Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
Petoskey's Bear River
~ LAKE STREET DAM ~
(BEAR RIVER LOW HEAD DAM/WEIR and Water Works)
Options are being discussed in 2019 to remove
the only existing Petoskey Bear River dam...
Lake Street Dam
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2017.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
1881
Photo Below: "The water works were built in the summer of 1881 at a cost of $20,000. Bear River furnishes the motive power. The pump house, in a grove west of the river, is a neat structure.... The water is filtered through 100 feet of sand and gravel, thus rendering it pure as crystal. The reservoir holds 1,400 barrels, is situated a half mile from the pump, and has an elevation of 216 feet. The hydraulic power is in excess of that used for the works and as it is owned by the village, will be a source of revenue." ~ "Historical Sketch of the Village of Petoskey combined with a City Directory for 1882"
1885
TWO Photos/Text Below:"Petoskey's Waterfront as it appeared BEFORE Bear River mouth was diverted
and before the old Pere Marquette depot was built"
and before the old Pere Marquette depot was built"
Note on the 1885 map below that the easterly direction of the Bear River closer to its mouth
is different from the location of the mouth of the Bear River in 2019.
The Bear River was originally diverted 10 November 1891 as noted in the article farther below right.
is different from the location of the mouth of the Bear River in 2019.
The Bear River was originally diverted 10 November 1891 as noted in the article farther below right.
O.T. Blood had purchased the turning factory and machine shop in October 1880. The dam used by the Blood Bro's Saw & Turning Mill no longer existed after 1891 when that section of the river was completely eliminated by the redirection of the outlet to the bay. The Rose water power was sold to the city in 1881 for use for the city's water plant, although the city was willing to lease excess water power to the Blood Bros.
|
Orville T. Blood, subject of above article passed away 26 June 1915 at 514 Mitchell Street, Petoskey, of Senility at 89.
1891
Realign and Reroute River Channel
(Straightening the Waterway Path Past the Water Works)
Realign and Reroute River Channel
(Straightening the Waterway Path Past the Water Works)
Note that the 1896 map below shows the Bear River outlet to Little Traverse Bay has been realigned
as the two above 1891 articles stated.
as the two above 1891 articles stated.
Article Below: During the timeframe of the 1891 realigning of the Bear River outlet, the Chicago and West Michigan Railway was negotiating for its use of water frontage for their tracks to reach a new Petoskey depot, thus the railroad bridge over the Bear River outlet.
PRIOR to the realigning of the Bear River Outlet the Blood Brothers were using a dam closer to the mouth of the original outlet of the river (shown on the 1885 map above)... In 1875 ~ Hiram Rose had leased his waterfront power rights to Loveless Blayney, who established a sawmill. Blayney was not able to financially maintain the power, so the Blood Brothers purchased the dam site in 1878 as noted in the article farther above. That dam, however, disappeared when the river outlet was realigned in 1891.
Article Below: Three dams:
McManus, Shaw & McMillan and Blayney dams
had been constructed by 12 August 1875.
McManus, Shaw & McMillan and Blayney dams
had been constructed by 12 August 1875.
Article Below: By 10 September 1875 Blayney had already overextended his finances.
Article Below: Talk of Erection of a Dam
Two Photos Below: The photos are the same, but the photo descriptions are different with informative text...
1881
Photo Below labeled "Waterworks Bridge"
"1888"
"1888"
Lake Street Dam/Weir
1892
Writing on dam sign below states: Tackle. Drugs Medicines L.W. Coles Petoskey Wallpaper
(like the Cole advertisement farther below)
(like the Cole advertisement farther below)
Photo Above and Article Below: The Mineral Well Bath House stood beside the Lake Street Dam.
An extensive amount of information about the Mineral Well may be accessed by clicking HERE.
An extensive amount of information about the Mineral Well may be accessed by clicking HERE.
Photo Below: Dam on Lake Street with the Mitchell Bridge in the background. The sign reads: Fishing Tackle, Drugs, Medicines, L.W. Cole's Wallpaper Petoskey. The two people on the right are hard to view, against the trees.
Photo Below Showing the Lake Street Dam: At Least 1902; as dated from the building on the left...
which was the FIFTH Petoskey Hospital.
in 1921, the Petoskey Hospital was located on the Bear River which fed out of Walloon Lake,
just before emptying into Little Traverse Bay beside Petoskey.
This hospital was again a converted hotel; originally built in 1902 with a capacity for 100 guests.
The original hotel, named the Haertal Inn, was owned by Harry Haertal.
In 1915 it was sold to George and Corbett W. Doherty who were meat dealers.
Then it became the Grand Hotel at 105 West Lake Street.
It was purchased by the Drs. George and John Reycraft for a hospital in 1921.
which was the FIFTH Petoskey Hospital.
in 1921, the Petoskey Hospital was located on the Bear River which fed out of Walloon Lake,
just before emptying into Little Traverse Bay beside Petoskey.
This hospital was again a converted hotel; originally built in 1902 with a capacity for 100 guests.
The original hotel, named the Haertal Inn, was owned by Harry Haertal.
In 1915 it was sold to George and Corbett W. Doherty who were meat dealers.
Then it became the Grand Hotel at 105 West Lake Street.
It was purchased by the Drs. George and John Reycraft for a hospital in 1921.
The 22 June 1948 Petoskey Evening News had an article titled: "History of Old Chief Petoskey Is Clarified By Local Woman" (Ethel Rowan Fasquelle). She wrote: "And where did the Petoskey family live? Let someone ask any member of the old Knecht family, for the grandfather of the present generation of that family bought the old Petoskey home, located on the spot where the old Petoskey Hospital used to stand, and moved it across the street and lived in it many years ago to make room for a modern residence in the block west of of the water works building. It was a very good looking two story house as I recall it when the Petoskey family lived in it."
1913
AFTER 1915
when the Mineral Well Gazebo was built; and before the 1931 concrete constructed Mitchell Street bridge
... also before 1923 when the WWI boulder was dedicated in front of the gazebo
when the Mineral Well Gazebo was built; and before the 1931 concrete constructed Mitchell Street bridge
... also before 1923 when the WWI boulder was dedicated in front of the gazebo
Allan McCune a successful Petoskey businessman and local historian donated several of his albums to Petoskey's Little Traverse Historical Museum which included this photo of a Foley postcard shows the Lake Street bridge AND dam, maybe the sluice on the lower right, PLUS the Mitchell Street bridge in the background...
1930s
The old postcard below shows the Lake Street Low Head Weir Dam in the foreground with the Mitchell Street Bridge behind. In the background of the bridge, the location of the Electric Light Plant building with its stack can be seen, giving an idea of the plant's location, in relation to the Mitchell Street Bridge and the Lake Street Dam. The Electric Light Plant was on the Penstock Dam. This postcard was created after 1931 when the concrete (still existing) Mitchell Street Bridge was constructed. Also note the cement steps on the left side in the photo.
1946
Bear River Trout Blockade
Bear River Trout Blockade
H.O. Rose Power Plant on Penstock Dam > Water Power Generator at Lake Street >
McManus power rights purchased > Mitchell dam built at paper mill site >
Hankey Dam >Arrangement with Petoskey Portland Cement Company >
Michigan Public Service Company >
Petoskey Municipal Power Plant in 1949...
McManus power rights purchased > Mitchell dam built at paper mill site >
Hankey Dam >Arrangement with Petoskey Portland Cement Company >
Michigan Public Service Company >
Petoskey Municipal Power Plant in 1949...
> 1949
Compare the two newspaper photos above with the Google Map photo captured from on-screen in 2023. The buildings in the two newspaper photos above are the same as the two buildings in the photo below where on the left is the City Utilities' Building which housed the lower hydro plant... now the Petoskey Fire Department; while the building on the right in the photo below was the new 1949 diesel power plant building in the photo above... now the Petoskey City Hall.
Photo Below: Still in 2023 the two power plant buildings stand by the outlet of the Bear River as fishermen fish by the Lake Street Dam. The building on the left which once was the city utilities building housed the lower hydro plant (formerly the city's electrical system) has become the Petoskey Fire Department and the diesel power plant building on the right has become Petoskey's City Hall... great Preservation of the Past!
1955
1959
1967
1967
Bear River is Changing
Fill on the West Bank would narrow and straighten the River's Course.
Much of the fill came from the razed material of Mitchell Street's Old Post Office.
Bear River is Changing
Fill on the West Bank would narrow and straighten the River's Course.
Much of the fill came from the razed material of Mitchell Street's Old Post Office.
Photo Below: Old post office fill used for Mineral Well Park west bank area...
1968
1970
1974
1977
Photo Below: Mitchell Street bridge in the far background, then Lake Street Bridge is to the left of the city building,
with several fishermen lining the Bear River after it had dropped over the Lake Street dam.
with several fishermen lining the Bear River after it had dropped over the Lake Street dam.
1986
1992
Role of the Lake Street Dam AFTER the 1991 Mitchell Dam Removal
(Two Articles Below in the same 13 March 1992 Petoskey News Review)
Role of the Lake Street Dam AFTER the 1991 Mitchell Dam Removal
(Two Articles Below in the same 13 March 1992 Petoskey News Review)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1998
2016
2018
2019
The Petoskey News Review 8 January 2019 issue reported regarding the Bear River Dam on Lake Street: "Talks of replacing the dam - or eventually removing it completely - have been taking place for about a year at the city level, and they're still in their early stages. According to city documents, those conversations began in earnest in early spring 2018, after some considerable precipitation sparked questions over the dam's continued safety."
The city is considering a reduction in maintenance costs and the city's liability safety-wise. Removal of the dam could improve fish passage and stabilize fish habitats. Both ecological and hydrological concerns will be considered. Financial issues would need to be addressed.
The city is considering a reduction in maintenance costs and the city's liability safety-wise. Removal of the dam could improve fish passage and stabilize fish habitats. Both ecological and hydrological concerns will be considered. Financial issues would need to be addressed.
In 2018 the city of Petoskey initiated an inspection of the Bear River Low Head Dam/Weir which indicated the overall condition was "fair." Nothing visual to indicate any "immediate failure of the dam." The 4 February 2019 City Council will consider a resolution supporting a grant submission from the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council for the dam engineering study and to authorize financial support in the amount of $16,500 if awarded. The report stated the national movement toward dam removals would 1) Improve fisheries 2) Reduce maintenance, repair and eventual replacement costs 3) Increase public safety / reduce liabilities
In August 2019 the engineering alternatives for the Lake Street Dam included the following:
1) complete dam removal, 2) partial dam removal, 3) modification of the dam, and 4) no action.
In August 2019 the engineering alternatives for the Lake Street Dam included the following:
1) complete dam removal, 2) partial dam removal, 3) modification of the dam, and 4) no action.