MORE DELL-VING INTO THE PAST

Warren Darden

Here are 3 photos of Echo Dell:

#1 & 2 I took around 2001 or 2002 when my son and I were taking a fishing/boating ride up the river from the ramp below Riverview Park.

You will note the water is almost covering the dam. There are two possible reasons for this. First, since the late '90's, when they raised the lower dam (VFW) by six feet, it backed water up to the Echo Dell dam. Second, the dam is covered when the generators are opened at Greers Ferry Dam in Heber Springs.

3 is of a family picnic in the early '50's. At this point in time, the back water from the lower dam did not reach the upper dam and it was still a "natural" river site, with low water most of the time prior to the construction of the Greers Ferry dam, '60-'63.

One cannot get to Echo Dell now without trespassing on private property. The river would be the best way to visit the site, provided the water is not up or rising.

Hope this is helpful to all those on Searcy Yesteryear.

Warren Darden ('61), a band member and proud of it. You senior citizens were leaving about the time we got to Al English. You had broken him in well!