Maine DOT’s Blue Hill Falls doc now streaming

The film is publicly available on YouTube

The DOT produced the film as part of the mitigation process for the demolition of the historic Stevens Bridge. The construction of a new bridge has been completed. Photo courtesy of the Maine Department of Transportation.

July 28, 2026

By Steele Hays

BLUE HILL—A 30-minute documentary film about the now-demolished Stevens Bridge over Blue Hill Falls, its modern replacement and the history of the area around the falls is now available for online viewing, the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) announced July 24.

The film is available on the DOT’s YouTube channel: Connecting Blue Hill Through History: The Stevens Bridge.

The DOT produced the film as part of the mitigation process for the demolition of the historic and photogenic Stevens Bridge. The bridge spanned the falls from 1926 until late 2022 before being replaced by the current bridge structure completed in November 2023. That video is part of an agreement reached by the DOT and state and federal agencies to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires agencies to evaluate and take actions to mitigate adverse impacts on historic places.

The film documents the demolition of the old bridge and features close-up images of its underside—with rusting steel, cracked concrete and other evidence of deterioration clearly visible—illustrating why engineers concluded that it needed to be replaced. 

The decision to replace the bridge rather than repair it came after several years of community debate and discussion. The Stevens bridge is described in the film as “a beloved local landmark” and “a touchstone for the town.” With its graceful arch, it was a favorite subject for artists and photographers. 

Several local residents are interviewed in the film, including Select Board member Ellen Best, former Blue Hill Fire Chief Dennis ‘Denny’ Robertson, and amateur historian Butler Smythe, whose family formerly owned one of the oldest residences near the falls. Also interviewed in the film and in attendance at the screening was Chris Sockalexis, tribal historian with the Penobscot Nation. 

“We want to offer this film as an educational resource,” Julie Senk, DOT’s historic preservation coordinator, said at a preliminary film screening in May. “Using film like this is a relatively new process for us.” 

The DOT solicited feedback following the preliminary screening and has made a few edits to the final film in response to comments. A downloadable version of the film will be posted “as soon as possible,” the DOT said.