Video of the Upper Miss from the ’30’s

This video (no sound) was posted on the Corps YouTube page.

It’s 40 minutes long but if you’re interested to see what the Ford Dam, Hastings Dam and Red Wing dam looked like when they were new, it’s pretty interesting.

At 7:00 or just after is Lock and Dam #3 Red Wing. Looks like there was a sand bar on the MN side at one time. Also fishing boats by the wing dams(?)

At about 15:00 they show a roller going from fully open to closed after RIVER RAT RANDY motors through the dam.

A lot has changed since the 1930’s!

Maybe it’s cause I’m on an iPad, but I don’t see a video

Wonder what the fishing was like back in the 1930’s?? From my understanding the river is alot cleaner now than it was back then…My mom has told me she could “smell” the river in South Mpls along River Road back in the 1950’s when she was growing up.

In the 60’s Pool 2 was called “dead”.

Prior to the Clean Water Act of the early ’70’s Dnr biologists near St Paul would lift their gill nets and not find a fish…just toilet paper.

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Maybe it’s cause I’m on an iPad, but I don’t see a video

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Chambers, here’s a link to the embedded video above.

Upper Mississippi 1930’s Film<

Also, this film was made in the ’30’s, every car and truck looks pretty different and the tows are all true paddle-wheels. It certainly was a different time on the river.

My Dad growing up fishing northside Mpls said the river would have floating bogs of crap. The most disgusting site he can think of. All the carp you would want, that’s about it.

That video is awesome. Love how slow it is, gives the viewer ample time to check everything out. Back in the 30s it wasn’t GO GO GO!!! That same video made nowadays wouldn’t be more than 5min long. River systems are vitally important to the development of any country, I am glad we are in the middle of cleaning ours up.

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I am glad we are in the middle of cleaning ours up.

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I love old video, that is cool even without sound.

That is cool to see. Thanks for sharing Brian.

I was told by my dam Cousin that the island at the “Y” might be made of dredge material. In looking at the film at around 7 minutes that appears to be the case.

BK Although in years past I have ran the roller gates many times. [wouldn’t try that now tho]. That’s not me in the film. That was my dad. ……rrr

Very cool video. I shared it with friends who grew up in the LaCrosse and Prairie du Chien areas.

Very cool

I hope those who diss the EPA and the clean water act remember what is being written in this thread.

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Also, this film was made in the ’30’s, every car and truck looks pretty different and the tows are all true paddle-wheels. It certainly was a different time on the river.

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You remember those times, do ya BK?

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I hope those who diss the EPA and the clean water act remember what is being written in this thread.

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You living like your dead man?

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I was told by my dam Cousin that the island at the “Y” might be made of dredge material. In looking at the film at around 7 minutes that appears to be the case.

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Great video! Thanks for posting it on here Brian! Too bad there wasn’t a little narration to go along with the images.

As for the dam island, I believe it is partially made of dredge material. Over the years I have looked at several old plat maps, survey maps, and pre lock and dam aerial photos and everything indicates that the approach canal to the lock from the downstream end is actually where the mouth of the Vermillion River was located. When building the dam I suspect they rerouted the Vermillion to exit where it does now – which would make sense given it is a ~1/2 mile straight stretch. Very few rivers naturally run straight after all! Plus, when you come down the Vermillion you can visualize where it used to come out – now there is a dike. The island was much smaller than it is now. If I recall, it was just a big sandbar in the air photo I looked at. The wing dam at the mouth of the Vermillion river was likely installed to direct main river flow to the north side of Diamond Island. Pre lock and dam the main channel went to the south of Diamond Island, hence its inclusion in WI and not MN.

Again, thanks for sharing the video. I love reading and look at anything related to river history, especially local information.