ORIENT, Maine — The town of Orient celebrated its second annual Col. John Allen Day Tuesday, July 17, at the Thoroughfare Bridge as part of the history of Grand Lake.
Local historian Richard Rhoda shared a brief remembrance of the Revolutionary War colonel who, in 1777, successfully lead some 400 Maliseet Indians from Meductic on the River St. John to North Lake and then down Grand Lake and other waterways to safety in Machias.
Their arrival and support three days before the Battle of Machias helped carry the day for the small village of patriots. Rhoda said the loss of Machias almost certainly would have lead to northern Maine becoming a part of Canada.
A committee is being formed of campers and townspeople to erect a large granite monument next to the bridge. It is to recognize the history of the lake including Col. Allen, the Maliseet Trail from the River St. John to the Penobscot, and of the settlers of the Orient end of the lake. Many camps have passed on to second generations and a few to third generations.
Attendance included campers and visitors from Georgia, Texas and Virginia. Special recognition was given to Emily Hall, who after attending last year and returning home to Georgia, wrote a class paper on Col. Allen.
