Historical Markers
The Eunice Farnsworth – Ruth Heald Cragin Chapter, NSDAR, has placed markers to bring recognition to historic sites throughout Somerset County, Maine.
First Settlers
Two markers have been placed two and one-half miles below Skowhegan Village, to commemorate the spot where the first settler of the town moored their boat on the shores of the Kennebec River, calling their new home East Canaan.
The first marker is located near the old cemetery on the west side of the Kennebec River off Route 201 on Cemetery Road, Skowhegan. This is the Old Bloomfield Cemetery where Eunice Farnsworth is buried. Her grave marker is pictured below. The inscription on the marker reads:
“In this graveyard lie the early settlers of Old Canaan.
The North West part of it was the site of the first Meeting House of the town built in 1788.
South of the Church lot was the Common and Training Field.
Placed by Eunice Farnsworth Chapter DAR”
The second marker is placed on the same side of the road, one-quarter mile below the cemetery, and reads:
“Near the river opposite
this spot, the first house
in Somerset County, a log
cabin 20 feet square was
built in 1771 by Peter
Haywood and Joseph Weston.
In this cabin, Isaac Smith and
Eli Weston, 16 and 11 years old,
passed the winter, and to it
the following April, Joseph
Weston brought his family.”
Marking Benedict Arnold's Trail
A marker was placed by the Eunice Farnsworth Chapter, NSDAR, of Skowhegan. This monument marks the notable spot where it is supposed that Arnold camped. The monument is located on Weston Avenue in Skowhegan. It is a large mixed granite boulder that was taken from the farm of Levi Weston, a descendant of Joseph Weston. Joseph Weston volunteered to aid Arnold’s forces of about 1,100 men up the river in batteaux on the expedition against Quebec. He aided in poling their boats from this place, which is about two miles below Skowhegan, to Skowhegan Island. The marker has been placed on the spot where Arnold encamped and is located on the southeast corner of the [former] Skowhegan High School Campus.
Dudley's Corner School House
Dudley’s Corner School House is located on Route 2, east of Skowhegan, near the intersection of Dudley Corner Road. It was an important spot during a considerable part of the history of the town; it was a church center of the region, holding for years the First Christian Church, and was also the place of many town meetings. In honor of its service to the town, it was designated for preservation as a historic spot, and a bronze tablet placed upon it by Eunice Farnsworth Chapter, NSDAR, in commemoration of its historic interest. The tablet was dedicated May 11, 1932. It is inscribed with:
“Dudley’s Corner School House
Municipal center for many years of
Milburn – Skowhegan
All annual town meetings but two 1829-1849
All state elections but three 1823-1848
And all presidential elections 1824-1848
Were held here
Placed by Eunice Farnsworth Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution
1932″
