MARGARETTA MOTEL
|
Located on U.S. Route #1
|
Box 353
|
Machias, ME 04654
|
(207)255-6500
|
E-Mail margaretta@nemaine.com
|
|
 ·Open year round
|
·Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Cards Accepted
|
·Color cable TV
|
·Connecting rooms available
|
·Smoking and non-smoking rooms
|
·Direct dial phones
|
·Phone cards available in the office
|
·Ice available in the office
|
·Each room has its own heat thermostat and air conditioner
|
·In-room coffee
|
·Heated out-side pool
|
|
The History Behind The Margaretta Name
|
Our motel was named for the British Battleship MARGARETTA. For those of
you who are curious, the following is a little history about the MARGARETTA.
To provide housing for the growing British forces in Boston, Admiral Samuel
Graves arranged for the armed ship MARGARETTA to escort the colonial ships
UNITY and POLLY to Machias where they were to obtain two shiploads of
lumber from the forest and mill of Maine.
|
The UNITY, POLLY, and MARGARETTA anchored in Machias Harbor on
June 9, 1775. Earlier that month, the residents had been so elated by the news of
the colonial uprising at Lexington and Concord. In addition, when the folks of
Machias met at a town meeting, they declared that they would never contribute
lumber to the British. The town folks then erected one of the first liberty poles, of
the era, in the town square to emphasize their declaration. They were incensed by
the presence of a British symbol of power in their own harbor and were further
angered when the MARGARETTA's captain demanded the removal of their
liberty pole.
|
Following an unsuccessful attempt by the infuriated townspeople to capture the
MARGARETTA's officers at church, Captain O'Brien organized a crew and
seized the schooner UNITY. Displaying exceptional seamanship, he skillfully
maneuvered the smaller UNITY into a position that allowed her bowsprit to pierce
the mainsail of the warship MARGARETTA. On June 12, 1775, near Round
Island on Machias Bay the patriots crashed into the MARGARETTA and
engaged in hand to hand combat. The MARGARETTA surrendered. The
wounded captain, of the MARGARETTA, was carried to the Burnham Tavern for
medical assistance, but he died there.
|
The town of Machias forevermore carries the honor of launching the first naval
battle of the American Revolution.
|
|
|
|
