Bloede's Dam

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Geographical Data
Bloede's Dam
The remains of Bloede's dam. (ca. 1992)
Official name	Bloede's Dam
Impounds	Patapsco River
Locale	Avalon, Maryland
Maintained by	Maryland DNR
Length	220 feet ( 67.05 m)
Height	26½ feet ( 8.07 m)
Width (at base)	40 feet (12.19 m)
Opening date	1907
Coordinates	<span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised word "n" Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised word "w"">Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised word "n" Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised word "w" / 39.247023N, -76.761083WCoordinates: <span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised word "n" Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised word "w"">Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised word "n" Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised word "w" / 39.247023N, -76.761083W
Recorded National Historical site^{[citation needed]}

Victor G. Bloede (1849-1937)^[1]

Patapsco Electric and Manufacturing of Ellicott City brought fame to the Patapsco River corridor in 1906 when it constructed the world’s first underwater hydroelectric plant. Named after the company’s president, Victor Gustave Bloede (pronounced as Blerda). Bloede, a German immigrant, was also the founder of The Avalon Waterworks in the same area. Bloede's dam and power generating plant was located near Gray's Mill on the Patapsco River an area now part of Patapsco Valley State Park Avalon Area.

[edit] Design

Victor Bloede hired electrical engineer Otto Wonder to oversee the development of this unique hydroelectric dam. The dam was 220 feet (67m) long, 40 feet (12.1m) wide at the base and had a drop of 26 ½ feet (8m). It was an Amburson Hydraulic Construction Company (Boston type) reinforced concrete slab and buttress dam. It was the first known instance of a submerged hydroelectric plant where the power plant was actually housed under the spillway. It is also recognized as one of the earliest dams constructed of reinforced concrete. The dam was not only the first of its kind in design but in technology as well state of the art equipment by 1907 standards was housed within its core. The power generating plant was built with 34-inch Poole & Hunt Leffel Wheels and 30-inch Samson Turbines.

[edit] History

An image of the 34-inch Poole & Hunt Leffel Wheels and the 30-inch Samson Turbine.^[2]

Bloede's power plant was built in 1906 and was fully operational by 1907. In its original plan the power plant was meant to serve the surrounding towns which were outside of the competitors service area. As fate would have it, the dam was sold to Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power in ca. 1912 and continued to generate electrical power within its interior until 1924 when it was closed due to the competition of larger, more powerful plants. Having missed the great flood in 1868 that wiped out nearly everything in the Patapsco Valley it couldn't miss Agnes who struck in 1972. Although severely damaged by the flood of Hurricane Agnes much of the dam still stands, although the dam has been gutted leaving only a mud filled shell. The gate house structures which did survive have been removed since the storm left them unsafe. In 1992 the Maryland Department of Natural Resources added a fish ladder to allow migrating fish to swim upstream without being blocked by the dam. More controversy has risen about the American eel in that the dam blocks their passage as well.

[edit] National Register of Historic Places

The Bloede Dam as it once stood in ca. 1907^[3]

Bloede’s Dam is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Other sites within Patapsco State Park, Avalon area

Thomas Viaduct - on the Patapsco less then 1 mile from Bloede's Dam
Patapsco Swinging Bridge - another favorite attraction at the park.
Avalon Dam - another victim of the great flood in 1868 (remains)
Grist Mill - leveled by the wrath of Agnes. (remains)

[edit] See also

Patapsco Valley State Park
List of Maryland state parks

[edit] Footnotes and References

Much of the information found here was provided by the Baltimore County Public Library.

^ Used with permission from the Baltimore County Public Library.. Photograph Victor G. Bloede ca. 1900. Retrieved on October 3, 2007.
^ Used with permission from the Baltimore County Public Library.. Photograph Bloede turbine generators ca. 1907. Retrieved on October 3, 2007.
^ Used with permission from the Baltimore County Public Library.. Photograph Bloede dam ca. 1907. Retrieved on October 3, 2007.

[edit] External links

v • d • e U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Keeper of the Register · History of the National Register of Historic Places · Property types · Historic district · Contributing property

List of entries National Park Service · National Historic Landmarks · National Battlefields · National Historic Sites · National Historical Parks · National Memorials · National Monuments