Barnum Dam Beers

Saint Louis Electrical Dam

In 1899 The City of Saint Louis purchased the electric power plant from the Edison Electric Light and Motor Power Company. Then in 1901 an agreement between the Saint Louis Milling Company and the City was drawn up in order to build a Mill Pond and dam. The Mill Pond was cleared, and the first dam was built with concrete pillars and pine boards were used to hold back water. In 1911 the City acquired certain rights of flowage from the owners of the Saint Louis Milling Company. The electric plant was expanded in 1916 by the addition of two hydro wheels. Another expansion in 1936, 1942 and 1948 saw the addition of a diesel fuel engine. Another major expansion in 1958 saw the addition of two dual fuel engines.

Historian Willard D. Tucker, in his History of Gratiot County, published in 1913, commented, "What St. Louis people don't have they are liable to go after and get."

Although they had the Pine River, which formed a big horseshoe curve through St. Louis, they wanted a lake. So, in 1901 they cleared the mill point of its stumps, logs and trash, built a dam, and made a lake.

For 78 years this dam served the community. It provided a head of water to help generate power for the electric utility and gave backup energy for O'Melia Mills to manufacture flour and other grain products.

But time and the elements took their toll, and the original dam became an unsafe barrier. The people wanted to keep their dam and so, in 1978, in step with progress, St. Louis built a might new dam to carry it into the new millennium.

The new Saint Louis Municipal Dam was dedicated to Kenneth V. Barnum, former City Clerk (1949-1976), City Manager 1976-1978), and City Council Member January 1, 1982-December 31, 1989.

Mr. Barnum was often heard to jokingly remark, "Around City Hall they used to say, 'damn that Barnum.' Now they say, 'Barnum Dam.'"