A Dam Too Far: Million Dollar Dam & McGregor Powerhouse
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
William H. Miner is perhaps best known as the wealthy railroad industrialist who returned to his modest Chazy farm to construct a 15,000-acre model farm in the early 20th century, but he also undertook numerous hydroelectric projects throughout the North Country. Located eight miles from the Miner Institute is a 6,800-acre sandstone pavement barren known as the Altona Flat Rock. Within this rare ecosystem is a series of reservoirs and small streams that were once the site of one of Miner’s hydroelectric projects – a 2,300-foot long “Million Dollar” dam. Constructed in 22 months by 500 workers, this engineering marvel held approximately one billion gallons of water and operated for seven years. This tour includes a guided walk to the crest of the dam to view its expanse and surrounding environs. We will then visit the Altona Flat Rock Dam to explore the second of Miner’s hydroelectric marvels in Altona – the McGregor Powerhouse. To power this, workers constructed a 1,500-foot-long dam on McGregor Pond in 1922 to create Miner Lake. The imposing powerhouse is like nothing else surrounding it and remains standing as an elaborate, concrete-stucco Spanish Revival-style building, which once featured apartments upstairs for workers and their families. This tour will give you an up-close, behind-the-scenes look at both historic hydroelectric sites.
This tour will be led by William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute Librarian Amy Bedard and Public Relations & Marketing Coordinator Rachel Dutil. The tour begins at 10 AM and ends around 3 PM.
The fee is $65 for AARCH members and $80 for non-members.
Please note that this tour includes about one mile of walking over uneven terrain.
Note that there are a limited number of seats in two Miner Institute vehicles. Participants will be asked to carpool.