It’s time for the Carpentersville Dam’s retirement to be celebrated. It retired years ago when it no longer worked to move water into the race areas. The dam was constructed to provide mechanical power and later ice. They were very important jobs for local industrial development, but electricity and refrigeration have rendered them obsolete. The Carpentersville Dam’s actual retirement was 80-100 years ago. Finally, we are going to have a retirement party in Carpentersville.
Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) ran a series of public outreach events in six communities called Dam Night Out. At these events the natural and cultural history of the river and its dams was recognized by local historians. That was followed by a science lesson in the negative impacts of dams upon the local ecosystem. This week, the physical retirement of the Carpentersville Dam will begin. Through an agreement between the funding agent, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the dam owner, Kane County Forest Preserve District, the five-year process will begin its final chapter of deconstruction.
In honor of the cultural value of the dam, here is an excerpt from local historian, Phil Aleo’s publication: History of the Carpentersville Dam; photos are also used with permission from Mr. Aleo.
“This region was ripe for settlement. It’s no wonder that this region was quickly populated as soon as it was opened by the United States government in 1834…The Fox River was a “saving grace” for the early pioneers.”
In 1837, John Oatman and his family decided to build a dam. “The original dam was made of brush, tree branches and tree trunks. Their purpose: to harness the energy of the water.” To do so they dug out a channel (water race) along the side of the river. It was here that they built a mill that used waterpower to cut lumber. This was the first mill on the Fox River.
“9 years later, another water race was dug out on the east bank of the Fox River. This was for the purpose of powering the flouring mill that was built in 1846. This mill is home to Main Street bicycles today.”
By the 1850’s, a foundry and blacksmith shop was built on the west bank of Main Street. “This later became the Illinois Iron and Bolt Co.
but the gate is still there.”
…The water race was still being used in 1909, when they built the electric power plant on the east bank of the river for Star Mfg. It powered the turbines sunk into the water race that turned the generators to power the factory. This building still exists behind OTTO in their parking lot.
Another major function of the dam was the production of ice. The pooled water above the dam was perfect for ice manufacturing. One of many Ice houses here on the Fox was owned and operated by Swift & Co., the largest meat packer in the Chicago Stockyards at the time. They had an ice house here in Carpentersville…
As time progressed, and utilities modernized, the use of the dam, the water races and the Fox River for power diminished. Refrigeration killed the Ice business. The dams and the water races no longer served the purpose for which they were created.”
As with most of the towns in the valley, the Fox River was the essential source of energy to produce products and a thriving economy. When electricity and later refrigeration (1940s) became readily available, the dam became obsolete. It is now widely understood that the remaining dams are providing a negative impact upon the river’s habitat and water quality. The Fox River has been designated as an Impaired Water, and a mandated plan is in place to address that status. Removing the dams is recognized as the most efficient and economical technique. So, even though the dams were an important part of towns, it is time for retirement.