Federal land aquisition

[turkeytalker]

Just wondering if any of you know any stories of land aquisitions by the federal government.Really interested in LBL,but any would be interesting.My family owned hundreds of acres on the Cumberland river before they decided to put a lake there and i can give you the words of Honest men as to how that went down.

But about to head down to LBL this weekend for a little campfire medication and it is always brought up as to how this land was taken,and that always interested me so i thought i'd ask some of you west Ky boys about it.

[Manzanita]

If you haven't read LBL, A Story of Colonialism in Kentucky (http://www.betweentherivers.org/dnickell.html) by David Nickell, it's a pretty good read. I grew up in Western Kentucky and was a kid during that time so, although I knew something was going on, I didn't understand the scope of it until much later. There is some more info on that website (http://www.betweentherivers.org/).

[Buford]

Great read
great pics on the website too

[mossyhorns]

There are people who are still extremely bitter about the LBL land taking. Some were moved in the 30's & 40's when KY Lake was flooded, others moved later when Barkley was flooded. When LBL was formed, some of the folks moved out were people who had already moved from the TN and Cumberland river valleys. There have been a couple of highway projects down here in the past few years that have taken land from some of the people who were moved out of LBL. Wasn't a pretty sight.

THe Nickel account is accurate. Notice the part where they put their faith in their congressman to help them, then found out he was working harder than anyone against them. TVA commissioned a professor from Austin Peay to write a history of the LBL. He said in the book that maybe 1/3 of the people were glad to get away from the place, another 1/3 didn't want to move, but took the money and started over. He then opins that death was hastened in the remaining group who did not want to move and went to their graves resenting the Federal Government.

BTW, the original land grants to land in the LBL were given to veterans of the Revolutionary War as compensation. Now that's some history.

[JDMiller]

I was'nt born when that took place but just about all of my mother and her family all were there when it did. She lived in the Long Creek area with brothers & sisters scattered from Golden Pond to Turkey Creek. When the government took it over ... all the family scattered to Calloway , Trigg & Lyon counties. Over the years theres been lots of stories told concerning some of the family not wanting to leave their homes and holding off the TVA at gunpoint. As Mossy stated its still a lot of bitterness from the relocation and most is understandable if you were in their position.

These folks existed on what they had. Made money the best way they knew how. In my families case it was primarily timber cutting & sawmill work or farming. However you probably couldnt rule out some income on occasion from moonshine according to some of the stories I've been told. They just did whatever they had to do to feed & provide for their families.

When they were relocated ....they basically had to leave their life behind and start everything new. New homes ...jobs ...schools....a lot of things we wouldnt think twice over in this day & time. It was a close knit of communities , neighbors and families. In many ways.... we all should take a lesson on this and put things in perspective.

In my opinion its a very important part of history and pretty interesting if you do some research on it.

[turkeytalker]

I always listen intently on the subject when it arises,and have heard of everything yal speak of except i didn't know how much of it was true.Will definately read that material.

If you think about it i guess that was a case of imminent domain.They probaly felt as we would if big brother decided our farms would be better suited as a shopping mall.

[Wildcat]

Mossyhorns,

That professor from Austin Peay is a "she". I've got her book somewhere and I can't think of the name right now.

[naturalelite]

After reading that I feel ashamed I have been going there for 20 of my 30 years here on earth and I had no idea of the history there.

[Pooge]

As a history buff I would like to thank you for posting this thread. I had never read anything concerning the LBL. I am sure there thousands of very interesting stories from LBL to Fontana and beyond concerning the land acquisition.

[mossyhorns]

The author I was thinking about was Dr. J. Milton Henry, professor of history, APSU. The book was Between the Rivers.

I serve on TVA's Regional Resource Stewardship Council. At our last meeting we heard public comment from folks up and down the TN valley. There are lots and lots of heartbreaking stories that involve eminent domain.

[PhilpotHunter]

As a history buff I would like to thank you for posting this thread. I had never read anything concerning the LBL. I am sure there thousands of very interesting stories from LBL to Fontana and beyond concerning the land acquisition.

I second that! I had no idea

[Valley Station]

That Austin Pee's professors name should be added to the list of other well knowns. Like BENEDICT ARNOLD!