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In Madison, site of slaughter gets facelift

MADISON -- The town can't change the history that comes with the site of one of the largest slaughters of native Americans in Maine. But it can mend the landscape and teach people about the area's significance.

"The Pines," an area next to the Kennebec River on Father Rasle Road, is near where the Norridgewock Indians, a band of the Abenaki tribe, were massacred by the English in 1724. The conflict, pitting the French and Abenakis against the English, marked the end of the tribe in the area.

The spot beneath tall pines has become overgrown over the years, and people have dumped their trash there. Now, the national historic landmark is becoming a place for people gather and learn about its history.

The improvements are long overdue, said Joy Hikel, Madison's economic development director. "It's a place of national historic significance."...
Read entire article at Kennebec Morning Sentinel