Fourth St Power Dam

Fourth St Power Dam In August 1866 William T. Powers (west side) and Grand Rapids Water Power Company (east side) contracted to build a dam at Fourth St. on the Grand River.

Very cool to see the construction of a favorite gathering place. Something William T. Powers had always envisioned: a pa...
07/15/2026

Very cool to see the construction of a favorite gathering place. Something William T. Powers had always envisioned: a park when the canal and water power were no longer needed for manufacturing. He and his estate owned and operated the water rights on the west side of the river for nearly 50 years (1865–1912).

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17pZtHotLG/

August 15, 2026 marks 150 years since it was established to construct a dam at Fourth Street, as outlined in the Water P...
07/08/2026

August 15, 2026 marks 150 years since it was established to construct a dam at Fourth Street, as outlined in the Water Power Contract of 1866.

Articles of agreement made and executed this fifteenth day of August, in the year 1866 by and between Martin L. Sweet, James M. Barnett, Charles C. Comstock, William Harrison, William A. Berkley, Julius Berkley, Elias Matter, Edward F. Ward, Elias Skinner, Henry C. Brooks, John W. Squire, Elijah D. Waters, Daniel H. Waters, John B. Moon, John Mangold, Charles W. Hathaway, James D. Lyon, Clanson O. Budington, James V. Turnham, Richard E. Butterworth, John E. Earle, Justus R. Earle, George M. Huntley, Allen P. Collar, Robert Hilton, Charles Hilton, Charles P. Calkins, Jacob Kusterer, Reuben Wheeler, Gaius S. Deane, Susan Boyer, Frederick B. Perkins, Issac H. Nichols, Henry R. Naysmith, Adolph Leitelt, and Edward Leitelt, parties of the first part, and William T. Powers, of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, party of the second part ...

Grand River Beautification Project, August 1927, showing the construction of low-head run-of-the-river dam #3 located b...
07/08/2026

Grand River Beautification Project, August 1927, showing the construction of low-head run-of-the-river dam #3 located between Bridge St. and the Interurban/Gillett Bridge. Dam #4 is often referred to as the Ah-Nab-Awen Park dam. This will be the first of the five low-head dams to be removed to restore the rapids.

The construction crews began last Wednesday, July 1, 2026, to build cofferdams on half of Dam #4 to dewater the area around it for removal.

Photos courtesy Grand Rapids City Archives GR CARC, #001953, #001959

The Fourth St Power Dam looking west from Canal St, east side water power canal, circa 1870s.Very easy to see the wood c...
03/14/2026

The Fourth St Power Dam looking west from Canal St, east side water power canal, circa 1870s.

Very easy to see the wood crib construction of the original dam in this location, 1866–1915/1926, prior to being constructed of concrete in 1915 (West) and 1926 (East Side).

A couple of men on the levee look like they may have peaveys in their hands.

Address

560 Front Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI
49504

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Fourth St Power Dam posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category