Saint Maries in Benewah County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)
Splash Dam at Hobo Creek
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 26, 2013
1. Splash Dam at Hobo Creek Marker
Loggers used the splash dam system in the Marble Creek basin between 1915 and 1931. In 1923, Rutledge Lumber Company spent $16,352.25 building the dam depicted in this mural. Splash dams stored enough water to “flush” logs down small streams to rivers. Then they were floated downstream to mills.
Early day logger Charles Gregory remembered:
“When they pulled those gates and let those logs commence to go down through the gates, the water would rise up ten to twenty feet high.
You had to get out of the way. I’ve been in the creek and seen them start to wind open the gate. By the time I could get the team out of the creek, the water would be so deep I’d have to grab a horse’s tail to get out. The current was very strong. There was no way a man could ride logs down.”
Hobo Historical Trail
A steam donkey like the one in this park pulled the logs down to the splash dam. The actual remains of this splash dam, the logging camp and a steam donkey can be seen at the Hobo Historical Trail in Marble Creek. A 1 ½ mile loop hiking trail with signs and photos takes you to the site. Contact the St. Joe Ranger District 245-2531 for more information.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry
this page online
Location. 47° 19.102′ N, 116° 35.19′ W. Marker is in Saint Maries, Idaho, in Benewah County. Marker is at the intersection of North 23rd Street (State Highway 5) and North 23rd Street, on the right when traveling west on North 23rd Street. Marker is located in Mullan Trail Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Maries ID 83861, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Willamette Steam Donkey Engine (here, next to this marker); Mullan Trail Road (within shouting distance of this marker); John Mullan (within shouting distance of this marker); The 1910 Fire (approx. one mile away); Hughes House Historical Museum (approx. one mile away); St. Maries - Steaming with History (approx. one mile away); Timber Made This Town (approx. one mile away); The St. Marie's "Occupation" of 1918 (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saint Maries.
Also see . . . Splash Dam (Wikipedia). A splash dam was a temporary wooden dam used to raise the water level in streams to float logs downstream to sawmills. By impounding water and allowing it to be
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 26, 2013
2. Splash Dam at Hobo Creek Marker (wide view with mural behind marker)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 454 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 13, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
