The Springdale Dam | Digital Pitt

ca. 1910-1918

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Order Reproduction
Title
The Springdale Dam
Contributor
Oakmont Carnegie Library (depositor)
Date
ca. 1910-1918
Identifier
20100616-ocl-1047
Source Identifier
None
Description
Springdale, located east along the Allegheny River from Oakmont, is where this dam is located. The dam was originally constructed out of wood in 1901. In 1907, a build up of water during a flood caused the dam to weaken. Concerned residents attempted to strengthen it, but that only helped so much. They decided to blow up a part of the dam, so that the rest could be saved by the lessening of pressure that would result. Joseph Frank Conley of Springdale and two other men risked their lives to place twenty pounds of dynamite at the chosen site. They just barely made it to safety before the explosion. Debris, some of which was quite large, flew several blocks from the site. The operation was a success, saving the surrounding and downriver communities from serious flooding. Afterwards, the dam was repaired at the cost of $200,000 dollars; Conley worked as a part of the construction crew that repaired the dam. In 1934, Conley and other construction workers came back to the dam to dismantle it for the last time. The dam was being replaced by a new one near Acmetonia and Harmar. Originally from the collection of Mrs. Chester P. Gallagher, Rosslyn Farms, Carnegie, PA.
Type
still image
Genre
photographs
Subject
Springdale (Allegheny County, Pa.)
Allegheny River (Pa. and N.Y.)
Springdale Dam (Springdale, Pa.)
Dams--Pennsylvania--Springdale
Source
Oakmont Historical Society Image Collection
Collection
Oakmont Historical Image Collection
Contributor
Oakmont Carnegie Library
Rights Information
Copyright Not Evaluated. The copyright and related rights status of this Item has not been evaluated. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use.
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