Sanford in York County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
"The Town That Refused to Die"
Sanford, Maine
Photographed by Conrad Ward, December 29, 2024
1. "The Town That Refused to Die" Marker
Inscription.
"The Town That Refused to Die". Sanford, Maine.
Chamber of Commerce, To honor those who founded the SanfordSpringvale Chamber of Commerce on January 11, 1953, The Town That Refused to Die. , (right plaque)
Sanford, Maine "The Town That Refused to Die!" . For over 80 years, Goodall-Sanford Inc.- was one of the world's leading textile companies. The mills originally manufactured carriage blankets, eventually expanding to other fabrics. By the early 50's, Goodall-Sanford employed nearly a third of Sanford's residents and 2 million square feet of floor space with a $15 million annual payroll. But in 1954, they lost their textile business to Burlington Mills who began moving the operation south. In the fall of that year, the mills closed and 3600 workers lost their jobs overnight with a loss of 13 million in payroll., The newly-formed Chamber of Commerce began using advertising campaigns and traveling throughout the northeast, enticing manufacturing companies to fill the abandoned mills. By 1957, they attracted 16 new businesses and restored 2500 jobs. NBC's Armstrong Circle Theatre dramatized Sanford's remarkable comeback on television in "The Town that Refused to Die", and story was featured in Life and Pageant Magazine., That same innovative spirit lives on today in the character of Sanford-Springvale. The work ethic and skills passed down from generations, along with the dedicated work of the Chamber and other City leaders, continues to promote economic development., (left plaque)
Original Founders 195354. Hermon Ackroyd . Lamby Adams . Edwin M Ballenger . Lloyd W Batchelder . Carl J Broggi . Leonard W Bucklin . Harold E Carpenter . Andre G Chabot . George W Clark . Chas W Diggery . Leroy A Donnelly . Rodney G Folsom . Reginald R Frechette . Fred A Garnsey, Jr. . Romeo J Gendron . Gerard R Genest . Earl W Glidden . Henry L Goodloe . Roger R Gosselin . J. Walter Guptil . C Scott Hoar . Clifford Holdsworth . Rudolph B Johnson, Sr. . John P Kostis . Carl J Lamb . Henry P Landers . C. Thomas Lefler . Raymond J Letourneau . Bryce O Libby . Ralph M Lovell . H. Allen Mapes . F Everett Nutter . John B Nutter . Robt. G Pelletier . Victor Remy . Wm. E Roberts . H. Danforth Ross . Ralph W Smith . Hyman Snider . Neil V Sullivan . Arthur J Therrien . Rosario J Tremblay . Robert M Wilson . Wm. F Wright, Jr.
Chamber of Commerce
To honor those who founded
the SanfordSpringvale
Chamber of Commerce
on January 11, 1953
The Town That Refused to Die
(right plaque)
Sanford, Maine
"The Town That Refused to Die!"
For over 80 years, Goodall-Sanford Inc.- was one of the world's leading textile companies. The mills originally manufactured carriage blankets, eventually expanding to other fabrics. By the early 50's, Goodall-Sanford employed nearly a third of Sanford's residents and 2 million square feet of floor space with a $15 million annual payroll. But in 1954, they lost their textile business to Burlington Mills who began moving the operation south. In the fall of that year, the mills closed and 3600 workers lost their jobs overnight with a loss of 13 million in payroll.
The newly-formed Chamber of Commerce began using advertising campaigns and traveling throughout the northeast, enticing manufacturing companies to fill the abandoned mills. By 1957, they attracted 16 new businesses and restored 2500 jobs. NBC's Armstrong Circle Theatre dramatized Sanford's remarkable comeback on television in "The Town that Refused to Die", and story was featured in Life and Pageant Magazine.
That same innovative spirit lives on today in
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the character of Sanford-Springvale. The work ethic and skills passed down from generations, along with the dedicated work of the Chamber and other City leaders, continues to promote economic development.
(left plaque)
Original Founders 195354
Hermon Ackroyd Lamby Adams Edwin M Ballenger Lloyd W Batchelder Carl J Broggi Leonard W Bucklin Harold E Carpenter Andre G Chabot George W Clark Chas W Diggery Leroy A Donnelly Rodney G Folsom Reginald R Frechette Fred A Garnsey, Jr. Romeo J Gendron Gerard R Genest Earl W Glidden Henry L Goodloe Roger R Gosselin J. Walter Guptil C Scott Hoar Clifford Holdsworth Rudolph B Johnson, Sr. John P Kostis Carl J Lamb Henry P Landers C. Thomas Lefler Raymond J Letourneau Bryce O Libby Ralph M Lovell H. Allen Mapes F Everett Nutter John B Nutter Robt. G Pelletier Victor Remy Wm. E Roberts H. Danforth Ross Ralph W Smith Hyman Snider Neil V Sullivan Arthur J Therrien Rosario J Tremblay Robert M Wilson Wm. F Wright, Jr.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is January 11, 1953.
Location. 43° 26.488′ N, 70° 46.422′ W. Marker is in Sanford, Maine, in York County. It is at the intersection of
Photographed by Conrad Ward, December 29, 2024
2. "The Town That Refused to Die" Marker
(right plaque)
River Street and High Street, on the right when traveling south on River Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sanford ME 04073, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Also see . . . 1. City of Sanford, Maine. (Submitted on June 26, 2025, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.) 2. Sanford, Maine (Wikipedia). (Submitted on June 26, 2025, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed by Conrad Ward, December 29, 2024
3. "The Town That Refused to Die" Marker
(left plaque)
Photographed by Conrad Ward, December 29, 2024
4. "The Town That Refused to Die" Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2025, by Conrad Ward of Guilford, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 153 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 21, 2025, by Conrad Ward of Guilford, Connecticut. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
