A stone dam was built in the 1840s at Stroudwater on the western outskirts of Portland. It was built for a mill, but was low enough for alewives to go over in the spring.

In the late 19th century, the dam was raised to widen the stream to create more ice for the burgeoning ice industry.

For a short time, a small steamer, the We Too could take one or two passengers up the river.