Hannah Lake
later named Mead Lake
Owner: James E. Hannah
Year started: 1937
James E. Hannah, a real estate developer, built Hannah Lake on Tick Ridge Road in Porter Township in 1937. It was known as Hannah Lake until the mid to late 1950's when real estate ads for houses in the region were listed "near Mead Lake."
There was a lot of controversary regarding flooding along the road by the lake.
Newspaper reports about the flooding issue:
The Portsmouth Times, March 15, 1939:
BOARD TO VIEW FLOODED ROAD; Engineer Blames Lake But Owner Contends Culvert is Too Small
County commissioners and Engineer O. Carson Barklow plans to inspect the Tick Ridge road to determine if it should be raised to avoid innundations following heavy rains.
Engineer Barklow said that a private lake owned by James Hannah caused the road to be flooded following hard rains. He said the lake spillway should be widened and lowered a few feet below the road level.
Mr. Hannah appealed to the commissioners to raise a "dip" in the road. He denied that his lake caused the flooding and contended that an insufficient culvert under the road was to blame.
Mr. Hannah offered to give the county a right of way and all the earth and rock needed to raise the road. He further offered to pay $200 cash toward the improvement.
Mr. Hannah said the county owes him $450 for transportation of county trucks during the January 1937 flood. He said he would cancel the bill as a contribution to the road project.
Engineer Barklow said the transportation bill was rejected by him because he thought it was excessive. Mr. Hannah ferried nine trucks from the country garage, West Side to Portsmouth.
The Portsmouth Times, April 2, 1940:
The commissioners today viewed Hannah's Lake on Dixon Mill-Mead Road in an effort to solve a flooding problem. Engineer Carson Barklow contends that the lake spillway is not sufficient to carry off rain waters and causes the lake to flood the road.
James Hannah, owner of the lake, contends that the culvert under the road is insufficient to drain the area above the road and causes inundation. More than 50 families living on the road above the lake lodged complaints against the flooding of the road, contending that when water is over the highway they are marooned and unable to get to work and if at work unable to get back home.
Commissioners said they heard reports that marooned workers were threatening to dynamite the dam. Mr. Hannah offered to cooperate with the commissioners in raising the raod above flood stage or widening the spillway.
The Portsmouth Times, July 23, 1940:
LAKE PROBLEM PUT UP TO PORTER TRUSTEES; Prosecutor Gives Opinion On Road Flooding Case
Prosecutor Marvin A. Kelly Monday afternoon advised county commissioners that Tick Ridge road comes under the jurisdiction of Porter Township trustees.
Residents of the road complained to commissioners that a dam erected by James Hannah causes the road to be flooded after heavy rains.
The commissioners ordered Mr. Hannah to correct the condition by raising the road or lowering the dam spillway. Mr. Hannah built a dam in Hock run to form a lake on his property.
The Portsmouth Times, April 25, 1950
12-YEAR ISSUE SETTLED; ROAD AT LAKE RAISED; County And Hannah Agree on Old Claim, Highway Changes
It took the parties more than 12 years to settle the issue but once the county and James E. Hannah reached agreement on Hannah's Lake it took the county but a few minutes Monday to commence work to correct a road flooding problem.
Mr. Hannah built a lake along side of Tick Ridge Road in 1937. In 1938 the county received reports that the lake overflowed onto Tick Ridge. Each year the complaint was renewed. The parties talked about the condition but no definite action was ever taken. Commissioners threatened suit time and again and the lake continued to flood the road after rains.
School bus drivers reported the route was a traffic hazard. The bank washed away close to the used portion of the road and guard rails disappeared last year.
Commissioner Robert R. Leedom insisted that the board act and called a meeting with Mr. Hannah. The parties met Monday morning on the site. Mr. Hannah agreed to give the county a right of way and all earth needed for a fill. The county agreed to raise Tick Ridge about six feet in the low spot and to install a 64-inch culvert pipe under the road to care for drainage from the lake. The level of the lake will be raised about three feet.
Mr. Hannah in turn withdrew all calims against the county including a 1937 bill for hauling county equipment on his ferry boat during the flood. The bill was for $450.
Deputy County Engineer William O. Burch and Merritt Rolf, road superintendent were on the job Monday afternoon and commenced the fill. The fill will be about 800 feet long, the deep section being about 400 feet long. They hope to finish this fill this week.
The Portsmouth Times, April 29, 1950
HANNAH LAKE ROAD IS RAISED; County Will Set Guard Rail Monday
Raising of Tick Ridge road at Hannah Lake was virtually completed today, Deputy County Engineer William O. Burch reported.
Mr. Burch said the fill was done and the crew will return Monday to install guard rail posts.
The county raised the road for a distance of 800 feet making a fill which was six feet deep at the lowest spot. A large culvert pipe was installed to carry drainage under the road.
Commissioner Lawrence Fitch said he worked out the agreement with James E. Hannah, owner of the lake, which resulted in the improvement. He said Mr. Hannah agreed to grant the county a right of way, and donated material needed for the fill. He also canceled a $450 claim against the county for transporting equipment during the 1937 flood.
The county and Mr. Hannah wrangled over the problem for more than 12 years. The county contended the lake overflowed and inundated the road, causing a traffic hazard and road damage.