Dams in Deep River, Indiana

Hammond Lake County News, Thursday, 31 March, 1904
DAMAGE IN PORTER COUNTY.
Deep River Dam Gone and Nothing Left But Dam Site. The Valparaiso Messenger says:

Trustee Philley informs us that four bridges and a half dozen culverts are washed away in Center township as a result of the storm. The damage was particularly heavy in Washington township along Crooked Creek. A number of bridges are washed away and the stream resembles a small sea in some places.

The Big dam at Deep river was entirely washed away by the storm.

Crown Point Lake County Star, Friday, 29 May, 1908
The dam at Wood's Mill, which is a great detriment to lands along Deep River, as far as three miles west of Crown Point, is being rebuilt and will soon be ready to back the water again. The people along the route ought to have clubbed together and bought Mr. Wood's property there, including the "dam privilege" when it was offered for a comparative song.

Hobart News, Thursday, 22 June, 1922
PICTURESQUE MILL DAM AT DEEP RIVER GOES OUT LAST SATURDAY A. M. The Deep River dam, located at the town of Deep River, broke and went out last Saturday. The cause of the break is said to have been the work of muskrats undermining the dirt portion of it. The dam proper is built of concrete and is said to be in pretty good condition and is not damaged, so that the rebuilding of it will not be so very expensive. The mill is owned by Tony Cullman.

The original dam was built along about 1836 by John Wood, grandfather of Postmaster J. J. Wood of Hobart, who also operated a mercantile store. Deep River at that time was quite a trading post for this whole territory, and was also patronized extensively by Indians, who then roved these parts and were quite numerous.

It is said this dam has broke on several occasions, and one instance is related that Mr. Wood, the original owner, was attempting to save the dam after a heavy rain, as it gave indications of giving way. He was carrying sacks of sand and placing them wherever he thought they would do the most good. Bystanders warned him that the dam was going, and to be careful. He kept right on, however, as he was intent on saving it if he could, when all of a sudden a large portion of the embankment went out. Mr. Wood, being too far away to jump to safety, went with it, and disappeared completely in the swirling, rushing waters. After a few seconds he popped out of the water a couple of hundred feet below the dam apparently none the worse for his experience, but a very lucky man to be alive.

South of Deepriver
. . .

The picturesque mill pond at Deep River which for so many years enhanced the beauty of that little burg is now only a memory of the past. Early Saturday morning the concrete dam gave way underneath, leaving old Deep River to once more flow through the original channel.

Hobart Gazette, Friday, 23 June, 1922
Mill Pond at Deepriver Dry Last Saturday morning, about 6 o'clock, water undermined the dam at Deepriver, and soon the mill pond was dry. The cause is attributed to muskrats that probably worked under the timbers. The outflow started at the east side of the dam, and soon a hole about 20 feet wide was cut out, and the water departed very rapidly. The dam stands, and offered no resistance when once an opening was started under the log footing that was placed there for a dam about 87 years ago by the late John Wood, who came from Massachusetts to that locality in 1835, and the place was known as Woodvale and later Deepriver. Mr. Wood built a saw mill there in 1837 and a grist mill the year following. He must have built the dam about that time. It was the first dam built on the Deep river stream, and several years before the Hobart dam was built. The mill property later was possessed by his son, the late Nathan Wood, who operated a flouring mill there for many years. The mill property is now owned by T. J. Cullman, but he has not operated the mill for about two years. Prior to Mr. Cullman's ownership, a concrete dam was constructed, the concrete resting upon the log footing placed there by Mr. Wood. The lands affected by Mr. Cullman's overflow privilege belong to George Baker, John Crisman, the John Hardesty estate and Reuben Peck mostly. We understand that it is Mr. Cullman's intention to fill the hole washed out and reserve his overflow rights. This property is not only historic, but one of the finest scenic spots in northern Indiana, and being on the Lincoln Highway, will become quite popular as a camping spot.

Chesterton Tribune, Thursday, 29 June, 1922
DEEP RIVER MILL POND IS DESTROYED BY MUSKRATS The mill pond at Deep river, covering many hundreds of acres, possessing a historic background, noted as one of the finest scenic spots in thousands who use the Lincoln highway is now dry. Muskrats, it is believed, undermined the dam, holding back the waters formed from Deep river. The overflow started on the east side of the dam, and soon a hole twenty feet wide was cut out, and the water departed very rapidly. The log footing of the dam was placed there 87 years ago by the late John Wood, who came there from Massachusetts, and built a saw mill and grist mill. It was the first dam built on the Deep river stream. The mill property was later possessed by Nathan Wood, a son who operated a flour mill for many years. The later constructed a concrete dam over the log footing built by his father. Several years ago T. J. Cullman, of Chicago, purchased the mill property. The lands affected by Mr. Cullmans overflow privilege belong to George Baker, John Crisman, John Hardesty estate and Reuben Peck. It is understod that Mr. Cullan intends to fill up the mill pond and reserve his overflow rights.

Valparaiso Evening Messenger, Friday, 7 July, 1922
NEW DEEP RIVER BRIDGE STOOD TEST
State Highway Commission Feared Muskrats Would Destroy Dam and Built Structure Accordingly
Special to The Messenger Indianapolis, Ind, July 7 - When a large mill dam across Deep River at the town of Deep River, Porter county, gave away a few days ago and impounded water inundated for a short time surrounding lowlands, it was determined that the dam had been weakened by muskrats undermining it and causing the break.

State highway engineers were fearful of such when they threw a steel bridge across the stream a short distance below the dam, according to William J. Titus, chief bridge engineer, so they prepared for such an emergency by sinking the abutments much lower than the dam. The result was that when the impounded water was suddenly liberated to sweep with terrific force over the bridge, the highway structure withstood the supreme test and was not damaged. This bridge is on the Lincoln highway, has an 85-foot steel span, and the concrete abutments rest on piling driven far into the earth. The bridge was built by the state highway commission engaged in giving Indiana a permanent transportation system.

When bridges collapse and are swept away in floods such incidents are not acts of God but the result of incompetent engineering according to the theory actuating bridge engineers building structures on Hoosier state roads. By this engineers do not insinuate that no bridge built by them will succumb to flood waters. Rather they take the position that if such is ever the case then it will be their fault and they will not alibi by blaming it onto Providence. Because all bridges should be as strong as science can devise, because the engineers should keep faith with the public which has confidence in them, and because it is the people's money that makes possible such improvements necessary to modern highway transportation, engineers owe it as a moral obligation to see that no inferior construction goes up in Indiana, officials of the highway commission say. And in order that the maximum of strength with the minimum of cost be reached, all plans should be approved by experts, they aver.

The original Deep River dam was built in 1836 by John Wood, when the little town was an important trading post for the whole territory thereabouts. Impounded water was used to provide motive power to operate a grist mill. It is rather coincidental that the wife of the designer of the highway bridge below the dam recalls riding horseback with her father when a little girl, and took wheat to the old mill in exchange for flour for the family larder.

JOHN D. WILLIAMS.
Director State Highway Commission.

Chesterton Tribune, Thursday, 13 July, 1922
MUSKRATS ARE CAUSE OF BREAK IN DEEP RIV DAM Indianapolis, Ind, July 12--When a large mill dam across Deep River gave away a few weeks ago and impounded water inundated for a short time surrounding lowlands, it was determined that the dam had been weakened by muskrats undermining it and causing the break.

State highway engineers were fearful of such when they threw a steel bridge across the stream a short distance below the dam, according to William J. Titus, chief bridge engineer - so they prepared for such an emergency by sinking the abutments much lower than the dam. The result was that when the impounded water was suddenly liberated to sweep with terrific force over the bridge, the highway structure withstood the supreme test, and was not damaged. This bridge is on the Lincoln highway, has an 85-foot steel span, and the concrete abutments rest on piling driven far into the earth. The bridge was built by the state highway commission engaged in giving Indiana a permanent transportation system.

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Posted 13th July, 1999. Reposted 21st February, 2003. Last edited 2nd June, 2006.