New Book Provides a Look at Abandoned Places along Maine's Kennebec River

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - March 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Included are Fort Popham and its overlooked companion, Fort Baldwin; the deserted village of Perkins, on Swan Island; and the stately stone buildings of the Federal arsenal at Augusta. Some of the inhabitants of these sites are profiled: Dennis Kelley, a career army sergeant who went to prison for killing a college student; William Wallace Hebbard, a quirky doctor whose family resided on a picturesque island; and Otho Michaelis, an army ordnance expert, whose family experienced a tragedy at Augusta, Maine. Designed to encourage visits to the sites by readers, driving directions and a walking guide are included for each "ghost town."


Contents of Forgotten on the Kennebec:

Introduction

Fort Popham and Fort Baldwin, Phippsburg, Maine
Historical Narrative, The Popham Colony, The Murder of Young Smith, Vikings in Phippsburg?, The Forts of Phippsburg

Perkins Township, Swan Island, Richmond, Maine
Historical Narrative, Native Americans, European Settlers, The Myth of Aaron Burr and Jacataqua, Shipbuilding and Ship Masters, Kennebec Ice, Ice Jams and Freshets, The Abandonment of Perkins, Hunting Preserve, The Industrious Dr. Underwood, The Curious Dr. Hebbard

Fort Western and Kennebec Arsenal, Augusta, Maine
Historical Narrative, Arnold’s March to Quebec, The Kennebec Arsenal, Commandants, Decommissioning

About the Author

David Fiske is a retired librarian who does genealogical and historical research. In recent years he has comprehensively researched the life of Solomon Northup, the subject of the 2013 film “12 Years A Slave.” He worked with Clifford Brown and Rachel Seligman on a full biography of Northup, Solomon Northup: The Complete Story of the Author of Twelve Years a Slave. Fiske also collaborated with New England author Eric Stanway on Madame Sherri - The Special Edition, which tells the tale of an eccentric show business personality who retired to a custom-made castle-like house in rural New Hampshire.

Details:
Paperback: 66 pages, includes full-color photographs taken by the author.
Publisher: David Fiske via CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN-10: 1496111052
ISBN-13: 978-1496111050
List Price: $18.29

Available from createspace.com or amazon.com.

Information on this title is available at:

http://hikeghosttowns.com