Marshville Dam County Park, located in Benona Township along Stony Creek in the southwestern part of the county, is a 10 acre rustic park. Currently undeveloped, the park is a favorite spot to stop for a picnic, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Marshville Dam History
Marshville gained its name from George Marsh, who in 1861, built a sawmill, and two years later a grist mill at this location. An earthen berm and log dam were also built, forming a large backwater, which provided power for the operations and a means of transporting logs to the mill. The dam eventually gave way in the early 1900s, but the ‘old timers’ remembered the fantastic fishing the pond provided. Their stories of giant ‘speckled trout’ inspired local anglers to purchase the mill flowage rights hoping to “furnish an ideal fishing spot and a place for the propagation of brook trout.” Stock certificates were sold, providing funding, and volunteers constructed the concrete dam in 1927. This provided a large pond and a beautiful spawning area for brown and brook trout in its cool waters. Marshville’s angling fame spread quickly throughout the state.
Unfortunately, in 1970, the earthen berm was undercut by vandals and the pond waters emptied through the narrow opening damaging the support wing and the berm, completely emptying the pond. In 1976, the one‐lane bridge was abandoned, and a new road was built over Stony Creek, covering the stone riffles which were so coveted by fly fishers.
Features
- Fishing
- Water/Pond
- Picnic Area
