Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-18
1oraI amt State Nems.
Maine Historical Society.

The annual meeting of the Maine Histori-
cal Society was held at the Court House il
this city on Thursday The meeting wa
called to order at p. NJ. by the President
Judge Bourne of Kennebunkport. The place
of Secretary was filed by Professor Packard
of Bowdoin College.
Letters were read from DR.. Woods, who
is in Boston, in relation to volume of the
Society, now in course of publication, recon-
mending to have it stereotyped, and on motion
of Hon. j. w. Bradbury of Augusta it was
voted to have said volume stereotyped. III
is the End vol 2nd series, Of the Maine His
torical Publications.1
Remarks were made by Messrs. Bradbury
Of Augusta, Sewall of Wiscasset, William
son OF Belfast, in relation to memorial for
the late DR.. Ballard, as proposed by letter
received by the President and read by him,
all concuring that any contribution for such a
purpose should be by private subscription and
expressing their pleasure to aid in such an
object.
Mr.. Dixie of Bath offered the following
resolve:
Resolred, That this Society hold field
meeting in the eastern part of the State, some
time during the next summer or early autumn
similar to the one held last year at York, and
that committee be appointed to make the
necessary arrangements and give public notice
OF the time and place of meeting in proper
season, and that the President of the Society
be chairman of that committee.
The resolve was adopted.
1t was suggested and understood that the
Society would touch at Pemaquid on the way,
and go thence to Mt. Desert, and perhaps
visit other places, but the arrangements are
in the hands of the Committee
paper from Dr. True giving an analysis
of Indian words was read by the Secretary.
President Bourne read letter from a gen.
tleman in Humboldt County, Cal, in relation
tothe shell mounds in this State and Louisiana,
IN which he suggested the idea that they
might have been caused by offers. He also
stated that he could furnish conclusive proof
OF an ante-diluvian race of people upon this
continent.
Mr.. Sewall of Wiscasset read a supple
mental report of the Subcommittee appointed
to continue investigations at Pemaquid and
Damariscotta. The report was interesting
and showed several important discoveries,
among which were remarkable specimens of
ancient pottery, the cinerated remains of a
skeleton, spoon of the year 1866 or 1885,
cornelian stone with figures cut upon it by the
lapidary further proof of the existence of the
paved streets at Pemaqnid and the city of
jamestown, and also gave an account of a
structure Of masonry, circular in form, made
of bricks, Zone of which was exhibited,)
which has recently been found in that vicinity.
He also gave an account of the Hackleton
claim, which corresponds in territory to the
ancient city of jamestown, and made inter-
esting statements connected with the early
history of that region
Mr.. Hackleton of Pemaqud, who was
present, was called up, and made some very
interesting and important remarks, corrobor-
ating Mr.. Sewalfs statements and further eX-
planning them. He had the testimony of men
who aided in 1884 in removing the paving and
Curbstones from those streets. They were as
we'll paved as streets in Boston of the same
material. One man assisted in filing up
twelve ancient cellars; they were well stoned.
Described the brick work mentioned by Mr..
Sewall; spruce tree tweIty inches in dame
ter had grown upon it. Spoke of shot and
shell found at New Harbor
Mr.. Bradbury suggested that atiidavits
should be procured where convenient, touch
ing upon the history of these ruins, and be
preserved. On his motion vote of thanks
was returned to Mr.. Hacketon for his labors
to throw light upon the subject.
The Secretary presented in the name Of
Hon. James w. North of Augusta, TO the So
eiety handsome copy of his valuable history
cepted and unanimous vote of thanks passed
for the same. Thanks were also voted for the
papers by DR.. True and the report Of Mr..
Sewall.
Mr.. Williamson of Belfast read a paper
giving an account of the preparation and OPP
erations of an expedition fitted out by the gov
eminent of Massachusetts, in 1850, to visit
the coast of Maine and take observations of
the total eclipse of the sun, which took place
Nat T<HfS that &bn
observations of the party were taken was the
eastern side of Long Island in Penobscot Bay.
The eclipse of this year suggested the paper
by Mr.. Williamson. He also presented
stone Ratchet found at Castine.
Adjourned to evening.
EVENING.
Prof. Packard formally announced the
death of Rev. DIR. Ballard of Brunswick, Sec
rotary of the Society. 1t was expected that
DIR. Woods would be present to perform this
duty, who was intimately acquainted with
the history of the deceased, but in his absence
he thought the occasion should not be allowed
topass without some expression by the Society
of the great loss which it has sustained in the
death Of DR.. Ballard. He would therefore
offer the following resolutions
Resolred, That the members of the His
1orical Society now assembled would record
their deep sense of the value of the services
of the late Rev. DIR. Ballard to the Society
and to the community; that they cannot but,
express the obligations we have felt for many
years to him for his most valuable, efficient
and surprising activity in the office of the
Secretary, which he sustained; for his earnest
and indefatigable spirit of inquiry into all
matters relating to the early history of the
country; for his patient and wide researches
into the dialects of the Aborigines of our
country, and the light which he was enabled
to shed upon the import of the names which
remain the only memorial of departed races
of men, and for his constant and generous
labors in promoting the welfare and reputa-
ton of the Society.
Resolred, That we deplore the great
loss in his removal from US, which we shall
long continue to feel.
Resolred, That these resolutions be enter
ed on the records and communicated to the
family of the deceased.
Mr.. Bradbury heartily sympathized with the
spirit of the resolutions, and thought that
this feeling was shared by every one present.