The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-08-13

Annual Excursion of Sagadahoc EHistOr-
icaI Society.

On Friday last the members of this society
and friends had their second annual excursion
in search of recreation and points of historical
interests. The party numbered about seventy
gentlemen with ladies' Several of these were
from abroad, among whom were ex-Gov. Nell
son Dingley, Jr., Lewiston; B. K. Sewall and
daughter, Wiscassett Rev. Frank Sewall,
Urbans, o.; DIR. VIM. Church, Providence.
R. T.; Mr.. and Mrs. Hammett, Boston; Luther
Emerson, Oakland, and Miss Prince Of Massa-
chusetts. The company took a steamer at
Bath and proceeded down Back river bound
up the Sheepscot and Mouse Island. There
were many points of interest along the entire
route The first was what is supposed nv
some historians to be the site of the notable
Hammonds fort on the head OF Arrowsic Island
on Hocomock bay. Here are also ancient
cellars and well. Farther ON on the shores
of Woolwich was seen Phips' Point, the local
ity where was born in 1850 the famous Gov.
VIM. Phips and where he built the second
vessel within the limits of the present port of
Bath. Reaching Sheepseot river the steamer
proceeded to Fort Point, which is a little be-
low Wiscasset. The Sheepscot is a beautiful
river OF much width, gentle flow and ebb of
water, and very fine scenery. Near Wiscasset
is sharp bend in the river, and here is a
block house built in 1909, an Improvement
upon the model of the forts of Indian times.
There are also the remains of these lines of
Notifications between the block house and
river, and what is evidently a dilapidated
brick powder house. On the opposite shore,
on high elevation is where Fort McDonough
was built in 1914 under the direction of VIM.
King, then Major General of military Eastern
Division of the Province of Maine. At that
date Wiscasset was the principal commercial
town in the Province. Hence the necessity of
its defence. The English men of war La
Hogue and Bulwark were alternately station
ed off the mouth of the Sheepscot and the
Kennebec, threatening Bath and .Wiscasset.
The Bulwark sent barges up the Sheepscot in
1913, which were fred upon by forces stationed
at points on their route, and learning of the
strong Notifications at Fort Edgecomb men
toned above, they gave up the endeayor to
reach Wiscasset and returned to the ship they
had left.
Opposite Fort Edgecomb South is the point
where at an early day were stores and ware
houses, and large trade was carried on by
Mr.. Walker, and from which were shipped
large quantities of timber to Great Britain,
The place was termed Walkers Point.
AS the party returned down the river in the
afternoon, other points of historic interest
were pointed out by Mr.. r. x. SewalI of Wis
casset, a historian of Maine. Touching at
Mouse Island, the excursionists partook Of
repast of fish and clam chowder at the Samo-
set House and returned to Bath by moonlight,
having had a very enjoyable time, for which
the party are indebted to the untiring exer-
tons of President A. G. Page and Mr.. G. e.
Newman, subcommittee of the Historical
Society for the occasion.
The society is creating increased interest in
historical matters pertaining to this locality,
and is gathering up almost forgotten history
and collecting choice relics of Indian times
and placed them in its archives r.