Near Naples in Cumberland County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Songo Lock

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

1. Songo Lock Marker

Inscription. This lock, originally built of stone masonry in 1830, was a vital link in the 50 mile long waterway from Portland Harbor to Harrison at the head of Long Lake until the advent of the railroad in 1869. At one time 100 “canal boats” were engaged in freighting lumber out and supplies in through the waterway. These boats were 65’ long and were towed by horses and oxen through the canal, sailed across the lakes, and poled up the Songo River. A total of 27 similar locks were constructed in the canal to compensate for the 260 foot difference in elevation between Sebago Lake and sea level. Traces of the old canal, abandoned since 1872, can still be seen at various places between Sebago Lake and Portland. This lock remains as a service to pleasure boats and a reminder of a bygone era.

1791 - Canal Considered
1821 – First Maine Legislature granted a charter to Cumberland and Oxford Canal Corp. to dig a canal from Waterford to Fore River. Survey made and cost estimated at $130,804
1823 – Second Legislature gave a grant of land and authorized a $50,000 lottery (which netted $37,000).
1825 – The Canal

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Bank of Portland was chartered with a capital of $300,000 with a provision that 25% of its stock be invested in the Canal Company.
1828 – Work started.
1830 – Work complete, total cost $206,000. Canal Bank took mortgage for balance.
1857 – Canal Co. sold for $40,000.
1872 – Last boat had passed through canal. From “Sebago Lake Land” H.G. Jones

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.

Location. 43° 55.928′ N, 70° 34.616′ W. Marker is near Naples, Maine, in Cumberland County. It is on Sebago Lake State Park Road 1.9 miles east of U.S. 302, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Naples ME 04055, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Western Maine Lakes and Mountains Region.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in New England,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic

Civil Engineering Landmark image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

2. Civil Engineering Landmark

A Maine Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, originally constructed in 1830. The last operational navigation lock in Maine, and the Cumberland and Oxford Canal System.

Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: In Appreciation of The Men of Naples (approx. 2.9 miles away); Sebago Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.1 miles away); Sebago Veterans Stones (approx. 6.1 miles away); Site of Potter Academy (approx. 6.6 miles away); Welcome To Douglas Mountain (approx. 7.3 miles away); Founder of Steep Falls (approx. 10.3 miles away); Steep Falls Park (approx. 10.3 miles away); Steep Falls World War II Veterans Memorial (approx. 10.3 miles away).

Regarding Songo Lock. Songo Lock connects Sebago Lake to Brandy Pond and Long Lake. This lock is the only one remaining from the locks built in the 1830s which linked Long Lake to the Atlantic Ocean near Portland via the Cumberland and Oxford Canal.

Also see . . .
1. Songo Lock in Naples, ca. 1890. Photograph of Songo Lock from the 1890s. (Submitted on September 13, 2012, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Songo Lock, Naples. 1912 photograph of the "Charles L. Goodridge"

Opening the Manual Flood Valve image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

3. Opening the Manual Flood Valve

steamboat in Songo Lock. (Submitted on September 13, 2012, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Lifting the Songo River Queen image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

4. Lifting the Songo River Queen

Songo River Queen Sternwheeler in the lock image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

5. Songo River Queen Sternwheeler in the lock

Pushing Open the Manual Gate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

6. Pushing Open the Manual Gate

Manual Gates Open; Ready to Continue Upstream image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

7. Manual Gates Open; Ready to Continue Upstream

Songo River Queen through the lock image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

8. Songo River Queen through the lock

Songo River Queen on its way to Long Lake image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

9. Songo River Queen on its way to Long Lake

Lock Open for Downstream Traffic image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

10. Lock Open for Downstream Traffic

Closing the Manual Gate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

11. Closing the Manual Gate

Summer Afternoon Rush Hour at the Lock image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

12. Summer Afternoon Rush Hour at the Lock

Songo Lock Swing Bridge: Open for Water Traffic image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

13. Songo Lock Swing Bridge: Open for Water Traffic

Songo Lock Swing Bridge: Manual Closing with Giant Turnkey image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

14. Songo Lock Swing Bridge: Manual Closing with Giant Turnkey

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

15. Songo Lock Swing Bridge: Manual Closing With Giant Turnkey

Songo Lock Swing Bridge: Open for State Park Road Traffic image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2007

16. Songo Lock Swing Bridge: Open for State Park Road Traffic

Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2012, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 2,283 times since then and 79 times this year. Last updated on September 13, 2012, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. submitted on August 30, 2012, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.