Back to Gill's Home Page Thanks to McHenry Historical Society for much of the following information
Both McHenry Dam and Moraine Hills State Park have rich histories, and have played an important role in McHenry County. I'm proud to be part of it. To learn more, click on the link below.
Gill
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Back to Gill's Home Page Thanks to McHenry Historical Society for much of the following information |
History Of McHenry Dam
1887 Steamboat operators built a temporary dam in an attempt to raise water levels for boating. Farmers fought the construction of the dam, in fear of losing their land to the rising water.
1901 Senator William Lorimer aids the newly formed Fox River Navigable Waterway Association, in lobby efforts for construction of a dam.
1902 Congress grants permission to construct a dam on the Fox River.
1906 A temporary dam is constructed to determine if a permanent dam is feasible.
1907 A permanent wooden dam is built and Fox Lake's water level rises 6". (Photo)
1912 A steel sheet pile dam replaces the deteriorating wooden dam.
1914 A 15' x 70' concrete lock is added to the eastern end of the dam in an effort to provide navigable water around the dam.
1919 The Fox River & Lakes Improvement Association is formed and takes over control and responsibility of the dam.
1923 With increasing costs of operation, the association can no longer afford to operate the dam, and turns it over to the Illinois Department of Public Works.
1938 A major flood does vast damage to the dam, and its stability and safety become questionable.
1939 Present dam is built and lock is removed, ending passage from the upper to the lower Fox River. (Photo)
1957 Gill is born in Oak Park, Illinois. (Photo)
1957 The completion of a 100' wide navigable channel, downstream of McHenry to Algonquin, justifies consideration of constructing a new lock at the dam. Public hearings were held and it was decided that a new lock should be built in a by-pass channel to the west of the dam. A contract was awarded for the construction of the new lock, at the cost of $285,000.
1960 Lock is officially opened to the public. (Photo)
1977 The McHenry Lock and Dam is renamed the William G. Stratton Lock and Dam, in honor of Governor Stratton, a longtime proponent of the dam.
2002 Flood gates are installed at the dam in an attempt to better control water levels at flood times.
2003 The State of Illinois spends $800,000 on improvements on the park area, to the east of the dam.
2004 Gill's officially opens.
History of Moraine Hills State Park
14,000 B.C. Glacier forms area of Moraine Hills
10,000 B.C. Wisconsinan ice sheet melts and a portion of melting ice becomes Lake Defiance. Paleo-Indian period begins, as nomadic hunters travel through the area.
7,000 B.C. Archaic Period begins as hunters begin to use beveled edges on weapons.
1,500 B.C. The Woodland period finds the nomadic travelers starting to spend more time in the area. Burial mounds are developed during this time.
500 B.C. Mississippian period begins with the development of centralized villages and the start of corn agriculture. The bow and arrow are developed.
1689 A.D. The Eastern and Western Band of the Masconten tribes settle in the area and are divide by the Fox River.
1700 A.D. The Fox and Kickapoo tribes pass through the area on their summer hunts.
1728 A.D. Canoes are utilized on the Fox River to help the fur trade.
1820 A.D. Pottawatomie have over 100 known villages in their vast estate that includes McHenry County.
1840 A.D. Euro-Americans settle the area as the tribes head for the plaines. Horace Long settles in the area and builds his cabin in what is now the Sate Park. A section of the stone foundation of this cabin still can be found in the park. (Photo)
1865 A.D. Gill's Great Great Grandfather, Asa is released from a Confederate prison, and musters out of the Union Army to return to his home in Illinois. (Photo)
1960 A.D. Wilderness, Warrior and Tomahawk lakes are created, when a local gravel mining company, pumps water from the gravel pits into the area of the park.
1971 A.D. 3,000,000 dollars are allotted to acquire the area to be known as Lake Defiance State Park.
1977 A.D. Moraine Hills officially becomes a State Park.
1980 A.D. The gravel pit plays out and water levels in the lakes start lowering due to evaporation and seepage.
1990 A.D. Warrior Lake becomes Warrior Marsh as water levels continue to drop.
1997 A.D. Wilderness Lake fills in with vegetation and only 2’ of water remain in Tomahawk Lake.
2004 A.D. Gill’s officially opens at Lake Defiance.
2005 A.D. Assistant Park Superintendent John Laskowski completes the Walt Disney Marathon.
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