The ensuing project, a dam built across the Shell Rock River by Bridge Avenue, resulted in the creation of Fountain Lake. In 1854, Ruble wanted to build a dam to provide power for his newly constructed mill. Ruble might be called the Father of Albert Lea, since it was largely because of his activities in the planning, platting and building of our city that we made such remarkable early strides towards becoming a flourishing county seat,” according to a 1940 Albert Lea Tribune article. The dredge was named for George Ruble, the man responsible for the construction of the dam that created Fountain Lake. Albert Lea was responsible for $90,000, while the rest of the funding came from the federal government through the Works Progress Administration, a New-Deal era publics work program begun by President Franklin D. The total cost of the dredging came to $250,000. However, the dredging was at times a source of tension in Albert Lea, as there were disagreements as to who was responsible for paying for the taxes for the dredging and where the dredging should take place.Īs the project began on the north side of Fountain Lake, residents on the southern end were concerned that their portion of the lake was not going to be worked on - concerns which proved to be unfounded as the majority of the lake was dredged. More than 600 people came to tour the Captain George in the spring of 1940 before it began the initial dredging. The dredge attracted much interest from the community.

Marine power cables, which were attached to barrels to keep them from sinking, brought 23,000 volts of electricity out to the dredge. The Captain George received its electricity from a power plant on the shore.

Much of the dirt pulled from the lake was used to create several public parks by filling in swamps and low-lying marshy areas around Fountain Lake. Courtesy of Freeborn County Historical Museum The Foun-Da-Lea on Dane Bay along Blackmer Avenue.

Boston harbor dredging great lakes 1998