By Carol McCracken (Post # 529)

The public is invited to attend a brief ceremony to unveil two kiosks depicting the history of the Cumberland & Oxford Canal at the Fore River Sanctuary. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 28 at 5:30 pm. Please meet at Frost Street Trail head at the parking lot on the corner of Frost and Congress Streets for the event that is hosted by Portland Trails.

The remnants of the Canal can still be identified at the Fore River Sanctuary. It was the primary form of transportation used in the early 19th century to ship goods from merchant ships in Casco Bay through Sebago Lake to the Bridgton Area. Horses pulling the canal boats would walk along “tow paths” adjacent to the canal, while a series of locks and gates were used to raise and lower water levels in the canal.

Steve Aylward and Joel Eastman, Portland Trails volunteers, worked together to put these informative kiosks together and will lead a guided walk of the canal after the unveiling of the koisks.

For more information, please call Rachael at (207) 775.2411 or visit www.trails.org