Construction
First Shovel Of Dirt
On August 31, 1907 a bid was accepted to build the Ashokan Reservoir from MacArthur/Winston for 12.6 million dollars. It would include building the huge dam and its auxiliary dikes, structures consisting of 5.5 miles of masonry, and earth that would hold back 128 million gallons of water.
-”Liquid Assets: A History of New York City’s Water System” by, Diane Galusha
MacArthur and Winston quickly opened a bluestone Quarry and built another rail line, including an 89-foot-high, 390-foot-long steel trestle over the Esopus to get to it. They erected a machine shop for the repair of the locomotives, steam shovels, traction engines and steamrollers; established labor camps; and put up cement storage buildings, stone crushing plants, power houses, and other buildings.
-”Liquid Assets: A History of New York City’s Water System” by, Diane Galusha
Laborers
Middle Dyke
Cost of Eight Hour Day on the Dam
The dam was constructed where Bishop's Falls was located and when completed would be 610 feet high.
Bishop Falls Wooden Bridge Replaced by The Olivebridge Dam
The Ashokan Reservoir construction began in 1908 and was completed in 1915. It is said that 2,300 people were relocated, more than 500 buildings moved or demolished, and 2,720 graves were transferred to other cemetaries. Eleven hamlets were flooded or relocated:Ashton, Boiceville, Brodhead's Bridge, Brown's Station, Glenford, Olive, Olive Bridge, Olive City, Shokan, West Hurley, and West Shokan.
Former Site Of The Town Of West Shokan
On July 19,1914 the majority of the work to create the Ashokan reservoir was completed.
Reservoir When It Was First Filled
