Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-15
AUGUSTA IN HISTORY, IN
PRESENT AND IN FUTURE.
From DumOnt'S Visit to the Beautiful KEN
nebec Valley to the Luxurious Homes
And the Industrial Activities OF
The Twentieth Century,

of the early history of Augusta the
record is somewhat hazy When Du-
mont sailed up the <ennebec in 1904,
in quest of shorter route to Canada,
he was told by friendly Indians. of a
fertile valley, very picturesque, far
Their up rivera favorite meeting place
where tie various tribes assembled in
conclave and held their councils. 1t
was pictured as an ideal spot, easy of
access. both by land and water, shell
tered by high hills. extending back
from the waterfront almost to the sky
lne-an Indian settlement in the will
derness. The description so impressed
Dumont that he sailed up the beauti-
full river. and made d landing on the
woody shore at what was afterwards
called Cushnoc. Dumont remained
here several weeks and was so inn
pressed by its natural advantages and
beauties that he sailed for home and
later in the season returned and took
possession of the country contiguous
in the name ct his sovereign the king
Of France He builded better than he
knew, for this was the starting of the
town of Cushnoc, now the thriving
city of Augusta. 1t was years after
before the settlement was made. but
the seed had been sown and the little
trading post of Cushnoe in the valley
of the kennebec, was fairly launched
on its career of prosperity. If Dumont
could roll back the curtain OF years
and look upon this goth century
CuShnoc. or augusta as it is now
called. he would hardly recognize the
trading post of bygone years. Today
Augusta stands as one of the first
cities of the State.
From 1896 until 1929. the little. al
most unknown trading post, strug-
Cling for existence, was practically
abandoned. In the year 1929 the coun-
ell at Plymouth granted to William
Bradford and his associates the large
tract of land lying on both sides of the
Kenncbec river from Merrymeeting
bay to its source. Bradford traded up
river more or less with the Indians
and made Cushnoc his stopping place
Eleven years after the Kennebec pa
tent was surrendered by Bradford To
the Plymouth colony and trading
post vas established. No attempt was
made to effect settlement here un-
til almost a century had passed. In
iOS 'TpN u fIpi btICtltI contemplated
the fornling Ut a settlement and es-
tablished a mission at Cushnoc For
some reason. never fully explained. |
the project was abandoned and it was
not until 1854 that the first settlement
was made, II was not until after the
fall of Quebec in 1859 that any build !
ings were erected. at Cushnoc outside |
of Fort Weston.
The peace treaty of 1863 by which |
France renowned all claims to Cana |
da and any other possession in North |
America was welcome news and |
brought a most favorable change in |
the condition of things along the Ken |
nebec valley. Al the dawn of peace |
the colonies settled down to a more |
peaceful vocation. In 1771 the town |
of Halloween was Incorporated and in
Guided III its limits part of the city OF |
Augusta. the tow of Chelsea, and a
ge portion of Pennington and Man
chester, In the early part of 1897 that |
part of Hall9well known as the Hook
now the city of Augusta. and the pres
ent city of Hallowell were divided by /
an act of legislature A charter was
granted the new town under the name !