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Next up on my things to do in Maine before the husband goes back to work bucket list was Old Fort Western. It’s one of those landmarks we drive by often but never take the time to explore.
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Old Fort Western in Augusta is the oldest surviving wooden fort in the United States. It started life as a trading post, then a manned station during the French and Indian war, and then a store supplying early settlers.
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In 1775 Benedict Arnold started his expedition to capture Quebec from this fort. Arnold’s party, which included future Vice President Aaron Burr, stayed at the fort before marching north.
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For a time it was a private home and now, a historic site.
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The day we visited there were a few reenactment soldiers in period dress on loan from Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts.
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You know my husband enjoyed this part.
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Though they wouldn’t let him fire it for safety reasons.
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I love history and totally geeked out during the guided tour.
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Strategically placed on the highest navigable point on the Kennebec River…
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It guarded the colonists well and was never attacked.
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Though I can’t imagine life here was easy.
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To be continued….
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River's world..... 
I love history, too, so this is great. Husband going back to work???
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He is. It’s been an utter 4 month nightmare of paperwork, endless forms, background checks and clearances. Talk about redundancy . He did 22 years in the Corps, 4 years with defense contractors and 21 years in the FAA. He’s held Top Secret for decades but we had to give both our dead parents information. Good luck trying to interview them all.
🤣
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Didn’t Ike retirement, I guess. I can’t believe, after all that service, that it would take any time at all. Good luck to him.
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He says needs to feel productive. Personally I think he just misses talking all day long…
😉
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I get it. That’s the only part i miss.
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I really gotta explore more of the East Coast’s history. We’ve done a tiny bit, but barely cracked the surface.
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We’re thick with it. Pilgrims, Revolutionary War, Civil War… you can’t go far without walking on a battlefield or a historic site. I live here and have barely touched the surface.
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Ohh history, now we’re talking!! I’d love to visit places like that.
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My husband tends to groan when I suggest them, but when he gets there he loves them. He reads everything and asks the guides a hundred questions….
😉
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I LOVE Old buildings. Had a BLAST in Door County
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I love old forts so much I moved to a town built around one…and lived in another town with an old fort for 21 years.
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Maine has a lot. Our craggy coast screamed for them…
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Understandable after the British invasion (the one that preceded The Beatles).
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What a cool place, I would have geeked out too. Bummer that they wouldn’t let him fire the weapon–Fun Suckers!
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Not for lack of trying….
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