Augusta in Kennebec County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Old Fort Western
⎯⎯⎯
Le vieux Fort Western

Augusta, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets —

Old Fort Western / Le vieux Fort Western Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

1. Old Fort Western / Le vieux Fort Western Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

As part of the strategy to expand and strengthen Massachusetts' territorial claims along the Kennebec River, a Boston-based land company, the Kennebec Proprietors, built Fort Western in 1754. Commanded by James Howard, the Fort served as a forward supply base for Massachusetts-built Fort Halifax, 17 miles upriver. Fort Western was never attacked, but remained garrisoned until 1767. In 1769, Howard purchased the fort buildings and surrounding land. Howard and sons William and Samuel engaged in various businesses at the fort, including the lucrative lumber trade and mercantile business for the settlement. During the American Revolution, Benedict Arnold and his 1,000 plus force stopped at Fort Western for six days in the fall of 1775 on their ill-fated march to Quebec City.

Dans sa stratégie d'expansion et de renforcement du territoire du Massachusetts le long du fleuve Kennebec, une entreprise foncière basée à Boston, les Propriétaires du Kennebec, construisirent le Fort Western en 1754. Commandé par James Howard, le Fort servait de base de ravitaillement pour le Fort Halifax construit par le Massachusetts,

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à 27 kilomètres en amont. Le Fort Western nu fut jamais attaqué mais abrita une garnison jusqu'en 1767. En 1769, Howard acheta les bâtiments du fort et les terrains qui l'entouraient. Howard et ses fils William et Samuel se lancèrent dans plusieurs commerces au sein du fort, dont le commerce lucratif du bois et la vente de produits de consommation pour les colons. Pendant la Révolution Américaine, Benedict Arnold et ses mille soldats firent escale au Fort Western pendant six jours en automne 1775 dans leur marche infortunée vers la ville de Québec.

Erected by The Museum in the Streets. (Marker Number 3.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks, and the The Museum in the Streets: Augusta, Maine series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1754.

Location. 44° 18.992′ N, 69° 46.281′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Maine, in Kennebec County. It is on Cony Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is at the intersection of Cony Street and the east side of the Kennebec River Bridge, on the left when traveling west on Cony Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Cony St, Augusta ME 04330, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Maine’s Kennebec Valley. It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

2. Old Fort Western / Le vieux Fort Western Marker

Marker at far left of photo, looking west

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Birds and Fish of the Kennebec (here, next to this marker); First Kennebec Bridge / Le premier pont du Kennebec (here, next to this marker); Sousa the nonpariel / L'incomparable Souza (within shouting distance of this marker); Gunshots Reverberate on the Kennebec / Des coups de fusil résonnent sur le fleuve Kennebec (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Comfort Magazine / Le Magazine Comfort (about 400 feet away); Cushnoc Trading Post / Le Comptoir Commercial De Cushnoc (about 400 feet away); Augusta, Maine (about 400 feet away); 1775 Quebec Expedition (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.

Also see . . .
1. Fort Western. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on August 2, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Fort Western. Maine Encyclopedia website entry (Submitted on November 29, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

3. The Museum in the Streets Tour Map, Augusta, Maine. (Submitted on November 29, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Old Fort Western / Le vieux Fort Western image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

3. Old Fort Western / Le vieux Fort Western

Old City Hall and Old Fort Western image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr.

4. Old City Hall and Old Fort Western

Looking NE across the Kennebec River

Signage for Old Fort Western image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2021

5. Signage for Old Fort Western

Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 938 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 29, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on November 30, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 4. submitted on December 1, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 5. submitted on November 17, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Old Fort Western⎯⎯⎯Le vieux Fort Western

Augusta, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets —

Old Fort Western
⎯⎯⎯
Le vieux Fort Western