LAKE NORMAN
Pictured: Lake Norman today
Most people that live in the Charlotte area know that Lake Norman is the biggest man made lake in North Carolina and known as “Our Inland Sea.” Today, many people live on and enjoy the lake that is as big as the other 10 Catawba River lakes combined with a length of 34 miles, width at its widest point: 8 miles, surface area of 32,510 acres, average depth of 33 feet, maximum depth of 130 feet, water capacity at full pond of 3.4 trillion gallons, elevation above sea level at 760 feet, and watershed at approximately 5,000 square miles. Cowans Ford Dam is also part of the lake and is more than a mile wide. Lake Norman also has 520 miles of shoreline touching four counties. Mecklenburg County having 90 miles of shoreline, Iredell County 225 miles, Catawba County 140 miles, and Lincoln County 65 miles of shoreline. (Lake Norman, nd)
Pictured: Long Island, North Carolina. Where this small village used to lay is now Lake Norman.
Lake Norman is a very young lake at only 50 years old. (Visit Lake Norman, nd) So, what was Lake Norman before it was a lake? Did people live there? If so, where did they go? Did they own the land? Were they forced off or paid to leave? How did these people feel about leaving? These are some questions that don’t run through people’s mind while they are jet skiing or boating on the lake in the middle of summer.
Many people don’t know that before the lake, a battle of the Revolutionary war was fought on the land. They also don’t realize that “the Village of Long Island, North Carolina once a bustling river town with three textile mills, was completely submerged” (Gleasner, B., & Gleasner, D., nd) along with many other things when the water started rising in 1963.
If there was an operating village where Lake Norman now lays, what was the intention of the lake? What could have been more important then these people’s homes and jobs? Did the lake live up to its intentions? What has the lake brought to the surrounding Charlotte area? The main reason is that Duke Power saw a great opportunity to use the lake to create power and more all throughout the Charlotte region.
Many people don’t know that before the lake, a battle of the Revolutionary war was fought on the land. They also don’t realize that “the Village of Long Island, North Carolina once a bustling river town with three textile mills, was completely submerged” (Gleasner, B., & Gleasner, D., nd) along with many other things when the water started rising in 1963.
If there was an operating village where Lake Norman now lays, what was the intention of the lake? What could have been more important then these people’s homes and jobs? Did the lake live up to its intentions? What has the lake brought to the surrounding Charlotte area? The main reason is that Duke Power saw a great opportunity to use the lake to create power and more all throughout the Charlotte region.
Pictured: Article from the Charlotte Observer on October 11th, 1959
Pictured: James Williams' final pay stub from the Long Island Mill
What is under Lake Norman?
Pictured: The road you see going into the lake is the road that used to go around Long Island Village.
Duke Energy cleared 32,500 acres and everything in its way to make the lake. The Village of Long Island and its cotton mill are one of many things under the waters of Lake Norman. Including, a road that still stands in parts. “The road went in a circle through the village and what we called “around the block”. We used to ride our bicycles around the block. After Lake Norman, the road at the lowest point in the village was under water. The paved road to this day goes into the lake and comes out on the other side. Our school bus went on this road everyday to take us to school.” (Dinah, 2011)
The cotton mill was owned by Superior Yarn Mills Company. The mill was closed on October 3, 1959 to start construction on the lake. When the mill closed, it employed 120, which came along with about 54 families. Not only did these people lose their jobs and need to find new work but they also lost the place they called home, where most of them were born and raised. In the village there was a company store, post office and many white, wooden, mill houses. These houses were call “mill houses” because the mill owned them and offered them to their employees and their families to live in at no charge. Since the mill owned the houses on the land, residents were able to move the house outside the flooded area, as long as they paid for it. Unlike many structures in the path of the new lake that could be demolished and left to let the water flood, the houses were wood and would cause floating debris in the lake. If a house was not moved, it was torn down and the debris was moved. The cotton mill on the other hand was made of large red brick that would not float and cause debris. It was also very close to the Catawba River bank that would be flooded to make the lake because it was water powered from its construction around 1900 until 1945. It was still torn down before the flooding of the lake begun. (Davidson, nd)
The cotton mill was owned by Superior Yarn Mills Company. The mill was closed on October 3, 1959 to start construction on the lake. When the mill closed, it employed 120, which came along with about 54 families. Not only did these people lose their jobs and need to find new work but they also lost the place they called home, where most of them were born and raised. In the village there was a company store, post office and many white, wooden, mill houses. These houses were call “mill houses” because the mill owned them and offered them to their employees and their families to live in at no charge. Since the mill owned the houses on the land, residents were able to move the house outside the flooded area, as long as they paid for it. Unlike many structures in the path of the new lake that could be demolished and left to let the water flood, the houses were wood and would cause floating debris in the lake. If a house was not moved, it was torn down and the debris was moved. The cotton mill on the other hand was made of large red brick that would not float and cause debris. It was also very close to the Catawba River bank that would be flooded to make the lake because it was water powered from its construction around 1900 until 1945. It was still torn down before the flooding of the lake begun. (Davidson, nd)
Pictured: Long Island Mill
Pictured: Demolition of the mill to prepare for the flooding of the lake
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Pictured: Superintendent's (boss at the mill) Mill House
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Pictured: John Abernathy's Gravestone
There are also many cemeteries under the lake. Baker Cemetery and Clark family Cemetery were two moved by Duke Power to make way for the lake. In most cases after the families were asked permission, only the headstones were moved in order to leave the deceased at peace. Seven cemeteries were moved and published in a document by Duke Power to let people know what they were doing. (Known Cemeteries and Burial Records of Mecklenburg County, NC. 2008) During all of this organization, one gravestone disappeared and was discovered to be John Abernathy. Later that year a family member of Abernathy allowed Duke Power to relocate his remains to the Hills Chapel Cemetery in Stanley. Many years later Abernathy’s original gravestone turned up and was placed at the Unity Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Catawba Springs. This gave John Abernathy two different grave sites and headstones. (Davidson, nd)
The site of the Battle of Cowan’s ford is also under the waters of Lake Norman. “In February of 1781, Lord Charles Cornwallis, in pursuit of Nathanael Green, engaged in a sharp fight at Cowan’s ford on the Catawba River. The battle of Cowan’s Ford claimed the life of North Carolina militia commander General Williams Lee Davidson, name sake of Davidson College, town of Davidson, and Davidson County, North Carolina.” (Davidson , nd) Today there is a memorial located across from the McGuire Nuclear Station in dedication to the Battle and General Lee Davidson. (North Carolina Office of Archives & History, nd)
The site of the Battle of Cowan’s ford is also under the waters of Lake Norman. “In February of 1781, Lord Charles Cornwallis, in pursuit of Nathanael Green, engaged in a sharp fight at Cowan’s ford on the Catawba River. The battle of Cowan’s Ford claimed the life of North Carolina militia commander General Williams Lee Davidson, name sake of Davidson College, town of Davidson, and Davidson County, North Carolina.” (Davidson , nd) Today there is a memorial located across from the McGuire Nuclear Station in dedication to the Battle and General Lee Davidson. (North Carolina Office of Archives & History, nd)
Pictured: Plaque across from McGuire Nuclear Station dedicated to the battle
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Pictured: Sketch of the battle
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Pictured: General William Lee Davidson
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Pictured: Beatties Ford Bridge
Many other structures and pieces of history lie on the lake-bed. Some more include: Betty’s ford, which became Betty’s ford when John Betty crossed the Catawba in 1749. Betty was one of the first white settlers to cross to the side of the Catawba River. Betty’s ford bridge was the way across the River in route of Highway 73. It was demolished to make way for the lake. Today, only the bridge supports are present. Buffalo Shoals Bridge, number two of three is also under water. The flood washed the original bridge away in July 1916. The bridge was rebuilt in October 1918 to be torn down in 1962 after the construction of the new concrete bridge just North of the old bridge was finished. This bridge is the third bridge to bare the name Buffalo Shoals Bridge. (Buffalo Shoals Structure In Use Since Late 1918. 1961) East Monbo Mill and Village was across the river from Long Island and was a lot like it. Its mill employed about 132 and Duke Power owned all the land. These people were also offered to move the houses and any that were left were demolished. Cedar Grove Plantation, Camp Fellowship, Blythe Family farm, Unity Church Road Bridge, Elm Wood (Graham) Plantation, and home site of George Davidson. (Davidson, nd)
Pictured: East Monbo Mill is now under Lake Norman
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Pictured: Elm Wood Plantation
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What were the intentions of the lake?
Pictured: Largest and final dam on Lake Norman
President of the American Tobacco Company, James B. Duke, was looking towards a future in the textiles industry right here in the Carolinas. His vision was using the Catawba Rivers water to generate power needed to supply clothing for our growing nation. Down in South Carolina Dr. W. Gill Wylie, had been experimenting with hydroelectric power. James. B. Duke and his brother soon started discussion with Wylie to make their dream grow bigger. Wylie then introduced the Duke brother’s to a young engineer named, Williams S. Lee, who was in the works of designing Catawba Power Company’s dams and power plants. In the long run, Wylie needed funding which Duke had, Duke needed power which Wylie had, and they both needed Lee for his engineering skills. They came together to form the Southern Power Company. (Gleasner, B., & Gleasner, D., nd)
At the time Duke, Wylie, and Lee’s goal was turn the Catawba River valley in a hydroelectric system. “In 1927, the Southern Power Company became the Duke Power Company, and by 1928, ten dams were completed with a dozen powerhouses, making the Catawba "the world's most electrified river." William Lee's grandson, Bill Lee III, had the honor of designing and completing the one final dam which would be the largest undertaking of all, creating not only the largest lake in the Duke Power system, but the largest lake in the Carolinas.” (Gleasner, B., & Gleasner, D., nd) Lake Norman was meant to create energy that would attract business, professions, and people to build up the surrounding area.
Today, there are three stations on the lake that generate power."The original power station at the South end of Lake Norman was finished in 1967. Marshall Steam Station, a coal burning steam-electric generating station was completed in 1970. Marshall is one of the largest stations on the Duke system and one of the most efficient in the nation. The William B. McGuire nuclear system, near the East abutment of Cowan's Ford Dam, uses the heat of nuclear reactors to produce steam for turning its turbo generators." (Gleasner, B., & Gleasner, D., nd)
At the time Duke, Wylie, and Lee’s goal was turn the Catawba River valley in a hydroelectric system. “In 1927, the Southern Power Company became the Duke Power Company, and by 1928, ten dams were completed with a dozen powerhouses, making the Catawba "the world's most electrified river." William Lee's grandson, Bill Lee III, had the honor of designing and completing the one final dam which would be the largest undertaking of all, creating not only the largest lake in the Duke Power system, but the largest lake in the Carolinas.” (Gleasner, B., & Gleasner, D., nd) Lake Norman was meant to create energy that would attract business, professions, and people to build up the surrounding area.
Today, there are three stations on the lake that generate power."The original power station at the South end of Lake Norman was finished in 1967. Marshall Steam Station, a coal burning steam-electric generating station was completed in 1970. Marshall is one of the largest stations on the Duke system and one of the most efficient in the nation. The William B. McGuire nuclear system, near the East abutment of Cowan's Ford Dam, uses the heat of nuclear reactors to produce steam for turning its turbo generators." (Gleasner, B., & Gleasner, D., nd)
Pictured: Marshall Steam station
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Pictured: McGuire Nuclear Station
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What were negative and positive responses to the lake?
Pictured: Monogram School located in Long Island Village
As mentioned many places people called home were flooded for the lake. Some people were not excited at leaving the only place they had ever called home. “At first, I think everybody was in shock. They talked lake for a while before it became reality. As a 12-13 year old, I couldn’t believe it was happening to our village, our church, our whole being. Most of the families had lived here their whole lives and their family before them. I’m not sure if the reactions were negative or positive. For most, I think it was a scary time to have to find jobs elsewhere and a place to live.” (Dinah, 2011) Not only did these kids and families lose the place they called home but also they were all separated from friends. “I think the hardest part of moving away from friends was school and church. We had always been so close. After church on Sunday, about 4 of us took turns going to each others house for the afternoon, eating a good home cooked lunch and playing all afternoon. I had just started the eighth grade in August and we moved in September. Several of us girls started crying my last day at school. The teacher was a big, burly man. He took the boys out to the ball field for an hour and told us to say our goodbyes. My sister was a senior in high school that year. She stayed with two of my mother’s sisters and graduated from Bandy’s High School rather than have to move in her senior year.” (Dinah, 2011)
Many people that owned land outside Long Island Village and didn’t want to sell it didn’t have the money to fight it. They were offered around $200 an acre and had to take it. Anything above the elevation of 760 was safe and could not be bought for lake property. (Davidson, nd)
Many people that owned land outside Long Island Village and didn’t want to sell it didn’t have the money to fight it. They were offered around $200 an acre and had to take it. Anything above the elevation of 760 was safe and could not be bought for lake property. (Davidson, nd)
Pictured: Chronicle Mill in Belmont where a lot of Long Island patrons moved to work
On the other hand, people that were around for the flood of 1916 were relieved and excited for the Lake. To go through such a treacherous time and lose family members, homes, and farms, they were relieved to know that the lake offered security and a place for all that water to go. (Gleasner, B., & Gleasner, D., nd) Although, everyone in the villages were left to find new work and homes it wasn’t hard for most. Some men found work at Kewaunee in Statesville. The only big difference was driving 14 miles to work rather than just walking to the mill but it was work. “My father was superintendent on the second shift at the mill in Long Island. Belmont was a mill town with lots of mills. He found a job there as superintendent on the first shift which, to him and us, was a big move up since he would be working first shift. Having always lived at Long Island, I was in for a cultural shock when we moved to Belmont but now I am glad I had the opportunity to live in a city during my high school years. We lived in a mill house in Belmont about 2 blocks from downtown. All the kids who lived in town walked to school and all activities at the school. At 3:00 p.m. when school was out, we walked through downtown Belmont, stopped in the drug store, met a lot of other kids, and got a fountain coke and bag of chips most days. In March 1960, it snowed every Wednesday. One day, the snow kept piling up and they said anybody who had a way home could leave. My friend who walked to school with me most mornings and afternoons and I said we had a way – our feet – so we left and walked through downtown that day, hung around the drug store and really enjoyed the snow and being out of school. This happened every Wednesday that month.” (Dinah, 2011)
What has the lake done for the Charlotte area and did it hold up to its intentions?
Pictured: Birkdale Village in Huntersville, North Carolina
J. Ernest Cook and his wife, Ruby were farmers and their land laid where the lake would be. They were forced to sell 100 acres of their land and move their farm to start over. While they were moving one of the buildings from their farm 5 miles up the road they passed one car on the way. Now they have to wait 5 minutes to pull out of their driveway. Many people thought anyone that was buying lakefront property before the lake was finished were crazy. Lake Norman and the surrounding areas have grown tremendously. “Our Inland Sea” brought the idea to the area that you could live on the lake and work in the city. “There was a time when people stood on highways around the lake offering lake lots for sale for $1,000. There weren’t many takers back then. With the completion of I-77, the entire lake became more accessible to urban centers to the south and north. Slowly, development began creeping north to the part of the lake that had always been agricultural. Today in four counties that surround the lake, there are more than 25,000 residents who like calling Lake Norman home.” (Visit Lake Norman, nd) With lake lots for sale for $1,000 the lake has grown the area so much that there are a number of houses on the lake that have been sold for over a million dollars today. (Visit Lake Norman, nd)
With all the new residents, the area had to grow to accommodate all the people. Towns by the lake like Cornelius, which was established in 1905 and was an original mill and farm community have grown to offer many attractions, restaurants, parks, and shopping. Huntersville was another small mill town that grew once the lake was finished. It now offers Birkdale Villages, a place to dine, shop, relax, or even go to the movies. All of these things bring even more people to the area and offer them work. Lake Norman is also the main water supply for all its surrounding counties. (Visit Lake Norman, nd)
With all the new residents, the area had to grow to accommodate all the people. Towns by the lake like Cornelius, which was established in 1905 and was an original mill and farm community have grown to offer many attractions, restaurants, parks, and shopping. Huntersville was another small mill town that grew once the lake was finished. It now offers Birkdale Villages, a place to dine, shop, relax, or even go to the movies. All of these things bring even more people to the area and offer them work. Lake Norman is also the main water supply for all its surrounding counties. (Visit Lake Norman, nd)
Today...
Pictured: A house on Lake Norman today
Although, it may have been hard for people when the idea of the lake came about, I think it has done a tremendous part for this area. It has grown our Charlotte community more than anyone could ever imagine. Lake Norman brought plenty of jobs including energy, construction, retail, and many more. It also created recreation and natural beauty for thousands. In the long run Lake Norman has been a success. It started with people unwilling to give up their land but eventually trading for land around the future lake which made them come out better economically in the long run. The lake is now home to Duke Power Plant, which is now one of the biggest energy companies in the world because of its success on the Lake. 50 Years later the lake is an attraction spot and home or summer homes to many people who love the water. (Visit Lake Norman, nd)
Pictured: Jet Skiing on Lake Norman
Reflection
Creating this project I learned a lot about Lake Norman. I did not know that there were small villages where the lake lays today. I never would have guessed that they moved people from their homes and work to flood a river to make a lake. Before I lived in North Carolina, I had never heard of a man made lake. I’m sure I have lived around many now that I think about it but it just wasn’t as much fuss as Lake Norman, being the biggest man made lake in the Carolinas, it’s talked about much more.
This project can connect to many different standards. It’s definitely an historical event for the surrounding areas so it could be paired with 3.H.1.1 explaining key historical events that occurred on the local community and regions over time. 3.H.1.3 Exemplify the ideas that were significant in the development of local communities and regions would make the history of Lake Norman important since the students would need to know about bodies of water and how they environmentally affect us. This project could also be paired with 3.H.2.1 explaining change over time through historical narratives (events, people, and places). It would go well with that standard because I have included the history of why the lake was made and the narratives of some people that lived in the small villages before the river was flooded to make the lake.
Being from Michigan originally, everything in my project was new to me besides the fact Lake Norman is a man made lake and the biggest one at that, in the Carolinas. When I started researching the lake, I was stunned to learn all that was taken away in order to make the lake. Learning about all of this will value me as a teacher in the state of North Carolina because it is a part of North Carolina History and will be a great lesson that fits with many different common core standards and will be interesting for my students to learn about.
References
Buffalo Shoals Structure In Use Since Late 1918. 1961, Sept 16. “Buffalo Shoals Structure In Use Since Late 1918.” Statesville Record and Landmark, page 2.
Davidson , C. (nd). Under lake norman. Retrieved from http://sites.davidson.edu/archives/community/under-lkn
Dinah, H. (2011, February 21). Interview by P. Williams [Personal Interview]. Before lake norman., Charlotte, NC.
Duke Power Co. 19–? (nd). Relocation of Various Cemetery from Area Inundated by the Waters of Lake Norman. Published by Duke Power Co.
Gleasner, B., & Gleasner, D. (n.d.). Lake norman.com. Retrieved from http://www.lakenorman.com/index.php?action=page&id=7
Known Cemeteries and Burial Records of Mecklenburg County, NC. 2008. “Baker Graveyard.” Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. Available: http://www.cmstory.org/cemetery/details.asp?id=21
Lake Norman, R. (nd). The largest man-made lake in north carolina. Retrieved from http://www.lakenormanreflections.com/images/About_Lake_Norman3.pdf
Long Island, NC Facebook page. (2011 - present). Long island, nc. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/t091939r?ref=ts&fref=ts
North Carolina Office of Archives & History. nd. “Battle of Cowan’s Ford Essay.” Available: http://www.ncmarkers.com/print_marker.aspx?id=L-22
Visit Lake Norman. (nd). Welcome to lake norman. Retrieved from www.visitlakenorman.org
Davidson , C. (nd). Under lake norman. Retrieved from http://sites.davidson.edu/archives/community/under-lkn
Dinah, H. (2011, February 21). Interview by P. Williams [Personal Interview]. Before lake norman., Charlotte, NC.
Duke Power Co. 19–? (nd). Relocation of Various Cemetery from Area Inundated by the Waters of Lake Norman. Published by Duke Power Co.
Gleasner, B., & Gleasner, D. (n.d.). Lake norman.com. Retrieved from http://www.lakenorman.com/index.php?action=page&id=7
Known Cemeteries and Burial Records of Mecklenburg County, NC. 2008. “Baker Graveyard.” Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County. Available: http://www.cmstory.org/cemetery/details.asp?id=21
Lake Norman, R. (nd). The largest man-made lake in north carolina. Retrieved from http://www.lakenormanreflections.com/images/About_Lake_Norman3.pdf
Long Island, NC Facebook page. (2011 - present). Long island, nc. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/t091939r?ref=ts&fref=ts
North Carolina Office of Archives & History. nd. “Battle of Cowan’s Ford Essay.” Available: http://www.ncmarkers.com/print_marker.aspx?id=L-22
Visit Lake Norman. (nd). Welcome to lake norman. Retrieved from www.visitlakenorman.org
References to Images
Williams, Jim. “Long Island, NC.” Facebook. August 17, 2011. https://www.facebook.com/t091939r?fref=ts (April 14, 2013).
All images but the last 3 are from this source.
Unknown. “Birkdale Village and the Greens at Birkdale.” Land Design. N.D. http://www.landdesign.com/work/projects/mixed-use/birkdale-village-and-the-greens-at-birkdale.aspx (April 14, 2013)
McAlpine, Saudy. “Lake Norman Real Estate.” Active Rain. February, 2007. http://activerain.com/blogsview/1177022/fun-photos-lake-norman-rainbow-with-jet-skier (April 14, 2013).
All images but the last 3 are from this source.
Unknown. “Birkdale Village and the Greens at Birkdale.” Land Design. N.D. http://www.landdesign.com/work/projects/mixed-use/birkdale-village-and-the-greens-at-birkdale.aspx (April 14, 2013)
McAlpine, Saudy. “Lake Norman Real Estate.” Active Rain. February, 2007. http://activerain.com/blogsview/1177022/fun-photos-lake-norman-rainbow-with-jet-skier (April 14, 2013).
