Mr. Stewart's recollections of early Valley Falls, part 3

— Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

"At one time the old Delaware was very much a scenic river" continued E.J. Stewart in his 'Early Days in Valley Falls' story.

"That was before the drainage board destroyed the beauty by taking out the Leglar and Piazzek dams and putting through a ditch from one to the other to eliminate the bend. The purpose was to get relief from floods but the plan didn't work for in 1951 the flood was the worst in history. It ruined the river. The two dams impounded enough head to operate turbines for two flour and grist mills, a grain elevator and for a long time the first electric light plant.

"There were several famous swimming holes in that river; south of Peter's Creek, Gephart-Kendall pastures, first, second, and third eddy below the Piazzek Dam, Legler's Dam, and Walker's pasture.

"At one time, a small pleasure steam boat took parties of 10 or 15 young people quite a way beyond PawPaw Bend for picnics. In the winter, the river provided swell ice skating and for many years Frank Harman harvested a large ice crop, which he packed in saw dust to serve folks in summer."

Ed. Note: Louis Seible, brother-in-law of Roy Earl Lillie, Vindicator printer to whom the Stewart story was sent, wrote a family history including memories of Valley Falls. His reminiscing included the following Delaware River winter ice story: "During the winter kids skated on the river. The ice got thick enough to put it up to use in the summertime. There was a big ice house on North Walnut Street next to the river. There was a long chute running from the ice house to the river. The ice was marked off in squares about 18 inches wide and three feet long. A horse pulled the marker. A saw was used by hand to cut the cakes of ice. They used pike poles to float the cakes of ice to the chutes where they had a 'johney.' A johney was built with two handles and two or three steel prongs. The workers put one or two cakes of ice on it, pulled it up the chute to the ice house with a team of horses and block and tackle. When the ice house was full, it was packed with saw dust that kept the ice for use throughout the summer."

Continuing Mr. Stewart's story:
"The first electric light plant operated by water power served the stores and three carbon arc street lights. The plant shut down at midnight. Generator capacity was not sufficient for motor service or to serve the homes and there was no daytime service. Most old timers will recall on a still night hearing the noise made by the water wheel drive shaft and gears at Leglar's Mill. The wheel operated old time mill stones that ground corn into chop and meal. There was also a set of mill stones in the Piazzek Mill."

Next: At one time Valley Falls was very much a railroad center.

The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 28.