Plan of Lands of Saco Water Power Co. 1848

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

"Plan of Lands of Saco Water Power Co. 1848"

Entry/Object ID

1881.10.1

Description

PLAN OF LANDS OF SACO WATER POWER CO. AT SACO & BIDDEFORD, ME 1848" depicting the Saco River across the top and on the right side with Saco on the upper right and the rest of the plan devoted to Biddeford. Includes the various mills, canals, streets, boarding houses, churches, hotels, banks, etc.

Made/Created

Artist

Chapman, R. M.

Date made

1848

Dimensions

Height

26 in

Width

36 in

Dimension Notes

Dimensions above are of the framed piece. Sight dimensions are 19 7/8 x 30 1/8, height and width.

Material

Paper, Ink

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

This plan notes the locations of the existing York and Laconia Mills, as well as the Pepperell Mills, under construction at the time and designated as “Biddeford Mills.” The waterways from the river to the Biddeford Mill buildings are the underground canals that provided power to the mill complex. The plan also shows a variety of support buildings, including picker houses, machine shops, and boarding houses.