quedam

QUEMAHONING DAM
The Quemahoning Dam, located on Quemahoning Creek on the border of Quemahoning and Conemaugh Townships, was constructed by The Manufacturers Water Company to supply water for the Cambria Steel Company's works in Johnstown. Construction was begun in 1910 and completed in 1913. The reservoir created by this dam is about five miles long and two miles wide at its widest place. It is the largest artificial body of water in Pennsylvania. The reservoir is said to cover the old Indian village Kickenapauling's Town, referred to in records of Christopher Gist, as well as in the 10 Jun 1779 deed of Joseph Johns [after whom Johnstown was named]

QUEMAHONING DAM

The Quemahoning Dam, located on Quemahoning Creek on the border of Quemahoning and Conemaugh Townships, was constructed by The Manufacturers Water Company to supply water for the Cambria Steel Company's works in Johnstown. Construction was begun in 1910 and completed in 1913. The reservoir created by this dam is about five miles long and two miles wide at its widest place. It is the largest artificial body of water in Pennsylvania.

The reservoir is said to cover the old Indian village Kickenapauling's Town, referred to in records of Christopher Gist, as well as in the 10 Jun 1779 deed of Joseph Johns [after whom Johnstown was named]

Bill Swallow (and his mom) have generously donated these old photographs showing a front and side view of the boring machine sent to drill tunnels during the construction of the Quemahoning Dam. Noted on the back of one of the photos is the following: "The man in the suit is the machine's inventor, John J. Karns. The machine was used successfully to bore hard rock in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. It was brought to Pennsylvania to drill holes for the Cambria Steel Co.'s Quemahoning Dam. Unfortunately, it could not work well there, because there was too much clay and soft rock. The machine failed in this task, and the holes were drilled by hand." borefrnt boreside

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