The plentiful waters within the boundaries of Windham greatly affected the settling of New Marblehead. Before roads were built, the rivers and lakes offered a method of transportation and a means of access to lands. This greatly determined how the town was settled.
Later many falls provided power which was very important to the development of industries in Windham. Still other falls provided drinking water for the town. In 1873, there were eighteen falls capable of powering mills along the twenty-five miles of the Presumpscot River. This River is the outlet of a chain of lakes, and furnishes one of the finest and most efficient specimens of water power in this country.
Great Falls was one of a series of falls on the Presumpscot River between Sebago Lake Basin and Portland Harbor. It provided hydraulic power for many mills. It is located where the river separates Windham from North Gorham.
