Spaulding Dam, when finally complete, was 275 feet high. It took 12 years from conception to approval of financing in New York. W. A. Englebright was superintendent of construction and later became Congressman from the First District.
Warner Van Norden’s son, Charles, a clergyman, was the person who first suggested using the water system for irrigation. Charles’ son, Rudolph, joined the South Yuba Canal Company and helped design the power houses to be supplied from the ditches. The Van Nordens formed a hydroelectric subsidiary, the Central California Electric Company in 1895 and built three powerhouses--Newcastle in 1896, Auburn in 1898 and Alta in 1902. Newcastle closed in 1914 and Auburn closed in 1912. Alta, is the only powerhouse still in operation and utilizes much of the original equipment. This electric company and about 17 others were absorbed by PG&E by the 1920's.
The intricate canal system was a vital part of the gold rush and is now our chief water supply. PG&E operated and maintained the canals until they were sold to the Placer County Water Agency in 1968.
The following article appeared in the December 28, 1889 Placer Herald:
“Worthy of mention is the electric light plant, owned and operated by Messrs. Bell and Hill. This enterprise was begun May 15th, and the light
was turned on the 28th of October 1889. The dynamo is the Thompson & Houston patent, and is run by water power obtained from the Bear River Ditch. ( Ed: this ditch was built in 1852, from a point below the junction of Greenhorn Creek with Bear River to an area just North of Auburn. Greenhorn Creek flows into Rollins Lake.)
The dynamo has a capacity of 1000 lights and is managed by Al Armbruster who talks of amperes and rheostats as glibly as an expert. J. Russell is lineman. There are 18 miles of wire in use now. The proprietors intend to erect arc lights in the spring. The lights are incandescent and give a soft, brilliant light, which does not tire the eyes and can be used to great advantage by the student or artisan. Some 300 lights are in use now and this number will be doubled by spring”.
The plant continued as the B. & H. Company for a few years, when Hill sold out and the Company continued to supply Auburn and vicinity under the name of Bell Electric Company until it was purchased by PG&E in 1926. The original power plant was abandoned when the Central California Power Company completed the Auburn Power House in 1898 and thereafter the power was purchased for resale. The plant was located north of Auburn, (near what is now Ashford Park) in Auburn Ravine, close to the city limits where the old foundations are still visible.
The reason behind the development of hydro-electric resources of Placer County was to get electricity from Bear River to Cordelia and on to the Bay Area. Those located along the way benefitted by receiving the extra power. First known as “Pacific Service”, PG&E was incorporated in 1905. The plant took years to get started. First, financing could not be found on the west coast. The N. W. Halsey investment firm was contacted in the east and they took great interest in the project. Mr. Halsey himself came out to see the area and became a member of the Board of Directors of PG&E Second, the re-building after the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco made building material hard to get and very expensive. Third, permission had to be obtained from Southern Pacific to unload supplies and equipment at Cisco. Previously, supplies were brought in from Truckee to Weber Lake then by boat to Lake Fordyce, a two-day haul and was not very convenient.
Drum powerhouse was the most difficult to build because it was in such a remote area. Living quarters were provided for the workers and their families. There was already a two story bunk house at Lake Fordyce occupied by Ed Roening and Gus Anderson, caretakers who lived there a total of 39 years. Crews worked in shifts around the clock all year. During the winter, they dug the tunnels. This was all done by pick, shovel, horse, mule, and wagon. The powerhouse was named for Frank Drum who was President of PG&E from 1907 to 1920. The original powerhouse produced 36,000 HP. In 1923 it was enlarged to 50,250 HP and later a second turbine was added.