In the second of a series of lectures sponsored Old Fort Western and the Maine Bicentennial Commission, Dr. Bruce Bourque with Frederick Koerber will present an overview of the Merrymeeting Bay Pioneers Project: Tracing the Lives of the Area’s First European Settlers. The lecture filmed by CTV-7, can be viewed for free on CTV-7 and from the City of Augusta website, Fort Western’s website and Fort Western’s Facebook page.
Bourque is emeritus curator of archaeology at the Maine State Museum, and emeritus senior lecturer in anthropology at Bates College in Lewiston. A Massachusetts native, he spent summers in Maine which sparked his interest in the state’s prehistory. His research focused on Maine prehistory, which led to many publications, most recently, “The Swordfish Hunters: The History and Ecology of an Ancient American Sea People.” More recently, his interests shifted to 17th-century European colonization in the Merrymeeting Bay area.
Koerber is a 38-year teaching veteran of history and archaeology in the Brunswick schools. He works as a lobsterman. An avid historian and environmental advocate, he has served on various public service committees including the Brunswick Recreation and Open Space Task Force and the Comprehensive Planning Committee. In addition, he has been a board member of the Pejepscot Historical Society, the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, and Maine Archaeological Society. When not on the ocean, he is often actively engaged with high school and college students in local historic research projects.
Come meet Bourque and Koerber in person for a meet and greet from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 10, at Fort Western at 16 Cony St., where they will entertain questions on the history and life ways of the European pioneers who settled in the Merrymeeting Bay area during the 17th and 18th centuries. During the hours of the meet and greet, the fort’s normal admission rate will be reduced to $6.
Old Fort Western is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to preserve, protect and interpret the National Historical Landmark, Fort, Store and House located on the Kennebec River in Augusta. For more information, call 207-626-2385, email oldfort@oldfortwestern.org, visit oldfortwestern.org or Facebook at Old Fort Western – Augusta, Maine.
Hours: July and August: Open daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and September to Oct. 11: Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. The last tour of the day starts at 3:30 p.m.
Admission rates (non-Augusta residents): $10 for adults, $6 for children 6-14, $8 for seniors and veterans, $25 for family of five, and $1 AAA discounts. Augusta residents, children younger than 6, and active military are free. For more information, go to oldfortwestern.org or call 207-626-2385.
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