Work was tougher in the winter
Trackhoes begin Excavation of Core
The Core has been dug and re-filled
Setback - Rain filled Core
Refilling Core with Red Clay
First Shovel
Filling Core with red Clay nears Completion
Excavator Moving dirt from core
Dozer working in Core Trench
Core excavation to Bedrock - 25 ft
Core - Wide Open
Jack Inspects progress
A Dozer pushing a scraper to remove dirt
Test Holes are dug across valley
More clearing
John Hardie (C-4 Corp) & Jack Medler plan the lake
Hi-Lift clearing
Drill Truck
Crew who ran the Equipment/Drill Truck
Burning the Dead Trees and Brush
Bill Brunges - early engineer
Jack Medler
View down Valley---future Lake bed
View down Valley Before Lake Construction
Old Shed---view back towards future dam
Old Foundation from Town of Anthonies Mill
Old Building near Campground
Old barn where present spillway is at present
Old Barn and Cattle Pond
Jack's Jeep
Jacks Friend Camping on Property
Jack's Bronco II and tractor
Jack Medler Turkey Hunting on Property
Jack Medler Planning Dam Construction
Jack Medler and son Jeff---Hunters
Jack Medler and Friends Hunting
Fall Colors Before Lake
Before sunrise lake---View to lots 26-27
Barn torn down for Spillway
Ashley Creek into valley---future Lake Ashley
Ashley Creek
Ashley CreekThe Summer’s and Anthony General Store was established in 1888 and persisted until the 1950s. It was later called the Kimberland Store. At one time there was a one-room school and a post office. No one seems to know the origin of the unusual spelling of the town.
In the ’60s the Corps of Engineers bought up much of the local property for the ill-fated Meramec Dam. When the Dam fell through, Dr. Jack Medler bought the property that is now Anthonies Mill Resort (March 16, 1983). At that time it was used to raise cattle. Mostly wooded, the valley was partly open with Ashley Creek meandering thru the valley.
Construction of Lake Ashley began in 1984 and was completed in January, 1986.
PLANING AND CLEARING
In June, 1983 Jack Medler met with Ken Wilson (K R Wilson Contracting of Sullivan) and engineer, Bill Brunges of Union, MO as to the feasibility of building a dam across the large valley. Ken’s company had previously built a 12 acre lake at Jack’s old farm in Beaufort, MO. Together they decided to go ahead with the dam and a drilling company was obtained to drill samples across the path of the proposed dam to ascertain the depth of bedrock.
Clearing the valley began in September, 1983. The large timber in the valley was sold. The remainder was pushed into large piles and burned. The tree stumps were left for fish cover.
DIGGING THE CORE
The first step in construction of the dam is to dig a Core across the valley. Digging the core began in 1983. The Core is a cut in the land, transecting the valley – 25 feet wide and 25 feet deep down to bedrock. Once reaching bedrock, Bentonite is spread across the rock to seal any small cracks. Once the core is excavated, it is then backfilled with clay which was removed by Scrapers from the valley above the dam.
In February, 1984 roads were designed around the proposed lake. In June, 1984 the final plans for the dam were completed including the spillway. In May, 1984 Jack and his sons built the baseball backstop. In June, the valley was cleared for Beaver Lake. In August, 1984 Geotechnology Engineering took over the project. By November 1984, the core was completed. Construction was put on hold until Summer of 1985.