Historic Structure Report, Historical Data: The South Fork Dam
Unrau HD. 1980. Historic Structure Report, Historical Data: The South Fork Dam. Historic Structure Report. NPS 1607. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Denver Service Center. Denver, Colorado
This historic structure report (historical data section) has been prepared to satisfy in part the research needs as stated in the task directive (dated June 1979, revised October 1979) concerning the South Fork Dam and Western Reservoir (later Lake Conemaugh) at Johnstown Flood National Memorial under Package No. 124. The historical data section of the report is intended to provide basic data for the stabilization/preservation treatment of the remnants of the dam and reservoir and for the accurate interpretation cf the original construction of the dam (1834-1852), as well as for its reconstruction (1879-1881) and the causes of its failure on May 31, 1889, resulting in the Johnstown Flood disaster. In order to properly interpret the theme of the tragic Johnstown Flood of 1889, the historic scene will be restored. The dam abutments will be restored and stabilized to historic proportions. The historic scene on the top of the dam and the original appearance of the historic spillway will be restored. The spillway restoration would include the reconstruction of the historic spillway bridge that crossed from the north abutment over the spillway itself. This bridge will allow public access from the proposed visitor facility overlooking the north abutment to the abutment itself which is the best view point in the park. The culvert foundation stones and foundation of the control tower needs to be stabilized and preserved as portions of them are presently exposed and in danger of deterioration.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Unrau, Harlan
- Date of Issue
- 1980-06
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Denver Service Center
- Units
- HIST , JOFL , NER , WRD
- Keywords
- dam, dam construction, dam failure, ehistory, Flooding, historical data, History, Johnstown Flood, Pennsylvania Canal, post-flood analysis, Preservation, South Fork Dam, South Fork DamWater Quality, Stabilization, Structures, WRBIB
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 000747: South Fork Dam