Kennebec-Chaudière Corridor: A Cultural Heritage Tour October 5-8, 2007
- Eglise de Saint-Georges
- Jackman
- Wyman Dam
- South Solon Meeting House
- Margaret Chase Smith Home and Library
- L.C. Bates Museum
- Waterville’s ‘Down the Plains’
- Old Fort Western
Join the Maine Humanities Council off the beaten path as we travel by chartered bus through deep woods and along river roads, from the Beauce Region of Québec to Bath, Maine, along the Chaudière and Kennebec Rivers. These rivers were used for centuries by Native Americans to travel between the St. Lawrence River and the Gulf of Maine. In the 17th century, the Kennebec was a border between the French and English, and then a contested thoroughfare. During the American Revolution, Benedict Arnold led American soldiers up the corridor in an unsuccessful attempt to take Québec. In the 19th century, Maine farmers seeking markets for their products established the “Old Canada Road” along the rivers and, later, thousands of French Canadians and Irish traveled south to find work in Maine’s woods, mills and shoe factories.
- Explore the history, landscape, and folklore of the communities of the corridor, from Saint-Georges and the forested wilderness of Jackman to the tidewaters of Merrymeeting Bay.
- Taste the traditional foods of the corridor: French Canadian, Logging Camp, Franco- American, and Lebanese.
- Experience local music, breathtaking landscapes, and traditional culture with local guides.
Logistics:
$375.00* (per person, double occupancy) includes:
- Round-trip travel on Cyr Bus coach
- Three nights lodging (Auberge Benedict Arnold in St. Georges, Lakeside Resort in Caratunk, and the Senator Inn in Augusta)
- Ten meals including box lunch on departure day
- Site admissions
- Video, audio and local hosts en route
- Complimentary copy of Kennebec Chaudière Audio Tour, Deep Woods and River Roads
- Reading list
*Single Room Supplement: $100.00 extra
Depart: Friday October 5, 11:00 a.m., Portland
12:15 pm, Augusta Civic Center, Park and Ride Lot
1:15 p.m. Skowhegan Town Office (information forthcoming)
2:30 p.m., Jackman Town Office, Main Street
Return: Monday October 8, afternoon
Group Leaders and Local Hosts:
- André Pied
- Bob Haynes
- Tom Desjardin
- Barry Dana
- Rhea Cote Robbins
- George Pratt
- Richard Searls
- Marilyn Gondek
This Columbus Day Weekend Tour is designed for active participants, with frequents walks (some on uneven ground) and lodging in charming, rustic lakeside cabins. The full schedule is here.
Don’t forget to sign-up for breakout options; the earlier you sign-up, the more likely you will get your choice.
Sign-Up:
There are two ways to sign-up:
1. Paper: Download the sign-up form as a Word document (128K) or as a PDF form (136K), which you can print and mail to us (address on form) with either a check or your credit card information.
2. Electronic: Signing up electronically is easy! There are two steps involved—submitting the registration form to us and then sending your payment through PayPal. First, fill out the electronic form and submit it (instructions are at the bottom of the form). Then, use our link to Paypal to pay using either your credit card or a PayPal account.
We will send you a confirmation, when we receive both your payment and completed registration form.
Thank you!
This tour has received support from the We The People program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Questions: call (207) 773-5051 or e-mail Annie Medeiros.