Willow Grove, the Town That Drowned
By Darren Shell *
Not unlike the fabled city of Atlantis, the old town of Willow Grove,
Tennessee, is now under a lavish blanket of water. The murky depths of Dale
Hollow Lake still house the shadowy foundations of what was once a beautiful
and thriving valley town. The winding and crystal clear waters of the Obey
River wound through many small communities and towns as it meandered its way
toward the Cumberland. Willow Grove sat along the banks of Irons Creek and
was lovingly named from the Willow trees that grew along its shores. For its
day, this little town was not so little. It had service stations, churches,
general stores, and one of the largest school buildings within miles. It
even had a large gymnasium, where children rode horse-back to basketball
games. A large grist mill sat in the middle of what is now Willow Grove
Campground, and it overlooked the bustling Tennessee Highway 53 that cut
through the center of town. The clip-clop of hooves echoed through the
streets as wagons were drawn by horses and mules, and the chuckles of
children scampering through the streets filled the air. The crisp, clean air
smelled of freshly cut hay and the wisps of smoke from the fires burning in
the kitchen cook stoves. And life was grand.
And then it happened. The year was 1942. The once cheerful and quaint valley
town of Willow Grove was now forlorn and solemn. Aside from the sad sights
of the town’s men marching off to World War II, the residents faced a
horrific and depressing dilemma. The government was forcing the families and
friends of this closely-knit community to move away. The United States
government was buying their property. It was demolishing their homes and
businesses…to build a dam. The farm fields tilled by their forefathers were
now dozed clean of fences and barns. The ever incessant sounds of chainsaws
hummed day in and day out. Bonfires were kindled in every field and the loud
claps of dynamite shook the earth. And the beautiful little valley town of
Willow Grove now looked like a war zone.
Despite the anguish in their hearts, the community gathered one last time
before the move. On July 18, 1942, the people of Willow Grove united at a
town picnic. The Corps of Engineers set it up and made certain that county
agents were on hand to help the townspeople with the inevitable move. Amid
the anger and sadness, one of the town’s most beloved members gave a
particularly moving speech. Dr. Edward Clark convinced the people of Willow
Grove to press forward and offered hope to those forced to move. His words
softened the blow of moving. And for the people of Willow Grove, Father Time
pressed on, and the water did rise.
In the years that followed, the rough terrain around the lake began to take
shape. Marinas were built where the old roads entered the lake. Tiny wooden
boats dotted the shores and people all over the country were beginning to
love this special lake named Dale Hollow, in remembrance of the Dale family
that owned the large tract of land that now houses a giant chunk of concrete
that holds back billions of gallons of water. Dale Hollow Dam now stands in
remembrance of William Dale and the hundreds of his descendents that now
populate the surrounding communities.
The people of old Willow Grove still get together once a year for a reunion.
On Sunday of Labor Day weekend, once again the familiar voices of the
townspeople fill the air as memories flow and laughter helps heal the hearts
of those that still mourn the loss of their old home town.
So, when your feet dangle in the cool, clear water of Dale Hollow, and your
face is warmed by the brilliant colors of the setting sun, give a little
thank you to the people of old Willow Grove and its surrounding communities.
Say a little prayer for those who endured the hardships of this lake’s
making. And remember in your heart…that these shores contain so very much
more than just water.
Images
of the Willow Grove Schoolhouse
Click on the thumbnails below to see the full size picture. |
 |
 |
| An unknown young girl
stands in the doorway of the Willow Grove School in this photograph
from 1942. |
Due to the low water
levels in Dale Hollow Lake the remains of the Willow Grove School can
be seen in this aerial photograph
(taken in September, 2007). |
*Darren
Shell, Owner/Manager of Willow Grove Resort and local author has just
released his long-awaited book about the history of Dale Hollow Lake and the
Obey River Valley. This 166 page color paperback is packed with wonderful
old photos of the old towns and communities that existed before the lake was
built.
A number of warm short stories and poems are included in this
one-of-a-kind work, as well as facts and figures documenting this special
body of water.
Visit Willow Grove Marina for more information.
www.willowgrove.com
