The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-08-06
FIRST SHIP
Built in America Was
Built Three Hundred
Years Ago
CELEBRATION AT BATH

neighboring towns and villages at the
mouth of the Kennebec river today
donned holiday attire and otherwise
made ready for weeks carnival in
observance of the three hundredth an
niyersary of American snipbuilding,
for the celebration of which prepara-
tions have been going forward for
months past 1t was nearby at POphain
Beach, settled by Sir George Popham
in 1907, where colonists bult the first
American vessel and launched 1t up.
ON the Kennebec.
This first American vessel was the
pinnace Virginia. and ssne was not
much of a craft In comparison with
the vessels of today. But in those
days. with scarcely a nail to work
with and the builders put to extremes
to find the iron for bands and the
tools wherewith to fashion the timber,
the completion of the vessel was re.
garded as a great achievement. The
and In modern measurement would
register about forty tons. She made
several voyages between jamestown
and London.
After the construction and depart
ure OF the Virginia It was nearly 70
years before the keel of another YES
sci was laid on the shores Of the Ken.
nebec. Then Sir William Phipps es.
tablished a yard at Woolwich. So
the industry grew and fourished. The
building of ships has been the princi.
pal industry of Bath for $50 years and
hundreds OF splendid craft have been
put aHoat during that time. the tom
mage amounting to over 1000 900
since the time of establishing the
Government record In 1888 Once the
forests of Maine provided every stick
! of timber used in the craft built
along the Kennebec. Today only the
most unimportant stringers and stan
chions are found In the wilderness OF
the North, nearly everything being
brought to the place of construction
from the West and South. While
there Is now no such activity In the
yards as prevailed up to fifteen or
twenty years ago. Bath Is still busy
and the prospect Is bright.
The celebration which began today
will take up the greater part OF a
week, and not only will include exer-
cises and demonstrations to be heE
In this city, but also at Popham
Beach, where the industry was created
1 oil 40
reached Bath, where II continued to
remain. making the place famous as
the birthplace OF more vessels than
any other city or town In the United
States.
Many OF the most distinguished mem
bers OF both branches OF Congress
have accepted invitations to take part
in the celebration. together with the
governors of several OF the New Eng.
| land states and a number of other
notables. This evening the opening
literary exercises are TO be held at
the Alameda, with an historical ad-
dress by the Hon. Charles e. Allen.
Bands concerts will be given in the
park. and the shores OF the Kennebec
will be illuminated by bonfires, while
the visiting warships and all other
vessels In the harbor will be illumln-
ated.
Tomorrow the warships will be open
for the inspection OF visitors. There
will also be a programme OF land ana
water sports. In the afternoon Gov.
Cobb and stan will arrive, with other
visitors Of note. A monster banquet
to the distinguished guests is to be
given In the evening. and following
this Senator Harold M. Sewall will
deliver an address upon the AmerI-
can ship. There will also De a display
OF fireworks and band concerts.
An automobile review is scheduled
for Wednesday morning. with a big
carnival parade in the afternoon. The
evening is to be given over to a water
carnival in which over 200 yachts and
launches are expected to take part,
The celebration on Thursday will
be shifted to Popham Beach. where
the little ship Virginia was built. Here
will be held the great clambake and
on the site OF Fort st. George, the
colonists' first fortifcation, which has
recently been staked out according to
diagrams left by the original settlers.
will be held appropriate historical ex-
erclses. The principal address will be
delivered by President James p, Bax-
ter of the Maine Historical society.
Friday. the concluding day OF the
celebration, will be given over to re-
ceptions TO the naval officers, both on
shore and aboard ship, and there Will
be a general exchange OF courtesies
among all the guests and the officials
who have the celebration in charge.
Already the city is rapidly filling
with visitors and the indications
point to the biggest crowd ever seen
here. In addition to the population
of the surrounding country and the
invited guests from other sections 1t
Is expected that the visitors will in
clude many notables who are spending
the summer at the various resorts
along the Maine coast.
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