National Register of Historic Places

Ellsworth Power House and Dam

Ellsworth, Hancock County, Maine
Listed
June 19, 1985
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
85001262

About this property

The Ellsworth Power House and Dam is a hydroelectric power generation facility on the Union River in Ellsworth, Maine. The dam, located just north of downtown Ellsworth, is also known as the Union River Dam, and impounds the river to create Leonard Lake, named for project's engineer, James Leonard. The powerhouse is a Renaissance Revival building located at the western end of the dam. The power plant, built in 1907, was one of the first peaking power plants built in the state, and the hollow concrete dam is one of the highest hollow (or Ambursen-type) buttress dams ever built, having been described as "the highest power dam in New England" in 1928. The facility was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, where it is currently listed.

Location

Ellsworth, Hancock County, Maine
44.54428, -68.42998

Categories

INDUSTRYENGINEERING
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Ellsworth Power House and Dam

This page lists Ellsworth Power House and Dam. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Ellsworth Power House and Dam report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Ellsworth Congregational Church
Industrial
0 mi
Hancock County Jail
Industrial
0.2 mi
Jordon, Col, Meltiah, House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Ellsworth City Hall
Industrial
0.3 mi
Old Hancock County Buildings
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ellsworth Power House and Dam listed on the National Register?

Ellsworth Power House and Dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 19, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Ellsworth Power House and Dam?

Ellsworth Power House and Dam is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ellsworth Power House and Dam?

The period of significance for Ellsworth Power House and Dam is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Ellsworth Power House and Dam?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Ellsworth Power House and Dam will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Hancock County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Hancock County.

Explore HancockCounty ›

More historic places in Maine

Browse all historic places in Maine.

View Mainehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Maine history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Mainehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Ellsworth Power House and Dam will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report