The Dammed Saco
Ghoststories not included...
The Cataract Dams - Biddeford and Saco, Me - 1682
While started in the the late 17th century hydropower really took off on the river with the construction of the Cataract Dam project, now run by Brookfield Renewables consisting of 4 Dams: Spring Island Dam, Bradbury Dam, West Channel Dam, and East Channel Dam. These work to control the flow of water around what we now call Factory Island, but in the past has been called Cutts, Pepperell, and Indian Island. This naming convection reflects the British pattern of settlement and can be viewed as an act of erasure. This island was reported to host the settlement of the Chuacoet Tribe at the time of contact, but repeated hostilities through the 17th and 18th centuries precipitated a move upriver to join other tribes in the watershed. “The lower 6 miles of the river are tidal up to Cataract Falls in Saco where a dam was constructed as early as 1682.” (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2013)
Cataract West - Biddeford, Me - pre-1938
This dam manages flow of the main branch of the Saco River splitting Biddeford and Saco, representing the main body of kinetic energy to mine. This is one of the dams that the community grew up around and in its present form was constructed in the first half of the 20th century.
Cataract East - Saco, Me - 1938
This dam manages flow through Saco, splitting the mainland and Factory Island. This is one of the newer dams and was constructed in the first half of the 20th century. Per Maine Memory Network’s “Description: The Saco Falls, shown here around 1900, have provided electricity for surrounding communities for generations. The Cataract Dam was built in this location in 1938 for the Cumberland Electric Company, now known as the Central Maine Power Company.” (Maine Memory Network LINK)
Bradbury Dam - Biddeford, Me - 1929
This dam is one of the earlier mapped facilities and in fact this was the historically more important dams to the area. It is likely the construction of this dam that enabled the industry of the mills in Biddeford during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Spring Island - Saco, Me
By the way, this 12-foot tall dam is made of concrete and gravity. Acting as a natural fishway, it is approximately 230 feet long. (Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 2023)
Skelton Dam - Dayton, Me - 1948
Skelton Dam and the Saco River Reservoir, its head pond, are representative of the typical electrification project of North America, in that they chose to flood and build on established sites of settlement, in the case of Skelton, building on Union Falls and flooding Indian Cellar and Salmon Falls. The site of former Union Falls Covered Bridge is still revealed at the foot of the 75’ earthen embankment construction and is remnants of one of the earliest inland European settlements in the area. Further up river a 40’ gorge was the former site of food storage for the Native American tribes. Before the construction of the dam a film, God’s Country and the Law, directed by James Curwood in June 1921. There exists video footage as they were shooting when they blew up the Union Falls Bridge over the Saco.
Bar Mills - Buxton, Me - 1956
Long utilized for hydropower, the current site hosts the EPA Superfund site of Rogers’ Fiber Mill. Slated for removal in 2025 per the Project Report, the removal, which will only focus on the Hollis half, will be probably be mired in red tape and bureaucratic procedural night-terrors and won’t likely be accomplished anytime soon. In the meantime this community formed on the banks of the millpond get to enjoy it for a few more years. Historically this community was a centerpoint for both Hollis and Buxton and now it is more quiet and residential, based on the tenor of the structures and layout.
Moderation Corner - Hollis, Me - 1907
Through the naming convention and the moniker of the community of Moderation Corner we can see the importance of the temperance movement in this community. This dam continues to be important in the power generation on the river. During the freshet of 1937? there was proof that the Buxton side made the right choice because the bridge (a unique hybridized ½ steel truss, and ½ covered bridge) they advocated for did indeed last longer, by about a half an hour, before finally succumbing to the deluge’s floodwaters. Both the steel truss bridge and the covered Bridge succumbed to the flood eventually, highlighting the futility of the strife that could not be bridged.
Bonny Eagle Lower - Hollis, Me - 1908
There are two dams at this location, one from the early 1920s and the other put in to regulate the flow to that facility. However, even though I was able to find many images on the web, videos too, it seems that there is mild fortification of these institutions due to the concern about the terroristic appeal of the site here. At this particular installation there was even more trouble finding purchase in my photographic investigation. I think with the posted signage both upriver and down river that there is a lot of mischief in the area, or maybe they are just trying tot keep the busybodies at bay. With all that in mind I think it is odd that this is the spot where I spotted the poached deer and beaver carcasses last year. Between the single lane road and the cameras posted around I am surprised that nobody noticed them dumping the poached deer carcass last year.
Bonny Eagle Upper Dam - Standish, Me - 1955
A secondary structure meant to regulate the flow to the "New Channel Dam" per Maine Memory Network.
Steep Falls - Limington, Me - Destroyed in 1935
The site contains the ruins of the former Androscoggin Pulp Mill, which ended up burning down in 1935. This act was about a year and a half after the mill closed business during the Great Depression. I chose to include this site of a former dam, connecting the towns just below the Veterans Memorial Bridge (with the old steel girder replaced by a modern concrete jobber), because I wanted to see the effect that a dam removal has on a town long, on a long term basis. While there is a general reinvestment in southern Maine, it sees to have escaped this community. Through there is sporadic improvement, the feeling throughout town is that of fine architectural details, dilapidated through poverty and neglect. Though it is approaching 90 years since the closing of the mills here, there still remains echos of the past, through the construction and location of grand buildings, the placement of roads and trail infrastructure, through the blogposts honoring the old bridge and the construction and replacement of the new construction, we can see that this was an important town, once upon a time.
Hiram Dam, Baldwin, Me - 1917
Judging from the reports and the illustrated postcards from before the installation of the power generation facilities here there was high aesthetic value. Because the Native American on the river were harassed and harried there is little that remains of any indigenous presence here but that is of little import, as the pattern of settlement typified settlements at features of this category and were likely a prominent feature in the lore and history of both the Pequawket and Ossipee bands of Almouchiquois. With the heavy ledge base, cut through these hills that flank it was a natural opportunity to store water for kinetic exploitation.
Swans Falls, Fryeburg, Me - 1923
Site of the Old Course Saco branching from the Saco, or is it? There is evidence in the form of newspapers that state the location of the “canal” being dug behind the Barton Farm, trying to link Bear Pond with Bog Pond and then back to the river around Weston's Bridge and Campground. This area was operated as an Application Mountain Club campground here before it transitioned to the Saco River Recreation Council and currently it is now under conservation stewardship. The Dam worked to power lumber operations as well as hydroelectric generation from the 1930s until toady, it is still in operation.
Saco Lake - Crawford's Notch, Nh - Bonus
The Site of the AMC lodge for the hikers and whatnot but what makes it significant to the project is that it represents a hydrologic bookend for the Saco River that ends as the flow over the East and West Channel dams in Saco and Biddeford meet the brackish weather in the Saco Estuary at the point of Head of Tide. Between the two dams no point of the river is unmanaged. This is simultaneously beneficial and problematic for human beings and their infrastructure, as well as certain ecologies.
The Cataract Dams - Biddeford and Saco, Me - 1682
While started in the the late 17th century hydropower really took off on the river with the construction of the Cataract Dam project, now run by Brookfield Renewables consisting of 4 Dams: Spring Island Dam, Bradbury Dam, West Channel Dam, and East Channel Dam. These work to control the flow of water around what we now call Factory Island, but in the past has been called Cutts, Pepperell, and Indian Island. This naming convection reflects the British pattern of settlement and can be viewed as an act of erasure. This island was reported to host the settlement of the Chuacoet Tribe at the time of contact, but repeated hostilities through the 17th and 18th centuries precipitated a move upriver to join other tribes in the watershed. “The lower 6 miles of the river are tidal up to Cataract Falls in Saco where a dam was constructed as early as 1682.” ( U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2013)
Cataract West - Biddeford, Me - pre-1938
This dam manages flow of the main branch of the Saco River splitting Biddeford and Saco, representing the main body of kinetic energy to mine. This is one of the dams that the community grew up around and in its present form was constructed in the first half of the 20th century.
Cataract East - Saco, Me - 1938
This dam manages flow through Saco, splitting the mainland and Factory Island. This is one of the newer dams and was constructed in the first half of the 20th century. Per Maine Memory Network’s “Description: The Saco Falls, shown here around 1900, have provided electricity for surrounding communities for generations. The Cataract Dam was built in this location in 1938 for the Cumberland Electric Company, now known as the Central Maine Power Company.” (Maine Memory Network LINK )
Bradbury Dam - Biddeford, Me - 1929
This dam is one of the earlier mapped facilities and in fact this was the historically more important dams to the area. It is likely the construction of this dam that enabled the industry of the mills in Biddeford during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Spring Island - Saco, Me
By the way, this 12-foot tall dam is made of concrete and gravity. Acting as a natural fishway, it is approximately 230 feet long. ( Low Impact Hydropower Institute , 2023)
Skelton Dam - Dayton, Me - 1948
Skelton Dam and the Saco River Reservoir, its head pond, are representative of the typical electrification project of North America, in that they chose to flood and build on established sites of settlement, in the case of Skelton, building on Union Falls and flooding Indian Cellar and Salmon Falls. The site of former Union Falls Covered Bridge is still revealed at the foot of the 75’ earthen embankment construction and is remnants of one of the earliest inland European settlements in the area. Further up river a 40’ gorge was the former site of food storage for the Native American tribes. Before the construction of the dam a film, God’s Country and the Law, directed by James Curwood in June 1921. There exists video footage as they were shooting when they blew up the Union Falls Bridge over the Saco.
Bar Mills - Buxton, Me - 1956
Long utilized for hydropower, the current site hosts the EPA Superfund site of Rogers’ Fiber Mill. Slated for removal in 2025 per the Project Report, the removal, which will only focus on the Hollis half, will be probably be mired in red tape and bureaucratic procedural night-terrors and won’t likely be accomplished anytime soon. In the meantime this community formed on the banks of the millpond get to enjoy it for a few more years. Historically this community was a centerpoint for both Hollis and Buxton and now it is more quiet and residential, based on the tenor of the structures and layout.
Moderation Corner - Hollis, Me - 1907
Through the naming convention and the moniker of the community of Moderation Corner we can see the importance of the temperance movement in this community. This dam continues to be important in the power generation on the river. During the freshet of 1937? there was proof that the Buxton side made the right choice because the bridge (a unique hybridized ½ steel truss, and ½ covered bridge) they advocated for did indeed last longer, by about a half an hour, before finally succumbing to the deluge’s floodwaters. Both the steel truss bridge and the covered Bridge succumbed to the flood eventually, highlighting the futility of the strife that could not be bridged.
Bonny Eagle Lower - Hollis, Me - 1908
There are two dams at this location, one from the early 1920s and the other put in to regulate the flow to that facility. However, even though I was able to find many images on the web, videos too, it seems that there is mild fortification of these institutions due to the concern about the terroristic appeal of the site here. At this particular installation there was even more trouble finding purchase in my photographic investigation. I think with the posted signage both upriver and down river that there is a lot of mischief in the area, or maybe they are just trying tot keep the busybodies at bay. With all that in mind I think it is odd that this is the spot where I spotted the poached deer and beaver carcasses last year. Between the single lane road and the cameras posted around I am surprised that nobody noticed them dumping the poached deer carcass last year.
“Description: The Cumberland County Power & Light station on the Saco River at Bonny Eagle in about 1921.
Portland Electric Co. set up the first hydro project at the falls in 1908.” (Maine Memory Network, LINK )
Bonny Eagle Upper Dam - Standish, Me - 1955
A secondary structure meant to regulate the flow to the "New Channel Dam" per Maine Memory Network.
Steep Falls - Limington, Me - Destroyed in 1935
The site contains the ruins of the former Androscoggin Pulp Mill, which ended up burning down in 1935. This act was about a year and a half after the mill closed business during the Great Depression. I chose to include this site of a former dam, connecting the towns just below the Veterans Memorial Bridge (with the old steel girder replaced by a modern concrete jobber), because I wanted to see the effect that a dam removal has on a town long, on a long term basis. While there is a general reinvestment in southern Maine, it sees to have escaped this community. Through there is sporadic improvement, the feeling throughout town is that of fine architectural details, dilapidated through poverty and neglect. Though it is approaching 90 years since the closing of the mills here, there still remains echos of the past, through the construction and location of grand buildings, the placement of roads and trail infrastructure, through the blogposts honoring the old bridge and the construction and replacement of the new construction, we can see that this was an important town, once upon a time.
“Description: This snowy aerial view of Steep Falls, taken by Guy Gannett’s Portland Flying Service, Photo Division, highlights the charred remnants of the Androscoggin Pulp and Paper Company, which burned in November of 1935. The paper company went out of business eighteen months prior to the disaster. Several large piles of lumber are also visible. The water and ice level of the Saco River is extremely high in this photograph, which suggests it may have been taken as part of the Portland Press Herald's coverage of the flood of 1936.” (Maine Memory Network, LINK )
Hiram Dam, Baldwin, Me - 1917
Judging from the reports and the illustrated postcards from before the installation of the power generation facilities here there was high aesthetic value. Because the Native American on the river were harassed and harried there is little that remains of any indigenous presence here but that is of little import, as the pattern of settlement typified settlements at features of this category and were likely a prominent feature in the lore and history of both the Pequawket and Ossipee bands of Almouchiquois. With the heavy ledge base, cut through these hills that flank it was a natural opportunity to store water for kinetic exploitation.
Again from Maine Memory Network, a “Description: Postcard of Hiram Falls, also known as Great Falls, in Baldwin in about 1914.
The river provided the waterway that supported the logging industry upon which Baldwin was founded. The power station and dam that are there today were built by the Cumberland Power and Light Company circa 1918.” (Maine Memory Network LINK )
Swans Falls, Fryeburg, Me - 1923
Site of the Old Course Saco branching from the Saco, or is it? There is evidence in the form of newspapers that state the location of the “canal” being dug behind the Barton Farm, trying to link Bear Pond with Bog Pond and then back to the river around Weston's Bridge and Campground. This area was operated as an Application Mountain Club campground here before it transitioned to the Saco River Recreation Council and currently it is now under conservation stewardship. The Dam worked to power lumber operations as well as hydroelectric generation from the 1930s until toady, it is still in operation.
Saco Lake - Crawford's Notch, Nh - Bonus
The Site of the AMC lodge for the hikers and whatnot but what makes it significant to the project is that it represents a hydrologic bookend for the Saco River that ends as the flow over the East and West Channel dams in Saco and Biddeford meet the brackish weather in the Saco Estuary at the point of Head of Tide. Between the two dams no point of the river is unmanaged. This is simultaneously beneficial and problematic for human beings and their infrastructure, as well as certain ecologies.