Photos: See what's under Lake Williams, down 22 feet

The York Water Company acquired the land to build Lake Williams in 1911, buying the farm land from nine individuals, according to this January 4, 1911 news article.

J.T. Hand, chief operating officer for York Water Company, holds up a panorama photo from the construction of the dam at Lake Williams, taken within feet of where he stands, in this photo taken in November. Lake Williams is down 22 feet, as renovations on the dam continue. The project started in July of 2018.

J.T. Hand, chief operating officer for York Water Company, holds up a panorama photo from the construction of the dam at Lake Williams, taken within feet of where he stands, Thursday, November 8, 2018. Lake Williams is currently down 22 feet, as renovations on the dam continue. The project started in July of 2018.

Bricks and stone sit as the foundation of an old farmhouse, which is now visible as the draining of Lake Williams continues, Thursday, November 8, 2018. Lake Williams is currently down 22 feet, as renovations on the dam continue. The project started in July of 2018.

Inside the foundation of the old farmhouse, a pair of soles from old shoes are found, Thursday, November 8, 2018. Lake Williams is currently down 22 feet, as renovations on the dam continue. The project started in July of 2018. Though the shoes could be as old as the farmhouse, which was torn down more than 100 years ago, the pair could've also been lost in Lake Williams in the years since the reservoir has been created.

J.T. Hand, chief operating officer for York Water Company, stands inside the foundation of an old farmhouse, typically submerged by water under Lake Williams. On Thursday, November 8, 2018, the lake was down 22 feet, as renovations on the dam continue. The project started in July of 2018.

York Water Company chief operating officer JT Hand holds a photograph taken before the water company purchased the land in 1911. The old farmhouse is seen on the left of the picture.

Remnants of an old farmhouse, usually submerged under Lake Williams, are seen in focus behind and century-old photograph of the farmhouse, taken prior to the purchase of the land from York Water Company. On Thursday, November 8, 2018, the water company's chief operating officer J.T. Hand showed photos from before Lake Williams was constructed. The lake is currently down 22 feet as renovations on the dam continue. Draining the lake started in July of 2018.

J.T. hand, the chief operating officer for York Water Company, holds up an old photograph which shows the construction of Lake Williams and the dam. Workers stationed a 'work camp' near the dam and remnants of the buildings were visible as the lake was down 22 feet on Thursday, November 8, 2018. The lake is down for renovations on the dam, which started in July of 2018.

An old photograph shows horses pulling supplies to construct the dam and workers' camp at what is now Lake Williams. The land Ñ formerly all farm land Ñ was bought by York Water Company in 1911. Remnants of the workers' camp and other structures were visible on Thursday, November 8, 2018, as the lake was down 22 feet while renovations on the dam continue. The project started in July of 2018.

Before building Lake Williams as a reservoir, the land was used to farm. Seen here is the foundation of an old farmhouse that used to sit on the property, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The lake is currently down 22 feet for dam renovations.

Behind the foundation of an old farmhouse, the borrow pit is seen, Thursday, November 8, 2018, as the lake is down 22 feet. Setiment from the borrow pit helped construct the dam at Lake Williams.

An old well house, used by farmers on the land more than a century ago, is fully visible as Lake Williams was drained.

A rusted up horseshoe, fully in tact, is seen on the ground where a workers' camp was during the construction of the dam at Lake Williams more than a century ago. More iron deposits were seen as the lake was drained. And while the low water on the lake might drive curiosity, York Water Company warned that no one should trespass on the land, due to safety reasons. Chief operating officer J.T. Hand said the company and the parks service have cited multiple people for trespassing, since the project began in summer of 2018.

As Lake Williams was drained for construction renovations on the dam, the old borrowing pit, used to extract clay when first constructing the dam more than 100 years ago, became visible.

J.T. Hand, the chief operating officer for York Water Company, holds an old photograph showing the early progress of the Lake Williams dam, prior to two well houses being built.

An old photograph, owned by York Water Company, shows construction on the Lake Williams dam over a century ago.

Before building Lake Williams as a reservoir, the land was used to farm. Seen here is the foundation of an old farmhouse that used to sit on the property, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The lake is currently down 22 feet for dam renovations.

Before building Lake Williams as a reservoir, the land was used to farm. Seen here is the foundation of an old farmhouse that used to sit on the property, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. The lake is currently down 22 feet for dam renovations.