Native Americans at river portage

Over a period of many centuries, Native Americans established a system of trails and carrying places ("portages") throughout the Androscoggin watershed. On the subject of trails near the huge waterfalls at Rumford, Dr. William B. Lapham stated in his 1890 History of that town, “It was one of the numerous carrying places on the river, and beaten paths were found along the banks and around the falls by the first English visitors to this region.” A Jesuit priest accompanies his native allies in this view.