John Martin (1823-1904) of 130 Center St., Bangor, designed and built this swing in his yard "for the comport" of his children.

Martin, an accountant, shopkeeper, architecture, gardening, and dance enthusiast, drew the illustration of the swing in a journal he began writing in 1864 to document his life and activities.

He wrote of that it was "the easiest swing I ever sit in," adding, "we have had gent & Ladies swing in it from New York
Indianna Massachusets & many other states & all the children in the neighbourhood have had from one to 20 swings in it."

The illustration on page 481 of the journal is surrounded by a detailed description of the swing and its construction.