Farmer William J. Fullerton built the dam across Turkey Creek in the mid-1890s to irrigate the vegetable crops on his 1,500 acres (610 ha) farm.

As western Oklahoma was a dry region, farmers depended on a regular water supply to produce crops, making Fullerton's dam an important innovation.

However, Fullerton's farm began to fail around 1905 because of falling produce prices and increasing production expenses.

He had to borrow a large amount of money to stay in business, and was heavily in debt when he died in 1916.

The stone ruins remain at the site of the dam and are generally in the same condition as they were following the flood.