provided by the Woonsocket Historical Society for the chance to win a $10 gift card to Dunkin' Donuts.

Irene Blais shares the story of the individual pictured in our

Elphege Nadeau

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I gained worldwide attention with my innovations in the weaving technology.  I was born in 1910 in Manville, RI but spent a good part of my life in Woonsocket.   As a young man, I worked at the Dunn Worsted mills in Manville.  At the age of 16 I was struck in the face by a shuttle.  In 1935 I was an overseer in the company’s weave room and began to work on a design for a shuttleless hand loom. 

After many improvements, my shuttleless hand loom was ready for marketing.  It was constructed of aluminum alloy and weighed 33 pounds.   I believed my invention would revolutionize the textile industry in underdeveloped countries.  I also envisioned Woonsocket as the world center of the hand loom industry.  As a result, I founded Hand Skill Looms, Inc., located  at 58 Social Street. 

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My ideas caught the attention of businessmen and educators.  I even gave lectures at Harvard and was named to the faculty of RI College of Education. Articles concerning my invention appeared in such publications as “Popular Mechanics” and “The Saturday Evening Post.”  Inquiries were sent to the Woonsocket plant from all over the world, especially from countries seeking textile technology for their impoverished populations.   

In 1958, I had the honor of displaying my looms at the Brussels World Fair.  I died in 1980.

As the first person to correctly identify Mr. Nadeau, has won the gift card! Please contact me at sandra.phaneuf@patch.com to let me know where to send your prize.


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