The Dark side of the Dirt

On June 10th there was an Annual Meeing for the Friends of te Flariton building also known as the old part of the old cony high school. The guyest speaker was Earle G. Shettleworth. Director Maine historic Presevation Commission. He Authored and co-authored a number of books about Maine that can be bought in the Maine section of Barnes and Noble bookstore at least in Augusta. His latest book dealt with Victorian Augusta (which I think was about 1866-1890 if I am not mistaken.) Maine has been able to keep a number of poliitcal buildings because of Earle. He first came here to Augusta in 1973 and spent almost every day working here even though he didn't live here the entire time. He has a long career in education and historic preservatioon and served under many govenors for historic preservation. (He has a longer resume, but I couldn't write it down fast enough.)

Here is a rough idea about what he spoke about during a slide show presentation:

"What are some of the cultural assets of the city? Most communities home to separate communities on both sies of the river: Lewiston Auburn, Waterville and winslow, Dover Foxcroft...even though dover foxcroft joined together. Augusta is on both sides of the river. in 1620's there was Cushnoc trading post. in 1754 The development of the Kennbec river was forthe American Revolution with it's battles here in Maine and in Quebec. Then it became a town and then a city. In the 1820's Augusta ran into some competion. We were the 23rd state to join the union under the Missouri compromise. the original capital building was in Portland which is now Merrill Auditoruim and city hall. Portland was destroyed three times during military campaigns. twice in the 17th centuary and once in the18th century. So it was decided that it's not the best place to have a capital for this reason. in 1827 he legislators were offred Weston's Hill south of the principal villiage. It waws litterally EMERGED from the wilderness with small farms. This was packaged with land that extended down to the Kennebec river. In 1829-1832 The Capital building rose on Weston's Hill with the Charles Woofinch design. In 1832 a sea captain built what is now the Blaine House. (Which is were the state governors live.) The Capital building was constructed from Hallowell Granite. The budget was $80,000 and the actual cost was $145,000. From 1832- 1890 i was the same artutecture that designed the Mssachusetts State house and the CApital buliding in Hartford CT. Maine's was a classical reveivial style different from Boston's brick design. Many battles went on with Portland annually to keep thestate capital here or to move it down there. This lasted until 1907 when the peoplepasted a state consitotial admendment that made Augusta the permant Capital. In 1890 a new building was made thatdoubledit's size and is still in use today. In 1889 Portland offered it's western Prominard and money to build the Capital down there. In 1909 $350,000 was set aside to expand capital to it's current size. the Bullfinch building was gutted. The new senate chamber on the left and the new repesentive chamvbe on the right. With a metal and coppe roof it was completed in 1910. the work was done for under the $350,000 appropriated. There were coer's cut. On the 4th floor there were wooden mock Boards painted to look like the Marble that was used on the other floors where the marble ends.

In the 1990's the basement lookedlikea tired old high school. The were orn pipes, electrical and tiles. In 1994 on the eve of the McKernan Administrationthe dome light was lite. This hasn't been lite since World War II and is now lite every evening. 1998-2001 ther was a very aggressive program. $35 million Dollar renovation. Each year, a major part of the building renovated to bring t he building back into the 21st Century.Today we have a building we can be proud of with an attached $25 Million dollar office building renovated with an underground connector and a beautifull sky light."


Other cultural assests atached to the State House Complex:
Capital Park Laid out very year Capital building was set up. During the American Civil War, Mustering and training of several regiments took place. these were the 3rd, 7th,8th 9th 11th, 14th, aand 15th. by 1863 they were chewed up by uses of training ground. A farmer was hired to re-seed and re-grass the Capital field. This park is a treasure. There is a sense of a treasure and dramatic view.

Clerk a real Treasure

Augusta City Clerk Barbara Wardwell saved the city of Augsta a few thousand dollars in the last city election. The city by state law had to have residents vote on the school budget. By printing the 260 Ballots herself and not going with a computerized ballot box she saved the city proabably around 2 or 3 and a half thousand dollars.

Burnt Coffee grounds

The grand view coffee shop in Vassaboro, right next door to Augusta has been hit with what some call local terrorism/arson. Due to the servers lack of traditional uniforms.(topless coffee shop.) A letter was writen in yesterdays newspaper's opinion page stating that local workers may consider helping the owner (with no fire insurance rebuild.) See below for copy of at least one letter to a local newspaper page by a hack writer:


It seems the unofficial Americanized version of the Taliban has committed a terrorist act by burning down the Grand View coffee shop.
It would be a miracle if the investigating law enforcement agencies interrupted their all-day coffee break and cracked this case.

(As you recall someone was murdered on Route 17 in Augusta and that case remains unsolved.)

Well, this does send a clear and distinct message to current and potential business owners in the Augusta area: Invest a lot in insurance, especially for fire.

I've never been to this coffee shop, even though an old friend was pictured in the controversial front page photo of this newspaper.

I'm guessing since a lot of skilled workers patronized this establishment that materials and labor will be donated to rebuild. This may occur not just for a return of expensive coffee, but to show the local terrorists that freedom is practiced in our democracy.

This is the homefront and we all need to consider contributing to resist all forms of terrorism right here in the Augusta area. (Even if you personally don't like drinking coffee.)

In conclusion, there's a good chance nothing will be accomplished due to fear and intimidation from the local radical voices of authority. However, if the workers band together to help the victims of this terrorist act, then no one will fear our local American Taliban.

Douglas Papa

Augusta

first shovel of dirt.

The first shovel of dirt and first building for the estimated $8 million dollar edward mill park has be completed. The first building is a pavillion for the farmers market and future bands. Other buildings include: St. Augustin's church historic intepretive, city of augusta historic interpretive, interactive spray flush fountains, informal performance center, Martha moore blaard historic interpretive, franco-american historic interpretive, wave seat walls, game tables, ornamental promenade for vendors and programs, seasonal tensile structure,manufacturing historic interpretive, grass river and geological childrens climbing elemetns, gelolgical and watershed historic interpretive, boat launch, (kennebec river has 5-6 knots sop this will make it extremmely difficult for some boats to paddle up stream to return to thier cars.) benches and telephone, slide, pinic area, childrens play station, flora and fauna of the kennebec historic interpretive, sled and toboggan snow runs, another childrens play station, fishing area's, accessible woodland multi-use trail, accessible river front trail, native american hisotric interpretive, access from neighborhood overlook, trails from neighborhood to park, vistor center with restrooms, outdoor dining area, amphitheater with 250 lawn seating and 250 stepped seating.

With the current economic downturn these plans may be scaled back.

Dust to Dust

Ashes to Ashes, Dust to dust... If the Colonial Theater on Water Street isn't fixed the building will be nixed. That's right within one year if the over a century aged building isn't bought and fixed up with a minimum price tag of $5 Million Dollars the City of Augusta will tear it down. From a mountain of Toxic pigeon Stool in the Basement to no roof, this enviormental hazzard on the Kennebec River needs to ship up or ship out.

Talking Trash

After a number of posts people have been coming forth with information. One is how the Maine State Film office has a $75,000 Annual budget for two people that do aboslutly nothing. Stephen King's upcoming movie: "Bag of Bones" was considering filming in Maine, but the film office dropped the ball. They just wqrote a few sappy letters to the editor and whatever. The stae of Maine has it's tax breaks for film makers in the STONE AGE still.

A rock on sandhill

it was confirmed last night that a few nights ago a rock was thrown thru the window of a York Street Apartment. On the second floor, a rock crashed threw a window, went thru the air and crashed through the glass of a doors storm window on the other side of the livingrooms apartment. If the rock hit the wall instead of the window it is very likely it would have hit the woman sitting on the chair next to the front door. The suspect whom may have thrown the rock is believed to wear either a red or blue boston red sox cap and a red or blue jacket. About in his 40's and living near the church near York Street.