Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-05-27
WINDOWS WITH A HISTORY.
Strange and Interesting Data Relative ia
lithgow Library Windows.

| @h"HVW IsOSAy WtuVVWSs
| The historical windows of the Litheoy
library will be one Of the most interesting
features Of this beautiful new structure
Perhaps many Journal readers would be
pleased to learn more than the mere fact
that such windows have been placed IN
the library building and to furnish this
information Journal man visited the
structure, yesterday, and by the kindness
of Capt. c. E. Nash gathered some inter
esting data concerning the windows
First we will note the window bearing
historical picture of the old COLONY
Plymouth trading post which was used
Tor over 80 years and stood on the east
banks OF the Kennebec river where the
old fort now sits. This trading post was
not only where the Pilgrim fathers came
to trade, but also where the Indians of
this section assembled to exchange their
furs for beads, iron axes, rifles, guns, am
munition, and other articles useful to
them. The picture shows a small log
cabin, surrounded by palisades, while
in front the artist has made portion of
the river and shows several Indians row
ing up In their boat to trade with the Pill
grim fathers, who are waiting upon the
shore. The date at the foot Of the win.
dow is 1928. This is the most ancient of
any of the windows.
The next of these windows Is that pic
turing old Fort Weston, which was built
by the Plymouth company and was the
first timber building erected in Augusta
The date 1t bears is 1854. In the Fort at
that time were armed soldiers, cannon
and implements of war during that
period. The resident commanding cap
tain was Captain Howard and the su.
preme commander was William Lithgow,
grandfather of Llewellyn Lithgow, founder
of the library. This building too was
surrounded by palisades and at the corn
ers were block houses or flankers in
which the sentries kept watch. This
building was constructed of heavy tim
bers, was ten inches thick and bullet
proof. Llewellyn Lithgow's uncle had a
law office in the building and it was
there that Lleweliyn was married. All pub
lie meetings were held at the fort in an
cient Augusta until The meeting house
was built in 1889.
OF this last named building the next
| the first house of worship erected in Au
gusta and was built by the town and oc
cupied for funerals, town meetings and
all kinds of public meetings. 1t was used
for 25 years and was superseded by the
South Pslisl meeting house, which was
built in 1913 and burned in 1864.
The window bearing a representation of
the South Parish meetinghouse Is one of
the interesting ones and will be recog
nized by all who listened to the forcible
and educating sermons preached by
Father Tappan, who was its first pastor
and who ably occupied the pulpit for
about 40 years
The window bearing picture of tha
old Kennebec bridge is a very handsome
one. The bridge was built in 1897 and
river. It's erection furnished great ad
vantages to the Fort Weston settlement
over the Hook settlement, now known as
Hallowell. 1t gave the Fort Weston set
Element -elninence over all others in
this section, which afterward resulted in
it's being made the shire town of the
county and eventually the capital OF the
State.
The window of the Cony Female Acad-
envy, the institution built in 1918, is
another of special interest. 1t was by the
muniilccnce of DR.. Daniel Cony. grand
father of Ex-Gov. Williams, that this in
stitution was built This was an impor-
tant institution Of learning in that day
and mal ks an era in the school privileges
of Augusta. The present Cony High
school is the direct descendant and success
sor of this academy, whose humble proper
tions are exhibited in enduring glass in
the Lithgow library building, toward
which Ex-Governor Williams was lib
eral promoter.
The coloring of each window is rich and
delioately done SO that the effect of each
| Is excellent.
Mr. I n RrNnks head