Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-05


charged without blame.
This post was later abandoned and
for some time there was no business
the north began to threaten the set
tiers along the coast and Governor
Shirley with 500 men came up the
river to build a fort at Winslow. Be-
cause the goods could not be taken
above the falls in the boat, It was
necessary to build q storehouse here,
and 80 one was built. which IL the
present Fort Western. James How
ard, commandant Of the post, pur-
chased land here until he was the
most wealthy man in this vicinity
| and he entertained In magnificent
style.
The fort was also used as q church,
town house and trading post; in fact.
| it was the center Of the social, mora
and religious life Of the town. Bene-
| dict Arnold with his 110e men passed
through kere on their way tosCan-
ada; here AKRON Burr came and If
tradition has it right, 1t was from here
that an Indian girl. who fell in love
with him. when he arrived, followed
| him to Quebec and later, to New
York, where she drowned herself in
the He'll Gate rapids.
This, then, is the history of the
| founding of the town and some OF the
| outstanding points Of its existence
\ up to the building Of the fort. This
fort is in as good condition as when it
was built and it Is also as nearly like
it was lis years ago as it could be
madeIt is unique, there being no 9TH
err like in the world, and for this rea-
son the people Of Augusta should be
most thankful for the gift Of this
fort. by their fellow citizen, Guy p.
Gannett.
Mayor Sanford L. Fosg
| The exercises We're brought to a
close with an address by Mayor San
ford l.. togg Of Augusta, who spoke
as follows:
| We are here today for a most i'm
portant purpose, the formal opening
and dedication of this old historic
Fort and in this connection we are
pleased to listen to the lessons of the
past which are full OF significance
and of great value for q proper I'M
Outstanding of the problems of the
present. This occasion itself with
all its impressive arrangements is a
delightful witness to the fact that
even in this Republic. prosperous
and great as never before, we are
not forgetful of the sources from
whence comes that prosperity.
An Eminent French scholar once
said that zone of the greatest dam
gers to modern democracy is its con-
tempt for events that have gone be-
fore"
"All that we arc, all that we know
has come from the mighty past.
Great examples. thrilling events. all
the glories of mankind have sprung
from the soil Of history"
The wonderful life flowing beneath
| the centuries is ore that is carrying
us rapidly forward to a destiny we
| can only dream about. 1t is there
fore Of the utmost Importance for us
| once in while to pause amid the
busy activities Of the present and
instead Of confer plating with our
usual fond hopes the future, look
cetSh AAAtO tiIO past WITH
and gratitude. appreciation for the
manifold blessings we now enjoy and
gratitude for the many splendid
| achievements of the sturdy men and
women who in the olden days laid
the foundation Of our civilization
| and began the b. lding Of the struc-
ture of our State. Not only our city
and State, but our country as well
has been built by the toll and hard
ships of the pioneers. who starting
on the Eastern Coast, pushed their
way ever westward through the then
trackless wilderness. 1t is their spir-
! it transmitted which forms the basis
OF our American government and
ideals.
I'm the nation builders Of all times
and countries there was the cease
less stimulent to achievement. Every
one Of them hear. constantly the
whisper:
Something los. behind the ranges,
Lest and waitiEg-Go-"
The pioneers Of Maine il this val
| ley with far seeing eyes pressed on
Iii their quests, their triumphs were
not successes easilJ obtained in soft
circumstances, but resulted only
from the most serious, determined
and persistent effort; they met and
overcame obstacle and with true
saxon grit faced not only the ordi-
| nary frontier hardships, but also the
| constant hostility of savage tribes
! and the rigors of climate they had
! never known before. They had just
one theory, that every man before
God was man with q right to him
self" They had no visionary idea Of
a great State or Il great republic:
they had no fanciful theories of life:
theirs was s. ~ the declaration, II
am a man and / have a right to
everything that mates for true man.
hood" and in thir spirit they came
to the Kennebec to build homes,
forts stockades and trading posts Of
which this is one and probably the
| largest Of its kind ever constructed in
| Maine. that they might be free and
secure to their posterity, freedom Of
! Thought and action and out Of that
consideration came inherent power
! and the determination necessary for
the highest success. They. construc-
| ted schoolhouscs. built churches and
made laws that should secure and
protect individual rights; they were
thus builders in the highest and no.
blest sense and they then builded