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Searsport in Waldo County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
 

The Home of a Hero
⎯⎯⎯
La maison d'un héros

Searsport, Maine

The Museum in the Streets

 
 
The Home of a Hero Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James True, August 25, 2011
1. The Home of a Hero Marker
Inscription.  
Captain Freeman McGilvery (1824-1864) captained two ships prior to the Civil War. At age 38, at sea, he learned of the "Southern Insurrection" and returned to Maine to offer his services to the governor. Assigned to command the 6th Maine Battery, McGilvery participated in five battles. When promoted to Lt. Col., he was assigned to command the reserve Brigade of Artillery of the Army of the Potomac. After skillful handling of the artillery at Gettysburg, causing the Confederates to retreat, McGilvery was promoted to colonel, unusual for someone who was not a West Point graduate. In a subsequent engagement, his forefinger was wounded by a sharpshooter's bullet. It became infected, necessitating amputation. Given chloroform for the surgery Colonel McGilvery tragically never regained consciousness. He is buried beside his wife in the Village Cemetery on Mt. Ephraim Road.


 
Erected 2009 by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 17.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: HeroesWar, US CivilWaterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the
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The Museum in the Streets: Searsport, Maine series list.
 
Location. 44° 27.536′ N, 68° 54.826′ W. Marker is in Searsport, Maine, in Waldo County. It is at the intersection of East Main Street (U.S. 1) and Navy Street, on the right when traveling east on East Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Searsport ME 04974, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Midcoast Maine and on Penobscot Bay. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Marlboro Packard (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Growth of Ship Building: Isaac Carver / Le développement des chantiers navals : Isaac Carver (approx. 0.4 miles away); Carver Memorial Library / La Bibliothèque Carver (approx. half a mile away); First Day at Central School: Circa 1900 / Premier jour d'école : Central school ca. 1900 (approx.
The Home of a Hero Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James True, August 25, 2011
2. The Home of a Hero Marker
half a mile away); Civil War Soldiers' Monument / Monument aux soldats et La Guerre de Sécession (approx. half a mile away); Union Hall (approx. half a mile away); Liberty Tree Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Main Street, 1875 (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Searsport.
 
More about this marker. Marker #17 (of 17) in "The Museum in the Streets". The text on the Marker is in English, followed by a French translation.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2011, by James True of Newark, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,025 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on August 30, 2011, by James True of Newark, New Jersey. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
 
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Transcription of the French text • Can you help?
m=46661

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Sep. 21, 2026