Thousands of years before the first white men discovered the area, the Kennebec was a throughfare for traveling bands of Indians, including the Abenaki tribe of Algonquins. Over the centuries, the Kennebec Valley served as a natural corridor from the St. Lawrence River to the coast for trappers, loggers, factories, and now tourists and river-runners in increasing numbers.
Early English and French explorers engaged in territorial struggles during much of the 1700s, so it wasn’t until 1772 (when the young colony was expanding) that several families from Concord, Massachusetts established a permanent settlement along the river. In 1775, General Benedict Arnold marched through the area with the intent of invading Quebec City, 184 miles to the north.
The first settlement in the area was called Canaan, and early 19th century settlers carved homes and farms from the wilderness. They used waterpower from the fast flowing Kennebec River and the abundant stands of timber to create a powerful logging industry, which became the predominant regional business for more than 150 years. Milburn and Bloomfield were established on opposite banks of the river. By 1861, inhabitants found it more efficient to work as one, and combined under the name Skowhegan, a tribute to early inhabitants of the area.
Long Logs on the Kennebec
For nearly 100 years, massive log drives covered the river shore to shore, shooting downstream during the spring’s highest water periods. Skowhegan once again became a place to watch as millions of board feet of timber rolled through town, kept in line by agile and colorful “river drivers” who jumped from log to log to break up jams and keep the mass moving downstream.
Mill
Other industries moved in as well, taking advantage of the great natural resources and bringing with it a growing workforce of French Canadians, Irish, and other newly arriving ethnic groups. Labor intensive saw mills, woolen mills, and wood related businesses, along with hydroelectric facilities, took their place along the flowing Kennebec. By the 1930s, the colorful and dangerous log drives were being replaced by the easier to manage four-foot pulpwood logs, which were floated downstream all summer long.
Skowhegan Island
However, the heavy logging use clogged the river and took a toll on the local ecology. Sunken logs, bark, and sawdust damaged the fish population. By the late 1960s, state and federal regulations virtually put an end to a century and a half of rough and tumble business. In recent years, the cleaned-up river has attracted a new type of industry. Tourists flock to the river in greater numbers each year to enjoy the majesty of the river country and experience the thrill of a wet and wild ride down the Kennebec.
Gone are the great days of logging and of the many mills that lined the river banks near the falls. Twenty-first century Skowhegan now embraces new industry, modern technology, and a forward-looking future. But residents have held on to the best of the past -- the old time values, an appreciation for nature’s splendors, and a great place to raise a family.