The Republican journal., 1916-08-03
The Exercises at Old Fort
POWnal

A party of about Is, including members of
John Cochran Chapter, Daughters OF the Amer
lean Revolution, and invited guests, autoed to
Fort Point in the town Of Stockton Springs
Friday afternoon. July 18th. for the formal I'M
yelling of the granite marker John Cochran
Chapter had placed on the site of Fort Pownal.
The idea of marking this historic spot origi-
mated with Mrs Eta Piper Savery, and as
chairman of the committee she secured through
u. S. Senator Edwin c. Burleigh permission
from the National government for its erection
and arranged with Mr.. A. Heal for the gram
lite boulder and the inscription. Miss ENERGY
CHM assisted Mrs, Slavery. When the Belfast
party arrived they we're met by the cottagers,
those in charge of the light station. and many
from Stockton village. The remains of the
breastworks of Fort Pownal are about Is rods
from the waters edge and the Fort Point light
house.
Fort Point commands the entrance of the
Penobscot river, and here in 1853 Gov. Thomas
PownaI of Massachusetts and Gen. Samuel
Waldo built fort to hold possession of the
Penobscot valley country against the French
and Indians. After having explored the coun-
try and taken formal possession. Gen. Waldo
died suddenly and was buried on the point
His body was afterwards removed to Kings
Chapel, in Boston. The fort was about 800
feet square, With parapet, moat. f1ankers and
large blockhouse in the center. 1t was built
of heavy timber, and In the blockhouse several
cannon were mounted.
Miss Amy E. Stoddard, regent of John Coch-
ran Chapter, very gracefully conducted the
appropriate program, which opened with all
singing the Star Spangled Banner led by Har-
ry H. Upton, Colby II. The Chapter men,
bers then gave the Flag Salute with Miss
Florence Kimbal acting as color bearer. Miss
Alice E. Simmons read Whittiers Mog Ma
gone. an Indian story of the early days of Old
Castine, in which the shores of Penobscot bay
and the land where Fort Pownal was built later
are beautifully described. After appro-
pirate prayer was offered by Mr.. Upton Mrs.
Cora J. Bowker read the following sketch Of
the history of the fort:
THE necessity of fort in this quarter was
suggested to the general court by Thomas
Pownal, Gov. of Mass, in his speech of Feb
/ l, 1853. His proposition was accepted and a
resolve authorized the employment of 400 men
under Gov. Pownal to take possession of
the Penobscot country and erect fertilization
there. They sailed from Boston early in May,
and after exploring the river landed at this
place. then called Wassamkeag Point. Gov. P.
was accompanied by Gen. Waldo, who was
deeply interested in the enterprise; in fact it
| was doubt due to his influence and persever-
ence that the fort was built here when not a
single white inhabitant dweit upon the shores
of Penobscot river and fastened the develop
ment of the Penobscot Valley by at least
generation. General Waldo died suddenly and
was buried here with military honors and re-
lgious services. The fort was completed July
49, 1859, and named Fort Pownal liz honor of
the Gov. A garrison was constantly main
tanned at the fort until the Revolutionary war. |
Gen. Preble was first in command with force
of "a men. The Indians soon became con-
WINGED of the policy of keeping on terms of
friendship with their neighhors and entered
into treaty which ever remained unbroken.
A trading house established at the fort for
their accommodation and large trade in furs
sprang up. Buildings were erected in the vi
cinity, among them small Episcopal chapel of
brick, The houses OF the commander and
others occupied position between the fort
and the river. When Col, mel Goldtha came
into power in IT'S he was hostile to American
interests and greatly exasperated the people
by allowing Capt. Mowatt to dismantle the
fort by removing the guns and ammunition
and the block house and curtilage was burned
by the British in 1779."
Miss Stoddard gave the following brief ad-
dress: at is stated in the constitution of the
Daughters of the American Revolution that
the object of the society is to perpetuate the
memory of the spirit of those men and won en-
who helped to achieve American Independence
by acquisition and protection of historical
spots and the erection of monuments, and we
hay, baro tndou 10
anniversary of the completion of Fort Pownal
and to unveil this marker which we have
placed here to mark the site of Fort Pownal
and the first burial place of General Samuel
Waldo, for whom Waldo county named"
At the close of her remarks Mrs. Slavery and
Miss ENERGY CHM lifted the Star Spangled
Banner from the marker, unwilling the letter.
ing. as follows:
Fort Pownall
Erected in 1859 by General Thomas Pownal.
| General Samuel Waldo was buried here: his
remains later being removed to Kings Chapel,
| Boston.
! Erected by John Cochran CHAPTER Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution. July %, 1916.
The stone is pink-gray granite and came
from Crotch Island, near Stonington. 1t is
| ASSe
hslf feet at base and tapers to inches at the
| top. 1t has no foundation, but Mr.. Heal
thinks the ground where it is placed will not
allow it to settle. Mr.. Heal gave the stone
and the moving and placing. the Chapter pay
ing for the polishing and lettering.
The exercises closed by all singing America.
The residents of the town expressed their in
terest in the exercises and their appreciation
of the Chapter thus permanently marking this
historic spot; and the Chapter members ex-
pressed their appreciation of the presence of
SO many at the unwilling.
After examining the marker and taking
few snapshots the Belfast party started home
ward, VIII IN to their surprise and delight they
were very cordially invited to the summer
home of Charles Webster OF Portland, who
keeps bachelors hall in one of the first cot.
tages erected here. 1t was built % years ago. is
beautifully furnished throughout and has all
| the modern conveniences. The whole party
gathered on the broad veranda while their
generous host, assisted by Mr.. Upton, Misses
Stoddard and CHM, served ginger ale, fancy
cookies, cake, crackers, olives, confectionery,
nuts and lemonade. When the party were