Togus, Maine facts for kids
Togus is a special place in Chelsea, Maine. It is run by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This means it helps people who have served in the United States military. Togus was once a fancy hotel. Later, it became a home for soldiers who fought in the American Civil War. It was the very first place the U.S. government created to help its veterans.
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Togus Springs Hotel: A Failed Dream
Long ago, Native American people knew about the springs here. They called the area "worromontogus," which means "place of the mineral spring." In 1858, a man named Horace Beals built a big hotel here. It was called the Togus Springs Hotel and had 134 rooms.
Beals hoped his hotel would be as popular as other famous resorts. He built a stable, a large pool, a bathing house, a race track, and a bowling alley. He spent a lot of money, but not enough visitors came. So, the hotel closed down because it couldn't make enough money.
A Home for Brave Soldiers
In 1866, the U.S. government bought the hotel for $50,000. On October 6, 1866, Togus opened as the Eastern Branch of the National Asylum For Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. It was a place for soldiers who had been hurt or needed help after the Civil War.
The first veteran to live there was James P. Nickerson. By the summer of 1867, about 200 veterans lived at Togus. New buildings like barracks, a hospital, and a chapel were being built. In 1868, three new brick dormitories and a fun amusement hall were added.
Life at Togus was a bit like being in the army. The men wore old blue army uniforms. They followed rules, and if they broke them, they might be sent to the guardhouse. Many soldiers gave their government pension money to Togus in exchange for their care.
Working and Learning at Togus
Soldiers who could work often earned money. They worked in shops or on the farms. The farms grew much of the food eaten at Togus. In 1871, three special Holstein dairy cows came from the Netherlands. They were the first of their kind in Maine!
In 1872, the name changed to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. More buildings were added, like a bakery, a butcher shop, and a blacksmith shop. There was also a brickyard, a shoe factory, a carpentry shop, and a fire station. Togus even had a library, a sawmill, a soap works, a store, and an opera house for shows.
President Ulysses S. Grant visited Togus on August 13, 1873. He came to see the men who had served with him in the Civil War. By 1878, 933 men lived at Togus. Most were Civil War veterans, but some had fought in earlier wars like the Mexican-American War.
Fun and Visitors at Togus
Getting to Togus became easier over time. A special narrow-gauge train started running to Gardiner in 1890. Later, an electric train connected Togus to Augusta in 1901.
The number of veterans at Togus reached its highest point in 1904, with almost 2800 men. Most lived in dormitories. Some even built small cottages on the grounds and cooked their own meals.
Togus became a popular spot for families from nearby towns. On weekends, many people came to watch baseball games. They also enjoyed concerts by military bands and shows at the opera house. Togus even had a zoo with animals like antelope, bears, buffalo, deer, and chimpanzees! Special events were held on holidays like Memorial Day and Independence Day.
Togus: A Modern Hospital
Over time, more buildings were built to turn Togus into a modern Veterans Administration hospital. In 2012, the hospital and the nearby Togus National Cemetery were recognized as important historical places. The Governor's House, the oldest building there, was named a National Historic Landmark in 1973. It is the oldest building in the country related to veterans.
See also
- Togus National Cemetery
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Kennebec County, Maine
