In the early 1840's, the original log and dirt dam built at this location harnessed the power of the Milwaukee River. The 199-foot wide dam raised the level of the river by five feet to create a "water head" used to drive the grain milling wheels at John Henry Thien's mill. Thien's mill served farmers from a wide area and helped encourage growth and development in the emerging village. Over the years, private owners rebuilt the dam several times before it was deeded to The Village of Thiensville in 1962.