Paul M Kankula

NN8NN

 

Project Coordinator

 

SMOKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

 

GRAHAM & SWAIN COUNTY NC

 

TVA FONTANA RESERVOIR PROJECT

 

               Effective: 28 Jul 2020

Back to Mountain Region NC Cemetery GPS Mapping Project

 

 

 

SMOKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

 

 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. The sprawling landscape encompasses lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round. Streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail. An observation tower tops Clingmans Dome, the highest peak, offering scenic views of the mist-covered mountains.

 

 

GRAHAM NC & SWAIN NC COUNTIES

 

 

 

TVA FONTANA DAM RESERVOIR PROJECT

 

 

Fontana Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Little Tennessee River in Swain and Graham counties, North Carolina, United States. The dam is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the early 1940s to accommodate the skyrocketing electricity demands in the Tennessee Valley at the height of World War II. At 480 feet high, Fontana is the tallest dam in the Eastern United States, and at the time of its construction, it was the fourth tallest dam in the world.

 

 

CONFUSING TVA CEMETERY & GRAVE RECORDS

 

1-Jan-1942 to 20-Jan-1945:  Fontana Lake is a reservoir impounded by Fontana Dam on the Little Tennessee River located in Graham and Swain counties in North Carolina. The lake forms part of the southern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the northern border of part of the Nantahala National Forest. Depending on water levels, the lake is about 17 miles long. The eastern end is the Tuckasegee River near Bryson City. The lake has many inlets into coves and many islands formed from former mountain peaks, especially near the eastern end. As with most dam-impounded lakes, the steep banks are exposed when water levels are low. Many towns were submerged shortly after the creation of Fontana Lake, such as Proctor and Judson.

 

Reconnaissance surveys for locating and compiling data on cemeteries in the Fontana Reservoir area were made in July 1941.  The results of this reconnaissance were used in preparing preliminary estimates of cost for the project.  After authorization of construction by the Board of Directors, December 23, 1941, detail surveys were made of all cemeteries in the affected area.

 

A guide elevation of 1715 (mean sea level), 5 feet above the top of he main spillway gates, was used in determining which cemeteries would be affected by waters of the reservoir.  As the result of detail studies it was found that a total of 40 TOTAL cemeteries  would be affected - 11 cemeteries would be subject to flooding, 1 cemetery would  be disturbed by construction activities in the dam site area, and the cost of providing access to 28 other cemeteries would be prohibitive. 

 

The 40 affected cemeteries contained 2,043 graves.  Removal agreements were executed for 1,049, remain agreements on the 901 and the rest were not relocated because they could not be identified, no surviving relatives could be located, or the living relatives would sign neither remain nor removal agreements.  All graves for which removal agreements were executed have been relocated except 2 in an isolated cemetery for which the requests were made after the Fontana removal forces had been disbanded.  A total of 1,047 graves and 346 monuments was relocated to new locations.  (Reinterments were made in 28 cemeteries, 4 of which are actually consolidated into one relocation site = 32 TOTAL. )

 

Prior to flooding the reservoir, the TVA said that 40 TOTAL cemeteries were affected.  However, TVA's Cemetery Grave Relocation Spreadsheet Index only shows 30 cemeteries in Swain County & 5 in Graham County = 35 TOTAL.

 

 

TVA's CEMETERY RELOCATION DATABASE

 

The agency’s major construction projects required relocating roads and utility lines, as well as inundating many acres of countryside. As an extension of these construction projects, TVA undertook the difficult and delicate task of relocating thousands of graves.

Surveys were conducted of all cemeteries in the project areas. Beginning in 1933, more than 69,000 graves were investigated, and over 20,000 graves were relocated. TVA moved the graves from areas that were to be flooded and from isolated sites to comparable burial places nearby.

The removal was done in accordance with state law and the wishes of the next of kin. In addition to relocating the graves, TVA cleaned, repaired and reset monuments and headstones at the reinterment sites.

 

TVA Cemetery PDF format Database:     https://www.tva.gov/file_source/TVA/Site%20Content/Environment/Environmental%20Stewardship/Culture%20&%20History/tva_cemetery_data.pdf

 

TVA Cemetery Excel Format Database:  https://www.tva.gov/file_source/TVA/Site Content/Environment/Environmental Stewardship/Culture & History/tva_cemetery_data.xls

 

Note: All original TVA cemetery relocation records have been transferred to the National Archives—Atlanta.

 

     Graham County Excel Format Database:  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sccgpss/north%20carolina/FONTANA%20RESERVOIR/tva_graham_cemetery_data.xls (60 Datalines)

 

     Swain County Excel Format Database:   http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sccgpss/north%20carolina/FONTANA%20RESERVOIR/tva_swain_cemetery_data.xls  (1780 Datalines)

 

 

INFORMATIVE RESEARCH HYPERLINKS

 

                  NOTES:

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT - ERRORS EXIST

 

 

GRAHAM COUNTY NC CEMETERIES

 

√ = Confirmed Fact     ? = Non-Confirmed Fact     g = # of graves

 

Ref #

Cemetery Name

                GPS Mapping

Aerial

View

Road

Map

 History Misc. Photos

F-a-G

Survey

TVA Survey

Notes

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 BREEDLOVE Family

35.4134232 , -83.7226720 √

A √

M

    

F

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, graves not relocated (?).

CABLE COVE Settlement  

35.4295336 , -83.7548956 √

A √

M

    

F

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 36g not relocated(?).

EDWARDS Family

35.3756464 , -83.6812811 ?

A ?

M

    

F

 

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 2g to Judson.

FARLEY Family

35.4528640 , -83.8890676 √

A √

M

    

F

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, graves not relocated (?).

GUNTER Family

35.4070341 , -83.7351726 √

A √

M

    

F

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database,  graves not relocated (?).

HOGUE Family

GPS ?

 

        

 

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 2g-Hogue infants, graves not relocated, located above water.

INDIAN CEMETERY #2

Original GPS ?

 

 

    

 

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 13g to Birdtown Cemetery in Cherokee(?).

JOHNSON Family

35.3945345 , -83.7165607 ?

A ?

M

    

F

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database,  graves not relocated (?).

PANTHER CREEK BAPTIST

35.4056476 , -83.6240561 ?

A ?

M

    

F

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database,  graves not relocated (?).

ROBBINSVILLE BAPTIST

GPS ?

 

 

    

 

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, graves not relocated(?)..

THOMPSON Family

Original GPS?

        

 

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 1g to Fairfax.

WELCH COVE

35.4353655 , -83.8235096 ?

A ?

M

    

F

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 3g relocated(?).

YELLOW CREEK / BRANCH Settlement

35.4323122 , -83.7154494 √

A √  

M

    

F

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 36g not relocated.

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWAIN COUNTY NC CEMETERIES

 

√ = Confirmed Fact     ? = Non-Confirmed Fact     g = # of original graves    

 

Ref #

Cemetery Name

                GPS Mapping

Aerial

View

Road

Map

 History Misc. Photos

F-a-G

Survey

TVA Survey

Notes

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

ASHE Family

 

      aka Jenkins Meadow ? 

35.4314829 , -83.5329409 ?

 

 A ? M

 

  

F ?

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database,14g not relocated, 2g to Judson.

BONE VALLEY Settlement

35.5000908 , -83.6829478 ?

A ?

M

 

P

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 39g relocated, , , North Shore Area & located above water(?). 

BRADSHAW Family,

 

35.4789786 , -83.7312832 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database,17g not relocated, , North Shore Area & located above water(?).

CABLE BRANCH Settlement

 

     aka Cable #1 ?

35.4514788 , -83.7212829 ?

A ?

M

 

P

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database,141g not relocated, , North Shore Area & located above water(?).
CABLE COVE Settlement ?

GPS ?

 

             TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 36g not relocated,, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

CABLE Family

 

     aka Cable #2 ?

     aka Billy Cable ?

35.4637003 , -83.7535064 ?

A ?

M

 

P

F ?

T

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 22g not relocated, 2g to Montieth, , North Shore Area & located above water(?).

CALHOUN Family

 

 

35.5148383 , -83.6486412 ? 

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

 

 

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 2g not relocated,, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

CONNER Family

 

     aka Hickory Flats ?

35.5375987 , -83.3034852 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

 

T

 

 

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database,16g relocated(?), North Shore Area & located above wate(?).

CONNOR  Family

 

     aka William Cook ?

35.4545388 , -83.5187739 √

 A √

M

 

      

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 9g not relocated,, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

COOK Family

 

 

     aka Mill Branch ?

35.4516663 , -83.7019978 ?

 

3 cemetery locations ?

A ?

M

 

 

 

 

 

North Shore Area & located above water(?)

 

TVA-1:  Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 1g-Cook to Montieth, 3g to Old Mission.

 

TVA-2: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 2g-Cook not relocated, on Mill Branch.

 

TVA-3: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 1g-Cook grave relocated.

DAVIS Settlement

 

35.3898155 , -83.5576638 √

A √

M

 

  

F ?

T

 

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 85g not relocated, 5g to Judson, 1g to Hyde, 1g to Montieth, 1g to Jackson Line.

DELOZIER Settlement

 

Original GPS ?

    

 

    

T

 

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 40g to new(?) Delozier.

DOCKERY Family

Original GPS ?

 

Cemetery now under Lake Fontana ? 

    

 

    

 

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 1g-Dockery, 1g-Jenkins, graves not relocated.

DORSEY Settlement

Original GPS ?

 

Cemetery now under Lake Fontana ?

    

 

    

T

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database,147g to various locations.

FAIRVIEW Settlement

35.4470346 , -83.7090601 ?

A ?

M

 

P 

F ?

T

 

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 59g not relocated, 2g to Hyde,  North Shore Area & located above water(?).

GREEN  Family

GPS ?

 

    

 

   F ?  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 6g-Green graves not relocated, infants, on the left bank of and 1000 feet from the Little Tennessee River approximately 1.3 miles northwest of Judson, NC on old Pierson Green property.  

HALL Family

35.5209240 , -83.6782253 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 16g not relocated, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

HIGDON Family

 

     aka Sugar Fork Creek ?

35.4989794 , -83.6957260 ?

A ?

M

 

P

F ?

 

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 13g not relocated, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

HOYLE Family 

GPS ?

 

 

 

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 4g-Hoyle graves  not relocated, On Bear Creek on Forney Creek, approximately one mile from Forney Creek up on Bear Creek, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

HYDE Settlement

Original GPS ?

 

    

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 98g relocated, recoverable remains were moved to Lauada.

JUDSON Settlement

Original GPS ?

 

Cemetery now under Lake Fontana ?

    

H

    

T

 

TVA:  Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 307g relocated.

LANEY Family

35.4820412 , -83.4126575  ?

 

35.48190, -83.41280 ?

A ?

 

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, not relocated(?), Upper Indian Creek, up Indian Creek approximately 3.5 miles from Deep Creek Campgrounds, some 1,200 feet on left of road.

LAUREL BRANCH

35.4373169 , -83.4987728 √

A √

M

 

  

F ?

T

 

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 42g not relocated.

McCAMPBELL GAP

 

     aka Wilson ?

GPS ?

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 5g not relocated(?), North Shore Area & located above water(?).

McCLURE Family

35.4470369 , -83.6015553 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

T

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 9g not relocated, 11g to new McClure, 2g-Montieth,  North Shore Area & located above water(?).

McMAH  Family

35.44970, -83.38250 ?

A ?

 

 

  

 

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in TVA Grave Relocation Database, 6g

MITCHELL Family 

 

     aka Mitchell Hollow ?

 

35.4503686 , -83.6821144 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA-1: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 3g-Mitchell, 2g-Aldman, graves not relocated, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

 

TVA-2: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 2.0m up Pilkey Creek, 41g not relocated(?), North Shore Area & located above water(?).

MONTIETH Settlement

 

aka Montieth Family ?

Original GPS ?

    

 

  

F?

T

 

TVA-1: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 66g relocated.

 

TVA-2:  Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 174g relocated.

MORROW ROAD Cemetery

35.4445405 , -83.4373806 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in TVA Grave Relocation Database.

NELMES Family

GPS ?

 

    

 

  

 

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed on TVA Grave Relocation Spreadsheet, 6g, On watershed of Calhoun Branch. Approximately 0.4 miles from Fontana high water mark. On left of old road that leads to Rhine Branch from Calhoun Branch. Southwest approximately 400 yards on first large ridge crest. Go west toward Pase Branch , North Shore Area & located above water(?).

NOLAND CREEK Settlement, LOWER 

n35 29.183 , w83 30.567 ?

A  ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 7g not relocated, North Shore Area & located above water(?). 

NOLAND CREEK Settlement, UPPER

 

     aka Branton Family ?

35.4962061 , -83.4987737 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

T

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 22g not relocated,  North Shore Area & located above water(?).

ORR  Family (1901)

 

     aka Jenkins (1913) √ 

     aka Carolina Aluminum (1914) √

35.4545317 , -83.8404545 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

T

 

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 11g cemetery, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

PAYNETOWN Settlement

 

aka Payne

35.4606434 , -83.8162868 √

A √

M

 

  

F ?

T

 

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 124g cemetery,, North Shore Area & located above water(?).
.

PILKEY CREEK Settlement

 

 aka Pilkington Family

35.4534244 , -83.6668359 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

T

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 45g not relocated, 1g relocated,, North Shore Area & located above water(?).
.

POSEY FAMILY

 

       aka Piney Ridge ?

35.4548134 , -83.6612802 ?

A ?

 

M

 

 

  

F ?

T

 

TVA: Cemetery not listed in Grave Relocation Database, 5g located 2.5m up Pilkey Creek, on left,, North Shore Area & located above water(?)
.

PROCTOR Settlement

35.4745341 , -83.7287831 ?

A ?

M

H

P

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 130g not relocated, 2g to Hyde, 3g to Montieth,, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

QUEENS

35.5259321 , -83.3068186 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in TVA Grave Relocation Database.

 

ROUND HILL Cemetery

35.3764816 , -83.5887764 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 31g not relocated.

SAWYER CREEK

35.4048161 , -83.5348851 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 30g not relocated.

STILIES / STYLES Family

   

35.4567611 , -83.5179406 ?

A √

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 2g not relocated, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

WALKER

 

     aka Walker Creek ?

n35 31.317 , w83 37.867 ?

 

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

Cemetery not listed on TVA Grave Relocation Spreadsheet, 5g,, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

WELCH #1 Family

 

 

n35 26.833 , w83 38.333 ?

 

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

   TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 5g not relocated,, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

WELCH #2 Family

 

GPS ?

 

    

 

      

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 2g-Welch, 1g-Calhoun, not relocated, On the left bank and 2000 feet from the Little Tennessee River, on top of ridge 450 feet south of the Judson-Robbinsville Road at point 1.3 miles southest of Judson, NC. On the old Forest Denton property,, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

WIGGINS Family

35.4656521 , -83.4207133 ?

A ?

M

 

  

F ?

  

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database,  1g-Wiggins, 1g-Kirkland, 1g-Moore, not relocated, North Shore Area & located above water(?).

WILKE Family

35.5333485 , -83.6216557 ?

 

A ?

M

 

  

 

  

TVA: Cemetery not listed in TVA Grave Relocation Databaset, 2g relocated(?),  North Shore Area & located above water(?).

WOODY Family

 

35.4698157 , -83.5612760 √

A √

M

 

P

F ?

T

 

TVA: Cemetery listed in Grave Relocation Database, 30g/73g  not relocated, 53g to Montieth, 8g to Judson, 1g to Shoal Creek , North Shore Area & located above water(?).