Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
Petoskey's Bear River
~ PENSTOCK DAM ~
Original Electric Plant
(October 1968 Removal)
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(H.O. Rose > Petoskey Electric Light Works organized 1887; called Penstock Dam)
LETTER D Below...
LETTER D Below...
A) Map is demonstrative of after 1891 when the river bed was realigned to run straight out into Little Traverse Bay; Involvement in this location by H.O. Rose was PRE-1891 (Blayney > Blood Brothers)
B) Lower Hydro
C) Sanitary Dam
D) Old Light Plant (Penstock Dam) ~ map #4 on another map
E) Hankey Dam
F) Mitchell Dam
G) McManus Dam
B) Lower Hydro
C) Sanitary Dam
D) Old Light Plant (Penstock Dam) ~ map #4 on another map
E) Hankey Dam
F) Mitchell Dam
G) McManus Dam
1876 ~ Bear River Dam... the Penstock Dam
(Photo Below Titled the "Second Dam" referenced in above article)
Photo labeled as "Forbes and Baker Dam" in the book A Look Around Little Traverse Bay on page 76...
On page 77 of the book above it stated:
The Forbes and Baker Company became Michigan Maple Block in 1903.
The Michigan Maple Block History noted that Forbes and Baker was sold to Frank and Fred Bauerle.
The Bauerle Brothers ran the Bauerle Woodworking Plant, located on the west side of the Hankey Dam.
(Photo Below Titled the "Second Dam" referenced in above article)
Photo labeled as "Forbes and Baker Dam" in the book A Look Around Little Traverse Bay on page 76...
On page 77 of the book above it stated:
The Forbes and Baker Company became Michigan Maple Block in 1903.
The Michigan Maple Block History noted that Forbes and Baker was sold to Frank and Fred Bauerle.
The Bauerle Brothers ran the Bauerle Woodworking Plant, located on the west side of the Hankey Dam.
This exact same photo below was published in the 13 November 1921 Petoskey Evening News as:
"An early dam over Bear River at or near site of present city light and power plant. It was constructed in 1873."
"An early dam over Bear River at or near site of present city light and power plant. It was constructed in 1873."
Mr. Forbes' 1916 obituary above told: "Mr. Forbes was member of the firm of Forbes & Baker, which constructed the first dam at the site of the present city light plant in 1876. They erected a factory on the east side of the river and conducted a woodenware factory for several years employing twenty-five men. There was then no bridge across the river at Mitchell street and roadway led down the bluff from the street to the factory.
Labeled : "Bear Creek Petoskey 1880"
Photo Below: 1882 FIRST Electric Plant Dam in foreground and Hankey Dam in distance...
Photo Below: The electric company dam in the winter with the Hankey Dam in the distance...
Photo Below: Looking north; downriver... two towers are on the electric plant
Photo Below: Looking north first at the Hankey Dam, next at the Electric Plant on the left, and then the Mitchell Street Bridge in the distance, before the Bear River washed into Little Traverse Bay...
In the summer of 1906, John Kilborn helped his father and brother George,
haul 200 cords of 4 ft. wood to the City of Petoskey to fire and light the plant.
haul 200 cords of 4 ft. wood to the City of Petoskey to fire and light the plant.
1915-1920 Mayor Klise strongly opposed
the city being in the business of producing power.
Seven years after Klise was mayor, the city leased the McManus Dam property.
the city being in the business of producing power.
Seven years after Klise was mayor, the city leased the McManus Dam property.
The Petoskey Portland Cement Company provided the source of Petoskey's power for years. Interestingly, Mayor Klise helped to organize the cement company and served as its FIRST president. The cement plant demanded an enormous generating facility, and Mr. Klise arranged for the cement plant to sell electricity to the city of Petoskey.
Three 1939 Photos Below from McCune Album: Old Light Plant Torn Down 1937-38
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. The Electric Light Plant was on the Penstock Dam.
Article section below asking
"Do You Remember?"
"Do You Remember?"
1959
Penstock Dam Breaks
The Penstock Dam broke in the Spring of 1959 and was removed in 1968.
Penstock Dam Breaks
The Penstock Dam broke in the Spring of 1959 and was removed in 1968.
Photo Text Above:The dam located just south of the Mitchell Street bridge was the Penstock Dam,
which was the dam that broke, and finally was removed in October 1968.
which was the dam that broke, and finally was removed in October 1968.
Photo Below: Penstock Dam broken...
(same photo as in article above) |
Photo Below: Lake Street Dam with high waters...
(same photo as in article above) |
Two Photos Below: Penstock Dam broken...
(Referenced in the article above)
(Referenced in the article above)
Two Photos Below: Penstock Dam broken...
(Referenced in the article above)
(Referenced in the article above)
1962
August 1967
Removal and Cleanup and Improvement Recommended
Removal and Cleanup and Improvement Recommended
October 1968
Penstock Dam Removal
Penstock Dam Removal
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