Dedicated on May 19, 2001, La Dame de Notre Renaissance Française stands in the center of Renaissance Park (also known as Le Parc de Notre Renaissance Française) which lies along the Nashua River in Nashua, New Hampshire. The Franco-American community, led by Laurin Hippauf, co-chair of the city’s French Heritage Committee, privately funded the sculpture. As noted in an accompanying plaque, the statue honors the women and children who worked in the mills during the first half of the 20^th century.

The first wave of French-Canadian immigrants arrived in Nashua between 1870 and 1872.  By 1936, 14,560 of Nashua’s 31,938 residents were French. Working tirelessly in Nashua’s textile mills, they expanded their new community, building schools, churches and establishing businesses to meet the needs of the growing population. Hard-working, they quickly learned the trades necessary to support the rising demands of the textile industry.

Created by Christopher R. Gowell, the bronze sculpture depicts a young mill worker and her son. A spindle in her pocket and a cross hanging from her neck, she gazes down on her child, who is holding a French language book and looking up at her. The statue stands six feet tall and sits upon a three-foot base. Both the park and the sculpture remind the community of Nashua’s French heritage, and the contributions of the French-Canadian immigrants.

Sources:Franco-American Women’s Institute, Nutfield Genealogy, Pôle Jeunesse FL/FA