Narragansett School The History of the Murals at Narragansett School

Transcription

1 Narragansett School The History of the Murals at Narragansett School These murals, running east to west, are intended to present brief pictorial history of selected places and events from Gorham's past. Care has been taken to be as accurate as possible although these are not intended to present a complete history of the area. Rather, the murals should stimulate interest and encourage further investigation in other sources of information such as McLellan's History of Gorham, available at the public library. Due to spatial considerations, the places and events are not grouped in precise geographic or chronological orientation. The following explanations of the murals describe each mural from left to right. We encourage you to share the history of the murals with your child. We have enclosed questions to help start those conversations.

2 Mural #1 Long before the appearance of white people in Gorham, many Indians lived in the area. Most of the Indians were nomadic and only stayed for a season of hunting, fishing or trapping. Indians who may have lived in the Gorham area include members of the Micmac, Penobscot, Ossipee, Pickwocket, and Androscoggin tribes. In the mural, from left to right, we see a Micmac teepee, usually made of hides, decorated with symbols. One of these symbols is the double crescent which symbolized peace and unity between different tribes. There are also a bow with arrows for hunting, a horn for moose calling and a bush in a birch bark box. The bush (of no specific type) was often dug up and put in such a box when a new brave was born. The child grew up around this bush and when he eventually left home; his parents would consult the health of the bush to discern the health of their son. This scene also shows a squaw grinding meal, probably corn, next to a decorated box of woven reeds. A log is being hollowed out by burning to later be used as a food container. On the river, three Indians in a decorated birch bark canoe are fishing with a three pronged spear. Note the decorations on the canoe: the double crescent, the trim which means "clouds moving over the moon", and the star symbolizing the North Star. On the opposite shore and Indian is sealing his canoe with pine pitch. There is also a smoking hut for smoking fish and meat to keep it from spoiling too rapidly. Some Indians are said to have kept dogs for protection and hunting. How many animals can you find in the mural? Name three items in nature that are in the mural? What symbols do you see on the teepee?

3 Mural #2 The first permanent white settlers came to Gorham in May Capt. John Phinney and his son Edmund came by canoe from Falmouth (now Portland) and cleared trees on Lot #1 of what was then called Narragansett #7 of Gorhamtown. After clearing a small area, they built a log hut. A large log was often placed across the doorway of early huts, apparently to keep out small animals. Having no way to remove the tree stumps, they planted their crops in amongst them. Their first crops consisted of corn, peas (which yielded 90 bushels the first year) and watermelon which they may have planted by mistake, thinking it was a pumpkin. The watermelon was later fed to their hogs which were said to have been very tasty. Capt. Phinney's wife joined him after the house was built and they soon had a daughter, Mary, the first white person born in Gorham. Though the exact date is not known, a fort was built before 1744 on Fort Hill, the highest point of land in the area. The new settlers needed a mill to grind their corn and grain and the Blenham Grist mill was built in 1743 near Horse Beef Falls. Can you find the dog? How many cornstalks do you see? What are the homes made of? What in your favorite part of this mural?

4 Mural #3 Early settlers in Gorham often worked and played various games with local Indians. In 1744, however, war broke out between the French and English and the Indians sided with the French. During the war, Indians were often paid for bringing captured English settlers to the French in Canada. The worst Indian attacks were made on the Bryants, Cloutmans, Reeds, and McLellans. During the time of the attacks, most families lived in the fort and returned to the fields only during the daytime. Some settlers were even attacked within sight of the fort. During the French and Indian war, the Blenham Grist Mill was burned by the Indians and had to be rebuilt. The first bridge at Horse Beef Palls was built in Trees that stood over 100 feet tall and measured more than 3 feet in diameter were marked with a broad "R" and belonged to the British government. The settlers were well paid for cutting these trees and hauling them to the King's Mast Agent in Stroudwater to be used for masts for the King's Navy. Hugh McLellan and his son William felled one of the biggest of these trees - so big that they were able to stand a yoke of oxen on the stump. All who saw the tree pronounced it a splendid "stick". It should have been worth about $750 but after hauling it all the way to Stroudwater, a large rotten spot was found on it and the McLellans only received $450 for their labor. The Town of Gorham was officially incorporated on October 30, What are the oxen in this mural used for? How many oxen can you find? What were the different buildings used for?

5 Mural #4 The town grew rapidly in the following years and many of Gorham's finest buildings were built. The First Parish Meeting House was constructed in 1798 on what is now School Street. It served as a town meeting hall and housed a Revere bell. It has undergone extensive renovations from time to time and served a number of uses over the years. Another very fine building was the Dr. Philip Lewis House build on Main Street in It was torn down in 1958 to make way for a gas station. The Hugh McLellan House, built in 1773, was the first brick house in Cumberland County and one of the grandest in the area. It later became a dormitory for the University. Gorham Academy was built in 1806 and first served as a boys' preparatory school. Later it became affiliated with the female seminary and still later became part of the Normal School (teacher training) which is now the University of Southern Maine. Can you find the artist s name in this mural and the year the murals were created? How many buildings do you see? What are these buildings used for? Are they different from the buildings in mural #3?

6 Mural #5 Trains brought prosperity to Gorham, linking it with the rest of New England. The first train depot, in the center of the mural, was built in 185o. It was later used as a blacksmith shop and then for lumber storage before being torn down in The second depot on the right, now serves as a restaurant. The scene pictured portrays February 5, 1851, when the first train ran from Gorham to Portland. The day was described as "a general holiday" with flags waving and a canon firing. The trip to Portland took 50 minutes and cost 30 cents. Behind the depot is the Libby residence and to the far left is Babb's Bridge at Horse Beef Falls, built in 1763 and burned in A replica was built and opened in How many light posts can you count in this mural? What is the train carrying? Name three things that the train will pass as it moves down the track.

7 Mural #6 The Gorham Fire Department got its first engine in It consisted of little more than a big tub on wheels. Also pictured is the horse-drawn tannery hose reel which was in use around 1900 The Baxter House was built before 1806 on the site of the present Baxter Library. It was purchased in 1907, moved to its present site and renovated by James P. Baxter, the six term mayor of Portland and father of Percival Baxter, the two-term governor who purchased and bequeathed Baxter State Park to the State of Maine. The electric trolley began operating in Gorham in July 1901 and ran every hour from Gorham to Portland. The trolleys ceased operating in 1931 when the automobile became popular. Fredrick Robie Hall was built in 1898 as a dormitory on the campus of what is now the University of Southern Maine. It was named for Governor Fredrick Robie, a two-term governor of Maine, who was born in Gorham in Can you find the first fire engine? What is the number on the trolley Name three different types of transportation that you see in the mural.