At the time of its construction in 1929, the Hardy Dam was the largest earthen dam in North America east of the Mississippi River.  It is located on the Muskegon River north of Newaygo. A road passes over the top of the dam, similar to the Hoover Dam between Nevada and Arizona. I have never driven over the Hover Dam, but the road on the Hardy Dam is an experience to traverse. It is rather narrow with a concrete wall on one side and a guardrail and dropoff on the other. If you are ever in the area you need to drive across it. A park on the east side of the river has some parts of the dam on display and gives some history of it.

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The Croton Dam is on the Muskegon River east of Newaygo. The dam was completed in 1907 and was technologically advanced in its day. Engineers came from around the world to learn how it produced electricity. When I was there recently the gates were open and water rushed over the dam like a mighty waterfall. The sound reminded me of the water flowing over the Tahquamenon Falls.

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The small town of Morley is just east of US-131 and north of Howard City. South of the town is a dam on the Littel Muskegon River creating Morley Pond. As far as dams go, it is a pretty looking little dam. The signs on the road next to it tells that it is the Frank Deyo Dam. I am not sure who Frank Deyo is or why the dam is named after him. Anyways, If you are passing through the town of Morley it is not hard to miss the dam near the town.

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If you have followed me for a while on my journey around the Mitten State you know the I love taking dam photos. I had to stop and get a pic of the Croton Dam east of Newaygo. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has a Michigan Historical marker nearby that reads:

The Grand Rapids – Muskegon Power Company (a predecessor to today’s Consumers Energy Company) built the Croton Hydroelectric Plant in 1906 – 1907. The plant and its 110,000-volt transmission line (the highest voltage in use at that time) attracted international attention. Curious spectators rode excursion trains to the site, where they received a tour of the dam and powerhouse, as well as a grand dinner. When the plant went into full service in September 1907 it represented the latest advances in electric power generation and transmission. Engineers from Russia, England, France, Italy, Japan, and India came to tour the plant when it opened. The facility is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

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The lower peninsula does not have many waterfalls compared to the U.P. If you are near the Ausable River, not far from lumberman’s monument, is the Five Channels Dam. If the gate is open water comes gushing out like a spectacular waterfall. With all the rain we have been getting and high water levels I imagine the gate is open frequently.

A historical marker stands near the dam and reads:

Consumers Power Company (now Consumers Energy) built Five Channels Dam in 1911 and 1912. It was the second of six hydroelectric plants to be built on the lower Au Sable River by the Foote brothers of Jackson (founders of Consumers Power). During construction, the company sought to provide a healthy environment for workers and their families by building a forty-five-acre camp complete with a central water supply and sewage system, icehouse, school, washroom, store, and boardinghouse. Workers received land on which to build a house. Housing ranged from log or clapboard to tarpaper shacks and tents. Camp buildings were moved to the next site (Loud Dam) or razed as the plant neared completion in late 1912

Flowing water has long provided power to mines and mills. With advances in electricity in the 1880s, waterpower was soon used to generate electricity. The first public demonstration of hydroelectric power in the country occurred on July 24, 1880, when sixteen carbon arc street lamps lit up Grand Rapids using a belt driven dynamo (generator) powered by a water turbine at the Wolverine Chair Factory. Michigan’s extensive water resources were harnessed to power electric generating equipment, first at existing dams and mills and later at sites built expressly for hydroelectric generation. The electricity from these plants provided power for homes and businesses and helped fuel Michigan’s growth as one of the nation’s premier industrial states.

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I was out exploring the southern part of the Huron-Manistee National Forest for my www.campmichigan.org website on a dreary and foggy day when I came upon the Hardy Dam. If you have followed me for a while you know that I like taking dam photos but I did not realize you can drive across the Hardy Dam. It was a long narrow road with a concrete wall on one side and a guardrail on the other. I was thankful there wasn’t a large truck coming the other way. I need to go back on a nice day and get some more dam photos. I have driven down a lot of different roads in Michigan in this was one of the most interesting ones I have driven on. If you are wondering, no one was behind me so I stopped the jeep for a second and took this pic.

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