Old Point, Madison, ME., and Father Ralse.

Sprague's Journal of Maine History
Vol. VII
Nov. Dec. 1919, Jan. 1920
No.3
page 153


Old Point
Madison, ME., Nov. 25, 1919

To the Editor of Sprague's Journal of Maine History:

My attention has been called to the fact that you have been, and 
still are a student of the history of Old Point and Father Ralse.
There is one point which as always been misunderstood, Old Point is not, 
and never has been in the town of Norridgewock.  It is in Madison.  It is 
situated upon what was originally known as the "mile and a half strip."
This was a strip of land one and one-half miles in width, as the name implies, 
extending from the Kennebec river, I think across the entire territory formerly 
known locally as "Arcadia."  I am not positive as to its eastern boundary.
It seems to have been a sort of "left over," at the time of the original survey.  
If I remember correctly it was the northern boundary of that portion of Maine 
known as the "Kennebec Purchase."

It has been a long time since I looked up the facts of this, but I am positive 
regarding the first statement I have made.  I suppose the mistake has arisen from 
the fact that the falls at Madison were formerly know as Norridgewock Falls, and 
the Indians at Old Point were commonly called the Norridgewock Indians.

I think it would be well to have this corrected, and the Journal you publish 
seems to be the best organ through which to do it.  It is without question, the 
most authentic publication of Maine history available.  Trusting you will give this 
matter your attention I am,

Sincerely yours,
LINA MOORE MCKENNEY.

All historians writing about this matter, have apparently assumed that, 
as the church and mission were at ancient Nanrantsouak, afterwards becoming 
changed to Norridgewock, they must have been within the limits of the present 
town of Norridgewock.  While this was the fact at one period, later a change 
in ownership of the territory known as Old Point, took place and, as our 
correspondent states, is now within the present town of Madison.

J.W. Hanson in his "History of the Old Towns of Norridgewock and 
Canaan," (Boston, 1859) p. 58, says:  The territory of Old Point has been 
suffered to pass from the old town of Norridgewock, and it is now in the town 
of Madison.  It is very singular that the proposition was allowed to prevail.  There 
ought to have been an universal outcry on the part of the people of Norridgewock against 
the movement.--Editor

(c) 1998
Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~meandrhs>  
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