The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-06-09
I. MunioI Hill.

The growth Oh Munjoy hill within the last
ten years has been very rapid, and even since
the fire many fine buildings have been erect
ed, and we feel we owe the enterprising citi-
zens there an apology for not having given
them more attention through our columns
But the fact is, there has been so much doing
in the work of reconstruction in the "burnt
district" and so many magnificent structures
have gone up in SO short time, that the sudden
changes have engrOssed the most of our atten-
ton. Now, the great scar being mostly erased,
we see by looking round that improvements
have been going on within the last two years
outside the line of the confagration more rap
idly than ever before, and that our citizens in
the eastern part of the city have not been in
active. We shall not attempt to go into de-
tails, for an article of this kind would occupy
space of three columns or MORE
In addition to the new church, which is yery
ornamentafand faultless in it's architecture
there have been a number of fine stores and
many splendid residences built in this vicini-
ty. The shade trees have grown to such size
as to be very ornamental, and on the whole,
we think this, in the summer season. is the
pleasantest part of the city.
The past history of old Munioy is very in
teresting. In 1859, one George Munjoy came
here from Boston, and pitching his tent on the
slope of the hill, near the water, established
himself as the first trader in the place. His
house was both a trading post and a garrison,
to which the people came alike for salt and
safety, corn and concealment. And so the old
hill got name more than two hundred years
ago.
Since that time it has witnessed many scenes
of strife, of merriment and of brilliant display.
About the first event of the long array was
the tragic death of Lieut.. Thaddeus Clark and
his thirteen companions, in 1890 They rashIy
ventured out with thirty men; and while as
lending the hill the Indians fired from ambush
upon them, and slew the Lieutenant and thir-
teen men. The remainder retreated in all
haste. This was followed by the capture of
Fort Loyal, which stood where the Atlantic
railroad depot buildings now stand. The old
hill saw it all; saw the settlers carried away
into captivity, and itself left to the solitude of
nature once more.
But the white man came again, and so did
the Indians. Wars followed and treaties fol-
lowed wars. Here in 1877 came the Governor
of Massachusetts, with 40 gentlemen, to make
treaty with the Arreguntonocks, Wawenocks
and Norridgewocks. Two hundred of the saw
ages came in brave array, and here upon Mum
joy, on brig hit July day, in spacious tent, a
treaty was made and q dinner eaten by the
white men and the Indians, which was fol-
lowed by long peace.
In later year, 1775, when a great struggle
had just commenced, 80 men from Brunswick,
under the command of one Col Thompson.
encamped in thick grove upon the old hill,
and falling upon the British captain, Mowatt,
as he walked upon the hill, made him pris-
oner. He was released by the intercession of
the towns people, only to make a cowardly re-
turn for the kindness, when he wrapped the
town in flames, and drove the inhabitants into
the woods without home. All this, too; the
old hill saw.
But the colonies were triumphant: the war
fare ceased. The next scene the hill saw was
not one of strife, but was, nevertheless, tragic
one. On warm July day. in the year 1903,
the town, now grown to be large and flourish
ing, safe from all attacks of Indians, was new
ertheless deserted and silent. There was
large collection on the hill to witness the exc
cution of Drew, the last execution ever wit
messed in our city.
Next comes the war of 1912, when the old
hill was alive with military preparations, and
so here also were the tidings of peace pro-
claimed.
Here stands the old Observatory, where it
has stood for more than half century 1t
was built in the year 1907 by company of
sea captains and SOON after Cantain J,anuaI
MOODY, one of the principal members of the
company, became its sole owner, and for many
long year did he sweep the horizon with his
glass, and display his signals, telling of rich
cargoes at our door,