Upstream - History Along the Stream

History Along the Stream

What happened in the 1770's that changed Cobbossee Watershed for the next 250 years?

Early settlers dammed Cobbossee Stream immediately above its conjunction with the Kennebec River, blocking river herring and other sea-run fish that had previously migrated upstream to spawn.

Did you know that Gardiner has an excellent resource at the Gardiner Public Library? Check out the Community Archives Room and take a walk through the colorful history of Gardiner and the surrounding towns in Kennebec Valley. Explore the history of the stream and the Kennebec in this bustling little river city.

Gardiner Public Library Click on special collections or historic newspapers to dig right in!

152 water Street, Gardiner, ME 04345 207-582-6890

email: archives@gpl.lib.me.us

How do Gardinerstown Plantation and Pond Town relate to each other?

Well fish, of course and a beautiful watershed, Cobbosseecontee!

The waters of many ponds and lakes in Winthrop churned through Gardiner on its way to the Kennebec. In the 1700's early Winthrop settlers wanted their rightful share of alewives and sturgeon which were blocked by the dams in Gardiner. Read all about it in the 1925 publication, History of Winthrop, Fight for a Fishway by Everett S. Stackpole.