Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-06
AUGUSTA LOCALS.
FORT WESTERN.
A Bronze Tablet Erected Upon
Its Historic Walls.
By koussinoc Chapter, Daughters d
the. American Revolution.
DsdIest.T Exsselsss d N6assssatieaa
Chapel, rsssdy Evsaias.

u
A spark OF patriotism was struck
in the hearts OF the large and interest
ed audience. that gathered in the
chapel Of the Congregational church.
Tuesday evening. where the dedicatory
services Of the bronze tablet erected
on the walls of Fort Western. by the
Koussinoc Chapter Of the Daughters
Of the American Revolution. were held.
The chapel was prettily decorated
with large American flags draped ar
tistically: the crowd was made up Of
the representative people of the city,
and the speakers were men who are
recognized leaders.
Arthur Huntington Mason and
Charles Paine acted as ushers. assist
ed by seven fairyoung daughters Of the
Revolution, there being Misses Mary
Huntington. Marian Titcomb. Alice
Hunt. Muriel Haynes. Edith Partridge,
Grace Gannett and Addie Gannett, the
latter two being lineal descendants of
Captain James Howard. commandant
Of Fort Western, and the first perma-
nent settler of Augusta.
Mayor J. Manchester Haynes was
the first speaker, and he handled in his
usual eloquent manner, the subject in
hand. speaking of the patriotic work
of the society, and laying especial
stress upon the good to the city of
preserving this old land mark, old Fort
Western.
Lendan Titcomb, ESQ.,, the owner of
the fort. through whose courtesy the
Daughters of the American Revolution
have been enabled to place this tablet
upon its walls, responded in behalf of
the old fort, and assured the audience
that the old land mark would be per-
petuated.
Captain Charles Nash gave an inter-
esting history of the old fort that all
enjoyed. He is recognized author
ity ON rhetorical matters and his paper
was closely followed.
Leslie cornish, Esq, gave a greeting
from Fort Halifax which was built the
same year. : A part OF the foundation
stones Of the fort are now in the hands
of an Augusta doctor. who is col
lector~ Of asssterieal~artic
Very interesting remarks were made
by Rev. E. S. Stackpole, who has made
an extensive study of the early his.
tory of the State. He read an interest
ing abstract from diary kept by one
of his ancestors who made a trip to
the fort in 1855.
The audience had the rare and UNI
expected pleasure of listening to Hon.
]. w. Bradbury, Augustus Grand Old
Man." who spoke with unusual vigor
and eloquence, several times calling
forth prolonged applause. The Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution of Au-
gusta, will always remember with
pleasure and gratitude his personal
greeting.
The closing remarks were made by
Judge w. p. Whitehouse who was in
troduced as "a stick Of driftwood from
Vassalboro." His inspiring and thrill
ling address that filled the audience to
the core, was fitting climax to the
exercises, which aroused the patriotic
spirit to an unwonted degree.
The musical numbers rendered by
Miss Florence Clark evinced the rare
qualities and culture of a genuine ar
tist.
Miss Clark possesses pure soprano
voice of great fiexibility and sweetness.
Her superb rendering Of Mascagni's
ave Maria" was received with pro-
longed applause, while her spirited
rendering Of the "Star Spangled Ban
ner" and Columbia, the Gem Of the
Ocean," thrilled all with patriotic en-
thusiasm.
the north end Of the old fort, Tuesday
morning.
The following is the inscription:
Fort Weston, Erected by the Ply
mouth Company, 1854. Captain James
Howard Commandant. Tablet placed
by the Koussinoc Chapter. Daughters
of the American Revolution"