National Register of Historic Places

Frankfort Dam

Frankfort, Waldo County, Maine
Listed
February 12, 2003
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
03000018

About this property

The Frankfort Dam impounds Marsh Stream near the center of Frankfort, Maine, United States. Built in 1905 out of granite probably quarried at the nearby Mount Waldo Granite Works to provide power to local mills, it served for many years as a key element of the local economy. Its spillway has been adapted for use by a hydroelectric power station. The dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The Frankfort Dam is located on Marsh Stream, just downstream from United States Route 1A in the center of Frankfort, Maine. It is built out of dry-laid cut granite blocks, and is about 250 feet (76 m) long. The dam has a stepped height, with platforms at the ends 14 feet (4.3 m) in height, and a long central section 9 feet (2.7 m) high. It is about 5 feet (1.5 m) wide at the top, with a flat and nearly vertical upstream side, and a downstream side that is stepped, getting thicker toward the base. A sluiceway was originally located on the west side of the dam, which was fed by a control gate in the western platform. This feature has largely been altered to provide for a fish ladder and small hydroelectric power generation plant. The dam was built in 1905, and was at least the third on the location, which had been used since the late 18th century as a power source for grist and lumber mills. It was built by the Mount Waldo Granite Works, and is presumed to have been built out of their granite, although no documentation has been found to confirm this. The dam's water power was used by a variety of businesses until the 1970s. The fish ladder was built in 1982, and the power plant in 1985. The dam is now owned by the town of Frankfort. National Register of Historic Places listings in Waldo County, Maine

Location

Frankfort, Waldo County, Maine
44.60899, -68.87357

Categories

INDUSTRY
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.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Winterport Congregational Church
Early Republic
2.3 mi
Winterport Historic District
Listed
2.4 mi
Marsh School
Industrial
4 mi
Wilson Hall
Industrial
4.4 mi
Brown-Pilsbury Double House
Industrial
4.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Hampden ME
1814Early Republic
8.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Frankfort Dam listed on the National Register?

Frankfort Dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 12, 2003.

What type of historic resource is Frankfort Dam?

Frankfort Dam is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Frankfort Dam?

The period of significance for Frankfort Dam is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Frankfort Dam?

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