The Dam
In May 1911 the dam was completed by Simon Gillingham. It was suppose to be the largest dam in the country. The dam was built in January 1911 to April 15, 1911. The Dam Converted energy for the mill using steam. Water went to a boiler room which converted the water to steam to make energy for the mill. Three gate sills form a sluice way (artificial channel for running water) measuring 32 ft. in length. One gate is 7 ft. wide and the others are 8 ft. wide. The 3 center gate posts have a 14 in. diameter. The posts standing upright at the length of 16 ft. The gates contain 12 pieces of 6x6 framing, each gate containing 6 pieces. Planks for both gates are 3 in. thick.The headings are compressed of 12 large sticks- 23 ft. in length, 12 in. in diameter. Took 4500 pieces for each spilling, each piece 20 ft. in length and 5 in. in diameter at the top of each piece. Total amount of timber used to build this dam is around 7000 pieces.
Measurements:
- 1600 feet in length
- raises 7ft. head of water over a pond that’s 3 miles long.
- The trench dug to hold the spilling (the part of the dam which water overflows) is 3 ft. deep and 1600 ft. in length.
- The foundation was consisted of 3 large pieces of timber, two were 40 ft. long and the other was 50 ft. long with the top measuring 8 in. in diameter.
- raises 7ft. head of water over a pond that’s 3 miles long.
- The trench dug to hold the spilling (the part of the dam which water overflows) is 3 ft. deep and 1600 ft. in length.
- The foundation was consisted of 3 large pieces of timber, two were 40 ft. long and the other was 50 ft. long with the top measuring 8 in. in diameter.