Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-10
Kennebec Historical
Society Holds a Most
Interesting Meeting

Yielding his duties to a younger
man after % years of constant and
faithful service as secretary of the
Kennebec Historical society, Power
S. Mooney was the only member of
the original band of men and women
who formed this society some 80
years ago to answer the roll call last
evening. OF the 1870 people who join
cd the society 81 years aEo, only 40
are now living and only II are now
members of the society.
These facts were set forth last
evening in very interesting paper
on the subject. THE History of the
Kennebec Historical Society During
the Past Thirty Years" preparey and
presented by George c. Clarke, presi
dent of the society. 1t was very
sad moment when. in the course of
lis apper. the speaker called the roll
of the originators of the society and
asked for information concerning
them. Back over the intervening
years, vague, uncertain. face after
face of former friends and asSOci-
ates passed in view. many of them
long since dead and gone. and taught
those gathered together last evening
that everlasting truth that the poet
has so nobly expressed Men may
come and men may go, but | go on
forever The | in this case is the
City of Augusta and the fact that in
the past 80 years advance has been
made and events have transpired was
tnrnill, Mt Cd nv thic
In his discourse. Mr.. Clarke point
ed out the effectiveness of good lead
crship in the work of a society of this
sort and gave dates and occasions
cleaned from the records Of the
society to demonstrate his point. He
recalled an incident entered in the
book regarding a body disinterrcd in
Willow street, thought to be the body
of a Fort Western soldier who was
accidentally killed by his comrade.
He mentioned. too, the success of the
first loan exhibition attended by hun
dreds of school children and called
attention to the fact that many of
Augustus dignified business men of
today have left their autographs in
boyish scroll upon the pages of Il g
sOciety's register. Among them is
the name of Elk GoXernOr Carl +.
Milliken. Mention is made of visit
by Prof. Chapman of Bowdoin which
crowded the society hall to capacity
an dgave new impetus to the work
of the organization. The paper was
skilfully executed and pointed out the
salient and interesting features of the
" taI-
Ten new members were added to
the society last evening through the
efforts OF special committee of which
Miss Caroline Fogg and Mrs. e. +
Penney are members. Two matters Of
business came up. namely. the publ
cation Of the Nash History Of Angus
ia and the matter Of preparing A his
tory of the Great War with the assist
ance of the American Legion. Bob
matters were tabled until the next
meeting. which will be held March ?,
1922.
A very interesting letter from for
mer Augusta resident was read and is
of sufficient general interest to war
rant it's publication in full. 1T reads
as follows:
"Dr. Scott Hill.
Augusta. Maine.
Dear Sir:
l recently learned from Richard T..
Goodwin that there is in Augusta an
historical society known as the Ken
nebec Historical Society. / have Won
dered whether I could write anything
sufficiently interesting to receive the
honor of being read before that 3d.
ciety. I am the last representative of
family known and honored for near
| ~ a century or more. as my grand
father settled in Augusta about 1890.
My memory carries hack to 1s43 or
1874 when my grandfather lived on
State street in the family mansion
next to the Tappan homestead, now
occupied by you. l can recall some
people. some conditions and some
events Of those years.
Il was born in Pennington whore
for time my father was in business.
end We lived near the Jacob Abbott
place some books CT his were among
The first noticed by me.
II am the last surviving stockhold.
or of fha Northern Miniu1 RI AaS1 h.