Barbara and Bobby Heavner
Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal
This series consists of original recordings of audio interviews resulting from Michael Kline's work during 1984 - 1985 documenting the experience of Lewis County, West Virginia residents forced to leave their homes by the construction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Stonewall Jackson Flood Control Dam. Thirty-five recorded interviews with residents, planners, politicians and lawmen were drawn upon to create an audio documentary, "We're Here To Take You Out," which explored the impact and collateral, human costs of such projects on rural life, arts, and values.
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National Capital Contracting
On November 7, 1984, Michael Kline interviewed Barbara and Bobby Heavner for an oral history project focusing on the removal of Stonewall Jackson Dam in Lewis County, West Virginia. Barbara Heavner, born in 1934 in Harrison County, provides a detailed account of her life, including her education and early work experiences, which laid the groundwork for her later involvement in the opposition to the Stonewall Jackson Dam project. Bobby Heavner, her son, also participated, adding perspectives from his own experiences. The interview covers Barbara Heavner's personal and community-driven efforts against the dam. She discusses her role in the local Soil Conservation Districts, her involvement in the Ladies Auxiliary, and the formation of the Upper West Fork River Watershed Association, which played a pivotal role in opposing the dam. Barbara shares memories of the community's efforts to promote alternative conservation projects, such as the PL-566 watershed project, and the challenges they faced in confronting government and engineering entities. Barbara also shares personal anecdotes about the impact of these efforts on her family, particularly on her husband, who was involved in the opposition before his passing in 1977.
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