Portland War Monument

In Portland Maine’s Monument Square is a Civil War monument. On top of the monument stands a woman holding a sword and a wreath of some kind in the other. She wears a robe and stands proud looking off into the distance. Her name is “Our Lady of Victories”. This Civil War monument is the largest I have seen so far both the statue and the base appear to be the same height. The massive statue captures everyone’s eye as they pass the square. As you follow down the statue to the base the grass catches your eyes. I know right grass but in the city surrounded by all this stone and metal seeing this grass patch acting like a final base of the statue does something to the eye.

As you follow along the statue you see group of bronze statues 3 soldiers and sailors standing in front of flags its difficult to see but I believe they are the American flag and the Maine flag together. Then on the next side is a plaque of dedication to the troops due to the height it is very difficult to make out the inscription. On the opposite side the inscription reads “Portland To Her Sons Who Died For The Union”.

It is an odd place for a statue; the other war statues have been in open places in fields or parks. I understand why it’s there, it’s a monument they can be placed anywhere. I have to go back to the grass I am sure that in the summer time the grass is even greener but it does something amazing the cobblestone leading up to the edge of the statue and then the granite all the way up the grass is a break from the grey of the city. Maybe that’s the park. The couple of feet of green grass is supposed to simulate the feeling of green grass and park. Either way the statue is amazing and it is worth the visit standing around looking into the past with the help of a granite monument.

John Ford Monument

First off I have always been a fan of John Ford. The first movie I saw of his was The Grapes Of Wrath I saw how brilliantly he brought the pain and suffering of those people who drove across America in search for work and money. As a huge fan of Westerns I then saw the amazing John Wayne in Rio Grande, and Stagecoach. I have been a huge fan of those movies and John Ford the film director behind them. This is why when I found that John Ford had a monument in Portland Maine I had to go and pay my respects.

In Portland Maine where Pleasant, Fore, and Center Street there is a statue of Ford seated in a directors chair. Looking out on the intersection legs crossed pipe in hand enjoying the scenery. 6 stone slabs on which are written several of his film credits from his documentary December 7th to his award winning adaptation of Grapes of Wrath surround him. As you follow down the statue to the very base of the statue near the side walk are many different inscriptions such as his marriage to Mary McBryde smith on 7/3/1920 or his graduating class of 1914 from Portland High School.

John Ford, originally John Martin Feeney, was born in Cape Elizabeth Maine on February 1, 1894. He is a Mainer who went to California to begin work as an actor/director. This statue is dedicated to his memory by his relatives.

This statue is fun. Not only do you get to see the man and learn about him through the different stones on his work in film and facts on the lower stones. John Ford was a great director, directing some of the best films and influencing some of the great film directors of my day. Like George Lucas and Martin Scorsese. I encourage everyone to go see and pay respects to the man. Look for him on near the intersection of Fore St, Pleasant St, and Center St in Portland Maine.

York War Memorial

While visiting the First Parish Church and the Old Gaol I Also stopped by the center of the historic section to see the York Civil War monument. I have, it seems been doing a study of different Civil War Monuments in Maine. I chose to highlight this monument because I think it is the nicest of the bunch.

The monument features a soldier leaning on a musket placed on top of a castle like tower. Its base has 2 crossed muskets and the year beginning the war and the year it ended inscribed in the stone in the middle section of the monument: Erected 1906, To Sons of York Who Served, Their Country in Army and Navy, and For Preservation of the Union. It was built and dedicated in 1906.

It is difficult to stand back and admire it because if you do you might get run over y a car. However to see it from afar is just as good. With the large tree standing behind it shading the soldier, and him looking out leaning on a musket you cant help but think about why it was erected, “To Sons of York Who Served”.

Westbrook Civil War Memorial

The Westbrook War memorial located in Riverbank Park is a great sight. It stands alone in the middle of a grassy patch one young soldier stands on top of the monument looking out rifle on his soldier seems to be walking or marching head at an angle looking off to his left.

The soldier himself is cast in bronze and stands on top of a granite structure. In the center of the monument is a plaque on which is written: “Westbrook Honors Her Sons and Daughters Who Strove By Their Loyalty Self-Sacrifice and Devotion to Preserve and Cement the Union in the Days of the Civil War 1861-1865”. It was erected and dedicated in 1917.

As you walk around the statue there is another bronze plaque that reads “The Demands For Loyalty To Our Country Are As Great Upon The Sons As They Were Upon The Sires The Safety Of The Country Lies In The Intelligence The Moral Character The Patriotism Of Her Citizens.” These words are a perfect summation of the atmosphere that the statue allows to those who visit it.

The statue is located in Riverbank Park, on Main Street in Westbrook Maine. its a nice enjoyable visit when its warm!

The Old Gaol, York Maine.

The present Goal that stands in the village of York was built in 1719 it replaced the building previously used as a jail in York that was built in 1656. The building had to be enlarged due to the massive influx of people into the territory. In 1790’s a debtors cell was added on to the building giving the building its modern shape. Not only did this building house the prisoners but also the goalkeeper and his family. In the beginning there were only two cells but updates added more cells and better conditions for prisoners. As you walk around the premise looking at the old wooden red structure you come to the side near the road and you see where the stocks used to stand. Up to 1760 the Goal was used as the prison for the entire territory of Maine when it began serving as the county jail for York. It then began to serve as a school, boarding house, and a warehouse until it was abandoned in 1895.

On July 1^st 1900 the Old Goal officially became a “museum of colonial relics”. As you walk through you can see how the building operated during the later years. At the back of the building are three rooms used to show pictorial proof of the building through the ages. The Gaolers quarters have been restored to reflect the Gaoler William Emerson and his family in 1789.

It is interesting walking around the Gaol. You start at the side of the building walking around. You see the stocks and the kids miming being stuck in them and dads taking pictures. You hear the noise of the cars passing buy. However as you enter the gaol its like that all disappears (well you still have the kids and dads) but they have restored the inner cells and rooms of the building to accurately show what the jail was like back in 1789. They succeeded the as you walk around you get the sense of how the jail looked back when it was used as a jail.

The Old Gaol is located on 207 York Street, York, ME. located near the First Parish Church of York and the York Cemetery.

First Parish Church

The first Parish Church is the oldest religious society in continuous existence in Maine. The original small chapel was built in accordance with the Royal charter in 1635. All citizens were to be a member of the church, provide the land, and pay the pastor. However the church that remains was built in 1712 the other churches were dismantled as the town grew. As the tour notes the current building has been shifted several times so that the steeple could face the modern road that runs through the town.

The church is beautiful standing out amongst all the brown and blue buildings its sheer white exterior makes you wonder how often it gets painted. As you walk into the church you notice a difference in time periods. As the door closes you feel like you have stepped back into the colonial period except for the small child playing on his cell phone. The York historical society has taken steps to make you feel like your back in the old colonies attending church. The First Parish Church is amazing both inside and out. It is located in the historical York part of town with the Old Gaol and the York Village burying ground. It’s a quick visit and has a great history attached to it. The Church is located at 180 York Street, York, ME 03009.

Gorham Civil War Memorial

The Gorham Civil War Monument is located behind the USM Art Gallery. It was originally located in front of the Town House on college street but that is now used as the USM Art Gallery. It was erected and dedicated in 1866. Gorham Maine’s Civil War veterans attended the dedication service, which you can see in the photo. It is made from Italian marble and sculpted by William Johnson.

It really is a beautiful monument. Yet it seems lost. People pass by it on a daily bases but don’t know what it is. Even I didn’t until I read on the syllabus there was a close sight we could visit. I set of to investigate not realizing that this monument I have passed by is and actual war memorial. I thought it was just a continuation of the Art Gallery. It is a beautiful reminder of the war the dedication reads “To The Memory of The Sons of Gorham Who Sacrificed Their Lives For Their Country In The Great Rebellion of 1861 - 1866”. Go and visit the sight its just a short walk from the Gorham campus bus stop and worth the 5 minutes.

Both Pictures and information came from: http://www.maine.gov/civilwar/monuments/gorham.html

The Brick Store Museum

First of all it is important to point out that The Brick Store Museum is not about bricks. I wondered as I walked through the door would it just be room after room about bricks. Thankfully though it isn’t the museum is about “the Kennebunk’s” Maine. The museum is located in an old dry goods store. As you move up to the top floor you can still see remnants of that store. A hoist system still exists in the attic of the museum. When I was doing research for more info on the history of the museum I did come across a funny piece. The store was built from locally made brick so the title Brick Store Museum fits.

The museum although looking tiny from the outside is filled with many Exhibits History Showcase| Brick Store Museum Photography Contest Showcase, History Showcase| Through the Ages: 75 Years at the Brick Store Museum, Impressions of a World Traveler: Early 20th Century Through the Eyes of Edith Barry, Windows on the Past: Kennebunk's History Through Architecture, Learning is an Ornament: The History of Kennebunk's Schools, Renovations Revealed!, Salon Style: Fine Art from the 1830s to the 1920s, and Treasures of the Community. Eight very detailed exhibits on Kennebunk Maine.

As you walk through the entrance into the exhibit rooms your first stop is the Renovations revealed which details the renovations that took place from March of 2009 and till present. There are still some remodeling going on in the back but the project has since ended. The renovations were immense redoing the wooden parts of the museum infested with powder post beetles. As you move on through the hallway you come to the Brick Store Museum’s Photography Contest Showcase. This may not be a major part of the museum however it adds to the purpose of this museum to “The mission of The Brick Store Museum is to preserve the rich heritage of the Kennebunk’s for year-round residents, seasonal visitors and future generations through the collection, preservation, interpretation and exhibition of its material culture.” (http://www.brickstoremuseum.org/history.shtml) The contest is full of pictures taken by building enthusiasts capturing the beauty of Kennebunk’s historical sights and day-to-day things like cars or kids playing. Keep walking along and you will see the Windows on the Past: Kennebunk’s History through Architecture. This exhibit shows Homes that have been placed in Kennebunk’s guided tour of its historic section. The houses go through the generations (from the 1800-1970’s) and display 2 different photos for each house. A modern on to know what to look out for and a photo from back when the building was constructed. Continuing on into the main room where the staircase is you come to the next historical Showcase the 75 years of the Brick Store museum. It shows the timeline of the museum as it grows in size and place in the community. The photographs show the growth and the introduction of new exhibits. In the next room you see the amazing exhibit entitled Impressions of a World Traveler through the eyes of Edith Barry. Edith is able to travel because of her husband who works for the government. The exhibit follows her North Africa, Asia and 2 around the world trips through the photographs she took. You then head back to the steps in the main room and head up to the second floor where you find the exhibit entitled Treasures of the Community. It is a collection of furniture which represent the early American decorative art. The very last and most interesting exhibit is entitled Salon Style: Fine Art from the 1830’s and 1920’s. it is a collection of 1800^th 1900^th century paintings. The story behind each of the paintings is very interesting from ship captains to landscapes.

The Brick Store museum is jam packed with exhibits and history of the community it captures in its walls. It was a joy to walk through and learn about Kennebunk the town I so often travel through but know so little about. The museum entry is based on just a small donation of 5 dollars. It is open year round from Tuesday to Saturday and located at 117 Main Street, Kennebunk, ME. For hours and much more information visit http://www.brickstoremuseum.org/index.shtml. I encourage anyone interested in small town history to visit and explore both Kennebunk and the Brick Store Museum.

Kennebunk War Memorial

I have driven past the Kennebunk war museum for about 3 years now. Never stopping, always noticing the vanilla colored gun and wondering what its there for. I have been to many war memorials. In France their memorials are celebrated even if there were only 3 men who had gone off and served. I have always wanted to stop and visit this memorial to see all that the people of Kennebunk gave to the National cause. So I did I read he names from the Civil War, and both The Great war, and looked at the statue of a civil war soldier and the German 150mm sFH13 Lang Howitzer placed a little to the side. You begin to wonder why there is a German Artillery Piece instead of an American or a reconstruction of one. Well that’s where I started with my research. I went looking and found a story from a sight called Old News From Southern Maine. The stories title says it all “A German Howitzer quietly pleads for peace in Kennebunk” It turns out that it was… “A June 7, 1924 Act of Congress provided for the distribution of captured enemy artillery as war memorials for American cities and towns. Maine was allotted its share of German WWI field guns and the Harold A. Webber American Legion Post was the first to apply for one. The request was passed over even though Kennebunk had sent more men into the World War per capita then any other town in Maine.” Kennebunk kept on fighting to receive the piece. After Years of letters to The War Department Agreed, the gun was delivered in early August 1928. The gun, which had survived the war receiving only minor damage, then survived the Second World War. The Piece was set to be contributed to the scrap drives however it was saved by the fact that the Biddeford junk man did not have an “acetylene torch hot enough to cut the cannon into pieces for smelting.” It was put into storage and then finally in 1977 it was donated to the Kennebunk War Memorial where it has remained ever since.

If you ever want to stop by and visit the memorial is located on Fletcher St. Kennebunk Maine and is open all year round.


New Story: http://www.someoldnews.com/?p=1030
Pic 1 http://www.someoldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Kennebunk-Howitzer-400.JPG
Pic 2 http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/332019077_2e8b698eb8.jpg

Portlan observatory

The Portland observatory is located at 138 Congress St Portland Maine. It holds both great maritime Maine history, but also one great view (for those who don’t have a fear of heights that is). The Portland observatory was used as a signal tower for ships that sailed into the Portland Harbor. Captain Lemuel Moody devised a plan to help the harbor with the confusion of ships sailing in and out. He began construction in 1807 on Munjoy Hill in Portland. Construction finished in 1807 and that’s when Moody showed of his new creation of “Signalizing”. Signalizing (which was Moodys name for it) called for the use of his high-powered telescope (which sadly can no longer be seen in the observatory but has been replaced with a replica). Moody could identify ships sailing into the harbor and then, for a small fee to the merchants would hoist signal flags to identify their vessels. Moody actually made quite a nice living off the merchants who paid him as small sum for the privilege of knowing when the ships are coming. Moody’s construction of the observatory went further than signaling of ships. He opened it to the public allowed them to look out from the top, and Moody used “Thermometrics” to record weather predictions for the local newspaper to print.

The observatory is beautiful covered in wooden shingles that makes you wonder, wouldn’t you hate to be the one to replace all of those? It did go through 2 separate restoration projects one in 1939 and most recently in 1998-2000. The latest restoration took place because of seeping moisture and powder post beetles. The restoration work, although noticeable, adds to the history of the observatory. The diagrams inside explain how difficult it was to build this structure with the eight beams in place and the boulders in the bottom to help support the weight.

I had always heard about this building called the Portland observatory, sadly I thought it was part of the USM Portland campus. Once you arrive at the top of the observatory you can look out and see Portland more historical landmarks. You cannot see use the telescope but its fun to imagine you’re in the 1800’s looking out on the Atlantic Ocean for ships. One word of caution to all those taller than 5’6 WATCH YOUR HEAD when traveling up the stairs.

To learn more or get dates and times to go and visit this land mark check out http://portlandlandmarks.org/events-tours/Observatory.php. Fun for every one!

Research: http://portlandlandmarks.org/observatory/History.php

Pic 1 http://portlandlandmarks.org/Content/143.php#

Pic 2 http://maineowl.net/blog/media/1/20080819-observatory_360w.jpg

Pic 3 http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4871340431_3225039761.jpg

Pic 4 http://photos.igougo.com/images/p158656-Boston-Portland_Observarory.jpg