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Old historical photos and images of Augusta, Maine
Coat of arms of Augusta

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History of city Augusta, Maine in photos

A small historical reference

Geography:

Date of foundation:

History:

Population: 18 946

Sights:

Augusta. Administration buildings
Administration buildings
Augusta. Corner Bridge and Water Street, 1880s
Corner Bridge and Water Street, 1880s
Augusta. Cushnoc Heights
Cushnoc Heights
General view of Augusta in summer
General view of Augusta in summer
Augusta. Fort Western, Main Building, Bowman Street, 1936
Fort Western, Main Building, Bowman Street, 1936
Augusta. Fort Western, Main Building, Bowman Street, 1936
Fort Western, Main Building, Bowman Street, 1936
Augusta. Home of James Gillespie Blaine, 1892
Home of James Gillespie Blaine, 1892
Augusta. Jail
Jail
Augusta. Kennebec River - Railroad
Kennebec River - Railroad
Augusta. Kennebec River shore
Kennebec River shore
Augusta. Kennebec River - A view of logs being transported to mill
Kennebec River - A view of logs being transported to mill
Augusta. Kennebec Valley - View from cupola Maine State Capitol
Kennebec Valley - View from cupola Maine State Capitol
Augusta. Lithgow Library, between 1930 and 1945
Lithgow Library, between 1930 and 1945
Augusta. Maine State House, the corner of State and Capitol Streets
Maine State House, the corner of State and Capitol Streets
Augusta. Maine State House, the corner of State and Capitol Streets
Maine State House, the corner of State and Capitol Streets
Map of Augusta, Maine, Bird's Eye View, 1878
Map of Augusta, Maine, Bird's Eye View, 1878
Augusta. Old Post Office at Water Street
Old Post Office at Water Street
Augusta. People posed on the porch of a three-store house
People posed on the porch of a three-store house
Augusta. Railroad Bridge
Railroad Bridge
Augusta. Universalist Church at Corner Winthrop and State Streets
Universalist Church at Corner Winthrop and State Streets
Augusta. View from State Capitol
View from State Capitol
Augusta. Water Street, 1880s
Water Street, 1880s
Augusta. Water Street, 1880s
Water Street, 1880s
Augusta. Winthrop Street, west from State Street
Winthrop Street, west from State Street

Augusta's Beginnings

Long before Europeans came up the Kennebec River to the "head of the tide" Algonquian-speaking Indians, considered Wabanaki or "People of the Dawn" were already here. As early as 1607 the area was explored by English settlers from the short-lived Sagadahoc or Popham Colony at the river’s mouth. Representatives of Plymouth Colony were the first English to actually live here. In 1625, on a river expedition to find a place to trade agricultural products for Indian furs, Plymouth pilgrims chose the east shore for their "House at Kennebeck". The post, probably built in 1628, was operated by the original traders and, later, by Plymouth Company with varying degrees of success, until it was abandoned some time between 1669 and 1676.

There were French as well as English influences here in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1646, a Jesuit priest, Gabriel Dreuillettes, visited "an English settlement named Kinibeki" and established a mission nearby for the Kennebec natives. It was then that the term "Cushnoc" ("Coussinoc" or "Kouissnoc") first appeared in reference to the Plymouth trading post.

After years of conflict involving the French, Indians, and English and several decades during which Kennebec settlements were deserted, the Kennebec Proprietors, successors to the Plymouth Company, erected Fort Western near the Cushnoc site. Located below the falls at the head of navigation, the fort was intended as a supply depot for Fort Halifax, 17 miles upriver. The proprietors also initiated efforts to settle the region. When military staffing was no longer needed, Captain James Howard, who had commanded the fort, stayed on as the first permanent settler. The fort’s main building served as a residence and a store.

The village called "the Fort" was the upriver part of the town incorporated as Hallowell in 1771. In February, 1796, the Fort residents petitioned the Massachusetts Legislature for permission to build the first Kennebec bridge. Although "the Hook," as the lower Hallowell village was called, wanted the bridge on its shore, the Fort request was granted. The following February, in 1797, the legislature approved separation of the Fort from Hallowell. Incorporated first as Harrington, the new town changed its name to Augusta on June 9, 1797.

In 1799, Augusta became the shire town of the newly formed Kennebec County. In 1827, the town was designated the capital of Maine, which had entered the union in 1820 as the 23rd state. The Maine Legislature met here for the first time in January, 1832. Augusta was chartered as a city in 1849.

In addition to its governmental roles, Augusta has been, through the years, a frontier trading place, an inland shipping port, and a center for publishing and manufacturing.

Source: www.augustamaine.gov




Photos posted on the website in accordance with Article 7, paragraph 1 of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works of 9 September 1886, the term of protection which is fifty years after the author's death.

After this period photos it becomes public domain. The participants of the Berne Convention are 167 States.


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