Lewiston in Androscoggin County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
Canal System
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Les Canaux
Lewiston, Maine
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If you've ever seen a working factory, you know they require a lot of power. In Lewiston in the 1800s, the best source was the Androscoggin River. Canals extended that power beyond the riverbanks, making it possible to develop Lewiston as we know it today. In the late 1840s, the Lewiston Water Power Company hired workers, mostly Irish immigrants to dig 1.9 miles of canals in Lewiston. These canals funneled river water directly to the mills. It coursed through water wheels, powering machines. Flowing water supported the livelihood of thousands of people. On cold winter days, mill workers broke up the ice to keep the water moving. Workers also cleaned the canals, not a job for the squeamish! In 2018, the City of Lewiston acquired ownership of the canals.
Erected 2019
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets: Auburn-Lewiston, Maine series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 2018.
Location. 44° 5.614′ N, 70° 13.266′ W. Marker is in Lewiston, Maine, in Androscoggin County. It is at the intersection of Beech Street and Oxford Street, on the right when traveling east on Beech Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25 Beech St, Lewiston ME 04240, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lewiston, Maine (within shouting distance of this marker); Grand Trunk Depot / La Gare d'Arrivée du Grand Trunk (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cities of the Androscoggin (about 500 feet away); 10,000 Years of Wabanaki History / 10 000 Ans d'Histoire Wabanaki
Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 935 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
