SOFT MAPLE
POWER PROJECT
Early in the 1800’s the Beaver River was recognized as a prime power source. Sawmill dams were the first to appear usually at the top of a falls to direct the flow of water to a wheel. These dams were of a small size as the power needed was not great.
Early in the 1900’s electrical power was the future. The first hydroelectric plant was built in Belfort.
Now we move on to a site up river called Soft Maple where there was a wooden dam used during the log drives. Construction started on the Soft Maple Power Project at Soft Maple in 1924. These are a series of pictures taken by Severance Photo of Watertown.
These pictures are from the files of a Mr. Perry Nagle, an engineer from the American Manganese Steel Company Chicago Heights, IL., a Division of American Brake Shoe Corporation, who made Dredge pumps of the type used on this job. Mr. Nagel may have been part of the crew on this project.
Photos were made available by Mr. Nagle’s son, Jim Nagle, to Lynn Thornton, a retired Carthage Central School teacher, who put them on her web site.
I have taken the liberty of trying to explain what is shown in each picture. There will no doubt be mistakes due to my very limited engineering ability. If you find them, please let me know so the record can be corrected.
Jack Sweeney
Historian Town of Croghan