The Fox River at Dayton has been the site of a number of washed-out dams and swept-away bridges over the years. In 1943, a large ice jam in the river between Dayton and Ottawa caused the slush ice to pile up on both sides of the bridge. The pressure of the ice moved the bridge a few inches, but it went back into place as the ice melted. The houses and cottages along the east side of the river, above the bridge, were flooded as well.