Ground Breaking Ceremony for Kaysinger Dam and Reservoir
October 9, 1964
Sixty years ago, the front page of area newspapers publicized the upcoming ground breaking ceremonies scheduled on October 9, 1964 for the Kaysinger Dam and Reservoir on the Osage River above Warsaw.[1]
The “Kaysinger” name first appeared in the April 05, 1934 issue of the WINDSOR REVIEW, when it reported “A 90-acre park has been completed just west of the city limits of Warsaw, Benton County, on the north banks of the Osage River…The park is the site of former Indian camp grounds and the area is rich in Indian lore. Historic Kaysingeer Bluffn has been landscaped.”[1]
In 1948 at a Lions Club meeting, an official of the Resoruces and Development Commission described a flood control dam proposed to be built at Kaysinger Bluff near Warsaw.
In 1950, H. M. Short, of the MO State Highway Department explained government plans for the construction of Kaysingeer Dam near the junction of the Osage and Grand rivers at Warsaw which included plans for a new bridge at Warsaw. During the 1950s, representatives of the Corps of Engineers spoke about a proposed flood control dam at Kaysinger Bluff.[1]
More bills in support of the Kaysinger Dam were introduced in Washington, D.C. in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In June 29, 1961, Editor James C. Kirkpatric reported that hearings in Washington for the Kaysinger project which had gotten “Congressional approval in 1962 for the larger and deeper Kaysinger Bluff Dam at Warsaw could mean a great deal to this area.
Windsor could well become the gateway to the proposed new lake, with benefits like those now enjoyed by Eldon and Versailles.” Soon Windsor had added the words of “Gateway to Kaysinger: on its highway signs.[1]
The Kaysinger Dam was closer to reality on February 22, 1962, when Senator Edward V. Long stated that “The Army Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors has approved and sent to the Chief of Engineers an improved Kaysinger Bluff Reservoir Project…(with) modifications which would provide for a reservoir of 5,200,000 acre-feet and a 100,000 kilowatt hydroelectric power facility. The big dam…would stretch to near Clinton on the South Grand River and to beyond Osceola on the Osage River.[1]
As plans progressed for the Kaysinger Dam ground breaking ceremony on October 9, 1964, the WINDSOR REVIEW provided information about the event. President Lyndon Johnson had considered coming to the ground breaking event, but by October 1, it was announced that he was unable to paarticipate.[1]
The event was planned for a Friday when public school children were on vacation because the Missouri State Teachers meeting was being held on that day. The Windsor High School Band directed by James O. Fetters was one of nine area high schools to play during the ceremonies. (Lori ‘Funk’ Gerke remembered playing in the band for the crowd on that day before the speaking program began.) [1]
More than 3,500 people watched the Kaysinger Dam ground breaking ceremony that began with a dynamite blast followed by the ceremonial shovels of dirt by officials. Dignataries speaking at the ground brteaking ceremonies included Senators Stuart Symington and Edward Long, Governor John M. Dalton, Corps of Engineers officials, and local area town and county representatives.[1]
The WINDSOR REVIEW stated, “It was predicted the construction work might be completed by 1970…”[1] .It would be 15 more years after the ground breaking date before Kaysinger Dam and Reservoir would be fully completed in 1979. Kaysinger Dam and Reservoir was reenamed as Harry S Truman Dam and Reserviur in 1970.[2]
Sources: [1] WINDSOR REVIEW, (1934-1964). [2] Wikipedia.Org.
