Maine Memory Network

335-341 Allen Avenue, Portland, 1924

Owner in 1924: Charles L Hayes Style: Vernacular Use: Dwelling & Store

Wired! How Electricity Came to Maine

As early as 1633, entrepreneurs along the Piscataqua River in southern Maine utilized the force of the river to power a sawmill, recognizing the potential of the area's natural power sources, but it was not until the 1890s that technology made widespread electricity a reality -- and even then, consumers had to be urged to use it.