Old Fort Western Seeks Fort Descendants

Old Fort Western, the 1754 National Landmark fort, store and house historic site on the riverfront in downtown Augusta, would like to be in touch with the descendants of people who lived in the fort's main house between 1840 and 1920.

The project is a part of a larger effort to more thoroughly interpret the Fort's 19th- and early 20th-century history. " As important as the Fort's military and storekeeping past are to the City of Augusta, the Kennebec Valley, Maine and New England, we should remember that more than anything else during its 253 years, the main house was someone's home," said Jay Adams, Old Fort Western's director and curator. "To the extent we can learn who lived there after 1840, and hopefully be in touch with their descendants, the more we will understand about life at the Fort and in the region through very nearly our own times."

Using census and city directory resources, Fort staff and volunteers recently compiled a list of known Fort residents. Now they hope to be in touch with the descendants of those residents to learn more about the details of their lives and perhaps become aware of artifacts they may have owned.

A list of the known tenants can be viewed by visiting: www.oldfortwestern.org/TenementResidentRLS051507.pdf.

All persons with knowledge of any of the listed individuals are encouraged to contact the Fort at (207) 626-2385.