Cape Jellison
Encyclopedia
Cape Jellison is a 1600 acres (6.5 km²) peninsula that juts into Penobscot Bay
on the coast of Maine
. In colonial times it was known as Wasaumkeag Point. It is part of the town of Stockton Springs, between Searsport
and Bucksport, in the upper mid-coast region of the state. It was the site of the first port facility built by the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad
.
.
In 1760, Massachusetts governor Thomas Pownall
led the construction of a fort on Cape Jellison, which he named Fort Pownall after himself. It was intended to secure the area for European settlement by driving off the remaining Norridgewock
and Penobscot Indians. No battles ever took place at the fort. In 1775, British forces seized the cannons and powder. Later, a regiment of continental soldiers burnt the blockhouse and filled-in most of the ditches to prevent their use by the British.
On the eastern end of Cape Jellison, overlooking the mouth of the Penobscot River
, is the Fort Point Light Station
. This station was established in 1836 and automated in 1988.
Penobscot Bay
Penobscot Bay originates from the mouth of Maine's Penobscot River. There are many islands in this bay, and on them, some of the country's most well-known summer colonies. The bay served as portal for the one time "lumber capital of the world," namely; the city of Bangor...
on the coast of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. In colonial times it was known as Wasaumkeag Point. It is part of the town of Stockton Springs, between Searsport
Searsport, Maine
Searsport is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,641 at the 2000 census. Searsport includes the village of North Searsport. The town is known as "the home of the famous sea captains" and the "Antique Capital of Maine." -History:...
and Bucksport, in the upper mid-coast region of the state. It was the site of the first port facility built by the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad
Bangor and Aroostook Railroad
The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad is a defunct United States railroad company, that brought rail service to Aroostook County, Maine. Brightly painted BAR box cars attracted national attention in the 1950s. First-generation diesel locomotives operated on BAR until they were museum pieces...
.
Fort Point State Park
Maine's 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) Fort Point State Park is located on Fort Point, a smaller peninsula extending eastward from the cape, that includes both the colonial-era Fort Pownall and the Fort Point Light StationFort Point Light Station
The Fort Point Light is located in Maine's Fort Point State Park. The park is located on Fort Point, a small peninsula running eastward from Cape Jellison, at the entrance to the Penobscot River. The station was established in 1837 and was the first river light in Maine...
.
In 1760, Massachusetts governor Thomas Pownall
Thomas Pownall
Thomas Pownall was a British politician and colonial official. He was governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay from 1758 to 1760, and afterward served in the British Parliament. He traveled widely in the North American colonies prior to the American Revolutionary War, and opposed...
led the construction of a fort on Cape Jellison, which he named Fort Pownall after himself. It was intended to secure the area for European settlement by driving off the remaining Norridgewock
Norridgewock
The Norridgewock were a band of the Abenaki Native Americans/First Nations, an Eastern Algonquian tribe of the United States and Canada. The tribe occupied an area in Maine to the west and northwest of the Penawapskewi tribe, which was located on the western bank of the Penobscot River...
and Penobscot Indians. No battles ever took place at the fort. In 1775, British forces seized the cannons and powder. Later, a regiment of continental soldiers burnt the blockhouse and filled-in most of the ditches to prevent their use by the British.
On the eastern end of Cape Jellison, overlooking the mouth of the Penobscot River
Penobscot River
The Penobscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to , making it the second longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. Its drainage basin contains .It arises from four branches...
, is the Fort Point Light Station
Fort Point Light Station
The Fort Point Light is located in Maine's Fort Point State Park. The park is located on Fort Point, a small peninsula running eastward from Cape Jellison, at the entrance to the Penobscot River. The station was established in 1837 and was the first river light in Maine...
. This station was established in 1836 and automated in 1988.
