Pennsylvania’s logging era was a fascinating period in the state’s history. It was made possible by the perfect culmination of entrepreneurial individuals willing to take risks and decades worth of technological advancement within the timber industry. Industries boomed and fortunes were made, albeit at the cost of the state’s once pristine forests and waterways.
Fast forward a century and nature has shown its ability to rebound from literal ruins. Forests once again cover much of Penn’s Woods. No longer do the mountains and hollows echo with the constant hum of crosscut saws, rhythmic thud of axes, and the mournful groan of felled forest giants.
Reminders of that bygone age can be difficult to find as nature slowly dismantles and consumes those final vestiges of human interference. However, one relic has managed to cling into the present in the cold clear water of Wykoff Run. At first glance, it looks like just a heap of decaying logs. A closer inspection reveals the methodical placement of each one into some sort of structure. Though it may be difficult to see now, this structure, known as a splash dam, was once an example of industrial engineering in the primitive backwoods.
 |
| An example of a splash dam Image Retrieved From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash_dam |
Before the advent of logging railroads in the late 1880’s, the region’s major waterways proved to be the most efficient method of transporting logs to sawmills or downstream markets. However, as timber lands moved further away from the river, transporting logs to these locations became more labor intensive. The solution would be to float them on the numerous tributaries feeding the larger waterways. Under normal circumstances, these creeks, streams, and runs were too shallow to float logs on their own. To utilize them, the water level would have to be raised artificially. This is where the splash dam would be implemented.
Splash dams were usually designed to be temporary structures, although a great deal of time and engineering went into their construction. A typical dam usually consisted of a wooden crib structure filled with rocks and earth. A large gate was then installed that could be opened or closed. Preparations were also undertaken downstream from the dam. Large boulders, fallen trees, and other obstacles were cleared (usually with dynamite) from the creek bed. Ironically, this was called “improving” a stream.
Operating a splash dam was based on a relatively simple principle that required precise coordination to be successful. First, the flood gate was closed to fill the reservoir behind the dam. While the dam was filling, lumbermen would roll their logs into the pool or along the banks below the dam.
At a determined time, the gate would be opened and the flood of water would flush the logs downstream. This surge of water and logs was called the “splash.” Men positioned along the stream with hooks and poles freed any logs that became stuck along the banks. If multiple dams had been built along the stream, each one would release its water to coordinate with the “splash” from the dam upstream. When done correctly, this system could move logs considerable distances.
When the dam was built on Wykoff Run and who was responsible for its construction are still not completely clear, although a few documents do shed some light on its possible origins. In 1896, the Forest Republican newspaper published an article that revealed the most plausible builders of the dam, James and Joseph Cochran. The article mentions that the brothers constructed several “large splash dams” on Wykoff Run “years ago.” It never goes into detail just how many years ago that was from the date of publication. To learn more, we must look into the lives of the Cochran Brothers.
James Cochran arrived in Williamsport, Lycoming County from Maine in 1862. By the time of his arrival, Williamsport was well on its way to becoming the "Lumber Capital of the World." While there, he worked various jobs within the lumber industry. He later partnered with his brother Joseph to form the company of J.W. Cochran & Brother to supply logs for sawmills in Williamsport. In logging lingo this was known as being a “jobber.” Around 1866, the brothers relocated to Cameron County to continue their business.
The county’s large tracts of white pine were the focal point of their operation. By the fall of 1877, the Cochran Brothers had cut the most logs out of all the local jobbers. Records for that year credit them with 25 million board feet of lumber, much of which came from what is now the Quehanna Wild Area. According to Ralph Harrison’s Quehanna The Blemished Jewel Restored, the brothers cut all the white pine within a 6,000 acre tract along upper Wykoff Run in 1881. Looking at the location of the dam on a map, it definitely puts it within the mentioned upper half of the run.
George Huntley Jr.'s book, The Story of the Sinnemahone tells the story of grisly reality associated with one of the Wykoff Run dams and logging during this era in general. According to Huntley, a man by the name of George Holmes was working on the Wykoff Dam during a "splash." As logs were rushing through the gate, some became jammed. George jumped down to break them loose when suddenly the logs shifted and shot out the gate along with George, who unfortunately drowned.
Splash dams continued to be utilized until the end of the logging era in Pennsylvania, though their use became less common with the arrival of the iron horse in the woods. Railroads were more flexible than dams in that locomotives, equipment, and tracks could be purchased and simply moved around from tract to tract. A splash dam might only be used a few times before the tract was exhausted and it had to be abandoned. This benefit was exemplified when the Barclay Brothers constructed a logging railroad up Wykoff Run from their sawmill in the late 1880’s.
Exploring the splash dam is worth the short walk along this beautiful stream. Considering their age, the remaining logs are still surprisingly solid. How much longer the forces of nature will allow this remnant of the past to remain will be beyond our control. Such is why it is crucial that we appreciate and learn from these final reminders of our industrial past while they are still around.
When the dam was built on Wykoff Run and who was responsible for its construction are still not completely clear, although a few documents do shed some light on its possible origins. In 1896, the Forest Republican newspaper published an article that revealed the most plausible builders of the dam, James and Joseph Cochran. The article mentions that the brothers constructed several “large splash dams” on Wykoff Run “years ago.” It never goes into detail just how many years ago that was from the date of publication. To learn more, we must look into the lives of the Cochran Brothers.
James Cochran arrived in Williamsport, Lycoming County from Maine in 1862. By the time of his arrival, Williamsport was well on its way to becoming the "Lumber Capital of the World." While there, he worked various jobs within the lumber industry. He later partnered with his brother Joseph to form the company of J.W. Cochran & Brother to supply logs for sawmills in Williamsport. In logging lingo this was known as being a “jobber.” Around 1866, the brothers relocated to Cameron County to continue their business.
 |
| J. Henry Cochran Image Retrieved From: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83032011/1894-07-13/ed-1/seq-1/ |
The county’s large tracts of white pine were the focal point of their operation. By the fall of 1877, the Cochran Brothers had cut the most logs out of all the local jobbers. Records for that year credit them with 25 million board feet of lumber, much of which came from what is now the Quehanna Wild Area. According to Ralph Harrison’s Quehanna The Blemished Jewel Restored, the brothers cut all the white pine within a 6,000 acre tract along upper Wykoff Run in 1881. Looking at the location of the dam on a map, it definitely puts it within the mentioned upper half of the run.
George Huntley Jr.'s book, The Story of the Sinnemahone tells the story of grisly reality associated with one of the Wykoff Run dams and logging during this era in general. According to Huntley, a man by the name of George Holmes was working on the Wykoff Dam during a "splash." As logs were rushing through the gate, some became jammed. George jumped down to break them loose when suddenly the logs shifted and shot out the gate along with George, who unfortunately drowned.
 |
| This rare photo appears to show the Wykoff Run dam around 1913 long after falling into disuse Image Retrieved From: Forest Leaves Vol. 14 No.10 |
Splash dams continued to be utilized until the end of the logging era in Pennsylvania, though their use became less common with the arrival of the iron horse in the woods. Railroads were more flexible than dams in that locomotives, equipment, and tracks could be purchased and simply moved around from tract to tract. A splash dam might only be used a few times before the tract was exhausted and it had to be abandoned. This benefit was exemplified when the Barclay Brothers constructed a logging railroad up Wykoff Run from their sawmill in the late 1880’s.
Exploring the splash dam is worth the short walk along this beautiful stream. Considering their age, the remaining logs are still surprisingly solid. How much longer the forces of nature will allow this remnant of the past to remain will be beyond our control. Such is why it is crucial that we appreciate and learn from these final reminders of our industrial past while they are still around.
 |
| A side view of the dam from the bank Author's Photo |
 |
| Looking downstream Author's Photo |
 |
| Looking Upstream at the dam Author's Photo |
 |
| A view of the dam from the other bank Author's Photo |
 |
| A view from the hillside. Another part of the dam can be seen on the left. Author's Photo |
Information Retrieved From:
Harrison, R. (2013). Quehanna: the blemished jewel restored. The Pennsylvania Forestry Association.
Laws of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed at the session of 1873. Benjamin Singerly State Printer. Retrieved From https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCdCAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA421&lpg=PA421&dq=wikoff+run+%2B+public+highway&source=bl&ots=r3xLEx90TQ&sig=ACfU3U25utbC6qNPuO-LJN9Bz-tokCeyOw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5isqs09TlAhVln-AKHQ3BD0kQ6AEwAHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=wikoff%20run%20%2B%20public%20highway&f=false
Leeson, M. (1890). History of the counties of Mckean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania. : J.H. Beers and Co.
The Columbian. (13 July 1894).Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83032011/1894-07-13/ed-1/seq-1/>
The Forest Republican.(29 Jan. 1896).Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026497/1896-01-29/ed-1/seq-3/>
Leeson, M. (1890). History of the counties of Mckean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania. : J.H. Beers and Co.
The Columbian. (13 July 1894).Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83032011/1894-07-13/ed-1/seq-1/>
The Forest Republican.(29 Jan. 1896).Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026497/1896-01-29/ed-1/seq-3/>
I remember my dad taking me to another splash dam on Mosquito Creek at Lost Run Road which is only a few miles from Wykoff. Dad said it was called Blackwell Dam. The dam itself was open so water was not back up but the remnants of the dam were still there. This was in the late 1950's.
ReplyDeleteWe did some fishing there.We tried to swim in the small pool below the dam but the water was freezing cold even in the summer. I will visit there again this summer.
Quehanna has several splash dam sites, including Blackwell. Hopefully as time permits,I'll explore those as well.
Delete