The Machias Historical Society has received a transformative gift of approximately 94 acres on East Kennebec Road, opening the door to an ambitious new preservation initiative known as Machias Liberty Village.

 

The land, donated by Gayle Kraus, will serve as the foundation for a living history site designed to celebrate the region’s colonial heritage while preserving a significant natural landmark on the property.

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Organizers say early plans include the construction of several historically inspired buildings, such as a blacksmith shop, ice house, smoke house and a blockhouse-style fort. These structures are intended to reflect the architecture and daily life of the late 18th century, offering visitors an immersive glimpse into early rural Maine.

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At the heart of the project lies Thaxter’s Spring, a natural water source with deep historical roots. In the late 18th century, Marshall Thaxter relied on the spring to supply water to his farm. The site also carries a notable Revolutionary-era connection through Thaxter’s extended family.

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Thaxter’s wife, Sarah, was the sister of John Pulling Jr., the Boston patriot credited with hanging lanterns in the steeple of Old North Church to signal the approach of British troops — a signal that set in motion the famous midnight ride of Paul Revere in 1775.

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Society members are especially eager to protect and highlight the spring as a centerpiece of Liberty Village. Plans call for a carefully constructed spring house featuring a masonry foundation and 18th-century-style timber framing. A new well tile will also be installed to help safeguard and maintain the water source.

Organizers emphasize that preserving Thaxter’s Spring is about more than honoring the past. They envision the spring water remaining accessible for generations to come, serving as both a historical symbol and a tangible link to the community’s earliest settlers.

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Machias Historical Society will also be rebuilding Fort Foster; a blockhouse fort built in 1776 to defend Machias from invasion. Fort Foster was named in honor of Colonel Benjamin Foster, an active patriot from the local area.   The British burned it in 1777, so it’s exactly 250 years ago this year that it was originally built, and we’re going to rebuild it now during the 250th anniversary of the United States.