Fredericksburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Industrial Interlude
Fredericksburg: Timeless.
Photographed by Kevin W., May 14, 2017
1. Industrial Interlude Marker
The view upstream used to include the Embrey Dam, a concrete structure built in 1910 that helped generate hydro-electricity for the region and also impounded water for local consumption. When an electrical plant and water impoundments were established elsewhere, the aging dam was demolished. Removal of the Embrey Dam and an 1854 crib dam behind it ended nearly 300 years of river barriers and has facilitated environmental restoration of the riverine ecosystem.
Erected by Fredericksburg Economic Development and Tourism Office.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, Fredericksburg: Timeless. series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 2004.
Location. 38° 18.954′
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Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, 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: Rappahannock River Heritage Trail (approx. Ό mile away); Amoroleck Encounters John Smith (approx. 0.3 miles away); Confederate and Federal Defenses in May 1863 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Confederate Defenses in December 1862 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fall Hill (approx. 0.3 miles away); A Once Promising Canal Becomes a Raceway (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Fall Hill (approx. 0.3 miles away); A Diversion: Second Battle of Fredericksburg (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.
Other markers no longer nearby. A Navigation Canal Becomes a Raceway (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Civil War Defenses (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Kevin W., May 14, 2017
2. Industrial Interlude Marker
This 1878 map shows Fredericksburg's two canals as well as the Falmouth Canal. The canal across the lower part of the map had been built in the 1830s as a navigation canal. A dam built in 1854, just upstream of the island, had converted it to raceway. The canal shown extending into downtown Fredericksburg was never built.
Photographed by Kevin W., May 14, 2017
3. Industrial Interlude Marker
This 1806 map shows Hunter's Dam (1), which fed the power canal to Hunter's Iron Works (2). A second dam (3) fed a raceway that powered mills in Falmouth (4). The diversion dam (5) in this vicinity powered a mill (6) on the island. Another diversion dam (7) fed a raceway that extended into what is now Old Mill Park (8). The dam above the large island and Fredericksburg's second canal were not yet built.
Photographed by Kevin W., May 14, 2017
4. Industrial Interlude Marker
In February 2004, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers blew a 100-foot wide hole in the Embrey Dam, to release the reservoir and allow removal of both the 1910 and 1854 structures. The photo at the far left shows how the explosion looked from this area.
Photographed by Kevin W., May 14, 2017
5. Industrial Interlude Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2017, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 528 times since then and 15 times this year. Last updated on March 12, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 19, 2017, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
