Historian urges repairs to state treasures
12/4/09 | 6 comments

Historian urges repairs to state treasures


By Diana Bowley
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY DIANA BOWLEY
Brownville Elementary School pupils spent an afternoon recently learning about the history in their backyard. The students visited Katahdin Iron Works where they met with local historian William Sawtelle and Maine Forest Ranger Gary Cook, who discussed the region's importance. Sawtelle, (second from left) stopped to point out what the property looked like in the 1880s to students (from left) Adam Stetson, Harley Brooker, Faith Sickler and Justin Valvo. Buy Photo

TOWNSHIP 5 RANGE 9, Maine — “Rare” state historic monuments that draw tourists to eastern Piscataquis County are crumbling, and a local historian fears their condition will deteriorate further without major repair.

The condition of the blast furnace and charcoal kiln at Katahdin Iron Works “sickens” local historian and author William R. Sawtell, of Brownville, who said his calls to state officials have been ignored.

“It’s a rare treasure that we have in this area that’s a tourist site. It draws people to this area, and people going through Gulf Hagas visit it,” Sawtell said Thursday. “It should be repaired.”

Tom Desjardin, historian for Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Land, said this week the two structures have been repaired fairly regularly. Some of the problems are caused by vandalism and others by the weather.

“Like a lot of our structures, they weren’t designed to last as long as they have, and we’re trying to keep them together,” Desjardin said this week. “It’s an issue that’s a concern and something we obviously would like to do. It’s just a question of trying to figure out a way to get the money.”

Sawtell, author of “Katahdin Iron Works and Gulf Hagas Before and Beyond,” said there is a gaping hole about 6 feet in diameter in the back of the blast furnace and some bricks have been removed from the remaining kiln. Graffiti have been left behind on both structures. The kiln has been gated off by the state.

The two structures are the only remnants of a large settlement that was carved in the wilderness in 1843 near the rich iron ore deposits of Ore Mountain, according to Sawtell. At one time, the settlement had a large hotel, a brothel, a general store, a train station, several outbuildings and homes. The ore was removed until the late 1800s, when the demand for raw iron declined, making the operation unprofitable.

The kiln — the only one of 16 remaining — the blast furnace and the land that both are situated on were donated to the state by General Chemical Co. The state did extensive restoration on the two structures in 1966.

Despite that extensive work, Desjardin said, some “pretty major work” still is needed. A restoration engineer retained by the state a few years ago pegged at $300,000 the cost to address the water issues and cracking so that no further work would be needed for 20 to 30 years. That cost takes into consideration the long haul for supplies to get to the isolated site, he said.

Desjardin said his department had included $100,000 in its budget to do enough work to keep the structures stable, but the funds have been used for other priorities such as erosion at Popham Beach.

The $7.5 million approved by voters in the fall of 2007 for improvements to state parks and historic sites has been spent, but about $33 million to $35 million more is needed to make other necessary repairs in the short term, according to Desjardin.

An infusion of private capital to help with the improvements might be one answer, Sawtell said.

Desjardin said the state would welcome private capital to help make the repairs under state guidelines. Until then or until another bond is approved, patching and temporary work will continue at the site.

dianabdn@myfairpoint.net

876-4579

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Comments
6 comments on this item
On 12/4/09 at 5:40 AM, greyhawk1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

As a nation's monuments, documents, buildings, and memories go, so goes the nation. This historic site in Maine is like historic sites all over the country. New generations come along, and want to wipe away the past to make way for so-called progress. This is not to say that progress is not good. Some progress is good, but when progress takes precedence over lives, history and taking care of things left from the past, progress is not so good. What good is a nation that has no history, no memories of the past, and forget what made the country great? Things like this Iron Smelting furnace were built by human beings who were forging forward and creating things for people to use. Without our great heritage and ingenuity of our forefathers, where would we be today. Americans have become callous and oblivious to the past and th the sufferings and sacrifices of others who made our country great and paved the way for the future making life better, richer and easier for future generations, which is US, We The People In The Present. I hope that all who read this will look around their own hometowns and states and try and preserve some of the treasures of the past so that we can remember that we are a great nation and it became a great nation by the work, dedication and sacrifices of our ancestors who went before us.

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On 12/4/09 at 5:44 AM, greyhawk1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

As a nation's monuments, documents, buildings, and memories go, so goes the nation. This historic site in Maine is like historic sites all over the country. New generations come along, and want to wipe away the past to make way for so-called progress. This is not to say that progress is not good. Some progress is good, but when progress takes precedence over lives, history and taking care of things left from the past, progress is not so good. What good is a nation that has no history, no memories of the past, and forget what made the country great? Things like this Iron Smelting furnace were built by human beings who were forging forward and creating things for people to use. Without our great heritage and ingenuity of our forefathers, where would we be today. Americans have become callous and oblivious to the past and th the sufferings and sacrifices of others who made our country great and paved the way for the future making life better, richer and easier for future generations, which is US, We The People In The Present. I hope that all who read this will look around their own hometowns and states and try and preserve some of the treasures of the past so that we can remember that we are a great nation and it became a great nation by the work, dedication and sacrifices of our ancestors who went before us.

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On 12/4/09 at 11:57 AM, Sadmama wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Maybe they could fund it with some of the Special Education funding, you think?

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On 12/4/09 at 10:04 PM, pocomoonshine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

We need to save Katahdin Iron Works !

why couldnt we set up a fund for people who care, to donate

if we dont save them they are going DOWN! The state is not going to help K.I.

They simply dont care or do they????

Terrie Strout

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On 12/5/09 at 11:45 AM, safedman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If the city cares to save it then by all means. I personally do not want my tax money going to save every little piece of history someone thinks is needed. Sorry, just my opinion. Special groups should be set in place to do bake sales, fund raisers etc to save what ever they ewant. Why should tax payer moneys go to do it?

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On 12/22/09 at 12:43 PM, pocomoonshine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Katahdin Iron works is in no City! It is a State park in the woods outside the town district of Brownville in Piscatiquis Maine.

It is a STATE PARK so if the State dont want to fix it they should relinquish their claim on her! So, K.I. isnt just any little peice of history! Its a STATE PARK!

Tax Payers money? now isnt that in part suppose to go toward maintaining and fixing State owned parks so that all citizens can enjoy it?

or Maybe they would rather see them fall and someone get hurt when they come down? If I knowningly drive my vehicle in an unsafe condition

aint I responsable for what happens? Now the State owns and supposedly maintains their parks if they knowningly allow it to be in an unsafe condition I hope they cant get out of being responsable for the results! That being said I dont understand why people dont care about the past without the past we would not be here at all! Sad that so many have lost touch with the past most people dont even know the names of their great grandparents Just think one of them may have worked and lived at Katahdin Iron Works. I wonder what they would think? Terrie

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