Rochester Dam

When I die let my ashes float down the Green River,
Let my soul roll on up to the Rochester Dam.
I'll be halfway to heaven with Paradise waiting
Just five miles away from wherever I am.
from "Paradise", John Prine

When a navigation survey of the Green River from Evansville, Indiana to Bowling Green, Kentucky, conducted by the US Department of War in 1828 was complete, the State authorized construction of Lock and Dams #1-4 on the River to improve navigation. The 175-mile project was completed in 1842. (http://thinkwestkentucky.com; see also http://www.kycourts.net/Counties/Butler_text.asp)

Lock and Dam #3 was located at Rochester, Kentucky.

Rochester Dam circa 1925

http://www.muhlenbergcountyky.com/page5.html

Rochester is located in Butler County at the juncture of the Green and Mud Rivers. The area around the mouth of the Mud River was settled in the early 19th century. What was then called "The Mouth" later became the communities of Rochester, Skilesville and McCrarysville.(http://www.uky.edu/KentuckyAtlas/ky-rochester.html)

The US Army Corps of Engineers used earth and rock to construct the dam. The dam underwent repair in 1888, but it was abandoned by the Corps of Engineers in early 1980.

Rochester Dam 2004

copyright 2005