It Has Been 25 Years Since Maine’s Kennebec River Changed Forever

When you are a child, time seems to crawl.  This is especially true when you are in the middle of an activity that is boring.

When you enter adulthood, time starts to fly.  This is the case whether you are in the middle of something boring or an incredibly enjoyable activity.

The years really do fly by.  Just ask long-time residents of Central Maine.

It is hard for many Mainers to believe that it has been a quarter-century since the Edwards Dam in Augusta was removed from the Kennebec River.

The mighty Kennebec River changed forever in July 1999

On July 1, 1999, construction crews began the demolition of the dam.  Following the initial breach, the Kennebec River flowed freely through Augusta for the first time in over 160 years.

One of the main reasons for the demolition of the dam was to allow fish to swim upstream.

As it was a truly historic occasion, a ceremony was held before the demolition of the dam began.  In front of about 1,000 onlookers, musicians played music, people sold souvenirs, and dignitaries (including then-Maine Governor Angus King) spoke.

The event was such a big deal that Don Carrigan did a Maine Public Broadcasting TV special from the demolition event.

According to the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the first dam over the Kennebec River was constructed in 1837.  Initially, it provided power to a machine shop, a sawmill, and a grist mill.  The dam was destroyed in 1870 and rebuilt in the configuration it had until the 1999 demolition.

For nearly the first century it was in existence, the dam provided direct power to the mills along the riverbanks.  In 1913, however, the dam was equipped with generators and began providing electrical power.

After the closure and fire at the Edwards Mill complex, the fate of the dam was left up in the air for about a decade.  Check out the timeline of the dam HERE.

These days, a beautiful park sits on the site of the old mill.  The dam has been gone for over two decades, but those who know where to look can still spot some remnants of the structure.