High Water


Head of Skowhegan Island, from Elm Street, about 1870

Head of Skowhegan Island, from Elm Street, about 1870
Item 9067   info
Skowhegan History House

The effects of flooding can be seen as the underpinning is gone from the Stinchfield Mill and flood damage is very apparent in the back of the Bragg Shovel Handle Factory, two of the buildings in the center of the photo at Skowhegan Island.

The logs in the river are characteristic of 1870. Later, four-foot pulp wood was more common.

Flood in Mechanic Falls, ca. 1896

Flood in Mechanic Falls, ca. 1896
Item 6001   info
Maine Historical Society

In 1896, a major flood struck towns along the Androscoggin and other rivers. Here, the Little Androscoggin River waters approach the front doors of businesses along Main Street in Mechanic Falls.

The J.A. Bucknam Building is the shorter of the brick buildings to the right.

Flood of 1896, Lewiston

Flood of 1896, Lewiston
Item 7630   info
Lewiston Public Library

The flooded Androscoggin River washed out a bridge in Lewiston in 1896.

Riverton Park, Portland, 1900

Riverton Park, Portland, 1900
Item 15578   info
Maine Historical Society

A freshet at Riverton Park in Portland in March 1900. A freshet or spring flood is caused by a thaw or heavy rain and results in a sudden overflow of water.

Freshet, Riverton Park, Portland, 1900

Freshet, Riverton Park, Portland, 1900
Item 15580   info
Maine Historical Society

Flood waters from a March 1900 freshet at Riverton Park in Portland, on the Presumpscot River.

South Channel Dam bulkhead, Skowhegan, 1901

South Channel Dam bulkhead, Skowhegan, 1901
Item 8146   info
Skowhegan History House

Workers begin to clean up after the water had receded from about six feet over the bulkhead at the South Channel Dam in Skowhegan in 1901.

The mechanism at left is a part of the gates and hoisting machinery. The tangle of timbers toward the right and rear is the wreck of the Madison toll bridge.

The flood damaged the wooden toll bridge and destroyed the suspension bridge. Workers had to use dynamite to clear up the debris.

The mill at right, probably built by M. J. Allen, later became the Marston Worsted Mills, then Adams & Burns. The building burned.

Flood, Stockholm, ca. 1916

Flood, Stockholm, ca. 1916
Item 10341   info
Stockholm Historical Society

In 1916, the Madawaska River flooded in Stockholm. The photo shows the original bridge before it was washed away. The photo is looking south with the Company Store in background.

Aroostook River flood, 1923

Aroostook River flood, 1923
Item 12448   info
Caribou Public Library

Aroostook River waters are extremely high in Caribou in 1923.

The Nathaniel Smith farm is visible in the distance.

High water, Skowhegan, 1923

High water, Skowhegan, 1923
Item 9060   info
Skowhegan History House

The Kennebec River is flooded in Skowhegan in 1923. The South Channel dam is at left, with the North dam in view under North Channel Bridge.

Curved Bridge, Cornish, 1936

Curved Bridge, Cornish, 1936
Item 6872   info
Cornish Historical Society

Major spring floods occurred throughout the east coast in 1936.

Here, the Curved Bridge over the Ossipee River is framed by high water. The photo is taken behind Bonney Memorial Library, looking south toward Cornish village in March 1936.

This bridge, built in 1930, is unique in that it is curved and was originally known as the only curved bridge in Maine.

Lewiston Falls, flood of 1936

Lewiston Falls, flood of 1936
Item 6687   info
Androscoggin Historical Society

The flood of 1936 created these high waters on the Androscoggin River, submerging nearby homes and the bakery (pictured at left).

Lewiston and Auburn, on either side of the river, both were flooded.

Flooding of the Worumbo Mill, Lisbon Falls, 1936

Flooding of the Worumbo Mill, Lisbon Falls, 1936
Item 16374   info
Lisbon Historical Society

Record flood levels on the Androscoggin River in 1936 affected many communities. Because most mills were built immediately next to rivers to take advantage of water power and water for cooling machinery, the industries were vulnerable to spring floods.

The flooded Androscoggin destroyed the iron bridge between Durham and Lisbon Falls and severely damaged the Worumbo textile mill in Lisbon Falls.

In the photograph, racing flood waters are submerging several cloth smoothing machines.

Worumbo Mill flood, Lisbon Falls, 1936

Worumbo Mill flood, Lisbon Falls, 1936
Item 16372   info
Lisbon Historical Society

The 1936 flood was the second largest recorded in the history of Lisbon, the largest being the flood of 1814 when the surging Androscoggin destroyed 21 sawmills.

This photo depicts a small building on the Worumbo campus in Lisbon Falls being submerged by the floodwaters. The building was used by mill security watchmen.

Flood in Brunswick, ca. 1900

Flood in Brunswick, ca. 1900
Item 10780   info
Maine Historical Society

The flooded Androscoggin River in Brunswick, with a bridge washed out, was captured by photographer G. B. Webber.

The picture appears to be the 1936 flood.

Gerry's Mill goes downstream, Lovell, 1953

Gerry's Mill goes downstream, Lovell, 1953
Item 6712   info
Lovell Historical Society

The flood of March 27, 1953 took E.C. Gerry's sawmill in Lovell downriver. The mill was rebuilt across the Kezar River on higher ground, and is currently owned and operated by Mark and Edward Woodbrey.

Flood, Lovell, 1953

Flood, Lovell, 1953
Item 6050   info
Lovell Historical Society

A spring flood in 1953 washed out the bridge over Kezar River in Lovell Village

People gather along the river's edge to see the damage caused by the flood, which washed a sawmill downriver.

Androscoggin River flood, Rumford, 1981

Androscoggin River flood, Rumford, 1981
Item 11025   info
Maine Historical Society

A car and barn along Route 2 in Rumford are surrounded by ice and Androscoggin River water in this February 1981 photo.

Two inches of rain and ice flows that broke up caused an ice jam one and a half miles long. Large sections of Rumford were evacuated.

Flash flood, Caribou, 1981

Flash flood, Caribou, 1981
Item 11087   info
Maine Historical Society

Not all floods occur in the spring. Here, a truck drives through a street in Caribou that flooded following heavy rains, August 17, 1981.

Because of the flooded Aroostook River, highways were closed and bridges out.

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