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The Eugenia PowerplantMr. William Hogg arrived in Eugenia in the 1870's and noticed the potential offered by the Eugenia Falls. He built a small-scale electric plant at the falls in 1895, which supplied power to Eugenia and Flesherton and a chopping & gristmill. Not until 1905 did the dream of electric power at Eugenia Falls come alive again with the Georgian Bay Power Company. Construction of a tunnel through the hill beside the falls was completed in 1907, but the project incurred so much debt (over $1 million), the project could not be finished.
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Eugenia Tunnel28 July 1999
Eugenia, Ontario, Canada
Credits:South Grey Museum Collection
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After all the effort, the tunnel was dynamited due to safety concerns. This is what remains of the original efforts for electric power in Eugenia.4
Eugenia Hydro Building2009
Eugenia, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Taylor Barnett
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This building has beeen abandoned for many decades and is covered in grafitti, inside and out.6
Building at Eugenia Power Plant2009
Eugenia, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Taylor Barnett
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In 1913, the Hydro Commission moved farmers off about 1900 acres of land to build a dam. The dam would flood the land which is now known as Lake Eugenia. This was completed in 1915 and provided power for Owen Sound, Orangeville, Durham, Mount Forest, Chesley, Wiarton, Walkerton, Grand Valley, Arthur and Collingwood.8
Hydro Power House and Steel Pipe, Eugenia1900's
Lake Eugenia, Eugenia, Ontario, Canada
Credits:South Grey Museum Collection
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Eugenia Power Plantmid-20th century
Lake Eugenia, Eugenia, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Split Rail Country: A History of Artemesia Township Vol.1
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Plantt Home at Plantt's Point, Eugenia1890 - 1910
Plantt's Point, Lake Eugenia, Eugenia, Ontario
Credits:Split Rail Country Vol. 1 - A History of Artemesia Township
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In the fall of 1913, the Hydro Commission began to negotiate with the farmers for their farms in the area to be flooded by the dam. Most owners were able to dismantle their houses and move or sell them. This home, owned by Robert Plantt, at what is now known as Plantt's Point in Eugenia, was jacked up for removal, but the Hydro Commission advised leaving it until freeze-up.12
Lake Eugenia2008
Lake Eugenia, Eugenia, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Grey Highlands Heritage Committee
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During the flooding of the area the water rose faster than expected so the house could not be moved in time and gradually it all collapsed into the lake.14
Eugenia Hydro Stationcirca 1980's
Lake Eugenia, Eugenia, Ontario, Canada
Credits:South Grey Museum Collection
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