Mount David (Maine) facts for kids
Mount David is a small, rocky hill in Lewiston, Maine. It is also known as Mount Davis, Davis Mountain, or David's Mountain. This hill is located on the campus of Bates College, right behind Rand Hall.
At 381 feet tall, Mount David is one of the highest spots in Lewiston. On a clear day, you can see amazing views from its top. These views include the White Mountains and even Mount Washington in New Hampshire.
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History of Mount David
Mount David was first called David's Mountain. It was named after a man named David Davis (1775-1851). David was the son of Amos Davis (1741-1815), who was one of the first settlers in Lewiston. Amos Davis was a Quaker and helped support education and churches in the area.
How Mount David Got Its Name
In 1803, David Davis bought the mountain and 100 acres of land around it for just $5. Both David Davis and his father, Amos, are buried in the Davis family cemetery. This cemetery is located near Frye Street in Lewiston.
When Bates College first opened in 1857, a pastor spoke to the new students. He told them that David Davis would have wanted them to "go up that mountain." He said they would see a view of their "united villages" from there. He also encouraged them to make their principles as strong as the mountain's granite base.
Connection to Bates College
Many of David Davis's family members later attended Bates College. In the 1860s, David's family, including Mrs. Archibald Wakefield and Mrs. John M. Frye, gave a piece of land on top of Mount David to Bates College. They wanted the college to build an observatory there. An observatory is a building used to look at stars and planets.
The City of Lewiston even set aside $5,000 to build a road to the observatory once it was ready. However, the observatory was never built on Mount David as planned. Instead, in 1929, the Stephens Observatory was built nearby. It was placed on top of the Carnegie Science building at Bates College.
Mount David's Legacy Today
The name Mount David is still used by different groups in the Lewiston area. For example, the Mount David Summit is an event at Bates College each year. Students present their academic projects and research there. The Mount David Society is a group for people who donate money to the college.
There is also a Mount David Housing group at Bates. In the past, there was a Mount David Shakespeare Club at the college. There was also a Mount David Lodge in Lewiston.
