rDRAFT HISTORIC, CULTURAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL POLICIES

December 16, 2011

 

State Goal for Historic and Archeological Resources: Preserve the State’s Historic and Archeological Resources and to further identify these resources and ensure that their value is recognized and protected.

 

Local Goal for Historic, Cultural and Archeological Resources: Improve local awareness and understanding of these resources and their value. Identify, recognize and protect new resources that have merit.

 

Summary: The Town’s “showcase” historic resources include the Block House, originally Fort Jarvis (1839), a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Fort Kent Railroad Station (1910), also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most recently, the Dube House (1839), near the railroad station, has been acquired and protected by the Fort Kent Historical Society and is similar in construction to the Block House. Local knowledge of other valuable sites abounds and several of these may someday prove eligible for listing. Much work remains to be done and support for these efforts is needed. The “Market Street Historic District” is a concept spawned by comprehensive planning process and based on local knowledge of the collective historic value of several sites in proximity to the Railroad Station. There is much potential to expand our “showcase” of historic resources.

 

Fort Kent’s cultural origins, as a French-speaking region, extend well before the construction of the Block House or the Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842). The confluence of the Fish River with the St. John River, is part of the Madawaska Territory, known as ”La Grande Décharge” where settlement began around 1785. The Acadians and the Québéquois comprised the French population during the years before a Border existed in this region. In many ways we are still one today. The Town’s cultural distinction is still very apparent. The arrival of the Americans, Scots and Irish in the 1820’s did little to dilute the dominant French culture. The Maine Acadian Archives/Archives acadiennes, is located in the community and serves to study, document, preserve and educate about the Acadian and Franco-American heritage in the St. John Valley and elsewhere in the United States. Our cultural distinction will continue to prove its value as a tool to enhance the local economy.

 

The only identified historic archeological site in Fort Kent is the area around the Fort Kent Block House. This American military site has had substantial alteration in the form of earth fill that was added over a period of decades to depths of 20-30 feet. The area north of the site to Fish River Island and the St. John River appears to be in a more natural state. Little is known about other potential historic archeological sites that are believed to exist in the community. It has been suggested that a site of early Acadian occupation exists near the Daigle farmstead which is known to be the oldest farm in the region. A single site of known pre-historic archeological significance is located along the Fish River around the Bradbury siding area. Little information is available on the nature of this site. Extensive areas along both the St. John and Fish Rivers are considered sensitive for prehistoric archeology. A recent excavation in St. John Plantation is rumored to have unearthed pre-historic remains, but was not reported. It is possible that many archeological sites have already been excavated and that artifacts from this region exist in State and Federal collections. This should be verified before any survey of potential archeological sites is done. Effort should be directed to returning artifacts to this region.

 

POLICY

 

1. Improve awareness and understanding of the significance of Fort Kent’s historic, cultural and archeological resources. (HCA)

 

Strategies

a.      Request additional funding from National Park Service and Maine Department of Conservation for an extended operating season at the Block House.

b.      Establish a “Block House Day” that presents and interprets the sites importance and includes reenactment of events (W-A Treaty signing) and a native culture element (Order of the Arrow Ceremony).

c.      Research the 1839 period for military costume and plan an accurate reenactment of the W-A Treaty signing for the 175th anniversary in conjunction with Congress Mondial Acadiennes

d.      Expand the use of the Block House and other historic sites as staging areas for social/educational events that build support for local historic resources and further international collaboration as “Acadia of the Lands and Forests”.

e.      Work with the Chamber of Commerce and Historical Society to encourage entrepreneurs to develop historic/cultural tours of Fort Kent.

f.        Enhance the Municipal website (fortkent.org) to include a link to information and museums that exhibit the community’s historic, cultural and archeological resources.

g.      Improve and update the public signage and literature that directs people to the HCA resources of Fort Kent.

h.      Encourage the development of a local and native history course for SAD #27 and UMFK.

i.         Develop documentation, interpretation and displays that communicate the importance of Churches, farming and logging in local history.

 

POLICY

 

2. Improve the protection of known and potentially valuable HCA resources of the community.

 

Strategies

a.      Amend Shoreland and Town-wide Zoning Ordinances to include standards that help identify and protect HCA resources.

b.      Amend the building permit application and review process to include identification of potential impacts on HCA resources.

c.      Sponsor a forum at the Senior Citizen Center to extract local knowledge on the location of farmsteads, settlements, foundations and artifacts that depict local HCA resources.

d.      Incorporate the use of social media like Face book to help identify and locate HCA resources.

e.      Seek funding to develop and implement an historic preservation master plan that includes a comprehensive list of potential sites and a study of the Market Street Commercial Historic District.

f.        Make a formal written inquiry to U.S. Federal and State Agencies and Canadian Provincial Agencies regarding their knowledge, possession and location of artifact collections from Fort Kent.

g.      Elicit the support of the UMFK Senior College program to conduct outreach for strategy f.

h.      Start a dialog on the acquisition/relocation of the lumber yard to the North to enhance the Block House setting and facilitate access to Fish River Island.

 

POLICY

 

3. Have all eligible sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places and locally recognize and display these sites.

 

Strategies

a.      Encourage and support the local historical society’s effort to produce a comprehensive list and evaluation of potential sites.

b.      Establish a dialogue with owners on the potential historic value of their property.

c.      Request the participation of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission in the nomination of potential sites for listing.

 

POLICY

 

4. Recognize and support the identification, interpretation and display of HCA resources as a means to enhance the local economy and quality of life.

 

Strategies (Note: certain strategies above also speak to policy 4)

a.      Continue to support local, regional and international festivals and events that include culturally based activities and international cooperation in the “Madawaska Territory” and broad audiences.

b.      Encourage and support the development of new activities and events including February “Carnival” ending in Mardi Gras.

c.      Suggest a university short course in the cultural/historic basis of “Carnival” that culminates in a trip to the Quebec City Winter Carnival.

d.      The other strategies that support this policy include 1. a,b,c,d and 2. e.

 

PARTIAL LIST OF HCA RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION

 

1. Daigle Farm House

2. Savage House at Daigle Flats

3. Dan Paradis House

4. Robert Marquis House

5. Dr. Toussaint House (UMFK President’s)

6. Gil Caron House

7. Michigan Settlement Pelletier Grave Site

8. Emile LeBoeuf House

9. Randolf Pinkham House

10. Lizotte House (former Post Office)

11. Aroostook School

12. Blake Library Bell

13. St. Louis Church and Convent

14. Philippe Roy Block

15. George Emile (Sue) Roy House

16. Philip Bouchard House

17. A.D. Supply Building

18. Denis Soucy House

19. Alberie Pelletier Potato House/Lew Rioux Building

20. Martin House (ba gosse)

21. Don Lozier - Mill

22. Federation Building

23. Fish River Falls

24. Fish River Island

25. Daigle Island

26. River Islands and shores near confluences