Twilight of an Era
A Tribute to Milltown Dam
The growth of Montana's lumber industry was dependent on the development
of electrical energy. For turn-of-the-century entrepreneur W.A. Clark,
wealth derived from mining in Butte mad possible his expansion into other
business enterprises in Montana.
Clark recognized the emergent energy needs of Missoula and the surrounding
area. In 1904 he purchased 20 acres of land at the confluence of the Clark
Fork and Blackfoot Rivers as a site for his proposed dam. Clark also
acquired sufficient water rights on the two rivers to operate the power plant.
Construction of the Milltown dam began in September 1905 and completed in
1907, Clark relocated his Western Lumber Company from Lothrop to Milltown in
1911 further establishing the local community as a lumber town, now a focal
point for electrical energy production.
The Milltown Dam influenced the culture and landscape of this pocket of
Western Montana. the industry made possible by the dam created a solid
livelihood and sense of ownership for this once-pioneer community, a proud
historic journey that encompasses almost one hundred years.
Original features of the dam include a 220 foot timber crib, rock-filled
spillway about 40 feet tall. Ten inch square timbers set on the river bed
and secured to pilings were filled with rock that provided the foundation for
the spillway. Essentially a gravity dam; the structure resists the
reservoir's force by the sear gravity of the rock-filled cribs. The 126
foot long by 65 foot wide powerhouse is a brick and reinforced concrete
structure housing five General Electric alternating current generators and two
G.E. direct current exciters all powered by Leffel twin horizontal turbines.
The dam's peak generation of 3,400 Kilowatts provided service to local industry
and transportation, the towns of Bonner and Milltown, as well as a Missoula and
rural circuit.
Dam History at a Glance
1854 Captain John Mullan carves out the Mullan Trail through Milltown.
1883 Northern Pacific Railroad arrives in Milltown
1886 Hammond-Bonner mill opens
1903 McCormick sells the town-site land to the Western Lumber Company (W.A.
Clark)
1904 W.A. Clark, purchases the existing power system at Bonner Mill and
began plans to build a dam and generation plant on the Clark Fork River
1905-1907 Milltown Dam is constructed
1908 The plant first generates electricity and survives flood conditions
of major proportions
1916 Clark sells the dam to Missoula Light and Water Company
1924 The dam is sold to the Missoula Public Service Company
1929 The dam and its utility interests are sold to Montana Power Company
2003 Northwestern Energy purchases Montana Power Company including the
Milltown Dam
The dam is scheduled for removal. ~ text of marker