I want to thank everyone for their input into my question. This dam has been an interesting part of my family history for a while. And I will use all of these ideas and mails in my research - thanks again Yvonne Mason Mike & Donna OBrien <[email protected]> wrote: This is from the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History & Culture. Since this dam pre-dates the TVA, you might try contacting the main library in Chattanooga to see what they have on Mr. Guild & the Chatt. & Tenn. River Power Co. Donna --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hales Bar Dam has the distinction of being the first main-river, multipurpose dam built on the Tennessee River. In order to improve navigation on the Upper Tennessee and provide electricity to the city of Chattanooga, Jo Conn Guild Sr., a Chattanooga engineer, promoted the construction of a privately funded lock and dam which would be turned over to government management in return for the hydroelectric output for a specified period. Congress passed such an act, and the Chattanooga and Tennessee River Power Company began construction on the Hales Bar Dam in October 1905. The construction of the dam and powerhouse was the largest development of its kind in the region. The dam itself measured almost one-half mile across and sixty-three feet high. The project employed over five thousand men, requiring the construction of a small village to feed and house the workers. Completion of Hales Bar, originally scheduled for 1907, was delayed by flooding and problems with the limestone foundation, and the project was not completed until 1913. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) acquired Hales Bar Dam in August 1939 as part of the Tennessee Electric Power Company purchase. Unable to overcome the foundation and leakage problems, the TVA demolished Hales Bar in 1968 and replaced it with Nickajack Dam, 6.4 miles downstream. Patricia Bernard Ezzell, Tennessee Valley Authority See Also: JO CONN GUILD; TENNESSEE RIVER SYSTEM; TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY; TEPCO ==== TNMARION Mailing List ==== *********************************************************************** PLEASE NOTE: This list is for queries and replies, comments, requests for help, and other genealogical related information that is of interest to researchers having a connection or a possible connection to Marion County, Tennessee. There is no soliciting or advertising of any item or service for sale allowed. Betty McBee - list administrator-- [email protected] . Marion County Web Site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmario2/ *********************************************************************** ============================== Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx --------------------------------- Yahoo! Mail Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze.