Then and Now
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Then and Now 1889-1899 -Starch Factory closed -Large Mill Pond above falls from dam that provided power to a steam sawmill -below the falls was another dam and sawmill of which the foundation still exists A dam with a penstock that provided hydro power for the starch factory located below the falls (to the right). 1830’s-1950’s Brownsville: Settlement & Industry 1850’s -Several Farms in area -Starch Factory at base of falls -School House -Logging Roads to left of falls -Two Dams with holding pools -Concrete -Log -Two Sawmills (1 upstream, 1 downstream of falls) Present day photo of where starch factory was located. The perseverance of the townspeople and the drive for mill power led to several attempts at capturing the most energy from the falls. At times, up to four dams were located within close proximity to the falls supplying energy to multiple industries. The present day photo (and site) show minimal evidence of the roofed structure (above) and the penstock present in the historic photo. Pool above Falls: Evidence of channel widening by blasting View of penstock from downstream with present-day photo of same location. Note differences in channel composition and discharge. The penstock was connected to the sawmill downstream to which the foundation is Moss Glen Falls Data Channel Type: Bedrock Gorge with alluvium sediments up and downstream of falls, lots of pools and riffles Sediment Type: sand, rounded cobbles and boulders, differs with proximity to falls Discharge: Q=2.9 m 3 /s, V=1.26 m/s Manning’s n: n = .037 - minor stream GPS: 0688880 N 4928230 E Channel Dimensions (downstream of falls) Human Impact of the Channel Downstream: Remainder of log dam Mill-pond sediment below falls, also located in several pools behind pre-existing dams Notches in bedrock remain where dams were constructed 1900-1950’s -Early 1900’s - area above falls was cleared -Flood of 1927 accounts claim “havoc” in Brownsville -Early 1930’s - becomes tourist mecca -1950’s- glory days of Brownsville are over as economy of the area depresses A Brief History of Brownsville amidst Moss Glen Falls: Timeline History of Moss Glen Falls Revealed: History of Moss Glen Falls Revealed: The Lost Settlement of Brownsville The Lost Settlement of Brownsville Moss Glen Falls is a popular summer spot for sightseeing and swimming. Upon finding historic pictures of the falls with a penstock we wondered what anthropomorphic changes had occurred and what effects these changes had on the bedrock channel. We found that the penstock provided power for several sawmills and a starch mill for the small settlement of Brownsville which was centered around the falls in the late 1800’s. Lydia Smith & Jessica Kuonen
description
History of Moss Glen Falls Revealed: The Lost Settlement of Brownsville. Then and Now. 1830’s-1950’s Brownsville: Settlement & Industry. A Brief History of Brownsville amidst Moss Glen Falls: Timeline. 1850’s -Several Farms in area -Starch Factory at base of falls -School House - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Then and Now
Then and Now
1889-1899-Starch Factory closed-Large Mill Pond above falls from dam that provided power to a steam sawmill-below the falls was another dam and sawmill of which the foundation still exists
A dam with a penstock that provided hydro power for the starch factory located below the falls (to the right).
1830’s-1950’s Brownsville: Settlement & Industry
1850’s -Several Farms in area-Starch Factory at base of falls-School House-Logging Roads to left of falls-Two Dams with holding pools
-Concrete-Log
-Two Sawmills (1 upstream, 1downstream of falls)
Present day photo of where starch factory was located.
The perseverance of the townspeople and the drive for mill power led to several attempts at capturing the most energy from the falls. At times, up to four dams were located within close proximity to the falls supplying energy to multiple industries. The present day photo (and site) show minimal evidence of the roofed structure (above) and the penstock present in the historic photo.
Pool above Falls: Evidence of channel widening by blasting
View of penstock from downstream with present-day photo of same location. Note differences in channel composition and discharge. The penstock was connected to the sawmill downstream to which the foundation is still present (left).
Moss Glen Falls DataChannel Type: Bedrock Gorge with alluvium sediments up and
downstream of falls, lots of pools and rifflesSediment Type: sand, rounded cobbles and boulders,
differs with proximity to fallsDischarge: Q=2.9 m3/s, V=1.26 m/sManning’s n: n = .037 - minor streamGPS: 0688880 N
4928230 E
Channel Dimensions (downstream of falls)
Human Impact of the Channel
Downstream: Remainder of log dam
Mill-pond sediment below falls, also located in several pools behind pre-existing dams
Notches in bedrock remain where dams were constructed
1900-1950’s-Early 1900’s - area above falls was cleared-Flood of 1927 accounts claim “havoc” in Brownsville-Early 1930’s - becomes tourist mecca-1950’s- glory days of Brownsville are over as economy of the area depresses
A Brief History of Brownsville amidst Moss Glen Falls:
Timeline
History of Moss Glen Falls History of Moss Glen Falls Revealed: The Lost Settlement of Revealed: The Lost Settlement of
BrownsvilleBrownsvilleMoss Glen Falls is a popular summer spot for sightseeing and swimming. Upon finding historic pictures of the falls with a penstock we wondered what anthropomorphic changes had occurred and what effects these changes had on the bedrock channel. We found that the penstock provided power for several sawmills and a starch mill for the small settlement of Brownsville which was centered around the falls in the late 1800’s.
Lydia Smith & Jessica Kuonen
