Historical Tour of the Presumpscot

Portland Press Herald Staff Art

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

E-mail this story to a friend

 

Staff writer Tom Bell and photographer John Ewing paddled and portaged their way down the Presumpscot River this August. Their story unfolds in these stories and photos: Day One: Sebago Lake to Westbrook The river's many dams bespeak its role in industrial history. Day Two: Westbrook to Casco Bay River's constituencies change just as it has. Historical Tour of the Presumpscot A map that shows some historical highlights of the river and where they occurred. Expired dam licenses seen as opportunity Why some groups advocate dam removal and what you can do to minimize river pollution. Click here to see photos from the trip. (14 images)

(1) While making raids on settlers, Chief Polin was killed in 1756. Legend has it that his body was carried upriver and buried in a sitting position beneath a large beech tree near the headwaters of the Presumpscot.

(2)Middle Jam Road, which runs along the river from Route 35 to North Gorham, was named after the logjams that frequently occurred here. Remnants of posts where log rafts were tied can still be seen in the water.

(3)The C&O Canal operated locks all along the Presumpscot between Sebago and Great Falls. There was Eel Weir Lock, Steep Falls Lock, Blake Lock, Middle Jam Lock, Harding Lock and Great Falls Lock.

(4)Originally built in 1740, Babbs Bridge was the oldest and shortest covered bridge in Maine. The bridge was destroyed by vandals in 1973. A replica was built in 1976 by a group of dedicated citizens. Along the Gorham side, hikers can walk along the old canal towpath.

(5)The Gambo Powder Mill, which was incorporated into the Oriental Powder Mills in 1859 and later became the Dupont Powder Mill, ran until 1905. This complex, the fourth largest powder mill in the country, ran day and night for the duration of the Civil War, producing much of the Union Armyıs gunpowder. Some of the massive stone foundation can be seen from the old canal towpath.

(6)In the colonial period, Royal Mast Landing was the place where great trees were carried to the sea to be shipped to England for shipbuilding.

(7)Ammoncongin, meaning ³high fish place,² at Cumberland Mills, was the traditional site of a 200-acre cornfield of the Abenaki. It was chosen as a location due to the abundance of fish that could be used for fertilizer.

(8)The Portland Railroad Co. developed Riverton Trolley Park here in 1895. It was popular amusement park with Victorian buildings, a casino and an outdoor theater seating 2000. Rental boats and steamers took passengers up and down the long flat water between Cumberland Mills and Presumpscot Falls.

(9)The river originally dropped 20 feet at Presumpscot Falls (now submerged). Until stopped by English colonists, many Native American tribes would congregate here each spring to catch migrating fish. After Francis Small purchased the land along the east side of the falls in 1623, there were many ³firsts² at this site: in 1646, the riverıs first mill; in 1731, the riverıs first dam; in 1735, the first paper and sawmill; in 1889, the first hydroelectric dam.

(10)With deep coves and access to lumber and sail cloth, the riverıs mouth provided an ideal setting for many shipyards and ports from the 1730s to 1850s. There were also brickyards, an arsenal, and the Presumpscot Iron Co.

To top of page