Constructed in the 1800's and rebuilt and repaired through the late 19th century, the Cranbury dam diverted Cranbury Brook to supply power to local grist and saw mills. Sewer construction in 1977 unearthed and partially destroyed portions of the original structure before archaeologists halted the work and revealed parts of a well-preserved crib dam. Donald Jackson of the Historic American Engineering Record helped identify the structure and its various rebuildings.