Lake Hamilton Dam
Also known as: Hamilton Lake Dam
Why it's listed
Lake Hamilton Dam is a 70-foot-high gravity dam on Yellow Creek in Struthers, Ohio, built between 1906 and 1907 to a design by civil engineer David M. Wise. Its core is cyclopean concrete, faced with precisely cut Ashlar sandstone quarried near New Castle, Pennsylvania. The dam is 262 feet long and holds back a 136-acre lake. Related features include two spillways, a sandstone gatehouse, a tunnel and a sandstone aqueduct. The nomination describes it as the tallest and largest masonry dam in Ohio and an outstanding example of stonework, with no alterations to the dam itself. It was among the earliest masonry dams to use cyclopean concrete fill. The dam also mattered to industry: it supplied water to the iron and steel mills of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, including Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. Since 1922 the grounds have also served recreational uses.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the dam is among the finest examples of massive Ashlar sandstone masonry dam construction in Ohio and the United States. It is also one of the earliest dams to use cyclopean concrete backing. Locally, it supplied water for iron and steel production, notably for Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co., in the Mahoning Valley.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84003774, listed May 7, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1.5 miles NE of Poland off SR 616, Struthers |
|---|---|
| County | Mahoning County |
| Listed | May 7, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003774 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | David M. Wise (civil engineer, designed 1904); Mahoning Valley Water Co.; William McIntyre Sons & Co., contractors |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and unaltered; the surrounding area opened to the public in 1922 for fishing, hiking and picnicking, and the dam is used for water supply. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 41.03694, -80.59162 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84003774.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q35707016
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.