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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Rough and Ready Dam
and
Mill / Power House
1840s
Watertown Daily Times, 06
12 1976
In the
1840's an earthen and timber dam was constructed directly above Tivoli
(formerly Concordia) Island by Joseph and
Calvin Boughton. The power was used
to run a saw mill on the
east side of the river and a grain mill on the west side. A wall was built from the dam to the island
to create a mill race around the island.
In decades following construction of the dam, city maps show the island
enlarged and developed a peninsula extending to the dam. These changes were caused by silt from the
river building up along the wall and along the island's shorelines.
Captain James Rogan related the following “fish
story:” “The
waters of Rock River were alive with fish.
When the first dam was built the stream below it was very shallow, and
it was a favorite place for teamsters to cross from one side of the river to
the other. If you’ll believe me, the
fish were so thick that hundreds of them were killed by the feet of the teams,
while others would be thrown into the air by the spokes of the revolving
wheels.”
1847
11 10 The Rough and Ready mill has
just opened. 40x50 feet. 4 stories high. Capable of turning out 200-250 barrels of
flour in 24 hours. WC
1847 Eben Batcheller built the Rough and Ready mill
[1847
or 48] Eben Batcheller
(Calvin. Jacob, Benjamin, John, John. Joseph), b. Stratton, Vt., Aug. 5, 1802;
m. in Jefferson Co., N. Y., June 16, 1830. Lucy Cornstock,
b. Western, Oneida Co., N. Y., July 24, 1809; d. Galesville, Wis., May 27,
1884. Eben Batcheller was b. in Vermont in 1802, and moved, when seven
years of age, to Lowville, N. Y., where he lived until after his marriage,
after which he bought a piece of land on what was known as John Brown's Tract,
moving from there to Port Huron, Mich., in 1834, and built a mill on Black
River, about seven miles from Port Huron.
It was in 1840 that he moved to Wisconsin and had a farm and stopping
place nine miles from Watertown, Jefferson County, town of Ixonia; from there
he moved to a farm in Winnebago Co., in '47
or '48. In 1855 he moved to
Galesville, Trempealeau County, living there until 1860, when he moved to a farm
a few miles away; in 1870 or '71 he moved back to Galesville, where he lived
until June, 1876, and accidentally met his death, and is buried in the cemetery
there. He learned his trade as a
millwright with his father, going with him to what was called the Grand Ottawa
in Canada, when 18 years of age, and always followed his trade, until about
1860. He had charge of and built the Rough and Ready mill at Watertown, the
mill at Waukau [Wausau?], one at West Salem, and the ones at Galesville, both
grist and saw, and repaired a great many. He always took great pride in his
work and was greatly interested in the various improvements going on in his
line. Was a Whig in politics but joined
the Republican party on its organization, and never voted any other ticket. He was a great lover of hunting deer, and
that undoubtedly had much influence on his moving to a new country as often as
he did. He belonged to no religious sect
but was very particular that his children did not scoff at or in any way
disturb any one who did. He died May 6, 1880. Res. Galesville, Wis. [source]
Cross Reference: We have the dam being built by others than Batcheller: In the 1840's an earthen and timber dam was
constructed directly above Tivoli (formerly Concordia) Island by Joseph and
Calvin Boughton. The
Rough & Ready mill, alongside
the dam, was built in 1847 by Heber Smith, Luther Cole and John Richards. It
burned to the ground in 1888.
1856
The
upper dam is situated on section three, on land originally claimed by Silas W. Newcomb, and is occupied by
Cole & Richards for a grist
mill of three run of stone, on the west side, which manufactures an A,
No. 1 article of flour, and is capable of turning out
eighty barrels per day. John Richards has a saw mill and oil mill or turning
shop on the east side. The dam here
is three hundred feet long, giving a head of seven and a half feet. This power is capable of
running a much larger amount of machinery than is now used. [Source: City of Watertown, Wisconsin,
Its Manufacturing & Rail Road Advantages and Business Statistics, 1856,
published by order of Watertown City Council]
1857
1858
07 15 DAM REBUILT, L. A. Cole proprietor
The dam on Rock River just above
the Rough and Ready mill has been rebuilt, and the mill itself is being
repaired and will soon be in running order.
As this is one of the best flouring establishments in the State, we are
glad to learn that its enterprising proprietors, L. A. Cole & Co., are
determined to keep it in operation. They
have a fine water power and
it is not often that the floods interrupt its use. WD
08 12 Milwaukee Wisconsin
newspaper article WD
1861
03 14 BARRELS
OF FLOUR FOR KANSAS RELIEF
Thirty-three barrels of
flour, contributed principally by the citizens of Ixonia, and ground by L. A. Cole “without toll,” at the Rough and Ready
Mills, were forwarded to Kansas last week by W. H. Clark. This is a generous donation. Jefferson County has nobly answered the
appeal that has been made for the relief of Kansas. In a few day we
learn that Mr. Munson, of, will send another lot of some twenty-four barrels of
flour, to the same destination. WD
1865
10 12 COLE
AND RICHARDS sold
mill to KOENIG AND BLENKENDORF
L. A. Cole and J.
Richards sold Rough & Ready Mills, in First ward, to Christian Koenig and
Julius Blenkendorf for $15,000. WD
BIRDSEYE VIEW OF DAM AND ROUGH & READY MILL
c.1885
ROUGH
& READY MILL
Built alongside the Rough & Ready
dam in 1847 by Heber Smith, Luther Cole and John
Richards. It burned to the ground in 1888.
1890
02 14 THE
WATERTOWN ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY’S PLANT
Watertown,
Wis., Jan 16, 1890 -- Among the many electric light installations few, if any,
surpass in the general excellence the combination plant of the above-named
company [The Watertown Electric Light
Company]. The power house is a
brick structure 50x90 feet, with a chimney of splendid proportions rising to
the height of 90 feet above the ground, and is situated on the bank of Rock
river, in the center of the city. It is
divided into two sections by a heavy brick wall. The rear portion of 40 feet, thus formed,
constituting the boiler room, in which is placed a battery of two steel
boilers, each of the 75 h.p. capacity, made by the Miller & Reichardt Manufacturing company of this
city.
These boilers are perfect in every particular,
standing the highest hydrostatic test, and reflect great credit upon
their makers. The engine and dynamo room
is a model of its kind. The engine Is of the Corliss type, made by
the Weisel & Vilter
Manufacturing company of Milwaukee, Wis. and is in every respect a perfect
piece of mechanism. It rests upon a bed
as solid as is possible for nature and art to make it, being composed of
concrete, capped with the finest quality of brick laid in cement, which in turn
is mounted with heavy blocks of limestone, and the whole mass of structure
resting upon the bedrock 12 feet below the surface. It is not surprising, after what has been
stated, that this engine of 142 indicated horse power manifests no perceptible
tremor anywhere in its most immediate neighborhood. In connection with the engine a Berryman feed
water heater and Knowles pump are doing good work and are giving excellent
satisfaction. The lighting plant was
furnished by the Thomson-Houston Electric company and consists of one arc
generator of 50-light capacity, and one alternating machine of 650 lights,
respectively, furnished with the usual complement of regulating and indicating
apparatus. The dynamos are run from shafting,
the pulleys of which are furnished with Hill friction clutches. The plant was contracted for last July. Work was immediately begun upon the power
house, under the supervision of the able master mechanic F. W. Ghores, who mounted the engine and did not leave the post
until the arc lights were turned on Dec. 2, 1889.
The electrical work was done under the supervision of the
Thomson-Houston company’s expert, Mr. Geo. Morine,
and the entire work, from the setting of the first pole to the placing of the
lamps in their sockets, is alike a credit to himself, his assistants
and his company.
The success of the local company
has been most encouraging, nearly the entire capacity of the arc machine being
already absorbed, and at the present writing wiring is
fast being completed for over 450 lamps.
The indications are that it will not be long before the capacity of the
incandescent machine will be taken up also.
The engine and dynamo are operated by Aug. Hanson. —The Electrical World, Feb 8, 1890.
1892
06 10 HIGH RIVER TAKES OUT
PART OF DAM
The water in Rock river is at high water
mark, being as high as it was in 1881 when the old bridge and several buildings
were swept downstream. Part of the Rough
and Ready dam gave away Wednesday, so great was the water pressure. WG
1894
04 27 RESCURED FROM DROWNING
Willie,
the seven-year-old son of Henry Lemmerhart 1st ward,
fell into the mill race on the east side on Friday last, and would have drowned
but for the assistance of the young son of E. A. Mendenhall, who happened to be
nearby. After being fished from the
water it was several hours before he recovered consciousness.
1890c
OLD SWIMMING
HOLE NEAR ROUGH & READY DAM
Oconomowoc Ave bridge in distance
c1895
SKINNING DIPPING AT THE DAM
1896
04 22 DAM GAVE
WAY DUE TO SPRING RAINS
Saturday
night a section in the Rough and
Ready dam gave way and the water since
has been rushing through in a perfect flood. The break is about twenty feet wide
and unless soon repaired will leave but little water
above that point. On the
other hand it has tended to perceptibly raise the
water down the stream, and the river is now higher than it has been for several
years. The copious rains,
however, had considerable to do with this condition of things. WR
c.1900
VIEW TO THE WEST
1901
09 13 DAM REPAIRED
The
Rough and Ready Dam is being repaired, and the water in the river above the dam
is lower than it has been in years. When
the gates were opened up to let the water out thousands
of fish went through and the fishing between both dams now is
excellent. WG
1902
1903
VIEW TO THE EAST FROM ROOF OF OCTAGON HOUSE
03 07 NEW ARC ELECTRIC LIGHTS
The
new arc electric lights burned all night for the first time Saturday under the
new contract with the city. The power at
present is furnished from the Rough & Ready dam for both arc
and incandescent lights and this power will be utilized during several of the
spring months. A new governor to control the
lights when a heavy load is on will be put in which will make the incandescent
lights more steady than at present. New machinery will also be placed in the
power house on First Street to be used when the water supply is short. People who have occasion
to be up during the hours after midnight until dawn appreciate the new lighting
system.
04 03 MAN CRUSHED AT ELECTRIC
LIGHT PLANT
Last Friday morning Frank Boelter, who
resided in North Montgomery Street, was killed in the power house of the
Watertown Electric Co. at the Rough
and Ready Dam. Boelter was employed
by the company as a laborer, and with a number of
other men had been at work at the power house putting in position a governor for the water
wheels.
Sometime before the accident Boelter put a
strap around the driving shaft and attached it to the governor to see how
the governor worked. Superintendent
Utley remonstrated with him, stating at the same time that
it might damage the machinery. Mr.
Utley left Boelter and a short time after the accident
occurred. It is supposed his arm caught
in the strap he adjusted and he was revolved around
the shaft. One of the
workmen, noticing the accident, started to stop the machinery, but Boelter
dropped to the floor from the shaft before he could stop the machinery.
A physician was immediately
summoned but it was found that nothing could be done for him. His body was badly crushed and one of
his legs and an arm were broken. He
lived only a short time after the accident.
Deceased was a brother of John Boelter, who has
worked for the Electric company for many years. He leaves a wife, three children and
three step-children.
WG
Cross reference note: Buried
in Oak Hill cemetery
c.1904
1905
05 31 Last Saturday the senate at Madison
passed favorably upon the bill allowing the raising of the so called Rough
& Ready Dam in the city of Watertown.
Much opposition was offered to the original bill by those residing in
the vicinity of the dam.
The
bill as passed and amended carried with it the provisions that the approaches
to Oconomowoc Avenue bridge must be kept passable and that the sum of $500
shall be paid to the city by the Watertown Gas Electric Company to assist in
building the new bridge at this point at any time. It is also claimed that under provisions of
the bill the Gas Company will have power to condemn the land, as it is a
corporation furnishing light to the city.
The
height of the present dam is 8 1/2 feet
and it is proposed to raise it three feet.
Sluiceways will be provided so that the water in the river will not be
allowed to go higher than it has been this year. WDT
06 18 The bill allowing the raising of the
Rough & Ready Dam, owned by the Watertown Gas and Electric Company, which
passed the senate recently, was refused concurrence by the assembly. The bill was successfully fought by adjacent
owners of property whose lands might be flooded. They were represented by attorney John G.
Conway. Both sides had a hearing before
the senate and judiciary committee of the legislature. The amended bill was acceptable to the city
council, but not to the owners of land near the dam. Another measure for the construction by the
company at the Boomer site was withdrawn
because of the strong opposition. WDT
1905
Watertown
Daily Times, 06 27 1905
All members
of the city council were present at the adjourned meeting of that body
Wednesday evening. The following
communication was read and placed on file:
Gentlemen:
It has come to our knowledge that statements have been made at a meeting of
your body indicating and insinuating that the influence of the common council
of the city of Watertown has been sold out in favor of certain proposed
legislation in regard to the Rough & Ready water
power in this city. Said charges reflecting upon the honor and integrity of the
members of the council and upon the standing of our company and the members
thereof, we respectfully request that a full investigation of such charges be
ordered to determine the facts and place the responsibility for the circulation
of such reports.
Respectfully
submitted,
Watertown
Gas and Electric Co.,
W. C.
Stone. President
1905
06 28 WATERTOWN SOLD OUT TO GAS AND ELECTRIC CO.
All members
of the city council were present at the adjourned meeting of that body
Wednesday evening.
Ald.
Lehmann introduced the following resolution, which passed unanimously:
WHEREAS,
Charges have been made that the mayor and the common council of the city of
Watertown has sold out to the Watertown Gas and Electric company in the matter
of the raising of the Rough & Ready Dam and
WHEREAS, The
mayor and common council are also accused of appearing before the legislature
at Madison for the purpose of forcing the passage of the bill for raising said
dam: be it
RESOLVED,
That the mayor appoint a committee of three aldermen to investigate the matter
and try to trace the origin of said charges and report its findings to this
council as soon as possible for further action.
The
mayor appointed Ald. Kessler, Lehmann and Ryan as such
committee. WDT
1905
08 01 HARTWIG
RETRACTION DEMANDED
At a
special meeting of the common council held at the city hall Thursday evening, a
resolution was adopted demanding that Dr. A. Hartwig
should retract in writing the statements it is claimed he made last winter
assailing the integrity and honesty of the members of the common council, and
was given thirty days in which to file such retraction with the city clerk, and
should he fail to file such retraction within the time specified in the
resolution, charges would be preferred against him as a member of the council.
President:
It is alleged, that statements were made during the last session of the legislature
when a certain dam bill, (with which the people here are familiar) was under
consideration and was to the effect that the council sold out to the Electric
Light and Gas Company for the sum of $500.00.
The
writer knows nothing of the controversy, but has learned that the company
offered to give the city the sum of $500.00 in case the bill passed
and the dam was built to repair a certain bridge which would be damaged to some
extent by raising the water in the river ... If the doctor made the statements
as alleged and they were untrue, he should make the amend honorable. If he did
not make such statements as alleged, he should stand pat and demand that the
common council adopt a resolution exonerating him from the charge as set forth
in the resolution adopted Thursday night.
WDT
1905
08 08 HARTWIG
LETTER TO CITY OFFICIALS
To the Mayor
and Common Council of the city of Watertown.
Gentlemen:
In response to the report of the committee adopted by your honorable
body at a special meeting held July 27,1905, a copy of which was served on me,
I have only to say that said report purports to refer to so-called “derogatory
statements made by myself at the meeting of the common council held June
20,1905,” and claiming that the same “reflected upon their honesty, integrity
and good character of the mayor and common council of the city of Watertown.”
The said report nowhere sets forth the
language or so-called derogatory statements complained of.
I am unable to find in any language or
statements made by myself to which said report can refer, and I am therefore at
a loss to know with what I am charged, or what is desired that I should retract
or apologize for.
I am satisfied, however, apart from any
records kept by the common council, that the complaint against me arises from
my attitude upon Substitute bill No. 388 S, considered by the recent session of
the state legislature . . . This bill sought to authorize the Watertown
Electric Co., its successors, and assigns to raise the height some three feet
of the dam across the Rock river in the city of Watertown, known as the Rough and Ready dam . . . The records .
. . will show that . . . a petition was made petitioning said council to oppose
the raising of the dam, and to protect the interests of said property owners .
. . Thereupon a committee was appointed which made oral report to the common
council March 14th setting forth various advantages and protections which the
Watertown Electric Co . . . I have no apology to make for my opposition to bill
No. 388s; I know its defeat was generally desired by my constituency...
Respectfully submitted,
A. H. Hartwig
WDT
12 03 A petition signed by 103 of the voters in
the Second ward protesting against the action of Mayor Wertheimer in suspending
Alderman A. H. Hartwig from office on the 11th inst., and
asking him to revoke such action and to reinstate Alderman Hartwig, has been
presented to the mayor. What action the
mayor will take in the matter has not been made public, but it is presumable
that he will adhere to the course he has already adopted. WDT
12 06 Sometime ago, a committee of three was
appointed at a meeting of the common to investigate certain reports and
statements made by Alderman A. H. Hartwig effecting the honesty and integrity
of the members of the council, which duty was performed and report made to the
council in which it was stated in their findings that such reports of
statements had been made by Alderman Hartwig and a retraction demanded of him
by the council. He made a retraction
which was not satisfactory to the council and charges were subsequently
preferred against him, the same committee being appointed for that purpose, and
he cited to appear Friday before the council acting as a court of impeachment
and answer to the charge. The court met
at 10 a.m. at the council chamber, each alderman being in his place and
answering to his name, A. C. Kading, city attorney
appearing for the city, and Gustave Buchheit of this
city and Ernst N. Warner of Madison appearing for the accused alderman. After considerable delay had been experienced
in offering motions which were over-ruled by the mayor, the court got down to
business and the taking of testimony began upon the part of the council. Letter being read from Lieut. Gov. J. O.
Davidson and oral testimony given by Senator Breach and others as to the matter
in controversy. When the committee
rested rebutting was given by the accused and others and at the close the
council took a vote at 11:30 p.m. finding Alderman Hartwig guilty and
suspending him for 60 days as alderman of his ward. WDT
12 08 The common council of this city sitting
as a committee of the whole on Friday last on the case of alderman A. H.
Hartwig, charged with saying that he had heard members of the last legislature
say that the council of this city had sold out by exacting the sum of $550 to
be paid to the city of Watertown Electric Co. the in the event that the bill
for raising the Rough and Ready dam passed the legislature, found him guilty,
and suspended Alderman Hartwig for 60 days.
WDT
12 23 At the regular meeting of the common
council held Tuesday evening at the council chamber, the following demand which
had been filed with City Clerk Frank S. Weber was presented, read
and referred to the grievance committee consisting of Alderman L. A. Knick,
John P. Humphrey, and M. J. Burke:
The
undersigned, Adolph Hartwig, the newly elected alderman of the Second ward in
the city of Watertown hereby demands that said common council at its meeting to
be held on this 19th day of December A.D. 1905 rescind its actions whereby it
attempted to suspend the undersigned from office as such alderman and repeal
the resolution passed by it to that effect and demand that the mayor and said
common council recognized him, as such alderman and that the city clerk place
the name of the undersigned upon the role of said common council and call such
name at the meetings of said council.
ADOLPH
HARTWIG, Alderman second ward, City of Watertown, Wis. WDT
1907 In
1907 a new concrete electrical dam was constructed just downstream from the old
earthen and timber dam. The older still remains but is submerged in the pond of the new
dam. The "Rough and Ready
Dam," as the structure came to be called, produced power for the electric
railway that ran from Watertown to Milwaukee.
1907
01 04 BRIDGE DELAY IS CAUSING LACK OF ACCESS
TO MILL
SHOULD REPAIR OR REBUILD
ROUGH AND READY
Large Volume of Business Going to
Cooney That Naturally Comes Here
American Malting Company Losing Much
Barley
Farmers, Merchants Complain
The closing of the Rough
and Ready bridge (Oconomowoc Ave bridge) is bringing to many of our
citizens a realization of the fact that the city is losing considerable
business as a consequence.
The bridge was condemned by the city council early
in November and it was expected that the repair of the bridge or the
construction of a new one would receive the immediate attention of the
council. There was a delay till many of
the farmers began to complain and the council took action
insofar that a resolution was adopted instructing the
public works and the committee on streets and bridges to procure plans.
Since that time, no action has been taken, as far as
is known.
Many of the merchants and businessmen are beginning
to join the farmers in their complaint and are desirous of urging upon the
council the necessity of immediate action for the reason that
quite a large volume of trade that naturally comes to Watertown is now going to
Oconomowoc.
Many farmers were obliged to travel a roundabout
way, crossing the Smith bridge, the road leading to the same being in horrible
condition. Some of these farmers have
quit coming to the city, while others have marketed their produce at Oconomowoc
ever since the bridge was condemned.
As a result of the closing of the bridge the American Malting company (William Buchheit Malting Co) has lost over 5, 000 bushels of
barley, which has gone to Oconomowoc,
What is true of this concern,
is true of many others. This is an
important matter that should be delayed no longer and
the city council should act quick.
02 17 DAMAGE
IF DAM BE RAISED THREE FEET
Prof.
D. C. Jackson of the State University, and W. B. Jackson, constituting the
civil engineering firm of Jackson & Jackson, Madison, are engaged in
surveying the area that would be overflowed and the amount of damage caused
should the Rough and Ready dam be raised three feet. They are here in the interest of the
Watertown Gas & Electric Co. which is anxious to deal fairly with all who
may in any manner be damaged by raising the dam, and
pay each and all a fair price for such land as may be overflowed and rendered
useless for agricultural purposes. As
has already been said, the raising of the dam means more industry for this
city, an increase in population and an addition to the value of all other real
property. The company is disposed to act
fair and just in the matter, and
should be met at least half way and every proposition within reason received
the consideration to which it is entitled.
WL
03 23 The question of the proposed raising of the
Rough and Ready dam was broached [at the council meeting Monday night] in the
introduction of a resolution by Alderman Lutovsky
which was to the effect that the bill to raise
the dam from 8 1/2 to 11 1/2 feet would be a detriment to the city and
would involve an additional expense in the construction of the proposed new
bridge and approaches, and would also flood certain streets. It was also
embodied in the resolution that in view of the fact that
there is to be a hearing at Madison in the near future that a copy of the
resolution be sent to the committee at Madison. It voiced the opposition of the
council to the bill, setting forth that the Gas and Electric Company had not
considered the interests of the city in the matter; also
providing that the city attorney appear in opposition
to the bill.
The
resolution was unanimously adopted. It seems that it is a move to show that the
city “stands its hand” and intends to stay in the game. It is understood that
the hearing which was to have been had at Madison tomorrow has been postponed
till sometime next month. WDT
04 24 Friday, April 25, is the time set for the
hearing before the senate committee on bill No. 500 A, requesting right to raise the Rough and Ready dam three feet. The hearing was to have been given Tuesday, April 16,
but an adjournment was taken to give the mayor and city council time to engage
the services of a hydraulic engineer to determine the damages that might rise
to the city by reason of the raising of the dam. These necessary facts have now
been procured and it is now assured that the city’s interests will be backed by
facts and figures and not go on theory, a fear that was expressed by the mayor
in arguing to engage the services of the engineer. Prof. Smith of the State
University has taken the measurements.
05 04 At the meeting of the joint committee of
the city council on judiciary and streets and bridge, held last evening, decided
to report unfavorably on the proposition of the Watertown Gas and Electric
company in the matter of raising of the Rough and Ready dam. The decision of last night makes it imminent
that at the hearing at Madison on May 9th, there will be some lengthy arguments
before the senate committee when bill 600A comes for hearing, the measure being
in the nature of a request to raise the Rough and
Ready dam three feet. Of
course it depends upon the action of the council at its meeting next
Tuesday evening, but it is safe to say that that body will adopt the report of
the joint committee and that further plans will be made for carrying on the
opposition to the bill now before the legislature. WDT
1908
12
18 NEARLY KILLED BY ELECTRIC WIRE
Last
Tuesday afternoon C. H. Pfeiffer of Milton, who has been
but a short time employed here by the Watertown Gas and
Electric Co., came near being killed while at work on an electric light
pole in Western Avenue. He was working
on a lead wire from the power house at the dam and he placed his arm on another
wire, making a complete circuit, voltage of 2300 passing through his body. He was rendered unconscious and was held
suspended from the wires. A fellow
workman went to his rescue and jerked him from the wires. His hand and arm were terribly burned. At this writing it is thought he will recover
from his injuries. WG
1908 WATERTOWN
POWERS
There
are two dams located in the City of Watertown; the lower, a masonry dam,
located a few blocks above the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad bridge,
and the upper dam, one and one-half miles above this. The bed of the river at both dams and
probably the entire distance between, is in the Trenton limestone. The upper day, usually called the “Rough and Ready” dam, is built of
timber with masonry abutments. It is 250
feet long and develops a head of 9 feet.
One 45 and one 55 inch turbine are installed,
rated at 225 horse-power. This power is
owned by the Watertown Electric Company and is used for electric light and
power. As the left bank is low the
present head represents the maximum head which can be developed. Indeed there have
been some complaints of illegal flooding at times of high water. The dam is in a fair state of repair. The legislature of 1906-07 granted the owners
the right to raise the crest of dam 2 feet, provided all payment should be
first made for all damage so caused.
The
lower dam [Globe
Mill dam] was reconstructed three or four years ago, the present
concrete dam replacing an old style timber
structure. The present dam is 250 feet
long and furnishes a head of about 10 feet.
This head cannot be increased as the dam backs the water to the dam
above. The lower dam furnishes power to
four different concerns, two on each bank.
On the right bank are located the Bee-hive and
Box Factory owned by G. B. Lewis Company and the Globe Milling Company with
installations of two 30 inch and two 40 inch turbines respectively.
On the
left bank are located the R. P. Koening
Company flour mill and the A. R. Wien Brush
Company factory with an installation of 60 inch and 30
inch turbines respectively.
The
mills run 18 and the factories 10 hours per day. The owners report that for 8 or 9 months in
the year the turbines develop their full power but that during the remainder of
the year steam power has to be to a large extent
substituted. For this purpose
the above flour mills have the following steam power: The Globe Milling Company 200 horse-power; R.
P. Koenig Company 85 horse-power; G. B. Lewis Company 225 horse-power, and the
A. R. Wiens Company 25 horse-power.
The
head on the turbines is reported to vary between 12 and 6 feet. With water to the
crest of the dam the head is 10 feet.
Complaints of illegal flooding by this dam have been made side the reconstruction of the dam.
Watertown
is a growing city of 9,000 inhabitants.
It is a trading center for a large and rich agricultural region. The city is on the main line of the Chicago,
Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad between Milwaukee and St. Paul and also on the Madison branch of the same railroad. The city is also served by the Chicago and
North-Western Railroad between Beloit and Green Bay. Between Watertown and Lake Koshkonong, a distance of 29
miles, the river flows almost due south and with reduced windings. The river varies in width from 150 to 250
feet wide, with banks sloping gently back to a height of from 10 to 20 feet.
The
total fall between the foot of the lower Watertown dam and Lake Koshonong is only 18 feet of which only a third is
used. [Bulletins – Geological and
Natural History Survey (Wis.), 1908]
1909
05 21 NEW DAM AND POWER HOUSE
The Watertown Gas and Electric Co. is building a new
concrete dam a little to the north of the old dam, 11 1/2 feet high, and a
power house at the Rough and Ready Dam site, men being employed day and night
on the job. The power house will be of
brick and concrete 38 x 94 feet and will be 85 feet high from the river
bottom. It will contain two large water
wheels, and a generator for local use and a transformer and a generator
connected with the power from Kilbourn dam for use on the interurban street
railway line. WG
1910
01 21 SUES FOR $5,000 / Work-related accident during construction
Papers
were filed with Clerk William H. Rohr on Monday in the case of Fred Schertenleib vs. William Wolf. It is an action brought under the Co-Employee
Act and Schertenleib sues Wolf for $5000
damages. The plaintiff and defendant were
at work on the construction of the [upper] dam at Watertown of the Milwaukee
Light, Heat and Traction Company. The
plaintiff was sitting on a plank sawing and the defendant was to hold the
plank. He let go with the result that
the plaintiff fell to the ground sustaining minor injuries and a permanent
injury to the spine. Mistele
& Smith are attorneys for plaintiff and O. C. Hahn
for the defendant. — [Jefferson Banner] Watertown
Gazette, 01 21 1910
1911
TMER&L POWER STATION
11 01 ROUGH AND READY STARTED
64 YEARS AGO
Famous Watertown flour mill was stated 11/2/1847
The
old Rough and Ready Flour Mill which stood for many years on the site now
occupied by the gas and electric company substation, was started just 64 years
ago, on 11/2/1847.
John
R. Beynon of this city was one who helped in the work
on the first day, he being then 9 years old, but
active enough to sweep out and dust, continuing with the mill in other
capacities many years. It was not the
first mill in Watertown as the old Yellow Mill in 1st Street was built 5 years
previously.
The Rough
and Ready Mill was owned by Heber Smith, Luther Cole
and John Richards, all of whom are now with the silent minority. The millwright who built it was Edwin Bailey
and the capacity was 100 barrels in two runs daily. Mr. Beynon says that at the time there was no
shop where gears could be made this side of Buffalo, New York and that work had
to be done by hand. The late Patrick
Norton, who died here some years ago, was a pattern maker but was handy with
other tools and he fashioned by hand the pinions and core gears in use at that
time. The cogs were filed out, a tedious
process, but the only one available.
Time
has worked wonders in the milling business since the Rough and Ready began
grinding and Mr. Beynon is a living connecting link between the two, as he has
kept posted on the milling process since the infirmities of age compelled him
to retire many years ago.
c.1912
1913
THE POWER HOUSE
THE RACE
1914
02 12 FATHER
AND SON INJURED
John
and Everett Taft narrowly escaped death last Monday at the substation of the T.M.E.R.
& L. Co. at the Rough and Ready Dam.
The younger man, Everett Taft, an electrician employed by the company,
pointed with his lead pencil to a part of the apparatus in the station to call
the attention of his father to it, who was assisting him in his work, and
getting his hand too close to the high tension coils, both received a severe shock and they were thrown violently against other machinery
in the place. Other men at the station
went to their rescue and found them in an unconscious condition. They were taken to St. Mary’s hospital for
treatment. The father is burned on both
arms, and one of his legs is broken. The
son had his hand and foot badly burned and was cut on the chin and had several
of his teeth knocked out. Both men will recover, but may be crippled for life. WG
1915
1918
1927
08 30 BIRTHDAY
SUITS PROHIBITED
Three
Bathers Get A Lecture
The
lid was clamped on a nude bathing party here Monday afternoon before anyone in
the vicinity could find a soft spot on which to fall down
in a faint.
It was
strictly a stag affair and the three participants, all boys aged about 12
years, were taken to the office of the police department
and given a lecture on the necessity of proper grab when one wishes to splash
in Rock river. They were later
released. The three boys were swimming
in the vicinity of the "Rough and Ready" dam a la natural when
the performance was halted.
Cross
reference to c.1895
skinny dipping image
1930s
c.1950
<
sledding on hill can be seen
1969
09 07 A LEAK IN THE DAM
The low level of the water at the Concord
Avenue power dam in recent days is not entirely the result of the dry spell in
the city the past few weeks. William Rathert, manager of the Wisconsin Electric Power Company
office in Watertown, said the low level was caused partially by the lack of
rainfall and also by a leak in the dam. He said the water level dropped to
approximately two feet below the crest of the dam before the electric company
crews found the problem. When the water
level drops below the crest of the dam, all sluiceways and openings are closed
to keep the river level from dropping more than 18 inches below the crest of
the dam. When the employees shut off the
waterways, some water still rushed through.
The problem was in an area of the dam where two turbines for the generation
of electricity were placed. The
turbines, no longer connected to generators, are used to force water through
them and then below the dam when the water is high in the spring and after a heavy rainfall.
1985
06 14 ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE DAM
A Kohler firm, already leasing a dam in
Sheboygan Falls, is seeking to purchase the Upper Watertown Dam on the Rock
River from the Wisconsin Electric Power Company, the president of the company
confirmed Friday. Elaine Hitchcock of
Hitchcock and Associates of Kohler said all the terms of the sale have been
finalized with the exception of the approval of sale
by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The DNR can approve the sale without
conducting a public hearing if it does not receive a written request within 30
days to do so. Hitchcock said she did
not foresee any problems in gaining the DNR’s approval. WDT
12 20 A Kohler, Wis., woman
says she has the financial capability to successfully operate the Upper
Watertown Dam, the primary concern of two parties who have requested a public
hearing on her plan to purchase the Rock River dike. “I have sent the (state Department of
Resources) a showing of my financial capability. I don't see it as a problem,”
Elaine Hitchcock said in an interview.
Hitchcock wants to obtain the dam from the Wisconsin Electric Company
for the purpose of producing electricity and possibly opening a new restaurant
or condominium at the site. WDT
1986
01 13 DECISION ON REQUEST TO SELL UPPER
WATERTOWN DAM
A state hearing examiner says he will issue a decision within three weeks on
the Wisconsin Electric Power Company’s request to sell Upper Watertown Dam for
the purpose of generate electricity. Michael Schwartz of the State Department of
Administration concluded a public hearing Wednesday in which attorneys from the
city of Watertown and the Rock River Landowners Association (RRLA) challenged
the sale to Elaine Hitchcock of Kohler, a self-acclaimed “entrepreneur” who
wants to produce electricity at the site.
07 05 50-YEAR LEASE TO THE
DAM
A long family history
of producing electricity has led the owner of one of the area’s largest
industries to try to generate some kilowatts from one of Watertown’s two
dams. “There is still a lot of work to
do,” said Tom Reiss, who gained the Watertown Common Council’s approval of a
50-year lease to the dam. The lease of
the dam was approved by a 10-1 vote, the only dissenting vote being cast by
Alderman Walter Nuernberg, who said an “act of God”
phrase describing natural catastrophes was grossly inappropriate. Tuesday’s resolution calls for Reiss to pay
rent of $1 per year for the life of the lease. He will also pay the city 5
percent of any profits arising from the dam’s power generation, beginning after
its third year of operation. WDT
08 29 UPPER DAM PURCHASED
The purchase of the
upper Watertown dam has been finalized and the Kohler woman who now owns the
facility is hoping it will be able to produce electricity within one year. Elaine Hitchcock said in a telephone interview
Friday that her initial plans will be general cleanup of the powerhouse,
followed by a thorough inspection of the structure’s equipment, including the
turbines. That work, she said, should
take about two months. Hitchcock
purchased the dam from the Wisconsin Electric Power Company and the deal was
closed earlier this month. The
acquisition was approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources after
a December 1985 public hearing in which inquiries were made by city officials
and the Rock River Landowners Association as to Hitchcock’s financial
capability and knowledge of dam operations.
WDT
09 17 A Kohler woman who has
acquired her third dam says she's convinced it will return to power — and
eventually profit - as soon as repairs and modernization are completed. Elaine Hitchcock is one of a growing number
of entrepreneurs buying up old hydroelectric sites. They are taking advantage of federal law
that requires utilities to purchase power from private operators. Mrs. Hitchcock, who Ieases
dams at Sheboygan Falls and on the Eau Galle River in Dunn County, recently bought the Rock River dam and
the power plant that goes with it on Watertown's east side. She received little
from Wisconsin Electric Power Co. Aug. 15 after her bid of $3,122 was
accepted. WDT
1987
12 26 A Kohler woman plans to
begin generating electricity from the upper Watertown dam sometime in
1988. Elaine Hitchcock, who purchased
the dam from the Wisconsin Electric Power Company in 1986, said that she hoped
to receive approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission within a
month. “We should be able . . . to start
generating within the year,” she said.
Hitchcock said she has applied for an exemption to licensing because her
proposed operation will generate fewer than 5 megawatts and have a maximum
capacity of 300 kilowatts. WDT
1990
07 28 Although the process
has taken longer than she expected, a Kohler woman hopes to begin generating electricity
from the upper Watertown dam on the Rock River in about one year. Elaine Hitchcock, who purchased the dam in
1986, said structural and electrical engineers are working on the acquisition
of new turbine generating equipment for the historic dam, which was built in
1909. “I would say once the equipment is
chosen, I believe it would be one year (before electricity is generated),”
Hitchcock said. She said her firm, R &
R Hydro Inc., received a federal license to generate electricity at the dam in
March of 1989, almost three years after buying the property from Wisconsin
Electric Power Company. WDT
10 07 KOHLER (AP) — Elaine
Hitchcock, a tenacious housewife who five years ago began purchasing or leasing
idle dams in Wisconsin, has endured the doubts of friends
and cut through the red tape of government.
Mrs. Hitchcock leased a dam on the Eau Galle River in west central
Wisconsin and bought the Rock River dam and its power plant in Watertown in
southeastern Wisconsin for $3,122.
Licenses were recently granted.
“I have a great deal of commitment and tenacity,” Mrs. Hitchcock
said. “I made a choice to see these up
and running and they will be. I won’t’ give up . . . .
We plan to be up and running in 1991. We
have the right to generate electricity forever and forever,” she added, proudly
noting the success of her $180,000 struggle to win licenses from the
government. WDT
1993
07 17 ALLEGED INTERFERENCE BY CITY OFFICIALS
The owner of the upper
dam on the Rock River is seeking $136,400 from the city of Watertown for the
alleged interference by city officials with the operation of the facility. R.&R. Hydro Company of Kohler has filed a
notice of claim with the city for interference and defamation. The Watertown Common Council Tuesday denied
the claim and referred it to the city attorney's office. According to the claim, "Various city of
Watertown officials have on various dates, negligently or purposefully
interfered with third parties to deny the appropriate licensing of an
electrical generating facility at the Upper Watertown Dam."
09 04 RENOVATION
Renovation of the Upper
Dam in Watertown should get started next week following a drawdown of the Rock
River, a DNR engineer said. Rich Vogt
said plans call for the construction firm hired by the dam’s owner to begin
work Tuesday. “They are going to start
construction next week,” said Vogt, who said he was informed of the start date
by Virgil Van Asten, a contractor with Lunda
Construction. “He indicated to me that
they have drawn (the river) down as far as they needed for completing
construction. They anticipate moving in
with their equipment next week.” WDT
10 15 POWER HOUSE TOUR
The Octagon House
neighborhood harked back to days of old on Friday
when vintage Willis Overland cars parked in the streets. The cars, manufactured between 1903
and 1941, lined the streets while the drivers and passengers
toured the Octagon House as part of regional meeting
activities of the Willis Overland Knights Register, an international club. Tours were also given at Reiss Industry
Inc. and Watertown Table Slide by owner Tom Reiss, who owns an
Overland car which is being refurbished. The group also toured the power house being restored by Reiss on
the lower dam of the Rock River.
Co-chairmen of the regional meeting are Connie and Carol Holcomb of
Watertown, who have a 1920 Overland touring car, and Ward and Chris Bruhn of
Concord, who have a 1917 Overland touring car.
WDT
1994
03 19 DAM CONFLICT
How can a repeat of
last year’s conflict between the owner of the Rough and Ready dam and local and
state officials be avoided this spring?
There appear to be two conflicting opinions. Elaine Hitchcock, the owner of the upper dam
in Watertown, said officials can stay away from the dam. She said there won’t be any problems if they
mind their own business. “These are
people that shouldn’t be dictating to me that have jobs of their own and they
shouldn’t be going about trespassing on other people’s property.” But a DNR official says it is their business
to make sure compliance within the permit for the dam is met. Robert Hansis, of
the DNR’s Water Regulation and Zoning, said if R& R Hydro, Inc., followed
compliance levels there would be no conflict.
1996
07 22 A sheriff's sale for the Watertown
Upper Dam has been canceled, according to an attorney representing the mortgage
holder, Bank One of Beaver Dam. Eric L.
Becker of the law firm Quincey, Becker & Schuessler
of Beaver Dam said the owner of the dam, R&R Hydro Inc.
and Elaine R. Hitchcock, received a stay of proceedings from the United States
Bankruptcy Court, Western District, in Madison.
The firm has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization with the bankruptcy
court. As a result, the sheriff's sale
for the upper dam scheduled for July 31 has been canceled. WDT
1997
07 11 Owners ordered to cease operations; fish kill and
damaging vibrations WDT
1999
04 25 RECOMMENDATION TO CEASE
OPERATIONS
A federal
commission has recommended ceasing the operations of the hydroelectric
generating project at the Watertown upper dam [Rough & Ready
dam]. The dam's owner has a pattern of
noncompliance with orders since the hydroelectric project began, a report by
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission stated. An exemption for
the hydroelectric operation granted to R&R Hydro, owned by Elaine R. Hitchcock and based in Kohler, should be revoked, the report
said.
12 28 SHUTDOWN AND REVOCATION
A
commission is recommending shutdown of the upper Watertown dam's power
generating operations and revocation of its operator's license. An
environmental assessment by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has
concluded that if safety measures on the dam are implemented and the tailrace
channel keeps a minimum flow, shutdown of the dam will restore run-of-river
conditions. Shutdown would provide the greatest level of
environmental protection and enhancement and would resolve most concerns voiced
by Watertown residents and the state's Department of Natural Resources, the
study said.
2000
07 30 The foreclosed upper
Watertown dam will be sold to the highest bidder Sept. 6. The Jefferson County sheriff will offer the
Rock River dam, owned by Rough & Ready, Inc., in a public auction at 10
a.m. in the lobby area of Jefferson County Courthouse. Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge William
F. Hue ruled May 10 to grant the foreclosure in a case between Rough &
Ready and Halsted Construction, Inc. of Chicago. Halsted had loaned Rough & Ready $220,000
to mortgage the dam in 1998. The
corporation now seeks a judgment of $214,884 from Rough & Ready. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is
currently conducting a revocation proceeding that would strip Rough &
Ready, owned by Elaine Hitchcock of Sheboygan, of its operating license. WDT
2001
01 27 Jefferson County Sheriff Orval Quamme sold the
upper Rock River dam for $220,000 to the highest bidder this morning. Halsted Construction, Inc., of Chicago
submitted the only bid in the auction at the Jefferson County Courthouse. In 1998, Halsted loaned Rough and Ready,
Inc., which has owned the dam for several years, $220,000. Halsted obtained a judgment of $214,884 from
Rough and Ready. Halsted intends to sell
the dam to a responsible owner. Quamme said confirmation of the sale is expected
today. WDT
10 12 After months of private discussions, the Watertown Common Council is
prepared to move ahead with purchase of the upper dam in Watertown and turn it
over to local businessman Thomas Reiss for repair work and ultimately for
generating electricity. Reiss already has a lease on the lower dam in Watertown
and is generating electricity there. Mayor John David told the Daily Times
today that he has called a special meeting of the Watertown Common Council for
Tuesday at 7 p.m. to discuss the proposal and receive input from
residents. He noted the owners of 64
properties within the city limits which have frontage on the Rock River and
above the dam will be given written invitations to attend the meeting and offer
their input. WDT
10 28 A lease agreement for the city to purchase the upper dam from Tom Reiss,
once repairs are complete and the dam is in working order, was approved by
common council members Tuesday night. Cost to the city
is not to exceed $550,000. Reiss is currently operating the dam for Halsted
Construction and has offered to purchase the dam for $200,000 and complete an
estimated $350,000 in repairs. Reiss and his Rough and Ready Water Power Company Inc. are interested in
returning the upper dam to top working order, eliminating vibrations felt by
the property owners along the upper dam and generating electricity. WDT
2002
07 25 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission announced its intention to
revoke the exemption from licensing for operation of the upper dam in the city
of Watertown. The commission is the
agency that regulates operation of dams throughout the country. It has determined
that the current owner of the dam, Halsted Construction of Chicago, Ill., is
not in compliance with rules for its operation.
The order, signed by Magalie R. Salas,
secretary of the commission, states that the exemption will be revoked 30 days
from the date of the order which was July 18. WDT
11 16 The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted a rehearing and
reinstatement of the exemption for owners of the city’s upper dam. The reinstatement of the exemption paves the
way for a change in ownership of the dam, which has been plagued for years with
failure to comply with mandatory regulations.
The commission announced in July its intention to revoke the exemption
from licensing for operation of the upper dam in the city. The exemption was expected to be revoked 30
days from the July 18 date. Current
owner Halsted Construction Inc. and prospective owner Rock River Power and
Light Company requested rehearing the commission’s July 18 order revoking the
exemption for what is officially known as the Upper Watertown Dam Project No.
9974. WDT
2006
01 06 TURBINE
BLADES REPLACED
Two
turbine blades at the Concord Generating Station outside of Watertown are
scheduled to be replaced at the end of January, according to Terry Coughlin,
manager of air quality at We Energies.
All that stands in the way now of the blades being replaced is the
issuance of air permits by the state Department of Natural Resources for the
two units, Coughlin said. “We have been
working very hard to get the air permits by the end of the month
so we do not delay the outage because the units have to be overhauled and
returned to service for summer peak electricity needs,” Coughlin said. WDT
10 06 DAM RECONSTRUCTION CONTINUES
Workers
continue reconstruction efforts on the upper dam this morning in anticipation
of a November completion date of the project. The million-dollar-plus project, which began
with a drawdown of the Rock River south of the site this summer, features a
complete refurbishing of the structure, a regraded spillway
and the placement of large rocks at the base of the dam to reduce vibrations.
11 29 NOISE
AND VIBRATION
Waters of
the Rock River have crested over the upper dam as reconstruction efforts at the
site near completion. Levels of the
waterway returned to normal Wednesday after a drawdown of the river began in
July to allow for work on the structure.
In addition to a reinforcement of the dam itself, several steps were
taken to minimize noise and vibration factors formally associated with the facility. A rounded cap eases water flow over the dam,
while large rocks placed at the base of the wall disperse the river’s
force. WDT
2007
03 09 STATUS
OF REPAIR PROJECT
The finance
committee of the Watertown Common Council reviewed the status of the upper dam
repair project at a meeting Tuesday evening.
Tom Reiss, who is leasing the dam from the city for power generation,
explained to the members the work on the project which remains to be
completed. It appears the city has
overpaid Reiss by about $22,000 more than was authorized and to resolve this
situation Reiss, Mayor John David and City Clerk Mike Hoppenrath
agreed to meet and prepare a spreadsheet on costs and payments and present that
to aldermen. Some work needs to be
completed on the downstream side of the dam, including some fencing and also some concrete work.
That work is estimated at $25,000 and will be factored into the
agreement with Reiss. WDT
2020
07 31 AERIAL VIEW FROM DRONE
Cross-References:
Julius Benkendorf,
interest in Rough and Ready Flouring Mill
J. H. (Heber)
Smith, connected with Rough and Ready dam and milling operations
Nicholas Bickner employee (mill)
John Beynon, employed at the old Rough
and Ready mill.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin