Page
154-155
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Page
154-155
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The first three photos were taken looking east from nearly the same spot, on the northwest side of the Snake River, during construction of the new American Falls Dam and relocation of the original town.
Photo
taken probably in March or April, 1925, during the first stages of construction
of the American Falls Dam. The Snake River is impounded by a temporary dam,
with its spillway in the right center. The new dam will be constructed on the
rectangular impoundment (cofferdam) directly in front of the camera. The concrete-mixing
batching plant will be located immediately southeast of the impoundment. The
old town of American Falls, the old Oregon Short Line mainline and depot, and
the grain elevator are still functioning. But, also note houses and buildings
south of the railroad on high ground that was the original American Falls townsite.
The area that was to be flooded ("Old American Falls") was called
the "Riverside and Union Additions" in a 1924 town plat. In the center
distance is the new school building; the new Power County courthouse has not
yet been constructed. High spring runoff has raised the level of the river and
flooded the trees in the foreground. The railroad bridge in the far right is
the early one, not yet raised or enlarged, but the new mainline with new light-colored
fill can be seen to the east of the bridge.
Building
the American Falls Dam, probably early spring, 1926. In the left distance are
new grain elevators and buildings, some moved from their previous location in
the old town. Note the railroad yard and concrete batching plant in the center
middle distance. The railroad is still using its original depot; the new one
is not yet ready for use. The railroad bridge has not yet been elevated, but
light-colored fill has been installed on the new mainline east of the river.
Just on the west side of the river in the left foreground are construction vehicles
(railroad cars towed by dinkey (small steam) engines). The rail line in the
foreground was constructed for purposes of building the dam only.
View
after completion of the American Falls Dam, probably spring of 1928. Spring
runoff has filled the reservoir and flooded the former townsite; the grain elevator
stands above the water and the drowned trees have sent out leaves for the last
time. It is interesting that these trees were not cut down before the area was
flooded. The new school is in the middle distance, with the courthouse in the
right distance. Note that mature trees are present, in the original townsite.
The railroad fill has been completed and the mainline bridge elevated. The bridge
was enlarged and raised again in the 1970s. The railroad yard and batching plant
that had been directly across the river are gone. The bare area in the middle
distance, across the tracks and beyond the curve of the railroad mainline is
now the American Falls golf course. The road over the dam is not yet finished.
Railroad
bridge at American Falls, finished in 1927. Picture was probably taken in early
1926; looking northeast. In the middle distance under the bridge is the batching
plant where concrete was mixed for the American Falls Dam, which is nearing completion.
The growing reservoir is in the left distance. The mill race for the new power
plant is off the picture to the right. The stone building in the right foreground
is the first power plant, built at American Falls in 1902. The train on the new
bridge is composed of Southern Pacific and Union Pacific refrigerator cars. These
cars, operated by PFE (Pacific Fruit Express), were cooled by blocks of ice put
in bunkers at the ends of the cars. A large icing plant was at the northwest end
of the Pocatello railroad complex.
