Old Butler & The Watauga Academy Honored with
Historical Marker

All photos and illustrations by Pat Johns ©2008
All Rights Reserved
See links to article references at the end of the article.

April 2008

After much effort by Herman Tester and the Board of the Watauga Academy, the State of Tennessee has added an historical marker on Route 67 overlooking the town of Butler. One one side, the historical marker tells the story of Old Butler, the town that was sacrificed for the formation of Watauga Lake by the TVA. On the other side is a dedication to the Watauga Academy, the school in Old Butler which provided an excellent education for many in the area.

On hand for the dedication were several graduates and members of the 1948 Watauga Academy class. Mary Walker Ward, Anna Dugger Adkins, Bill Milhorn, George Walker and James Walsh watched as Tennessee DOT workers installed the marker. The Watauga Dam was completed in 1948 and most buildings and all residents were gone by the time the gates were shut and the lake began to fill.

Today, the story of Old Butler, the Watauga Academy and the hundreds of people who were affected by the formation of Watauga Lake is told in the Butler Museum not far from the historical marker.

The museum is a must-see for anyone visiting the lake. It is filled with artifacts and many of the tour guides actually experienced the process of removal from Old Butler. Click here to learn more about the museum.

Old Butler and the present-day Butler are the heart of Watauga Lake. A visit to the museum will enhance any visit to this beautiful lake and the East Tennessee region.

Click here to learn about the museum's hours and location.

Recommended Links:

• Butler Museum information for Kids
• www.tnhistoryforkids.org/places/butler_museum
• Tennessee Valley Authority
• Quilt Trail
• Tennessee Vacations ~ Butler Museum
• Col. Roderick Butler's House in Mountain City
• Old Butler Days
• Map to locations on www.WataugaLakeMagazine.com

Recommended Reading from the Watauga Lake Magazine Bookstore:

"Images of America: Old Butler"
Click on the image to learn more