Maine Memory Network

Contributed by Maine Historical Society

Description

This photo, taken from the Gambo Bridge looking north up the Presumpscot River, shows a wooden dam and control gate, and two of the mill buildings owned by the Oriental Powder Mills. The Mills produced 25 percent of the Union gunpowder during the Civil War.

Charcoal for the gunpowder was produced in the two buildings, which sit on a small island, and were part of a much larger complex. The logs in the river were not used by the powder mill; likely they were left from log drives destined for the S. D. Warren Paper Company in Westbrook.

Oriental Powder Mills got its wood for charcoal production from the surrounding forest.

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About This Item

• Title: Gambo Dam, Oriental Powder Mills, Gorham and Windham, ca. 1900
• Creator: Nathan Goold
• Creation Date: circa 1900
• Subject Date: circa 1900
• Locations:
  • Windham, Cumberland County, ME
  • Gorham, Cumberland County, ME
• Media: Photographic print
• Local Code: Coll. S-5582, Misc. Box 127/6a #58
• Collection: Nathan Goold photograph album
• Object Type: Image

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Cross Reference Searches

Standardized Subject Headings

• Ammunition
• Arms & armament
• Dams--Maine--Gorham
• Dams--Maine--Windham
• Gunpowder--Maine--Windham
• Military supplies
• Mills--Maine--Gorham
• Mills--Maine--Windham
• Oriental Powder Mills
• Powder mills--Maine--Gorham
• Powder mills--Maine--Windham
• Presumpscot River (Me.)
• Rivers--Maine
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Equipment and supplies

Other Keywords

• Civil War
• factories
• Gambo Power Mill
• gunpowder
• mills

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For more information about this item, contact:

Maine Historical Society
485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website

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