[MassHistPres] dam removal question

[Tucker, Jonathan]

The Town of Pelham recently removed a small historic industrial dam but left elements of its structure in place, above the annual high water mark of the free-flowing stream.  They also constructed a small viewing platform and pedestrian space.  The result was that the historical form of the dam, including some of its historic materials, remains on-site and is visible for interpretation.

I don’t think the two public purposes here—historic preservation and ecologically-responsible restoration of a free-flowing stream—are incompatible.  I would lobby for a compromise:  a selective (rather than total) dam removal, with the intent of using the site as a significant location for historic interpretation along the greenway trail.  Photographs of the historic dams (if any exist) and the removal process could be a prominent part of the interpretive site.

Jonathan Tucker
Planning Director
Amherst Planning Department
4 Boltwood Avenue, Town Hall
Amherst, MA  01002
(413) 259-3040
tuckerj at amherstma.gov<mailto:tuckerj at amherstma.gov>



From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of marilyn.mcarthur at comcast.net
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 6:57 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] dam removal question

Greenfield is working on a plan to remove the historic Wiley & Russell dam on the Green River, with partners including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, American Rivers, and others. The town historic commission and the Museum of Our Industrial Heritage are inclined to save the dam as the centerpiece of a proposed greenway along the Green River through town. (originally a timber crib dam from 1836, reinforced over time)
Have other historic manufacturing towns in Massachusetts faced the challenge of interrupting the dam removal process? What has been the outcome?

Marilyn McArthur
Museum of Our Industrial Heritage<http://industrialhistory.org/>


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