Mill Island History
Mill Complex and Operations
The United Boxboard and Paper Company, a three story brick mill complex, was established in 1882 at the northern tip of Mill Island. About one hundred people were employed when the operation was running full time. The mill produced pulp for use at the company?s other paper mill at Benton Falls and the Hollingsworth and Whitney Company (later Scott Paper) in Winslow.
Today there are still remnants of foundations and large support pillars which can be seen along the trails at the northern section of the island. These structures give a realistic indication of the size of the industrial complex that existed from 1882. The facility plans below show in detail the processing area of the mill complex.
Transportation of the raw pulp was by a system of rail tracks from the mill, down the Island to connect with tracks to Benton Falls and Winslow. The raw material was hauled by an electric engine across a steel bridge adjacent to the Davis Street area and junction of the Skowhegan Rail Road Line, over the canal to the mill. The bridge was torn down and used as scrap metal during World War II.