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Part II: The Dike That Saved Dandridge Tennessee |
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The dike between Douglas Lake and Dandridge Tennessee
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  All photos and illustrations by Pat Johns ©2010
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President Franklin Roosevelt signed the law which authorized the building of the Douglas Dam on January 30, 1942 after Congress had debated the project for several months. Construction began on February 2. Dandridge had been the center of protests against the project for years. The area stood to lose tens of thousands of acres of good farmland when the lake was formed and Dandridge and its historic buildings would have been flooded.
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According to Estle P. Muncy's book, "People and Places of Jefferson County" (available at the Jefferson County Visitors' Center and on Amazon.com):
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Dandridge could be saved by a dike because it was on the "edge" of the planned lake. Butler would be in the center of the planned Watauga Lake in a mountainous area where elevations changed quickly. Although other configurations of Watauga Dam and Lake were considered, there was to be no engineering salvation for Butler Tennessee. |
Today Dandridge, like Butler, is dependent on its TVA lake for tourism dollars. Douglas Lake, much larger than Watauga Lake, is circled by marinas, homes, restaurants and gated communities of primarily second-home residents. Almost all of its shoreline is privately held. The town of Dandridge depends on tourism from the lake and the promotion of its own unique history. Butler and Watauga Lake are much less commercially developed (less than one-half of the shoreline is privately owned). The mountainous terrain makes access to much of its shoreline from regional roads quite difficult. The result is, well, what most people love about the area. Each town and lake area has been hurt by the recent economic recession but both Butler/Watauga Lake and Dandridge/Douglas Lake have communities and natural resources which will outlast the current economic downturn.  |
The TVA dams created a mix of results. As with all such large-scale projects there were those who gained and those who lost. Overall, the dams helped by providing flood control, offering electricity to attract new business to Tennessee, and, today, by providing beautiful recreation areas which have brought tourist income to residents of the TVA lakes areas. The Watauga Lake area lost more than most with the destruction of the original town of Butler but also gained much with what many call the most beautiful of the TVA lakes. The story of the loss of Butler and the sacrifice of its citizens is beautifully shown at the Butler Museum. The gain can be found sitting on a boat on this never-crowded lake on a warm summer day and taking in the breathtaking views.  |
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Click here to go to Part I: Douglas Dam and Douglas Lake . . .
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