Broken Down Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broken Down Dam |
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Broken Down Dam ruins in the Otter Tail River, 2013
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 Location of Broken Down Dam in Minnesota
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| Official name | Fergus Falls City Light Station |
| Location | Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States |
| Coordinates | 46°17′26.7″N 96°01′23.9″W / 46.290750°N 96.023306°W |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Decommissioned |
| Construction began | 1907 |
| Opening date | 1908 |
| Demolition date | 1909 |
| Owner(s) | City of Fergus Falls |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Otter Tail River |
| Spillway type | uncontrolled overflow |
| Power station | |
| Turbines | 1 |
The Broken Down Dam was once known as the Fergus Falls Hydro Dam. It was a large concrete dam built on the Otter Tail River in Minnesota, USA. Its main job was to create electricity for the nearby town of Fergus Falls.
The dam was finished in 1908. But just one year later, on September 24, 1909, it suddenly broke apart. This caused a big flood that damaged four other dams downstream. Many buildings and properties were also harmed. Luckily, no one lost their life in the disaster.
Today, the broken parts of the dam are still there. You can see them along the Otter Tail River State Water Trail. The area is now called Broken Down Dam Park. This event caused the only major flood ever recorded in Fergus Falls.
Building the Dam
In 1907, Fergus Falls was growing fast. The city needed more electricity. They decided to build a new, bigger dam on the Otter Tail River. This new dam was meant to be a permanent power source.
Construction started in 1907, and the dam began making power in 1908. However, the engineers made a mistake. They built the dam on top of a hidden natural spring. They did not check the ground properly before building. Because of this, the constant flow of water from the spring slowly weakened the dam's concrete base.
The Dam Breaks
On September 24, 1909, at 4:20 in the morning, workers at the dam noticed a problem. The electric lights started to dim, and water was flowing onto the power plant floor. They quickly ran away to safety. Just as they left, the huge 10-ton generator was swept into the river.
The workers rushed to Fergus Falls to warn everyone. On their way, they met the city's electrical boss. He was heading to the dam to find out why the power had gone out.
The dam broke right in the middle. A huge rush of water flooded downstream. First, it destroyed the Kirk Dam, which powered the city's water system. Then, the Mount Faith Avenue Bridge was washed away. Further down the river, the Red River Mill Dam and the Woolen Mill Dam were also destroyed. The damage to these two mills alone was over $15,000. The Central Dam in the city also failed. Many homes and farms were flooded, but thankfully, no one died.
About 5 miles away, the Dayton Hollow Dam was saved. Its owner, Vernon Wright, got a warning in time. He reached his dam by 6:15 AM and opened its flood gates. This let the extra water pass through safely.
After the disaster, Vernon Wright's company, Otter Tail Power, helped the city get electricity again. This led to a strange rumor. A newspaper editor named Haldor E. Boen spread a story. He claimed that Wright had secretly destroyed the City Dam. He said Wright used quicksilver from a boat to weaken it. But later, experts found the truth. The dam broke because of the natural springs under its foundation. The dam's failure was going to happen anyway.
The Site Today
Today, the area around the old dam is a park. Broken Down Dam Park was created in 1949. It covers about 11 acres. The broken parts of the dam are still there. They form "odd and engaging" ruins along the Otter Tail River State Water Trail. This trail is managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
When the river flows strongly, water rushes through the old concrete blocks. This creates exciting Class III rapids.
