A great number of historically Black villages, such as Kowaliga, Alabama, Seneca Village, New York, and Vanport, Oregon, have been obliterated by the construction of modern reservoirs, lakes, and parks. Nothing can erase the physical devastation caused by these drownings, nor the lingering consequences on Black wealth that they have had on successive generations.
What’s at the bottom of Lake Martin Alabama?
Susannah, Alabama Lake Martin also swamped the town of Susannah, also known as Sousana. More than 900 people’s corpses were reportedly transported from cemeteries in Alabama before the land was flooded, as reported by Alabama Living. A gold mine, a school, two mercantiles, a grist mill, a flour mill, a sawmill, a blacksmith shop, and a church were formerly part of the town.
What happened to Benson Alabama?
Benson, which is located in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, was given its name in honor of John Jackson Benson, who was a former slave, and his family. African Americans ran everything in the community of Benson, which included the post office, saw mill, turpentine still, a large and comprehensive cotton ginning system, a cotton oil and fertilizer mill, a number of well-kept houses, a branch of the main school, and a mission church.
- Benson was an entirely black community.
- Alabama Power Company has purchased the town of Benson, along with the neighboring town of Susanna, with the intention of flooding both of them.
- These two settlements, together with a number of houses and churches, were leveled, and the business moved 12 cemeteries that had a total of 923 burials.
Originally published in January 2015 by April Wood James.
Who owns Lake Martin Alabama?
There are three counties in Alabama that include Lake Martin: Tallapoosa County, Elmore County, and Coosa County. It is a lake that is 44,000 acres in size and has more than 750 kilometers of forested shoreline. The building of the Martin Dam on the Tallapoosa River resulted in the formation of the artificial reservoir known as Lake Martin.
- The Alabama Electricity Company makes use of the powerhouse located at Martin Dam in order to create hydroelectric power.
- The dam was finished in 1926, making it what was considered to be the world’s largest man-made body of water at the time.
- Construction on the dam began in 1923.
- The dam was renamed in 1936 in honor of Thomas Martin, who was serving as president of Alabama Power Company at the time.
The dam was formerly known as Cherokee Bluffs, which was the name of the geological formation upon which it was erected. The vast portion of the beachfront is owned by Alabama Power and Russell Lands. Swimming, boating, fishing, water skiing, camping, and golfing are just some of the popular activities that people like doing at Lake Martin, which is one of the largest manmade lakes in the United States.
- On Lake Martin, you’ll find a great number of luxury communities and beachfront neighborhoods.
- Alexander City and Dadeville are both located in close proximity to one another.
- Throughout the course of the year, Lake Martin plays home to a variety of events, such as fishing competitions, Aquapolooza, and a massive fireworks display commemorating the nation’s birthday on July 4th.
In addition, there is the Alexander City Jazz Festival, which has featured performances by artists like Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Los Lonely Boys, and Amanda Shaw in years past. This annual festival is held during the month of June in both the downtown area of Alexander City and at the Lake Martin Amphitheatre located on Lake Martin.
Lake Martin is home to a wide variety of well-known destinations, such as its numerous picturesque islands. Chimney Rock is a massive rock formation that looks like a chimney. It is one of the lake’s many monuments, along with the Kowaliga Bridge, the Willow Point Country Club and golf course, and various marinas.
However, it is possible that Chimney Rock is the most well-known sight on the lake. The rock that the majority of people refer to as Chimney Rock is really known by its official name, Acapulco Rock. The real Chimney Rock is located a few hundred yards distant.
- Before the Martin Dam was constructed, this location was the canyon of the Tallapoosa River; the current depth of the water is greater than 150 feet.
- The location is frequented each year by thousands of boaters, many of whom anchor their vessels in front of “The Rock” to get a good view of the individuals who scale its 60-foot heights and dive into the ocean below.
Although many people have loved the exhilaration of leaping from these rock formations, a few jumpers have suffered significant injuries, including paralysis or death, as a result of their jumps. A young man tragically lost his life after jumping off of the cliff in July of 2006.
Especially in the neighborhoods of Willow Point, Parker Creek, Trillium, Kowaliga, and The Ridge, Lake Martin has emerged as a popular weekend destination for many of the wealthy residents of Birmingham, Montgomery, and even Atlanta. These neighborhoods are home to a large number of luxurious mansions that may cost upwards of a million dollars each.
One of the most well-known is the mansion in Willow Point that belonged to Richard M. Scrushy, the man who established HealthSouth Corporation and served as its first Chairman and CEO. The main house and a guest house that doubles as a boathouse were both constructed in 1998, and its combined square footage is more than 15,000 square feet. 
Chimney Rock Island is a well-known feature located on Lake Martin. Chimney Rock Island has long had this distinction. It earned its name from a rock that sticks out from the top of the island and looks like a chimney, hence the association. Chimney Rock Island and its neighbor, Acapulco Rock Island, may be found in the Tallapoosa River Gorge.
- Chimney Rock Island is the larger of the two islands.
- It is quite easy to confuse it with Chimney Rock.
- Strangely, it resembles a chimney in shape.
- The island was given its name, Doctor’s Island, after a group of physicians who fished there and set up a base camp there.
- Even though their camp is still there, it was burned to the ground a few years ago.
Goat Island – To the north of Martin Dam is where you’ll find Goat Island. It has been taken over by a herd of goats that now call it home. A small county graveyard that existed before to the construction of the Martin Dam may now be found on what is now known as Graveyard Island in Lake Martin.
- Just around 27 meters across and 30 yards on each side.
- It is located in the Bay Pine neighborhood.
- Sand Island is a tiny island that can be found between Willow Point and Kowaliga Marina.
- It is known as Sand Island.
- The island has suffered significant damage as a result of erosion over the course of its history.
Its sandy, shallow beach is a popular parking spot for passing boats. Young’s Island was home to the Young family, who ran Young’s boat from this location. In the early 1990s, a fire completely obliterated the building. There are still remnants of the building’s foundation, and the graves of the children may be located.
Weed Hill Island is a tiny island that can be found practically just across from the boat launch at Pleasure Point Marina. The continent is continually being reduced in size through erosion, despite the fact that it was formerly considerably bigger. Wood’s Island is a bigger island that, during times when the water level is low, is connected to the mainland by a land bridge.
Because there are so many different paths, this island is perfect for hikers. On the western shore of the lake, you may locate it near the terminus of Young’s Ferry Road.
Who built Lake Martin?
The Martin Dam, which was constructed by Alabama Power in 1923, was responsible for the formation of the 25,000-acre lake. The designers of the Martin Dam project advocated for its development by highlighting the numerous benefits that the dam would provide to both agricultural producers and local inhabitants.
What is the deepest lake in Alabama?
| Lewis Smith Lake | |
|---|---|
| Overhead satellite image taken in 2015 by Landsat 8 of Lewis Smith Lake located in North Alabama. | |
| Lewis Smith Lake Show map of Alabama Show map of the United States Show all | |
| Location | Cullman / Walker / Winston counties, Alabama, US |
| Coordinates | 33°56′32″N 087°06′21″W / 33.94222°N 87.10583°W Coordinates : 33°56′32″N 087°06′21″W / 33.94222°N 87.10583°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 21,000 acres (85 km 2 ) |
| Max. depth | 264 ft (80 m) |
| Surface elevation | 510 ft (160 m) |
| Islands | Goat Island |
Lewis Smith Lake is a reservoir in north Alabama, It is situated on the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River and encompasses more than 21,000 acres (85 km 2) of land in Cullman County, Walker County, and Winston County. The dam has a depth of 264 feet at its greatest point (80 m).
- It is the lake in Alabama that has the deepest water.
- Over 500 miles (800 kilometers) of coastline surround the three-fingered reservoir, which, when at full pool, reaches a height of 510 feet (160 m).
- A look at the lakefront real estate from the water.
- Alabama Power is responsible for the formation of the lake through the building of the Lewis Smith Dam.
It is one of the earthen dams in the eastern United States that is the longest at 2,200 feet (670 m), and it reaches a maximum height of 300 feet (91 m) (91 m). The first stone was laid on November 25, 1957, and the dam was officially opened to the public on September 5, 1961 (exactly 61 years ago).
- Lewis Martin Smith served as president of Alabama Power from 1952 to 1957, and his name was chosen as a tribute to him.
- Some of the nearby towns include Bremen, Cullman, Good Hope, Crane Hill, and Dodge City, all of which are located in Cullman County; Curry and Jasper, all of which are located in Walker County; Addison, Arley, Houston, and Double Springs are also located in Walker County.
Photograph of the shoreline at Smith Lake The Indian Head Cliff Jump (at 30 feet), Castle Rock (at 40–50 feet), and the Castle are all popular tourist destinations.
Does Lake Martin Alabama have alligators?
TALLADEGA, Ala. (WBMA) – One of the viewers of ABC 33/40 News stated they saw an alligator in the photo below, which was taken near Logan Martin Lake. It is quite unlikely that this would be the first time an alligator has been observed at the lake. Over the course of several years, residents have reported seeing it.
Is Kowaliga a black town in Alabama?
Kowaliga (Benson), Alabama As it turns out, the predominantly Black village of Kowaliga in Alabama was displaced to make way for the construction of Lake Martin. It is the location of the first Black-owned railroad, which was established by William E.
Where is the Kowaliga cabin in Alabama?
The location of the Kowaliga Cabin historical monument may be found in Eclectic, Children’s Harbor, Elmore County, Alabama. The Hank Williams Kowaliga Cabin, first released in 1952 The legendary country music performer Hank Williams wrote the song “Kaw-liga” at this very location in August of 1952. The cabin still exists here.
What is the story behind Hank Williams Kowaliga cabin?
Sunken History of Lake Martin: The Forgotten Community of Kowaliga
1952 film titled “The Hank Williams Kowaliga Cabin” The legendary country music performer Hank Williams wrote the song “Kaw-liga” at this very location in August of 1952. The cabin still exists here. The name of a Creek Indian settlement that was situated on the banks of the Kowaliga Creek up until the year 1836 provided the inspiration for the song’s title.