Remember Cliffside

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More Dam Pictures
Recently the owners of the old mill have begun generating power, which involves allowing water contained behind the dam to flow out of the pond and through the water wheels to power the turbines. Consequently, at times, the pond's water level is lower than normal. James Harris, our best new photographer, recently took most of these photos, showing in great detail the dam top's deterioration and seldom-seen views of the solid rock river bottom.

James made his way through the brambles and ivy out to the dam. Decades of neglect are made apparent by the undergrowth taking hold alongside the power house, and even on the dam itself. (Photo by James Harris, Sept. 2006)

The old stone dam is a catcher of many dead trees and limbs that float down stream. The water level at times reveals the edges of the mud and silt that have built up in the pond over the last century. What strange and disgusting things might be embedded in that muck? (Photo by James Harris, Sept. 2006)

There was never a worry about the water flow hollowing out the river bed below the dam, for it's solid rock. Raleigh Haynes chose this site for his mill for many reasons, and this is one of them. The square opening in the dam face is the "gate" they would open to "draw the pond." There are outcroppings of foliage on the face of the damn. One day, in years to come, these plant roots may damage the integrity of the wall. (Photo by James Harris, Sept. 2006)

The demolition site has not changed much in the past year. Piles of rubble still wait to be carried off. Rumor has it that the smokestack may not survive the final stages of the project. The windows in the power house are open. Wonder if the workers inside depend on them for "air conditioning." (Photo by James Harris, Sept. 2006)

This photo of the giant pipes that carry the water from the pond to the wheel house was taken over a year ago. Surely, by now, for efficiency's sake, the leaks have been repaired. These pipes may have been part of the power system's redesign in the 1930s, when electricity replaced belts, ropes and pullys to power the mill machinery. (Photo by Roger Padgett, Aug. 2005)