Independence Dam Rebuilt in 1901

The early construction of Independence Dam was once a pile of rocks over which the water flowed. In February, 1901, Dr. H. W. Myers traveled to Columbus to meet with the State Board of Public Works where it was decided that the dam needed to be upgraded. Dr. Myers learned that $16,000 would be allocated for the project.  Bids were shortly advertised and work was to begin that summer.

(Defiance Weekly Express, February 21, 1901)

(DPLS Ohio Memory Project)

"INDEPENDENCE DAM IS BEING REBUILT

Movement of Boats Along Our Waterways is Noted to Date

On Monday, Dr. H. W. Myers, collector of the port of Defiance, took a representative of the Express down the Maumee River to note the rebuilding of the great dam at Independence, the trip being made behind the doctor's fine trotting mare.

Capt. Allman has charge of the work and is busy with a very large force of men. The water in the Maumee River is low. It is below the surface of the dam, so that anyone can walk across as safely as if on Clinton Street bridge in Defiance.  The workmen commence(d) rebuilding the dam by first tearing away the plank roof.

This discloses what is called 'cribs' or apartments about 8 feet by 11 feet filled with large rock and sand. The cribs are made of very large timbers and these timbers are lined with what is called sheeting in the form of heavy, thick planking. On opening the cribs, it was discovered that this sheeting had about all rotted away, and that water was freely escaping all the while at the bottom of the dam and passing out under the apron.  The old timbers were found to be solid and sound. All that is defective is the sheeting. All the cribs will be opened up and cleaned out and resheeted with a double thickness of sheeting. The cribs will then be filled with crushed limestone in such a manner as to make it impossible for water to get through.

The apron of the dam will be cut down and remodeled and the fish chute will be changed so that fish can get over coming upstream. A fish can go almost straight up for eight or ten feet; it is almost impossible for fish to get across the old fish chute.

The dam, when completed, will be fortified in such a manner that there will be little pressure on it, and the water at Defiance will be seven or eight inches higher all the while, by reason of the repairs now in progress.

The house occupied by water master, Stillman Rose, at the Independence Dam as been overhauled and repainted and looks like a new place

The boat, Legal Tender, cleared for Toledo this morning. She was loaded with wheat

The H.W. Myers brought down bolts for Marshall Monday.

The Columbine and J. W. Wright brought down wood for Andy Ashbacher Monday.

The Coney No 2 passed down Monday with timber for the dam."

(Defiance Daily Express, August 13, 1901, p 4)

 

 

Ice Skating on the Maumee - 1888

Oh, yes, those icy days
are coming soon enough, with cold winds and plummeting temperatures.
How many of us have 
ever thought about taking a
little skate down the 
Maumee River ice ...for a few miles?

In January, 1888, Tom Wight, Dave King,
Will Dolke, and Will Helpman
took some wagers and off 
they went.  Who was successful?  

The Defiance County Express reported the adventure on January 5, 1888:

"Several of the court house officials made a wager of fifteen dollars with Tom Wight Wednesday that he could not skate down the Maumee river to the Elliott road, a distance of three miles, and back in one hour and a half.
At the same time, Dave King made a wager of five dollars that he could beat Will Dolke to the dam on skates.  

All necessary arrangements were made for the contest, and at 3 o'clock, they went to the foot of Jefferson street and made the start.  Four persons went in buggies down the river road to see if they went to the designated places before turning to come back.  Will Helpman accompanied Wight on skates.

Wight won the wager, making the trip in 59 minutes.  King failed, not going further than Marshal & Greenler's factory.  He fell four times in that distance, and carried his skates home.  He worked to a disadvantage, having on a pair of newly ground skates, the edges being so sharp that he could not guide them on the rough ice.

Dolke made the distance and back in the same time as Wight and Helpman, stopping to rest, and once to adjust his skates.  The obstacles to overcome in the skate was the rough ice and a heavy wind to face on the return trip."

Who's game?