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5. First Lookout
At the first lookout, you can see the first of three waterfalls. The weir was originally built in 1923 and was replaced in 1993 with the Pontiac Hydro electric project. The weir was raised and extended taking a portion of the island. The iron pole anchored in cement across from the lookout was used as a winch. When the river was being driven, booms were attached to the piers you see in the river on your left and the logs were channeled down the other side of the booms. The cables attached to this iron pole were also attached to the booms and to the other side of the river to keep the booms in place.
At the top of the steps on your right, the huge iron frame (gate) and gears were part of the log slide. They were situated over the top of the log slide and used to help clear log jams below the falls, Wooden drops would be lowered and used to control the water flow. Spotters were placed along the gorge and if they saw a log jam beginning, they would fire a warning shot alerting the men at the head of the falls. The drops would be lowered to hold back the water in an attempt to flush the logs and break the jam. When all was clear, two shots would be fired, the drops would be raised and work would continue.
