The Original Dam That Shamokin Dam Was Named For

 
Sunbury was once called "Shamokin".  In 1830, a dam was built on the river, and the area across the river is, still today, known as "Shamokin Dam".  

According to an 1831 Letter To The Editor reprinted in the United States Gazette, Philadelphia:

"The first dam was wretchedly executed.  It was never properly finished, nor filled in with stone; and a great portion of it was therefor swept off by the first ice freshnet of the spring.  The present dam was built last summer [the summer of 1830] and better done but pard of it was built on the underwork of the first, and not sufficiently prepare and secured.  There, and there only, a breach was made of about 200 feet by ice and flood last [1831] spring.  But the rest of the dam stands firm, erect, and level, without material injury, extending upon the solid foundation of a range of rock in a straight line across the main river.  Its base is 26 feet broad, and further enlarged by spars: its length, besides the chute, 2730 feet - including that 2810 feet.  The water is raised by it six feet above love water surface in the river, to the level of canal navigation - five feet at Sunbury and four at Northumberland Point, slacking the current for five or six miles above the dam in both branches of the river, and forming a navigable basin  at Sunbury of uncommon beauty, half a mile wife and nearly three miles in length, from the dam to Northumberland.

The chute for rafts and arks, as well as the dam, is now under improvement and will probably be perfectly safe in a short time.  Notwithstanding the nowise raised about the danger there last spring, only one ark was wrecked with agricultural produce and it is believed that accident arose from mere imprudence."

Several breaches made in the Dam in the flood of January 1832

On Thursday April 17th 1831, Sheriff Hass and Captain Hummel were standing on the bank of the river, near the Shamokin Dam.  The men counted 128 rafts and 27 arks descend between one pm and two pm that day.

On March 13th 1874, the Sunbury Gazette reported that the feat recently performed by John Garinger in going over the dam in a a common foot boat was one that had never been performed before.   And it was likely not to ever happen again, at least not by Mr Garinger, if he could help it. Garinger was rowing to Sunbury to attend the market when ice carried him across the dam.  He clung to the boat until he reached shallow water, then stood until he was rescued by those who saw his situation from the shores.

On the river north of Shamokin Dam, showing ferry transporting merchant wagons, including Yerger of Mt. Pleasant Mills, to Sunbury on the east side. Also seen is Clement's steam boat leaving the dock, and the Phila and Reading RR bridge, further north.

The dam  was destroyed in the flood of 1904.

The Montour American reported that there was a chance of the Canal Company making repairs, but that did not happen.

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The United States Gazette, September 1831

February 1832

March 1832

April 1873

New Fish Law prohibited fishermen from catching Shad from the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers between June and August.  Four fishways, or ladders, were to be constructed for the passage of fish over the dams at Clarks Ferry, Shamokin Dam, Columbia Dam, and one over the dam at the Juniata River.