Page 5 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor April 3, 2014
A LOOK AT BERTHOUD
Historic dam on Big Thompson River undergoes repairs T
he Home Supply Dam at the mouth of the Big Thompson Canon is under repair. Funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are financing the project because the historic dam Then & Now is considered Surveyor an important Columnist part of the region’s infrastructure. The water captured by the dam provides irrigation water to a large number of farms in Larimer and Mark Weld counties, French especially on the northern slope of the lower Little Thompson Valley between Berthoud and Johnstown. The dam also helps furnish water to the city of Loveland and the town of Johnstown. Known to generations as the “Big Dam,” the Home Supply Dam was constructed in 1894-95 after the original rock and log dam was washed away in a spring flood. When preparations were underway for its construction, the Fort Collins Courier noted, “The dam will be made of cut stone set in cement and will be 51 feet high and 94 feet long with a base of 30 feet wide
tapering to 6 feet at the top. The cost of the dam will approximate $10,000.” After it was built, the dam was recognized as a landmark of modern engineering. Not one event that has occurred since that time — including the floods of 1976 and 2013 — has tarnished that reputation. The flood of September 2013 sheared six to eight feet off the top of the dam. Since the top of the dam is flanked by large flumes that carry water to Loveland’s water supply and the Home Supply Ditch, work has been underway throughout the winter to reconstruct the cap of the dam so the flumes can draw water from the river. The work, supervised by construction superintendent, Gary Girand, has been done in such a way that the architectural integrity of the historic dam has remained intact. Part of that work has involved the retrieval and stockpiling of many original stone blocks that the September flood waters toppled from the crest of the dam. The stone blocks, originally quarried at nearby Arkins, vary in size but are all well over a foot in thickness and weigh thousands of pounds. The original stones will be placed back in position, but it has been necessary to prepare a number of new stones to complete the dam’s face. After a sturdy, reinforced concrete wall is poured on the back side of the dam, the stone blocks will be set in position to raise the
Photo by Mark French
A crew of steelworkers prepare for the pouring of concrete at the point where the flume of the Home Supply Ditch extends from the damaged cap of the Home Supply Dam. The flume carries water to a system of ditches that extend beyond Highway I-25 east of Berthoud.
cap back to its original height. When that task is completed the water level behind the dam will rise and the flumes that flank the dam will able to take water from the Big Thompson River. The respect and reverence the dam merits is evident in the effort
being taken to repair it within its historic context. When the current dam replaced the original log and rock structure in the 1890s, the Home Supply Ditch system was about a decade old. Well aware of the role the dam was playing in the development of the Big and Little
Antique Appraisal Day at the Berthoud Museum By May Soricelli The Surveyor
This weekend, on April 5, dust off your family heirloom and bring it down to the Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum’s Antique Appraisal Day; it’s a great opportunity to have your antiques appraised at a low cost during an enjoyable Berthoud
event. “It’s always amazing what turns up at events like this,” said Mark French, Berthoud Historical Society board president. The museum and grounds will also be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is a new addition this year for attendees to the appraisal. This year marks the Berthoud His-
torical Society’s eighth Antique Appraisal Day, and will be a host to all the Berthoud community as well as guests from out of town who want their items assessed. The function will be held at the Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum, in the Carlson Building which is to the right of the “windmill,” on 224 Mountain Avenue. The building itself is an “antique” which has been standing since the 1940s when it was used as an auto repair garage. Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. bring your item to the museum and have it appraised by one of two experienced veteran appraisers, Daniel Geary of Lone Tree Antiques in Eaton and Don Powell of Aspen Gold Antiques in Greeley. Each person in attendance will be directed to the appraiser with the appropriate knowledge on the item they brought. The appraisers have expertise covering a “vast gamut of items,” said French. According to the Historical Society, their specialties include old musical instruments, pottery, crocks, stoneware, lamps, costume jewelry, watches, clocks, coins, toys, American Indian baskets, beadwork, weapons, clothing, photographs, cowboy saddles, tack, spurs, bridles, bits, chaps, Civil War artifacts, old photographs, paintings, prints, books, stained glass, historic documents, antique weapons, quilts, sam-
plers, coverlets, and advertising items. A broad array of items has been appraised at this event in past years. It’s expected that there will be a line of participants and it will take time for each person to have their pieces looked at, so it is important that those who attend are patient and willing to wait. However, it can be very enjoyable for those in attendance to be able to view all the other intriguing items that are brought and see them be appraised. “It has a very Antiques Roadshow type of feel,” said French. He noted that just like the Antiques Roadshow there are always disappointments and surprises in store. The facilitators request that no jewelry or gems be brought to be appraised. Also, they would like attendees to bring in photos of their furniture items instead of bringing the furniture itself. Appraisals will be limited to three pieces per person. There is a nominal fee of $7 per item for non-members of the Berthoud Historical Society and $5 per member. “Five dollars for an appraisal is really a bargain. People love getting a relative value for things they have had in the family for years.” For any questions contact the museum at 970-532-2147.
Community news and notes:
munications Center is being recognized for its excellence during the 2013 flood by being awarded the 2014 Center of the Year award. The recognition comes from the Colorado Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). The communications center employees from Fort Collins Police Services, Estes Park Police Department, Loveland Police Department and the Longmont Department of Public Safety will be recognized by Colorado APCO and NENA during the National Telecommunicators Week on April 18, in Castle Rock.
Boy Scout Troop 6 collects 3,800 pounds of food Boy Scout Troop 6, of Berthoud, collected 3,823 pounds of food from Berthoud residents on Saturday, March 22. The food items were collected for the House of Neighborly Service in Loveland. The 26 boy scouts of Troop 6 who participated in the annual Boy Scout ‘Scouting for Food’ program logged a total of 95 community service hours for the event.
Larimer County Emergency Communications received national award The Larimer County Emergency Com-
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Thompson valleys, the farmers and town residents who relied on it replaced it with a state-of-the-art structure that was built to last for ages. And it has. While this year’s repairs may be extensive, they pale in comparison to the construction of a new dam.
OBITUARY Christopher Premer: 1971-2014 Christopher Michael Premer, 42, passed away early Saturday morning, March 29, 2014, from complications of a short illness. Chris was a 1990 graduate of Berthoud High School and a 1997 graduate of University of Northern Colorado. He was a Shelter insurance agent in Loveland, Colo., since 2008. Chris’s priority in life, and best friend, was his son Alexander. They did everything together; played sports, went on vacations, and loved trips to the beach. He was assistant coach for the Junior Eagles hockey team. He loved to fly fish with his brothers and friends and loved spending quality time with his family and friends, especially his brother Jeff. Chris was truly the most happy, loving, caring, compassionate and forgiving person you will ever know. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. When asked their thoughts on Chris; Alexander, his son and Sidney and Mason, his nieces, said it best, “He was wonderful, generous, caring, loving, gentle and, most of all, awesome!” Chris had the rare blessing of finding love twice in his life. Chris and Malia’s time together always had a very special place in his heart. Even though it was cut way too short, it gave Chris and all of us the precious gift of Alexander. Meghan O’BrienMarks is an important part of our family and was a very special part of Chris’s life. Meghan was always there for Chris and Alexander. She, and her family, will forever be a part of our family. We are very grateful to her for sharing so much love with Chris and the support she has shown during this sad and trying time. Chris was born Nov. 28, 1971. He was preceded in death by his wife Malia (Johnson) Premer. He is survived by his son, Alexander; his parents Patricia and Chuck Robinett of Windsor, Colo., and Allen and Shari Premer of Atlanta, Texas; his two brothers and their families, Jeff and Stacey Premer of Loveland and Joe and Muri Premer of Lochbuie and numerous extended family members and friends. A memorial service was held on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, at the First Christian Church in Loveland, Colo. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Chris Premer Memorial Fund to benefit his son Alexander. Donations can be made through any family member or at any First National Bank location.