Redridge Steel Dam

Located in Redridge Michigan, this unique steel dam spans the Salmon Trout River. It was built by the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company in 1901, replacing a timber crib dam built in 1894. The water from the reservoir and dam supplied the Atlantic Stamping Mill and Baltic Mining Company. The Atlantic Stamping Mill operated from 1892—1912, and was connected to Atlantic Mine via the Atlantic Mine and Lake Superior Rail Road.

After the closure of the mines it supplied water to, the dam was left unmaintained when in 1941 the spillway to the dam broke open, flooding the surrounding area. Little damage was sustained by the steel structure of the dam, and after 1979 large holes were cut into the steel so that the dam would no longer retain a high water level. This lowering of water level in the reservoir revealed the original timber dam.

Precedence for steel dams

Dams made of steel are very uncommon, Wikipedia lists two other such dams in the United States. The Ashfork-Bainbridge Steel Dam built 1898, Arizona, and Hauser Lake Dam built 1907, Montana, all three dams were built by the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company.

The Hauser Lake Dam, failed within a year of its completion, collapsing in April 1908. The collapse was due to the dam footings giving way, not the structural integrity of the steel dam itself. This in turn lead to public perception that steel dams were flimsy and dangerous, no steel dams have been built since.

Photos taken: Redridge Steel Dam, February, 2017