Hume Lake in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Technology in Timber County…
a Better Way to Build a Dam
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 28, 2011
1. Technology in Timber County... Marker
Having water around a sawmill is a good thing. It’s easier to move logs and lumber, and put out fires. The Hume-Bennett Lumber Company found this site near good timber and decided a reservoir would make there operation more efficient. The problem was making a strong dam with as little material as possible.
John S. Eastwood devised a solution – the first reinforced concrete multiple arch dam. Water pressure on the upstream faces of the arches holds the dam in place. The material required was just a fraction of that required for a block or single arch dam. Can you imagine getting this project done in 114 days for &46,541? That’s what it took in 1908.
By 1910, the lake was the hub of a large mill complex. Imagine a boiler house, power house, foundry, a three-story high mill, and two drying kilns. Along the far lake shore, the community provided housing, a dining hall, post office, and hospital.
A network of railroad lines radiated from the camp to the timber groves. Milled lumber left the camp via the more than 60-mile flume to Sanger. It was an impressive engineering feat.
In spite of the technology, expenses exceeded revenue. War, recession, labor problems, poor markets and fire combined to destroy the Hume Lake lumber operation.
Erected by
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.
Location. 36° 47.658′ N, 118° 54.007′ W. Marker is in Hume Lake, California, in Fresno County. Marker can be reached from Sandy Cove Road (Forest Road 13S06). This marker may be found by taking Sandy Cove Road (Forest Road 13S06) to the end and walking the trail 1/4 mile to the dam. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hume CA 93628, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 17 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Converse Basin Grove (approx. 3˝ miles away); Buck Rock Lookout (approx. 4.7 miles away); Gamlin Cabin (approx. 5.2 miles away); The Centennial Stump (approx. 5.2 miles away); General Grant Tree Trail (approx. 5.3 miles away); The Fallen Monarch (approx. 5.3 miles away); Millwood (approx. 7.1 miles away); Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks (approx. 16.1 miles away).
Also see . . . Hume Lake - Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 7, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 28, 2011
2. Technology in Timber County... Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 28, 2011
3. Lake Hume Dam
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 28, 2011
4. Lake Hume Dam
Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 658 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 7, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
