Oakdale Dam Construction

[George Lortz]

The Oakdale Dam, which forms Lake Freeman, was constructed in 1924 - 1925.  I have seen photos of railroad cars being used to deliver materials for the dam.  Did these cars come off the Monon on a spur line?

George L.

[Robert Wheeler]

See the 2001 Tour GUIDEBOOK for October 26, 2001 Page 19
for MP B104.4 -  Yeoman/Lennox.
The spur to Oakdale dam is shown on the schematic drawing (Scan of original attached). The power company at that time was Indiana Hydro Electric Co. which later became Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO).

The Oakdale dam is 1.7 miles west of Sleeth. There were  five proposed spurs between Montcelllo and Sleeth which varied in length between 0.75 and 2 miles according to a January, 1924 drawing in the archives. The longest of these routes considered was built connecting to the main line at MP B 107.74, A relocation was considered at the end adjacent to the dam according to another 1924 drawing in the archives.

[George Lortz]

Thanks, Bob.  This is a great help.  It was easy to see that the Monon was the most logical railroad to service the dam.  Here's one of the photos in question.

George L.