The Bowersock name has been a part of Lawrence history since 1874, the year J. D. Bowersock tamed the Kaw. A new nameplate at the entrance to Bowersock Mills and Power proudly proclaims its heritage
Pneumatic baffles (left center) are raised or lowered as needed to help control the height of the reservoir. The wooden structure that begins to their right and extends all the way to the north shore are boards held in place by 2x4's. When the river flow becomes too great and the reservoir rises to unacceptably high levels, the 2x4's break allowing water to cross the dam in a greater volume, thereby alleviating upstream flooding. This wooden structure must be replaced by hand every time they break or deteriorate from age.
Today's Bowersock looks very much the same as it did in the early 1900's. The powerhouse (shown above) now contains seven turbines generating enough AC power to supply 1800 homes in the Lawrence area. In the center of the pool you can see a very long piece of driftwood. It is strapped to both sides of the pool and is used to catch floating debris that might damage the turbines (a simple solution to a common problem). A view of the pool below the waterline can be seen in the photo below. It was taken in 1983 during renovation and upgrades to the plant.
Grates (below) also protect the turbines from river debris, known as flotsom and jetsom. The grates can barely be seen in the picture above. They are just above the roof of the earthmover and across the face of the pool.
electricity since 1920 with only periodic shutdowns for maintenance. They are believed to be the oldest active electrical power producing units in the United States. One such turbine (below) is on display at the Bowersock plant in Lawrence.
