The Winthrop Maine Historical Society plans to host author Douglas Rooks, in his talk about remarkable Mainer Albert Beliveau from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 8. The society’s regular monthly meeting is to follow.

Beliveau was the youngest county attorney in Maine when he was elected in Oxford County in 1914, and the first Franco-American ever to hold the office.

In 1915, two men were returning by carriage from the Aroostook potato harvest, and one murdered the other for his money along the road in West Sumner. Beliveau tracked a suspect into the North Woods, then brought the suspect to justice. The photo was introduced as trial evidence.

Robert Pelletier, a retired educator and Winthrop High School board member, will join the discussion and describe his ongoing research to explore Franco-American families, and their many contributions to Winthrop’s history and economy.

Rooks’ new biography, “First Franco: Albert Beliveau in Law, Politics and Love,” has just been published by the University of Maine Press. It describes the rise and remarkable career of Beliveau (1887-1971), who ran twice for Congress and served on both the Maine Superior Court and the Supreme Judicial Court, and nearly became Chief Justice.

Albert was the father of Severin Beliveau, co-founder of the Preti Flaherty law firm in Portland, who continues to be a prominent lobbyist at the State House in Augusta, and in Washington, D.C.

The Zoom link is https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/81096636540. Meeting ID is 810 9663 6540.

For more information, contact Nick Perry at nperry@baileylibrary.org.

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