{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox dam | name = Bloede Dam | image = File:Bloede's Dam 24.JPG | image_caption = Bloede Dam on 15 April 2015 | name_official = Bloede Dam | dam_crosses = Patapsco River | res_name = | location = Catonsville / Ilchester, Maryland | operator = Maryland DNR | dam_length = {{convert|220|ft|m}} | dam_height = {{convert|26+1/2|ft|m}} | dam_width_base = {{convert|40|ft|m}} | construction_began = | opening = 1907 | demolished = September 2018 | cost = | coordinates = {{coord|39.247023|-76.761083|display=inline,title}} }}
'''Bloede Dam''' was a hydroelectric dam on the Patapsco River in Maryland.<ref>{{GNIS|type=retired|594477}}</ref> Built in 1906, it was the first submerged hydroelectric plant—that is, the power plant was housed under the spillway. It was also one of the earliest dams constructed of reinforced concrete. Its site is now part of Patapsco Valley State Park upstream from the Orange Grove area.<ref>{{cite book|title=Baltimore Trails: A Guide for Hikers and Mountain Bikers|author=Bryan MacKay|page=4|isbn=978-0-8018-9070-3|year=2008|edition=Second|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press}}</ref> The dam was breached in 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/pages/fishpassage/bloede.aspx|title=Patapsco River Restoration - Bloede Dam Removal|website=Maryland Department of Natural Resources|access-date=13 January 2025}}</ref> with removal complete by 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/removal-bloede-dam-complete-patapsco-river-flows-more-freely|title=With Removal of Bloede Dam Complete, Patapsco River Flows More Freely|website=NOAA Fisheries|orig-date=Originally published 2 August 2019|date=18 May 2023|access-date=13 January 2025|author=Office of Habitat Conservation|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref>
==History and design== 200px|thumb|left|The 34-inch Poole & Hunt Leffel Wheels and the 30-inch Samson Turbine<ref>{{cite web|url = http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/cfdocs/photopage.cfm?id=14531|title = Photograph Bloede turbine generators ca. 1907|author = Used with permission from the Baltimore County Public Library.|accessdate = October 3, 2007|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081021082926/http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/cfdocs/photopage.cfm?id=14531|archivedate = October 21, 2008}}</ref>
The Patapsco Electric and Manufacturing company, of Ellicott City, brought fame to the Patapsco River corridor in 1906 when it constructed the world's first underwater hydroelectric plant to supply its electricity. The dam is named for Victor Gustav Bloede (pronounced as ''Blerda''), a German immigrant who founded the nearby Avalon Water Works. Bloede hired electrical engineer Otto Wonder to oversee the development of this unique hydroelectric project near Gray's Mill on the Patapsco River.<ref>{{cite book|title=The journey: Victor G. Bloede, his forebears & successors|author=Victor C. Bloede|page=230}}</ref> Construction was performed by the Emmerson Ferro-Concrete company of Boston.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Power Plant in River|date=26 November 1908|page=7}}</ref> The dam itself was {{convert|220|ft|m}} long, {{convert|40|ft|m}} wide at the base and had a drop of {{convert|26.5|ft|m}}. It was an Ambursen Hydraulic Construction Company (Boston-type) reinforced concrete slab and buttress dam. The power plant technology and equipment were state of the art when it went into operation in 1907, with 34-inch Poole & Hunt Leffel Wheels and two 30-inch 500 hp horizontal Samson Turbines capable of an electromotive force of 11,000 volts.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Power Plant in River|date=26 November 1908|page=7}}</ref> A 200-foot fish ladder was constructed along the site. The arrangement made the facility the world's first underwater hydroelectric plant.<ref>{{cite book|title=A GUIDE TO PATAPSCO VALLEY MILL SITES: OUR VALLEY'S CONTRIBUTION TO MARYLAND|author=JAMES WALTER PEIRCE}}</ref>
In its original plan, the plant was meant as an independent competitor to the local electric companies, and supplied power to the surrounding towns of Illchester, Ellicott City and Catonsville many of which were outside of the utilities' service area. It replaced an earlier 300 hp plant purchased for $12,000 in 1900 two miles away at Gray's mills that employed a millrace with a bevel gear and rope drive.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Power Plant in River|date=26 November 1908|page=7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=TO CALL MR. DEAN|date=29 December 1908}}</ref> The $175,000 electric generation equipment was engaged on 28 November 1908 at 3:30pm by Victor Bloede's daughter, Miss Vida Bloede. Waffles were served to 500 dignitaries and guests from electric waffle makers.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=TURBINE PLANT OPENED: Submerged Electrical Generators Put In Operation At Ilchester MISS VIDA BLOEDE SPONSOR By Slight Movement Of Hand She Starts $175,000 Machinery--To Supply Suburbs With Current|date=29 November 1908|page=8}}</ref>
The new Maryland Public Service Commission refused to grant Bloede a franchise to compete in electricity generation. Bloede claimed that Consolidated was attempting to force a sale because the company was charging less on street light contracts with Catonsville and Baltimore.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Submit's Bloede Sale|date=11 April 1913}}</ref> In 1913, the plant was sold to Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power, a predecessor company of Constellation Energy for $200,000 in stock. Consolidated constructed a new head gate and sluice after the purchase.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=HE ATTACKS MR. BLOEDE: Vice-President Wagner Says Activities Only Harass Consolidated CONTROVERTS HIS COMPLAINTS Declares The Owner Of The Patapsco Plant Seeks To Sell Out To The Consolidated|date=2 March 1912}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|title=Non Pros by Dr. Mattfildt|date=29 September 1914}}</ref> The dam continued to generate electrical power within its interior until 1924 when it was closed due to the competition of larger, more powerful plants. The 38 acre property was sold to the State of Maryland on July 22, 1938, on the condition that the property would not be resold to competition to generate electricity or be developed.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Patapsco River Land Acquired For State Recreation Area|date=22 July 1938}}</ref> Although the dam was severely damaged by the flood of Hurricane Agnes 1972, its ruins still stand, although the dam has been gutted leaving only a mud-filled shell. The gatehouse structures were removed since the storm left them unsafe. A semi-exposed sewer line remains onsite. In 1979, the state of Maryland budgeted $30,000 to investigate stabilizing the dam.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Maryland State Budget Volume 1 Maryland Governor|year=1979}}</ref> In 1992, the Department of Natural Resources added a $1.58 million fish ladder to allow migrating fish to swim upstream without being blocked by the dam. More controversy has risen about the American eel in that the dam blocks their passage as well.
==Removal== The removal of Bloede Dam started in September 2017 with work expected to be completed by the spring of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/pages/fishpassage/bloede.aspx|title=Patapsco River Restoration - Bloede Dam Removal}}</ref> An $8 million request for proposal was prepared by American Rivers nonprofit in 2016 to demolish the dam to expose and remove 1,700 feet of non-supported sewer pipe situated on silt built up behind the facility. Silt was expected to overload river two years before recovery. The removal of the dam was expected to remove a hazard where nine deaths occurred since the 1980s, to be replaced with a swift shallow rocky area for kayaking.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Bids set to go out for removal of Bloede Dam at Patapsco Valley State Park|author=Rachael Pacella|date=23 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Man, 18, drowns near dam|date=22 May 1982|page=C2}}</ref> Two upstream dams, Simkins and Union, were removed in 2011 and 2010, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americanrivers.org/patapsco-river-restoration-project-research/|title=PATAPSCO RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT RESEARCH|website=American Rivers|access-date=13 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americanrivers.org/patapsco/index.html|title=REMOVING BLOEDE: AMERICAN RIVERS' QUEST TO FREE THE PATAPSCO RIVER|website=American Rivers|access-date=13 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bayjournal.com/news/fisheries/removal-of-simkins-dam-will-help-to-open-175-miles-of-patapsco-to-fish/article_ebbe6d85-4c3c-5eda-8459-9cc20b38f314.html|last=Kobell|first=Rona|date=19 June 2020|orig-date=Originally published 1 December 2010|title=Removal of Simkins Dam will help to open 175 miles of Patapsco to fish|website=Bay Journal|access-date=13 January 2025}}</ref> Removal of Bloede Dam left Daniels Dam as the last remaining dam along the main branch of the Patapsco River.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bayjournal.com/news/fisheries/last-major-dam-on-maryland-s-patapsco-river-targeted-for-removal/article_22fb3474-3491-11ef-9a12-e38e890fb661.html|title=Last major dam on Maryland’s Patapsco River targeted for removal|website=Bay Journal|date=11 July 2024|access-date=13 January 2025|last=Cox|first=Jeremy}}</ref>
thumb|200px|right|The Bloede Dam as it once stood in ca. 1907<ref>{{cite web|url = http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/cfdocs/photopage.cfm?id=15080|title = Photograph Bloede dam ca. 1907|author = Used with permission from the Baltimore County Public Library.|accessdate = October 3, 2007|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081021082942/http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/cfdocs/photopage.cfm?id=15080|archivedate = October 21, 2008}}</ref>
==See also== *List of dam removals in Maryland *Patapsco Valley State Park *List of Maryland state parks
==Footnotes and references== Much of the information found here was provided by the [http://www.bcpl.info/ Baltimore County Public Library.] {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Bloede's Dam}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071005011715/http://www.dnr.state.md.us/sw_index_flash.asp Maryland Department of Natural Resources] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060526105551/http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/patapscovalley.html Patapsco Valley State Park] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032327/http://external.bcpl.lib.md.us/hcdo/lw_home.html Baltimore County Public Library 'Legacy Web'] *{{HAER |survey=MD-189 |id=md2053 |title=Bloede Dam, Spanning Patapsco River, Avalon, Baltimore County, MD |photos=16 |dwgs=12 |data=40 |cap=2}}
{{Crossings navbox |structure=Crossings |place=Patapsco River |bridge=Bloede's Dam |bridge signs= |upstream=Grist Mill Trail Bridge |upstream signs= |downstream=Swinging Bridge |downstream signs= }}
Category:Buildings and structures in Baltimore County, Maryland Category:Dams in Maryland Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Maryland Category:Buildings and structures in Howard County, Maryland Category:Removed dams in the United States Category:United States state-owned dams Category:Dams with fish ladders