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East Branch Dam Company Records, 1845-1919, undated

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 915

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains the corporate records of the East Branch Dam Company relating to the financial operations as well as some correspondence and administrative records. It also includes labor receipts for log driving on the East Branch that pre-date the construction of the dam.

Series I. Financial Records includes the financial records of the East Branch Dam Company comprising pay vouchers for employees as well as annual ledgers, pay records, supply invoices, and miscellaneous expense receipts.

Series II. Correspondence includes letters received by Eben S. Coe, as well as outgoing correspondence to various merchants, suppliers and foremen including, F.N. Allen, H.W. Averill, W.R. Goodwin, W.J. Reed, and Thomas McCard. This series also includes plot plans for lands near the dam.

Series III. Corporate Records consists of the corporate records for the East Branch Dam Company including meeting notes and inventory and repair records.

Dates

  • Creation: 1845-1919, undated

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Historical Sketch

The East Branch Dam Company was incorporated by the state of Maine in 1852. David Pingree and Eben S. Coe were heavily involved in the development and operation of the dam although they are not referenced in the Articles of Incorporation. The company was authorized to erect dams at the outlet of Webster Lake, Webster stream, and near the Grand Falls to increase the facility in driving logs and other lumber. It had the right to purchase Grand Lake Dam and to collect tolls on the lumber which passed over Grand Lake Dam. On March 18, 1903, the East Branch Improvement Company received its charter from the legislature of Maine. This charter authorized the taking over the franchises, real estate, and all rights and privileges held by the Telos Canal Company.

The East Branch Dam (Lock Dam) has been rebuilt at various times and is now under the operational control of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway for recreational and fisheries management purposes.

Extent

9.5 linear feet (9 boxes; 1 oversized folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains the corporate records of the East Branch Dam Company relating to the financial operations as well as some correspondence and administrative records. It also includes labor receipts for log driving on the East Branch that pre-date the construction of the dam.

Series List

SERIES I. Financial Records

SERIES II. Correspondence

SERIES III. Corporate Records

Physical Location

Phillips Library Stacks

Provenance

This material was donated by Pingree family heirs.

Bibliography and Related Material

"Acts and resolves passed by the thirty-first legislature of the state of Maine, A.D. 1852." Published by the Secretary of State, Agreeably to Resolves of June 28, 1820, February 26, 1840, and March 16, 1842.

"Allagash History." State Parks and Public Lands: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Laroche, Matthew. “The Dam That Pine Built” Bangor Daily News, February 2, 2012

Laroche, Matthew “‘The Dam in the Woods’ Plays Important Role” Bangor Daily News, October 30, 2013.

David Pingree (1795-1863) Papers, MSS 901

David Pingree (1841-1932) Papers, MSS 905

E.S. Coe (1814-1899) Papers, MSS 920

Processing Information

Collection processed by John Marden, April 2015.

Title
EAST BRANCH DAM COMPANY RECORDS, 1845-1919
Author
Processed by: John Marden; machine-readable finding aid created by: Jennifer Hornsby.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Sponsor
The processing of this collection was funded by a gift from the Pingree heirs.

Repository Details

Part of the Phillips Library Repository

Contact:
Peabody Essex Museum
306 Newburyport Turnpike
Rowley MA 01969 USA