Taneycomo Flood 1927
Powersite Dam is repaired at $250,000 cost.
Springfield Leader, November 8, 1927
Damage done by floods last April to the Empire District Power company’s dam at Powersite on Lake Taneycomo is being repaired at an approximate cost of $250,000.
Barges are plying the waters between Branson and Powersite and 100 workmen are engaged in making repairs on the huge dam. A large amount of rock is being removed from the spillway and the banks of the lake are being rip-rapped. Concrete is being placed at the base of the dam where flood waters tore away portions of the structure.
Since the flood, the company has found it necessary to rewind all generators in the power plant and this work has been in progress for several weeks. Practically all electrical equipment in the plant has been overhauled since the flood last April.
Workmen are now engaged in erecting a new transmission line crossing at a point below the dam. The new line will remove all danger of damage resulting from spray forming ice on the wires. The present transmission line crossing is immediately over the dam. Extensive repairs also are being made on lines between Forsyth and Branson. The company plans to complete this work by January 1.
The section around Forsyth bore the brunt of the flood and employees of the Empire District company who were stationed at the dam faced many dangers. Sandbags were placed against doors and windows of the power plant and the men remained at their posts as long as possible. Several times the report reached Springfield that the dam at Powersite had gone out, but these were quickly denied by officials of the company, who said that the dam would hold against the flood.
For two days it was impossible to reach Forsyth from Springfield and the section between Forsyth and the dam at Powersite was completely flooded.
Immediately following the flood, residents of Forsyth, Branson, Hollister and other points along the lake set about to repair damage done by the waters. Neither money nor labor was spared in an effort to place the lake region in attractive condition before the tourist season opened. Progress made in this direction was astounding and persons visiting the lake region during the past summer could see but little trace of the spring floods.
For more information about Taney County see Taney County Missouri by Vickie Layton Cobb and The land of Taney: a history of an Ozark commonwealth by Elmo Ingenthron. The images above are postcards in the library's collection.
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