Milton in Santa Rosa County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Arcadia Dam
Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 20, 2020
1. Arcadia Dam Marker
To ensure a constant source of water power and an area to store lumber awaiting processing, the firm of Forsyth and Simpson constructed a 1,200 ft. long earth and ironstone dam. Today four segments of the dam remain, one segment lies south of Pond Creek and three remnants occur north of the creek.
During the American Civil War, the Arcadia community saw a number of small scale skirmishes between Northern and Southern troops. The large breach in the may have been purposely created during the war to destroy the sawmill operation. Although the side responsible is unclear, this breach would have certainly ended the potential of mill operation.
The dam varied in width between 30 and 120 feet and stood 13 to 15 feet high. Constructed of earth covering and ironstone core, the dam was carefully designed to hold back the large amount of water needed to operate the complex. The ironstone core utilized rock dug from the Arcadia quarry and is still visible in places on the dam and in Pond Creek.
Erected by University of West Florida Historic Trust.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
this page online
Location. 30° 36.854′ N, 87° 5.02′ W. Marker is in Milton, Florida, in Santa Rosa County. It can be reached from Mill Pond Lane 0.1 miles north of Juan De Laurua Court when traveling north. Marker located within the Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5709 Mill Pond Lane, Milton FL 32583, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Pensacola and on the Florida Panhandle. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Elliott’s Flume (within shouting distance
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 20, 2020
2. Arcadia Dam Marker
Also see . . . Explore Arcadia Mill. Historic Pensacola (Submitted on July 14, 2020.)
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, June 20, 2020
3. Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site entrance sign
Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2020, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 437 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 13, 2020, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
