SOUTH THOMASTON, Maine — The Maine Department of Transportation plans to replace the aging Weskeag bridge, but before the first shovelful for construction takes place, digging of another sort has been under way.
Staffers with the Maine Historic Preservation Commission have been at the “Keag” for the past three weeks, conducting an archaeological investigation.
Leith Smith with the preservation commission was at the Keag on Thursday where he said a team of archaeologists have uncovered remnants of some historical structures.
The transportation department plans to replace the bridge that was built in the center of the village in 1930 to cross the Weskeag River. The new bridge will be slightly wider, and sidewalks will be constructed along the bridge and from the span to both the nearby town library and post office.
State and federal laws require an archaeological study be done before construction begins on any project where federal or state money is to be used.
The first step by the Historic Preservation Commission is to review old maps and photographs to get a historical understanding of the project area, Smith said. If that review finds that there were old important community structures or the site might contain other items of historical significance, then staffers equipped with shovels conduct a dig, he said.
As they were wrapping up after three weeks of digging at the Keag, Smith said that among the more interesting discoveries were remnants of a grist and saw mill that was located next to the bridge, possibly from as early as the 1770s. The mill, which was torn down about 1920, is listed in an 1857 map.
The first permanent white settlers came to South Thomaston in 1765, according to the town history in its comprehensive plan. The town incorporated in 1848.
The aim of the archaeologists is to determine whether any of the remnants found are worthy of having the site considered for the National Register of Historic Places, which is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation.
If experts determine that the findings are only interesting but not historically significant, nothing more would be done. If there are findings of something historically significant, then a third phase of the work would be undertaken. That would likely result in those areas being marked so that the bridge construction work could try to avoid disturbing those specific sites.
Smith said, however, that archaeologists work closely with project designers and that any findings would not prevent the bridge work from being completed.
He said when work ultimately begins on the new bridge, there will be heavy construction equipment there, and he hopes that the contractors can help the archaeologists dig where the mill was to find any part of its power system, such as the wheel that was spun by the river.
On the site next to the town library, where the sidewalk is planned, remnants of what is believed to be the former Hall House were located. Smith said Hall House is believed to have been a private residence that served, in part, as the post office for the town in the 1800s. The dig uncovered seven intact granite steps leading to what was the basement of the house. That building was torn down early in the 1900s.
Smith said the digging has attracted considerable attention from townspeople and summer visitors to the South Thomaston village. He said townspeople have been very supportive of their work.
Chuck Hartman of the South Thomaston Historical Society said he is excited by the work being done to document and preserve the history of the town. The historical society is located on the grounds next to where the Hall House stood.
Smith said any documentation uncovered by the preservation commission will be turned over to the town’s historical society.
The new bridge is expected to be constructed in 2017. The preliminary projected cost of the bridge work is slightly more than $1.5 million.
Department of Transportation project manager Mark Parlin said the department plans to use a new rapid construction technique, with pre-cast elements of the bridge to speed up the work and reduce the time that Route 73 at the bridge will be closed. He said the estimated closing time is about a month. Traffic will be rerouted during that period.