Channahon Dam

History:

The origins of the Channahon Dam can be traced to the construction of the I&M Canal.  Constructed between 1836-1848, the canal played a crucial role in the development and growth of Chicago.  The course of the canal required that numerous streams, creeks, and rivers be crossed.  In Channahon, canal engineers decided that connecting the canal directly to the river would be more economical than constructing an aqueduct over the river. Locks were constructed on either side of the river and canal builders dammed the DuPage River to create a slack-water impoundment.  The original dam was a timber crib structure that was built in the late 1840s.  These photos, circa 1935, show the construction of a new concrete dam over the DuPage River to help improve the recreational amenities of the area. 

Source Credit:

These photographs are part of the Lewis University Canal and Regional History Special Collection.

We Need Your Help:

David Belden is a history teacher at Minooka Community High School and is currently publishing local postcard books with Arcadia Publishing in his Local History classes, including Grundy County, Joliet, Will County, Princeton and I&M Canal.  He and his students are currently looking for I&M photos and postcards and Joliet photographs. If you are interested in contributing a postcard image, please email him at: dbelden@mchs.net or localhistory@mchs.net call 815-467-2140 x260. To view more postcards and images, visit www.localhistoryproject.org or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/localhistory