Bloede's Dam

__NOTOC__Infobox_Dam

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|dam_name=Bloede's Dam
caption = The remains of Bloede's dam. (ca. 1992)
official_name = Bloede's Dam
crosses = Patapsco River
reservoir =
locale = Avalon, Maryland
maint = Maryland DNR
length = 220 feet ( 67.05 m)
height = 26½ feet ( 8.07 m)
width = 40 feet (12.19 m)
began =
open = 1907
closed =
cost =
map_cue =
map_

map_text =
map_width =
coordinates =
lat= 39.247023
long=-76.761083
extra= Recorded National Historical siteFact|date=June 2008Patapsco 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.

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.

History

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 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.

National Register of Historic Places

Bloede’s Dam is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Fact|date=June 2008

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)

ee also

;Patapsco Valley State Park;List of Maryland state parks

Footnotes and References

Much of the information found here was provided by the [http://www.bcpl.info/ Baltimore County Public Library.]

External links

;* [http://www.dnr.state.md.us/sw_index_flash.asp Maryland Department of Natural Resources] ;* [http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/patapscovalley.html Patapsco Valley State Park] ;* [http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/lw_home.html Baltimore County Public Library 'Legacy Web']