{"nrhp_refnum":"77001543","name":"Tyler Hydraulic-Fill Dam","other_names":["1894 Tyler Waterworks Dam,or Bellwood Lake Dam"],"category":"structure","location":{"address":"W of Tyler off TX 31","address_restricted":false,"city":"Tyler","county":"Smith County","state":"TX","lat":32.331398329000024,"lon":-95.36892646699994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1977-08-29","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Engineering"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"An earthen hydraulic-fill dam built in 1894 for the Tyler Water Works on Indian Creek, west of Tyler, Smith County, Texas. It impounds Bellwood Lake and measures 575 feet long and 32 feet high.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it was one of the earliest hydraulic-fill dams of its size in the United States. Engineer J. M. Howell designed it using a hydraulic-jet and sluicing method, and the whole dam cost only $1,140. It remains largely in its original state and still impounds the lake.","narrative":"Built in 1894 on Indian Creek west of Tyler, Texas, this earthen dam created the reservoir now known as Bellwood Lake. It is 575 feet long and 32 feet high, holds 24,000 cubic yards of fill, and impounds 177 acres of water. Engineer J. M. Howell designed it for the Tyler Water Works, then owned by B. B. Cain, to supply domestic water and fire protection. Rather than hauling earth, builders used a steam pump to drive water against a neighboring hill, washing sand and clay through a 13-inch pipe onto the dam site. The entire job cost $1,140, or about 65 cents per acre-foot of storage. The dam was listed because it was one of the earliest hydraulic-fill dams of its size in the United States. A 1909 engineering text reported no apparent defects. Apart from a concrete spillway added by a 1934 Civil Works Administration project, it remains close to its original state and is now a recreational site for local residents.","period_of_significance":"1800-1899 (specific date 1894)","architect_builder":"J.M. Howell, C.E.","architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"Remains intact and in sound condition, still impounding Bellwood Lake; the reservoir no longer supplies water to Tyler and is used for recreation. A 1934 Civil Works Administration project added a concrete spillway.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:18.529178-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/57/9733/40973357/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_TX/77001543.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40973357","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q31566885"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/texas/smith-county/tyler-hydraulic-fill-dam-77001543/"}