The Austin Dam Trail at the Austin Dam Memorial Park in Austin, Pennsylvania is an easy 1.5-mile out-and-back hike that features the ruins of the Austin Dam. The hike explores the three different dams at the Austin Dam Memorial
Park that were built to provide water for the Bayless Pulp & Paper
Company during its operation from 1901 to 1944.
Trails: Note
that this hike follows the Joseph Dumohoski Interpretive Hiking Trail.
This trail runs from the Bayless Concrete Dam and follows the creek
until it reaches the remains of the Bayless Earthen (Dirt) in the
northern section of the park. Also note that this recording does not
cover the entire length of all of the trails in the park (we will add this data in late Spring 2020 to include the whole trail system).
This
recording begins at the parking lot below the concrete dam ruins and
follows the trail that passes through the left-side of the ruins. Hikers
will find massive pieces of rebar sticking out of the concrete slabs,
massive chunks of concrete, and some pieces of dam that have fallen off
over time. Be cautious when exploring around the dam and pay attention
to and follow directions from the "stay out" signs. And remember, hike at your own risk.
Along this trail are interpretive signs that explain local trees and
vegetation. These signs also include local sponsors that help with the
Austin Dam Memorial Association's efforts.
On the upstream side
of the concrete dam, hike begins with the exploration to some small vernal
pools that collect water over time. On this side of the concrete dam
also begins the Joseph Dumohoski Interpretive Hiking Trail. The towering
structures of concrete are really neat, despite the tragic loss of life
caused by the concrete dam's breakage. The concrete dam was built in
1909 by C. J. Brintnall & Co., of Binghamton N. Y. and T. C. Hatton,
Dam Engineer of Delaware for a larger water source for the Bayless Pulp
& Paper Company.
This recording then follows the Joseph Dumohoski
Interpretive Hiking Trail to the north. At about 0.3 miles, the hike
explores the Coffer Dam. The Coffer Dam was built about 1901 by the
Austin Borough, and was the initial water source for the Bayless Pulp
& Paper Company. The Coffer dam was swept away in the 1911 concrete
dam failure and only the hand-laid stone spillway remains today.
At the end of this hike, at about 0.8 mile distance north of the concrete dam, lays the ruins of the Earthen Dam. This structure, which began as a log crib dam, was built in 1910 by G. M. Miller, of Kane, PA, after the winter scare of January 1910 when the large newly-built concrete dam began to show signs of failure. The log-crib dam held intact during the 1911 flood, and was later reinforced with sloped earthen banks, and was used to re-open the Bayless Pulp & Paper Company after the concrete dam failure. The center section of this Earthen dam breached in the 1942 flood, and today the remaining sections are known by locals as the dirt dam.
History
On September 30th, 1911 the Bayless Pulp
& Paper Company concrete dam gave way under tons of pressure from
the water in the reservoir which had been built to help fuel the paper
mill just south of the reservoir. The dam breakage sent water rushing
down the valley, destroying everything in its path - including much of
the paper mill. The water rushed right through the town of Austin as
well. In its wake, it killed 78 people in total.
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