Bloede's Dam - History

History

Bloede's power plant was built in 1906 and was fully operational by 1907. In its original plan the power plant was meant to serve the surrounding towns which were outside of the competitors service area. As fate would have it, the dam was sold to Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power, a predecessor company of Constellation Energy, in ca. 1912 and continued to generate electrical power within its interior until 1924 when it was closed due to the competition of larger, more powerful plants. Although the dam was severely damaged by the flood of Hurricane Agnes 1972, much of the dam still stands, although the dam has been gutted leaving only a mud filled shell. The gate house structures which did survive have been removed since the storm left them unsafe. In 1992 the Department of Natural Resources added a fish ladder to allow migrating fish to swim upstream without being blocked by the dam. More controversy has risen about the American eel in that the dam blocks their passage as well.