Norris Dam
In April of 2014 we were invited to eat at our neighbor’s house as Don Prater was having a birthday lunch. After lunch he asked if we wanted to go for a Sunday ride and we agreed. We did not know where we were going until we were almost there. It happened to be the Norris Dam and although the movie was not filmed here I did take some pictures to support what the area looks like now in comparison to when I saw the movie. Upon my first impression I realized it was much smaller than I had anticipated as was comparing it to the Hoover Dam which was built in a different area and a different place. I include this not that I grew up with it, but due to the fact that my cousins took me to my first drama movie it made an impression on me along with how people were displaced. So here are some pictures of our trip on 4-6-14.
During the construction process of Norris Dam and the reservoir required massive purchases and acquisitions. Over 152,000 acres of land were purchased, 2,841 families and 5,226 graves were relocated to provide the construction area needed for the huge TVA project. The town of Norris, TN was initially founded and built to house all of the thousands of workers involved in the construction of Norris Dam.
“Norris Lake side where water enters”. “Water exists and produces electricity”.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was founded at the beginning of 1933. TVA was formed as a part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The President’s legislation allowed TVA the ability to begin construction just a short time after its establishment.
Located in East Tennessee and just off of I-75, Norris Dam still resides proudly today. It continues to provide power to thousands and provide stability and flooding control to the Tennessee Valley and the 5 counties surrounding Norris Lake.
Carol & Dennis on the river side.
Don and Opal from a lookout point.
While there it was interesting to have two people stop and ask me about the Dam. They were actually from Nebraska and wanted to see it. As the plaque states: It was named after George W. Norris a Senator from Nebraska who was instrumental in building the Dam.
Norris is immortalized among Senator John F. Kennedy’s in his 1956 book Profiles in Courage. Kennedy admiringly quoted Norris, whose willingness to speak his mind against the prevailing views of his constituents ultimately led to his 1942 defeat in a bid for a sixth term. Said Norris, “I would rather go down to my political grave with a clear conscience than ride in the chariot of victory.”