The Rock River Hydroelectric Dam was constructed in 1925 to power the electrical grid of Lee County. In 1904, the first hydroelectrical dam was constructed in Dixon. This dam was owned by the Dixon Hydraulic Company and was constructed of timber and stacked rocks to generate approximately 2,000 horsepower. Within a powerhouse, multiple water wheels were available for private ownership. The first wheel owners were the Dixon Power and Lighting Company (3 wheels), Reynolds Wire Company, and Steward Press. Other wheels were left available to encourage the construction of new factories in the city. In 1925, a concrete dam was constructed to replace the timber structure. With it, the extant brick powerhouse was constructed. Today, the dam produces 13 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, utilizing IP Morris vertical turbines. A picturesque view of the dam is seen from Howell Park, on the north side of the river. The park was created in 1915 under the patronage of E.N. Howell, a noted businessman in Dixon and the first president of its Park District. He hired landscape architects O.C. Simonds & Co. to beautify the north bank of the river. Since 1939, a monument to Howell has been located in the park.