there have been dams at Benton Falls since 1796. the present dam is now the first dam upstream on the Sebasticook .

Gallery • • watershed narratives

“Benton was originally part of the Kennebec Purchase.  It was first settled by Ebnezer Heald about 1763.  He met his obligation by building a cabin and clearing land to obtain a land grant from Gershom Flagg (1705-1771).  The Kennebec and Sebasticook Rivers provided access to this territory and, years later, the power for sawmills.“

TOWN OF  SEBASTICOOK-BENTON MAINE 1842-1942
 by Chester E. Basford, Elizabeth Reed, Hortense W. Piper, Oscar S. Piper
 
The present dam produces 4468kw of what is designated low impact hydropower. In 2006 it was outfitted with a fishlift.
“When Rev. Paul Coffin toured the area in July 1796 he reported in his journal:’July 30th, Clinton. Rode two miles to Capt. Jonathan Philbrick’s on Sebasticook, just above the falls, where they catch herring and shad. Thousands of barrels of herring have been taken this spring. They put four quarts of salt to a barrel of them, and when salted enough, they smoke them. They are then handy and quite palatable. Mr. Hudson had three thousand of them hanging over one’s head in his shop or smoke house. A pretty sight.’

 Source: Fisher, Carleton Edward. 1970. History of Clinton, Maine. Kennebec Journal Press. Augusta, Maine.

“Benton Falls became the hub of the community.  From 1808 to 1840, there were at least 3 sawmills, a tannery, carding and dye mill, grist mill and shingle mill.  About 1864, a brush and block-handle factory was run in the same building that wooden shoe soles were manufactured.  In 1872, a potato planter was invented and manufactured at the Falls.”
TOWN OF  SEBASTICOOK-BENTON MAINE 1842-1942
by Chester E. Basford, Elizabeth Reed, Hortense W. Piper, Oscar S. Piper