Dear Sun Spots: I need help in finding out the name and address of the company that pays the Bates Fabric pension checks. I need to write that company to make a change of address. — R.B.S., No Town.

Answer: Fred at Maine Heritage Weavers in Lewiston explained that when the Bates Mill went out of business, the government took over the pension. He referred us to the Pension Beneficiary Guaranty Corporation, a federal corporation created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that protects the retirement incomes of nearly 44 million American workers.

The Customer Contact Center can handle most of your service needs, including requests for changing
your address, adjusting your Federal Income Tax withholding and
obtaining PBGC forms. Call the center at 1-800-400-7242, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays. Write to the Pension Beneficiary Guaranty Corp. at P.O. Box 151750, Alexandria, VA 22315-1750.

Dear Sun Spots: I love your column and have benefited from advice you have been able to give others. I am wondering if you or any other readers know where I can find a certain kind of recliner. I need one that has a lever to put the foot rest up and down and does not need for you to push with your feet also. I have not had any luck finding a new one like this up to now. I would take a used one to keep the cost down as I am disabled. Thanks for your help and keep up the great job. — L. Wheeler, So. Paris.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, consider checking out Marden’s for a power recliner. The day Sun Spots received your request, Marden’s was advertising power recliners, with the ottoman and back working with a button on the side of the chair, for $399. 

Dear Sun Spots: This is my first time writing to you. My problem is that I have too many trees. I was hoping that maybe someone would like to cut them down for free and keep the wood.

It is mostly pine trees; I have about 15 to 20 trees. They are nice, straight pines that would make nice pine boards. I also have a couple of other trees to come down, but I don’t know what kind they are. If anyone is interested they can contact me at 740-4433 after 5 p.m. or leave a message. Thank you for all that you do. — Kathy, Lisbon.

Dear Sun Spots: I’m looking for family history information and hoping for better luck than from my original query last winter.

In Lewiston, I’m looking for Danville L. McIntire. He moved there the latter part of the 1800s, married Eliza J. Linnell, had one son, Harry McIntire. According to a handwritten note, he died in 1904, but he’s still listed in the 1908 Lewiston Directory, which may mean he was still living or may mean property was still in his name.

Neither Danville, Eliza or Harry is in the 1910 census or the 1910 Directory. Danville was a hairdresser, later had a boot and shoe store. He had various partners, and I’m hoping these families may still be in the area. His partners were Nathan W. Bonney and Rufus W. Mersereau, both hairdressers; Cyrus A. Caswell and Isaac Davenport, both boot and shoe store partners.

In Auburn, looking for Amo McIntire Yeaton, married to Frank Yeaton. Their children were Elizabeth and Ruth Yeaton. There used to be a number of Yeatons in Lewiston-Auburn, so I’m hoping for a lead from someone who remembers any Yeatons or others who could have been related to Frank.

If anyone has photos they could scan, then e-mail, I’d be very, very grateful. Alternatively, I’d happily pay to duplicate the photos as well as cover mailing costs. No snippet of information is too small. My e-mail address is pammmm@roadrunner.com. — Pam M., No Town.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.