National Register of Historic Places

Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam

Mitchell, Mitchell County, Iowa
Listed
December 8, 1978
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78001246

About this property

Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam is a historic structure located in Mitchell, Iowa, United States. The west side of town along the Cedar River developed into a processing and manufacturing area, and its mills were powered by the river's current. They all became obsolete and closed around the turn of the 20th century. In 1917 the Northeastern Iowa Power Co. was incorporated at Clermont, Iowa, and in 1924 they hired the Fargo Engineering Company of Jackson, Michigan to build the powerhouse and dam at Mitchell. It was completed the following year. The concrete dam is composed of a 100-foot (30 m) permanent crest and two 32-foot (9.8 m) wide tainter gates. A third gate was converted into a permanent concrete spillway. The powerhouse is a single-story structure composed of rock faced limestone that was laid in a random ashlar pattern. Northeastern Iowa Power Company was transferred to the Central States Power and Light Company, who was in turn transferred to the Interstate Power Company. The Mitchell County Conservation Board acquired the dam, powerhouse, and the adjacent land, which it turned into a public park in 1963. The facility was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Location

Mitchell, Mitchell County, Iowa
43.31841, -92.88107

Categories

INDUSTRY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Cedar Valley Seminary
Industrial
4.1 mi
Deering, Nathaniel Cobb and Lucetia Baily, House
Industrial
4.1 mi
Mitchell County Courthouse
Industrial
4.2 mi
Osage Commercial Historic District
Modern
4.2 mi
Saint Ansgar Public School
Industrial
4.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam listed on the National Register?

Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam?

Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam?

The period of significance for Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Mitchell Powerhouse and Dam?

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