WV Press Videos

WV town of Salem to mark history of its seven dams

Photo submitted to The Exponent Telegram  Work crews repaired three of the seven risers on dams of tributaries leading to the Salem Fork River this summer. It was the first major repairs to the 60-year-old dams.
Photo submitted to The Exponent Telegram
Work crews repaired three of the seven risers on dams of tributaries leading to the Salem Fork River this summer. It was the first major repairs to the 60-year-old dams.

SALEM, W.Va. — It was common over 60 years ago for heavy rains to send rivers of water rushing toward the town of Salem, slowing business to nearly a crawl for days on end.

Dams built to protect the townspeople from such floods were repaired last summer, and now the public is invited to learn more about the seven dams, which were one of the most innovative projects of their day.

The West Virginia Conservation Agency is hosting a Town Hall meeting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 7 at Salem City Hall to give residents a chance to hear more about the restoration project, and ask questions about the dams. It will also give younger generations a glimpse among obstacles their town faced decades ago.

Billy Wolfe, a communications specialist with the agency, said the four largest floods in Salem history struck in 1896, 1904, 1947 and 1950. The dams were part of a 12-state watershed control project that was authorized with the 1944 passage of the Flood Control Act.

“The dams accomplished everything that was planned for them to do,” said Al Romagnoli, a councilman in Salem who moved to the town in 1958…

Comments are closed.

West Virginia Press Newspaper Network " "

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

And get our latest content in your inbox

Invalid email address