It’s hard for me to imagine building a lake, but apparently it wasn’t for E.C. More.

This newspaper article outlines how E.C. (Elawson Carry) More built a lake in the late 1800s that today has been drained so the coal ash dumped in it can be removed and taken to the landfill. The lake is near Business Loop 70 East, Ashley and Bowling streets, and Lake Avenue.

The article includes a historic document outlining Columbia’s up and down efforts to create its own Municipal Power Plant and provide water and electricity to the city.

It will take about 13,000 dump truck loads to remove the ash, according to calculations made by Columbia Mayor Brian Treece, the article notes. This makes me wonder how More built the lake back when there were no dump trucks.

For now, here’s an article that provides history and context about a lake that once was and perhaps might be again.

April 25, 2017 —More’s Lake might return to its former glory after years of sitting filled with ash, Columbia Missourian. Summary: A lake once used for water to cool the power plant and then used as a place to dump ash from when the Columbia Municipal Power Plant burned coal has been drained. Due to environmental concerns and regulations, the ash will be removed and taken to the land fill. The lake was created in the late 1800s by Elawson Carry More. It was once used as community fishing and recreation area. Hopes were expressed that might be again. The piece includes this link to a historical document about Columbia’s power and water developments.