Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-08-24
A Historic Spot.

itol Heights has attracted considerable
attention to that location.
The large tract of land called the
Mullilsen Farm originally embraced the
muster field, the farm, the Forest Grove
cemetery as well as a great deal of land
south of what is now Western avenue.
John Davis, one of the earliest mer-
chants of Augusta, and Ii very promin-
ent man in his day, becoming quite
wealthy, purchased this large tract of
land and erected conspicuously on the
brow a stately mansion, ana orna-
trees. shrubbery ana gravel walks The
History of Augusta says that The
labor, uprooting large pine stumps and
consuming them in huge bonfires. He
made expensive improvements, planted
orchards of cultivated fruits, erected
large barns, built q stone wall superior
to any IN the country round. introduced
improved stock and cultivated his land
without regard to expense; and lived in
a style Of elegant luxury not surpassed
in this State" The writer remembers
an old gentleman telling him one day of
working on the house and the eXpen-
sive manner in which it was built. For
one thing. the portico. which was orna-
mented with pillars. WAS made in Italy
by experienced wood carvers and cost
alone $500, which at that time was
fully as much as the ordinary large
square house would cost to build
Mr.. Davis, during the latter years OF
his residence here became involved in
debt ana lost all Of his property. This
house and farm were bought by Bar
tholomew Mason. a prominent mer-
chant of that time, in lS-5. ard held by
him until he became involved in the
disastrous speculations of 1891. when it
was sold 10 company Of gentlemen
for $26,ooo. The house was finally con
stunned BY fire on September ., 1913.
The barn which was attached to that
farm is still standing although it viii
at an carly date. be removed as it
stands upon three houselots. This
building is 50x90 feet and something
over 20 feet high The hewn frame of
it is from old pines grown on the spot
and was hcwn out over a hundred
years ago. and is III prime condition Al
the present time,
The cellar and terraces of the Davi:
house arcon the part Of the farm which
has been purchased by Mrs. Blaine t.
be turned into q memorial park. and
which will contain the last resting
place of Mr.. Blaine. This locality was
q favorite spot with him and one OF
which he never tired.
A few years ago the farm. then known
as Mullilen Farm. was bought by Mr.
W. II. Gannctt. A large portion of this
occupying the ground which. during tn
days of the Rebellion was the site oi
Camp Keyes, and where many thou
sand Maine men took their first lessons
as soldiers. was sold to the State q
Maine for a permanent muster ground.
q home on the site of the Davis house
but he finally sold that portion, as
above stated, to Mrs Blaine. Tbs
place being thus dismembered, ne solo
another portion to the Forest Grove
cemetery, and has turned the remainder
into the residential locality now known
as Capitol Heights. The remaining
p0rtion of the farm south Of Western
avenue is still under cultivation except
ing the portion which is commonly
known as Niger" Hill Among the
trees near the brow Of this hill is Camp
Comfort, the only genuine log cabin il
this part Of the country.
This hill derives its name from the
fact that at one time it was populated
by a large numberof colored people.
Almost every trace Of them has beer
lost, and beyond the fact that several
of them were named Williams. there
seems to be but little remembered of
them. The cellars of Is houses are
counted. and many stone walls partly
demolished, and some even covered by
the accumulation of earth, are visible.
There was a road which led from State
street up to me log house, which was
near where the Milliken barn now
stands on the HalloWcll road, and this
led to this colony on the hill. Some of
the older readers undoubtedly could
give the Journal the information which
would be required to place the story of
this colony in permanent form.
With the buildings which will soon
be erected on Capitol Heights and the
formation of part into a park the old
farm Will, within short time, disap-
pear, except as a recollection of older