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Wasdell Falls Hydro-Electric Development 1914
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2004
Photo by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted December, 2009
Plaque Location
The County of Simcoe
The Township of Ramara
Just off a gravel road, street number 2982 off Wasdell Falls Road
about .5 km north of Coopers Falls Road (Road 52)
3.7 km east of Highway 11
Coordinates: N 44 46.860 W 79 17.610 |
 |
Plaque Text
Completed in 1914, after several municipalities on the eastern shore of Lake Simcoe had requested a supply of electric power, this was the first generating station constructed by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario. The natural formation of solid granite provided an excellent foundation for the development. The Wasdell plant operated as a separate unit serving the northern portion of Ontario County and the western portion of Victoria until 1924, when it became part of the Georgian Bay System. Displaced by much larger developments, it ceased operation in 1955, but provides visual evidence of the beginnings of one of the world's leading public power systems.
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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted June 9, 2011
I'm woking for the company who plans to built a new power station. Is it possible to post some of your pictures of the old powerhouse! That would be very interesting! Thanks! [Editor's Response: Please email me to receive an answer.]
> Posted April 19, 2011
The powerhouse was torn down in the early 70's. A few years later they rebuilt the dam and put in a prototype turbine and tested it for about 15 years. They have determined that there is still a significant amount of power to be generated so they are planning to put in two new turbines. I have several photos of the old powerhouse. I was also inside the house in the mid sixties. They occasionally had an attendant at the site and my dad and I went inside.
> Posted May 31, 2010
When I was a child my parents had a cottage on the island just downstream from the dam. As I recall the dam included a rather large sandy gray building to the right of the falls. The historic plaque was beside the building. I recently visited the site after 40+ years and noticed quite a difference. When was the powerhouse torn down? What is this site now used for?
> Posted May 21, 2009
Also a great spot to fish!
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