Mast Point Dam today is a park owned by the city of Somersworth and open to all residents, but it was not always that way. The history of the dam itself is as old as Somersworth as we know it, thanks to the Great Falls Manufacturing Company.
In 1823, entrepreneur and quaker Isacc Wendell would be the first to recognize the potential of the Great Falls which are located in what are the heart of Somersworth today. As well as purchasing the land on either side of the falls, he also purchased the water rights to the Salmon Falls River which originated at Milton Three Ponds.
As the textile mills he built grew in size and capacity, they required more and more power. That power was obtained by controlling the flow of the Salmon Falls River. Being able to control that flow was becoming increasingly important and it would be in 1835 that the dam at Mast Point would come into existence.
The purpose of the dam was a simple one. Being on a naturally narrow part of the river and by adding a simple timber plank dam which as the name suggests was built of a series of timber planks that formed a sloping wall that stopped the water flowing down the river and created a reservoir behind it. The dam itself only had a drop of eight feet but it served an important role in the growth of the mills and Somersworth in general.
The area itself was known as a picnic area and for its outstanding beauty. It is reasonable to suppose that many a mill worker would have taken a picnic in the spot. Also featured was a boat ramp something it still boasts today, more on that later though.
In 1929, the Great Falls Manufacturing Company would sell the dam and the surrounding area to Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) in whose ownership it would remain until February of 1983 when it would be sold to General Electric. In 1985, the 16 acres that hold the dam and accompanying land would be sold to the city of Somersworth and it has since been used as a recreational park.
The dam itself was dismantled in 1996 when it was heavily damaged by a water surge caused by the remnant of a hurricane that blew through the area.
Today, Mast Point Dam features walking trails, a carry-on boat launch suitable for kayaks and a picnic area. It underwent some major upgrades in 2015 thanks to a grant and the help of Timberland employees. If you have not visited Mast Point Dam recently, it’s worth the trip and there are two ways to get there.
Personally I like to put my kayak in the boat launch that can be found on Salmon Falls River in Berwick and travel up river to the dam. It’s a pleasant paddle and takes about 1.5 hours to complete at an easy pace. When you reach the dam you can either take the boat out at the launch and put in the other side and continue your journey up river to Rochester or turn around and go back the way you came from. You can also access the park by car from the Salmon Falls road. This area is overlooked and is a great place to take a picnic and enjoy a piece of land that helped shape Somersworth.
I’d like to thank Kevin Barry for taking the time to talk to me about the history of Mast Point Dam.
Smoke and Cream celebrates three years
This past weekend saw Smoke and Cream celebrate its third anniversary at its Market Street location. If you’ve walked past the restaurant when owner Tristan is busy smoking a side of brisket, you understand why it’s hard to resist going in. If you’re like me and love barbeque, you are in for a treat at Smoke and Cream.
If you are wondering where the cream comes into the equation that would be the small batches of ice cream that are crafted in house and again worth your time to stop in and try. If you haven’t visited Tristan and his staff since COVID, now would be a great time and don’t forget they have an outside patio. For more information be sure to check out their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/smokeandcreamnh
That’s all I have for this week, but I hope that I saw you at Jules Bisson Park on Tuesday at National Night Out. I intended to write about Jules Bisson Park this week but needed to do a little more research before I put that story out. Next week I’ll tell you more about how National Night went as well as Jules Bisson Park and the history behind it. So until then stay safe, have fun and be kind to one another.