MARY BEAN

Mary Bean was a factory worker in the Saco mills. Her story is being exhibited at the Saco Museum. They have collected a lot of artifacts from the mill, and also photos and newspaper articles regarding the mill and especially Mary Bean. Upon walking into the museum, there is a display of the recently published book about Mary Bean, which I purchased out or curiousity. The exhibit is set up in the back of the museum in a circular fashion. At the very entrance is a photo of Mary Bean and the beginning of her story. The exhibit continues with pieces of cloth made at the mill, and an example of the small trunk that Mary Bean would have owned. Another interesting aspect of the exhibit is the letters that have been collected that were written by girls working in the factory. Many of them would write home to loved ones and send gifts and money. It is interesting that these girls made enough money to purchase leisure items as well as send money home. The exhibit states that Mary Bean herself had two trunks that were filled with many dresses which is unsual for a woman of the time.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Mary Bean was born in 1850 in Massachusetts, and her real name was Berengera Caswell. She had a sister who also worked in the mills with her. They first began working in the mills in Lowell, Massachusetts where Mary met William Long. he was another factory worker and they fell in love. Unfortuantely, William left to work in the mills in New Hampshire, leaving Berengera all alone. A few weeks after he left she found out that she was pregnant. A single pregnant woman was socially unacceptable during this time, and Berengera knew that, so she went looking for William. She found out that he had now been working at the mills in Saco, Maine and came to Saco to find him. When she did he was just as unsure of the situation as he was.
William and Berengena decided that they could not afford or handle a child and that she should get an abortion, which was also very unnacceptable at this time. William's boss at the mill told him about a doctor in Saco who would perform the surgery. He had seen cases like this many times before. They enlisted the services of Dr. James Smith, who was willing to give the abortion but did not want to know her real name, so he called her Mary Bean. The medical practices of the time were unregulated and not very advanced. Because of this Mary had a septic infection after the abortion and died seven days later. Dr. Smith did not want it to get out that he had performed and illegal abortion, so he tied her body to a wooden board and threw her in the Saco River. When the ice melted three months later, they found the body in the river in close proximity to the doctor's house. This prompted a long trial and Dr. Smith was the main suspect. The news of this trial was spread all over New England. Ultimately, Dr. Smith was charged with murder.
The Story of Mary Bean is a prominent one in Saco history becuase it shows the struggles of mill women of the time. It also exemplifies the dangerous medical practices and the social constructions that limited women's rights and expectations. The fact that this story was so widely publicized also gave everyday people a look into some of the things that were happening in the mills.