Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-25

Gent Cushnoc arise ana speak, would they
not say. "deSecratc not this hallowed spot
around which cluster memories so tender,
faith so sublime, heroism and patriotism
SO true. We planted your beautiful city
in the garden of the State, the Sagada-
hook, Nanrantsouak, and Cushnoc of the
red Philistine of the forest, whose toma-
hawk we braved with all the terrorS and
priyations of wilderness home. Perpet-
tiate our memories by preserving this
relic of our fortitude and your noble es-
tate. Keep sacred the ground wherein
your history was made. A hireloom for
your children S children, that shall be an
object lesson of faith in God, and love OF
country"
From time immemorial Cushnoc has
been the capital of the State, the gather
ing place of its mighty Sagamores and
Sachems. 1t received its euphonious
name Augusta in 1917, made the Capital
in 1S27--a city in 1S49. The design of a
city seal nay possess no particular signifl-
cance but that the seal of Augusta does,
in n marked degree, goes without saying.
Look at some official document and you
see Fort Western. How appropriate Au-
gustians exclaim but while they admire
the good sense of the city fathers, does
the question of the preservation of this
interesting relic of their picturesque city
ever flash through the mind of the busy
hustling citizen? Does it ever occur to
them that with it present environment
and occupation, it's manifest danger by
fire, and then in few years the oblivion
of even its site,
plead for the old fort whose history
have only touchcd--as a lover of the an
cient land marks of the early annals of
our Dirigo State Fort Western greater
i'll Importance than Popham' St George,
whose very site has long been in dispute
among antiquarians, should be, believe
acquired by the city, with all its ancient
parade grounds, made park, tastefully en-
closed, and embellished with shrubbery and
trees, and perhaps a statue of monument
with proper records, the building( Barrlcksl
renovated and fitted as a repository of
souvenirs of the past where the student of
Names history would delight to linger.
and the Augusta of the future point to
with pride.
Wealthy, cultured, beautiful city of
Augusta. do it, don't linger, but at it at
once. | believe the grand State of Maine
with her vast possibilities in size casting
shadow almost over entire New England
rich in her forests, streams and lakes, rich
in industrial possibilities, rich in her un-
surpassed summer resorts, rich in brain
ey people, and rich in history unique
and thrilling that reaches back into the
dim and misty centuries of the past
should begin to foster and cultivate
sentiment that will demand preserva-
ton of our ancient land marks and the
erection of memorials that will perpetuate
and keep green the heroic deeds of our
ancestors Many places have merit in
this regard At Pemaquid twenty years
ago an attempt was made to erect
memorial and yet it languishes. Must
we wait for the next century to erect a
monument to the memory of our own
Gov. Phips. the first native boyn Ameri-
can who received the honor of knighthood
Augusta the beautiful, by the Queen
Of Rivers . the honored, the cynosure of
the State, the Capitol 1t is eminently
proper and appropriate that here should
he the initial step that shall lifs our State
to higher plane of love for the beautiful
in art, and to the erection OF that which
shall be historical mile posts for the CEN
turtles to come. VI" .nNa.