It was constructed as the McCalls Ferry Dam between 1905 and 1910 by the Pennsylvania Water & Power (PW&P) Company.

The fish lift and dam were damaged by heavy rain and rapid snowmelt from the severe 1996 flood in January of that year.

More efficient primary mining upstream reduced the availability of fines, and 1972 environmental laws made the dredging impractical, so coal was brought in by train.

[6] PPL received the approval to add the second powerhouse in November 2009 from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Bruce Hardy, 59, of Bainbridge, Lancaster County, died after being crushed between a wall and an excavator bucket.