Arcadia’s dam was constructed with layers of locally excavated ironstone as the foundation. The stacked ironstone, which ranged from 12 to 15 feet high, was covered with layers of dirt. At its completion, the dam stretched a half mile long and created a mill pond of over 50 acres.

During the Civil War, multiple troop battalions moved through the property. While evidence is scarce, historians surmise that during the Civil War, the Arcadia dam suffered two explosions that created the blow outs visible today. One blow out is just north of Pond Creek, and the other is just south of Elliott’s Flume. The responsible party for the damage has never been determined.

Credits and Sources:

Information courtesy of UWF Historic Trust