The Museum in the Streets

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, 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.
[Illustration captions read]
· Plan of Fort Western from a map engraved in 1755 by Thomas Johnston
· Artist Lisa Lyons' sketch of early Fort Western.

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Show me all markers in:  Augusta, ME  |  Kennebec County  |  04330  |  Maine  |  United States of America

Birds and Fish of the Kennebec
First Kennebec Bridge / Le premier pont du Kennebec
Sousa the nonpariel / L'incomparable Souza
Gunshots Reverberate on the Kennebec / Des coups de fusil résonnent sur le fleuve Kennebec
Comfort Magazine / Le Magazine Comfort
Cushnoc Trading Post / Le Comptoir Commercial De Cushnoc
1775 Quebec Expedition
Cushnoc Trading Post
D.W. Adams Department Store / Le grand magasin de D.W. Adams
Old Fort Western on the Kennebec

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