Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-23
Wednesday, May %, 1906.
The Truth as to Pemaquid.

over a quarter of a century editor Of
Zion's Advocate, and at present chap
lain Of the National Home at Togus. is
one Of the best living authorities on all
matters of Maine history. For nearly
q third of a century he has been a
prominent member of the Maine His
torical Society, and a considerable part
of his extensive literary work has been
devoted to this broad and fascinating
field. DIR. Burrage takes exceptions to
some things in the article on "Ancient
Pemaquid.'' which appears i'm the May
number Of the New England Magazine,
and upon which the Journals editorial
.'Pemaouid's Untold Story" of last
Saturday morning. was based. He de-
clares that the most extravaganza
claims have been made concerning the
early history Of Pemaquid, ana that
the baselessness of these claims mas
again and again been set forth IN
napers read before the Maine Historl-
raj Society. and in the works OF Ainerl-
can and English historians. but never
theless the exploded stories are ire
oucntIy caught up by some magazine
or newspaper writer and started into
circulation again.
DIR. Burrage asserts, and he has
abundant historical authority to sup
port him. that while Pemaquid is one
of the most interesting places to the
historian on the New England coast.
there is no evidence that it was settled
or occupied by white people previous
to 1870. In fact, there is abundant evil
derce that it was not occupied before
that time, yet some writer's nave as
sorted that it was settled in 1907 or be-
fore The Popham colony, as all the
world knows, was established III 1914
and abandoned in 1908. and little
later there were fishing and trading
settlements at Monhegan and Damaris
Cove. but beyond being visited by Eng
lish sailors and by party of Pophan'
co,onists who made only short stop
no settlement was made or fort erected
at Pemaouid until after 1920.
From that time forward until tht
time Of the Revolutionary war. Pcma
onid was the scene Of several success
siyc forts, and of many stirring lnci'
dents. 1t has enough real and wei
authenticated historical interest tc
make any extravagant claims I'M
necessary. and yet some have tired u
convince the world that in the ruins ol
these old forts and the settlement
which was around. them, there are CYL
dences of an "ancient civilization. ano
a City which they date as far hacN
as the settlement at Fort Pophanl ahc
even back to an earlier date. H.
letter TO the Journal. Or. Burrage dis
poses of these claims and urges us u
help straighten out the matter. Over
which many people have become non
estIy confused. After an introduction
Dr. Rurrage continues his letter as fol'
lows:
Editors Kennebec Journal:
1t is an error to connect the Maine
Historical Society with any OF tht
fanciful claims that are occasi"laiis
made witt reference to Pemaduld.
cannot recall a paper read at its meet
ings in the 30 years and more VIII
which l have been connected win IN
society in which these extravaEah
claims have received any ceuhtcnaf''
Nor is the Maine Historical Society re
sponsible for the extravaganza cia''h
that are still made at Pemaquid. vi
the other hand, in papers read befor'
the society and printed in its collec
tons these claims have been shown Z
be without foundation. Pcmaquid l
one cf the most interesting spots on TIT
coast Of Maine. 1t has more Veritabl
history to the square inch than almos
any other spot within our territory
But any one who cares at all for IN
truth can find little satisfaction II
visiting the place now. compelled as IN
Is to witness attempted so-calle'
RESERVATIONS. listen to extravagan
For example the statement that eth
first English settlement in New Eng
land, that at Pemaquid. occurred sew
eraI years before that of the settlement
of jamestown. Virginia" is not sup
ported by any evidence whatever. II
1907 there was no settlement at Pema
quid. The settlement made on tn
Mainc coast in that year was at tn
mouth of the Kennebec. The Poplar
colonists--that is some of them-visite
the Indians at Pemaquid on their al
Arivaf in st. Georges harbor in tn
summer of 1907, and later, in the au
bNnn. they revisited the spot, an
kupfefAl9Rd no living creature Their
Hreviously they had found only II
Z Sdianss there. and these now call wei
GpSSe II there was any English Sc
tlement at Pemaquid at the time tt
Pcpham colonists were at the plac
certainly they would have heard of
ana would have visited it. We nee
net therefore shed any tears becau,
there is to be a celebration At lane
town next year. while Peman,,;a
neglected. So far as is nov.