Waterville’s Only Military Campaign: the Arnold Expedition of 1775

In his lecture, Stephen Clark will deal with much more than the expedition's brief passing through what is now Waterville. He will tie the present to the past. For instance, where was the historic portage trail that was utilized by the 1100 soldiers as they passed around Ticonic Falls?

He will describe the famous men who participated in the expedition, and the many hardships experience by these brave men. We will have actual artifacts recovered from their passing, 240 years ago.

Clark is a native of the Waterville area. His family came from Sidney, his grandfather operated a coal and oil company in Waterville, and his father owned a wholesale heating equipment business.

He graduated from Waterville High School, Class of '55, MCI, Class of '56. and has a BA from the University of Maine. He taught and coached at Waterville HS for 18 years, later was employed at Kennebec Valley Community College as a school-to-work coordinator.

He has been connected with the Appalachian Trail project for most of his life, and was its president and guide book editor for 16 years. He is an ardent conservationist, was one of the leaders of the Bigelow Mountain Preserve effort in 1978, and has been involved with various youth programs in the City.

He raised his family of four children at the Thomas Rice Home (built in 1797) in Winslow. He was raised as a youth in Oakland. He currently resides in Scarborough. He is the past president of the Arnold Expedition Historical Society and is its current secretary.

He is the author of several books, including The Guide to Baxter Park and Katahdin, and the historical guide to the 1775 Quebec Expedition, entitled, Following Their Footsteps. He has written many articled on hiking and canoeing within Maine. He was also the editor of the Guide to the Appalachian Trail in Maine for 16 years.