Electrifying Change: The Rise of the Dam

In the early 1900s, the air in the Central Georgia Piedmont Region buzzed with anticipation and trepidation. In the heart of this landscape, a colossal project was underway: the construction of a grand dam; the largest of it’s kind on the planet at the time! At its side stood the formidable Lane Bros No. 1 Crane, manufactured by Industrial Works in Bay City, Michigan. Though it was one of the finest machines of its time, it would still take a dedicated team of 500 workers several years to complete the dam, finally achieving its goal of generating electricity for the first time on February 23, 1911.

But not everyone shared in the excitement. As the Central Georgia Power Company moved forward, acquiring over 7,000 acres of prime land, discontent simmered among the locals. Fertile floodplain fields and vast stretches of timberland—some of the most valuable land in the region—were at risk of being lost forever. Many residents perceived the dam as an encroachment, dubbing it “a Yankee conspiracy” fueled by northern investments. A small group spoke out vehemently against the project, fearing that their way of life was being sacrificed for a vision that did not include them.
 
Despite opposition, the project pressed on. If landowners refused to sell, the power company invoked its legal right to condemn properties for flood rights, offering fair market value in exchange for land that had been passed down through generations. The determination of the power company was unwavering.
 
During this period, the construction process was grueling. In an age before modern machinery like bulldozers and dump trucks, the work relied heavily on the strength of human muscle, steam engines, miles of steel cables and the power of mules. Workers toiled under the harsh sun, the rhythmic sounds of shovels striking earth blending with the distant clatter of the crane as it lifted heavy materials into place. Each boulder and brick laid and beam secured brought them closer to the monumental achievement of the dam.

As the dam neared completion, the locals’ feelings remained mixed—a stark reminder of the struggle between progress and tradition. While the promise of electricity loomed on the horizon, its cost was measured in lost land and unsettled lives. Yet, on that fateful day in February 1911, as the switch was flipped and power flowed for the first time, the world changed forever, and the delicate balance between innovation and community would never again be the same.
 
With several safety and efficiency improvements over the decades, the dam still generates power for the area to this day.