The Plan of the Village of Augusta, Maine, (the "Plan") from actual surveys by B.F. Pesham and published in 1838 is a scarce, first plan of the City of Augusta. The Plan is drawn at a large scale, 250 feet to the inch that permits the labeling of all buildings and occupied lands by the name of the land owner. The Plan is dynamic as it presents Augusta as it appears in1838 and presents major planned changes to the city layout, infrastructure and industry including new industrial neighborhoods. The Plan is also celebratory for it presents for the first time in a map the 34-acre Capitol grounds, donated to the State of Maine and the Charles Bulfinch design for the state capitol building. The building has some features of his design for the Massachusetts State House in Boston. Local granite was used as the primary building material. This hard stone also determined an aspect of the architecture. The building took two and a half years to complete from 1829 to January 1832. A very good discussion of the history of the Capitol appears on the site of the Maine State Legislature which includes a small photograph of Charles Codman's painting of the State House in 1836. The Plan of the Village of Augusta thus captures the spirit of the Capitol grounds only six years after its completion and eleven years after Augusta had been named Maine's capitol. For an excellent discussion of the 18th and 19th c. architecture of Augusta the Historic Preservation Commission has a program called The Museum in the Streets.1/
The Plan of the Village of Augusta includes several other inset drawings, cross sections and a large vignette as follows:
1. a Cross Section of the Kennebeck River Dam from C to D on the Plan at its own scale of 15 feet = 1 inch;
2. a Section from A to B on the Plan;
3. a separately lithographed vignette (4" x 13 1/2") that presents the North View of the new State House with its grand porticoes, rotunda and columned cupola; and
4. a North View of the Insane Hospital that appears bigger than the State House.
The graphic art in this large black and white lithographed map appears in two features. The crisp lithograph viewed in person has superior aesthetics to the digital photograph provided. The vignette promoting Augusta's two primary public buildings shows them side by side in architectural "portraits", although in fact the State House sits west of the Kennebeck and the Insane Hospital at some distance east of the Kennebeck. One cannot ignore the ironic pairing of these buildings in the vignette. The title block itself is one of the most decorative elements of The Plan of the Village of Augusta Maine. Large letters in the title block are infilled with foliage. Certain letters are shaded to appear three dimensional. Several decorative fonts are used within the title block to add aesthetic life and interest. Because the map is black and white, the lithographer used the toning of his lithographer's stone and these elements of graphic lettering to add visual interest to the print.
Other limited graphic devices are used to describe the landscape in Augusta and primarily describe man made changes. The relatively new State House appears in plan view on the large city plan, surrounded by formal oval and elliptical gardens and "State Land" where an allé of trees is planted. Tree tops are shown graphically. On Child Street, numbered lots (empty) comprise an area labeled "Spring Gardens". A large triangular block labeled "The Mall" is landscaped. Widow Gage owns a large estate on Grove Street, where her namesake Gage's Grove thrives along the banks of Gage's Brook that draws its water from the Kennebeck.
Main Street and many residences are on the north side of the Kennebeck almost parallel to the river's course. Here we see the Post Office, banks, the Franklin Hotel and other hotels and offices. There is at least one "brick school house." Some shops are on side streets to the north west. The Eagle Tavern is labeled as well as a curious feature called the "Lazy Pole".
Other civic features on this older, north side of the Kennebeck are the Old Burying Ground, well above flood waters that contains the note "Land Given by Judge North". Doctor Tappan's orchard is labeled in this neighborhood as well as Col. Reddington's Estate. Far to the north easterly edge of the city is the Town Farm.
The broad Kennebeck River itself is a subject of the Plan, as it bisects Augusta and is the largest natural feature on this map.2/ The current of the wide Kennebeck is shown graphically with wavy and concentric lines. A major new water feature is a product of the Kennebeck Dam and labeled "Pond", measured at 15 miles long. A proposed and planned industrial neighborhood showing rows of "Factory Sites"drawn abutting the "Pond" and Bond's Brook. Water power is translated into real estate value. The two land owners for large tracts of this now well located real estate are the private Kennebeck Lock & Canal Company and two family members, James Bridge and Horatio Bridge. A proposed canal is shown for this new industrial neighborhood, a sluiceway and prime if not exclusive access to water power.
The Insane Hospital is located on Hospital Street, south of the Kennebeck. Nearby is the Arsenal, and the site plan of the Arsenal a tall flag pole with an American flag shown blowing in the breeze. Structures are identified as Officer Quarters, Laboratories, Barracks, Gun House, Wheelright Shop, Magazine and other structures. There are large residences and many acres of open land.
Notes:
1. Museum in the Streets The Historic Commission has some discussion of Native Americans whose land was replaced by the settlers on this site.
2. The Water Power of Maine, with map of Maine, Walter Wells, Augusta 1869 is a good reference book and map showing Maine natural water power.