Hundreds turn out for History Night and Cruise In in Livermore Falls on Friday, May 24. Over 90 vintage cars rolled out for the event hosted by the Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

LIVERMORE FALLS — The Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce’s annual History Night and Cruise In went off with a bang on Friday, May 24. The event, which took place in the parking lot near the Livermore Falls Gazebo, saw a huge turnout with hundreds flooding to check out vintage cars and learn more about local history.

Joel Gilbert, chairman of the board of directors for the chamber, said that the turnout was even bigger than in previous years, with over 90 classic and vintage cars cruising into history night.

Matt and the Barnburners heat things up at the Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce’s History Night and Cruise In in Livermore Falls on Friday, May 24. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

The event started at 5 p.m. and saw live music performed by the blues rock group Matt and the Barnburners. Food vendors, like Freedom’s Forage, provided snacks and drinks as attendees were encouraged to walk around and check out the local businesses while the cars kept rolling in.

Lou Brunelle of Lisbon Falls drove in with a 1927 Buick.

“It’s mostly Buick,” he shared, pointing to his exhaust and sharing that it came from a Harley Davidson Motorcycle. “Mostly.”

Across from Brunelle was Barry Romano, owner of Barry’s Garage, and his 1932 Ford model B pick-up, which he shared that he used for drag-racing for over 25 years.

Gilbert added the chamber of commerce wanted to add more history to the event by incorporating the local historical societies from Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls as well as Maine’s Paper and Heritage Museum.

In the gazebo the various historical societies had folders of old pictures and antiques to share with the community. Members of Treat Memorial Library were also in attendance to provide activities and information to kids as well.

Sam Howes of Maine’s Paper and Heritage Museum also shared the event would be honoring his great-grandmother’s sister, Cora Labbe, who tragically died in an accident at the age of 17 in 1921.

Labbe was born in North Jay in 1904 to Alphonse Labbe, who worked in a granite quarry in Lewiston, and his wife Cordelia. A junior at Jay High School at the time of her passing, Cora was traveling from Lewiston on the bridge connecting Livermore to Livermore Falls when her horse-drawn carriage was struck by a train leaving the yard.

She was traveling with her mother and sister Isabell, who were both severely injured and hospitalized for weeks following the accident. Cora and the horse were killed instantly.

It was later determined by the Public Utilities Commission that a flagman at the crossing would have prevented the accident, but also claimed the Labbes’ negligence in misunderstanding the crossing sign.

This bench, seen here on Monday, May 27, honors Cora Labbe, a teen who was tragically killed in a train accident over a hundred years ago. Sam Howes of Maine’s Paper & Heritage Museum said he wanted to commemorate her life with a granite bench made from the same quarry her father worked at many years ago. Brian Ponce/Franklin Journal

“I remember correctly, I don’t 100% have it in my head,” Howes said, “It was partially blamed on them being French, and not understanding the crossing signal, which they probably did [understand the signal] because they had lived here for 30 years by that point.”

Labbe was honored in her high school yearbook and a funeral was held at Saint Rose of Lima Church.

Howes, who is also a member of the Canton Historical Society, shared that the hundredth anniversary of her passing was approaching in 2021 and he wanted to honor her in some way. With approval from the Livermore Falls Select Board, Howes commissioned a granite bench in her honor, which was made with granite from the same quarry in North Jay that her father worked at many years ago.

“We tried to make that connection,” he added.