This image shows early construction on Congress Street in Rumford looking south. The street is unpaved, and the buildings on the left have scaffolding on them. The first building on the right was the town's first post office.

Congress Street was laid out by Oxford Paper Company owner Hugh J. Chisholm as part of his model for the building of Rumford. It was intended, and did, become the primary business district of the community, and was located on an island, created by the Androscoggin River on one side, and the man-made canal on the other.