History of Lake Shelbyville, IL

The History of Lake Shelbyville

Timeline-Before the Dam 1938: • Flood Control Act introduced 1939-1945: • World War II 1953: • Eldon Hazlet (Carlyle attorney) creates Kaskaskia Valley Association to create a flood-control and recreation plan • Kaskaskia Industrial Development Corporation creates navigation and industrial-growth plan 1958: • After much lobbying, Flood Control Act passes

Before the Kaskaskia

Before the Dam

Timeline-Early Construction 1962: • US Army Corps of Engineers begins buying property 1963: • First contract awarded and ground broken 1964: • State of Illinois introduces recreation plan 1965: • Dam administration building opened • Contract signed with S.J. Groves & Son to complete construction within 900 days; $11.6 million • Contract signed with Berry Construction to create recreation facilities; $1.1 million

Plans Made

First Contract

Clearing

Administration Building

Timeline-Construction 1966: • Work begins • Coal-mine shafts found at construction sight; dam relocated 230 feet south of original site • Cemeteries relocated; gas pipelines relocated 1967: • Findlay bridge opens (longest bridge on a secondary road in Illinois); $1.4 million 1968: • Water towers, pumping stations, and mains for recreation areas created; $1.1 million

Groundbreaking

Dam Site

Old Coal Mine Found

Cemeteries Moved

Findlay Bridge

Timeline-Construction 1969: • Kaskaskia River diverted for final phase construction • Bridges and roads built on Routes 121 and 32 • 50 miles of new secondary roads • 54 country-road bridges removed 1970: • August: the dam goes into service, naming of Lake Shelbyville • September: Dedication of dam; cost: $56 million • Coon, Opossum, Lithia, Lone Point opened

Coal Shaft Bridge

Construction

Grand Opening

Lone Point

Opossum Creek

Timeline-Construction 1972: • Wolf Creek and Eagle Creek opened 1974: • Wilborn, Whitley, Bo Wood, Dam West opened 1975: • Sullivan Beach opened 1980: • Original Visitor Center opened 2011: • New Visitor Center opened

First Visitor Center

New Visitor Center

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