Early History
Early European settlement of the watershed was northerly up the Cold River valley from Fryeburg, Maine through Evans Notch and then down Evans Brook to Gilead. Evans Notch and Evans Brook were named for Captain John Evans, who commanded European militia against the indigenous people of the Americas in 1781. The town of Gilead was incorporated in 1804. The Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad from Portland, Maine to Montreal followed the south bank of the Androscoggin River and reached Gilead in 1851. The railroad bridge was the first river crossing durable enough to withstand runoff events from winter storms. Peak runoff events were similarly destructive to attempts to construct water-powered mills adjacent to the river. Construction of the road now known as Maine Highway 113 commenced in 1866. In 1882 Major Gideon Hastings obtained title to large tracts of timberland and commenced operations of the Hastings Lumber Company.
Read more about this topic: Wild River (Androscoggin River)
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