Hiram C. Gill Masonry Dam Construction photograph album, 1911-1914

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Gill, Hiram C.
Title
Hiram C. Gill Masonry Dam Construction photograph album
Dates
1911-1914 (inclusive)
Quantity
89 photographic prints in an album (1 box) ; various sizes
Collection Number
PH0046
Summary
Photographs of the site and construction of the Masonry Dam on the Cedar River
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The Cedar River Masonry Dam, in the U.S. state of Washington, was built between 1911 and 1914, and the Chester Morse Lake filled between 1914 and 1918. When completed, the crest of the dam stood 1600 feet above sea level. Throughout construction, a twelve-foot opening had remained at the bottom of the dam, enabling water to pass through the opening during construction. After construction the water continued to collect in the basin behind the dam and began seeping through the north bank of the reservoir. The bank could not be sealed because of a glacial moraine, and water continued to escape. This caused the level of water in Rattlesnake Lake to rise, resulting in the 1915 flooding of the town of Moncton. Later in December 1918, a hillside blew out at Boxley Creek destroying the mill town of Edgewick on Christmas Eve 1918.

Hiram C. Gill was the Mayor of Seattle at the time of the Masonry Dam construction. He first ran on a platform of strong opposition to municipal ownership of utilities such as this project. Later in his reelection to his second and third terms he discontinued his active obstruction to the utility. James Delmage (J. D.) Ross was appointed to City Light soon after it's inception in 1911. Ross, often called the "Father of City Light", helped design and build the project and power plant at Cedar Falls on the Cedar River. This album was probably a presentation to Gill when he was reelected during 1916 third term.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Album of photographs documenting site and construction of the Masonry Dam on the Cedar River.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Information about the photographs was collected from captions on photos and from Cristy Lake, Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed by Christy Lake, 2011 and Melody Hauf 2012; processing completed 2012.

Page 11-12 is broken and has come loose from the album binding.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Container(s) Description Dates
Page item
1-2 1-2
Cedar Lake before construction of dam
circa 1911
3 3 March 17, 1914
4-5 4-5 circa 1911
6 6a December 12, 1911
6 6b November 18, 1911
7 7a
Masonry Dam construction site
circa 1911
7 7b
Looking toward Cedar Lake at Masonry Dam site
December 12, 1911
7 7c January 26, 1912
8 8a January 26, 1912
8 8b March 26, 1912
8 8c March 26, 1912
9 9a April 16, 1912
9 9b circa 1912
9 9c April, 16, 1912
9 9d
Progress on the Pacific spur line connection and Cedar Falls Depot at Masonry Dam
April 22, 1913
10 10a October 17, 1912
10 10b October 17, 1912
10 10c October 17, 1912
10 10d October 17, 1912
11 11a
Construction area beside the cofferdam discharge pipe structure at Masonry Dam Powerhouse
December 8, 1912
11 11b January 9, 1913
11 11c
Construction area beside the cofferdam discharge pipe structure
December 8, 1912
12 12a
Snow covered road through forest to dam
circa January 1913
12 12b
Horses on snow covered road at Masonry Dam camp 2
January 18, 1913
12 12c
Snow covered buildings at Masonry Dam camp 2
January 18, 1913
12 12d January 18, 1913
13 13a
Icicles on discharge pipe at the cofferdam
January 18, 1913
13 13b
Concrete pouring through structure
January 18, 1913
13 13c
View of construction from down stream at Masonry Dam
March 18, 1913
13 13d April 7, 1913
14 14a
Two part panorama of Masonry Dam
circa April 1913
14 14b April 22, 1913
14 14c
View from down stream at Masonry Dam
May 17, 1913
15 15a-b May 17, 1913
16 16a May 17, 1913
16 16b May 17, 1913
17 17a April 22, 1913
17 17b-d June 13, 1913 to October 16, 2013
18 18 October 16, 1913
19-20 19-20 January 19, 1914
21 21 January 19, 1914
22 22
Construction at Masonry Dam
January 19, 1914
23 23
Construction at Masonry Dam
March 17, 1914
24 24 March 17, 1914
25 25
Construction at Masonry Dam
April 18, 1914
26 26
Two part panorama construction at Masonry Dam
April 18, 1914
27-28 27-28
Construction at Masonry Dam
April 18, 1914
29 29 April 18, 1914
30 30
Two part panorama of construction at Masonry Dam
May 17, 1914
31 31 June 3, 1914
32 32 June 3, 1914
33 33
Construction at Masonry Dam
June 3, 1914
34 34 circa June 1914
35 35 June 6, 1914
36 36
Two part panorama of construction at Masonry Dam
July 8, 1914
37 37
Ground level view of construction and workers at Masonry Dam
July 8, 1914
38 38 August 8, 1914
39-40 39-40
Construction at Masonry Dam
July 8, 1914
41-42 41-42 August 7, 1914
43 43 August 7, 1914
44 44 August 7, 1914
45 45 September 23, 1914
46 46 September 23, 1914
47 47
Sloping face and pipeline of Masonry Dam
October 18, 1914
48 48
Two part panorama of construction at Masonry Dam
October 18, 1914
49 49 October 18, 1914
50 50 October 18, 1914
51 51 October 18, 1914
52 52 October 18, 1914
53 53
Sloping face and construction at Masonry Dam
November 6, 1914
54 54 November 6, 1914
55 55 November 6, 1914
56 56
Two part panorama of Masonry Dam and water flowing through pipe
November 6, 1914
57-58 57-58
Masonry Dam with water filling in Chester Morse Lake
November 6-25, 1914
59 59 November 25, 1914
60 60
Completed Cedar River bridge at Masonry Dam
November 25, 1914

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)