Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

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  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Michael Kline
  • 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.

    To browse this collection and others, please visit the Berea College Special Collections & Archives: https://bereaarchives.libraryhost.com/

Interviewee Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Aubrey West Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

On March 7, 1985, Michael Kline interviewed Aubrey West for a project documenting the removal of the Stonewall Jackson Dam in Lewis County, West Virginia. Aubrey West, a lifelong resident of the area, shares extensive memories of the region, his family, and the impacts of the dam project on his community. West begins by discussing the changes to local homes and properties, notably the destruction of the Stonicker family home, which he remembers as a significant loss.

Michael Kline , Lewis County, WV Talking Across the Lines, Berea College Special Collections & Archives
Barbara and Bobby Heavner Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

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.

Michael Kline Lewis County, WV Talking Across the Lines, Berea College Special Collections & Archives
Bill Adler Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

Bill Adler was born in Weston, West Virginia. He served in the Radio Intelligence Division of the Army Security Agency in Germany from 1945 to 1946.  Adler returned home to manage his father's retail store. In February 1953, Adler co-founded the Weston Television Cable Corp. alongside two partners. This venture marked the beginning of his influential role in providing television reception to the residents of Lewis County, West Virginia.

Michael Kline Lewis County, WV Talking Across the Lines, Berea College Special Collections & Archives
Bob Wise Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

On November 29, 1984, Michael Kline interviewed Bob Wise for the Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal Oral History project. Wise, a long-time opponent of the Stonewall Jackson Dam, shares his experience in challenging the dam's construction from his early days as a lawyer through his tenure as a member of Congress. He first engaged in a lawsuit against the project in the late 1970s and later opposed the dam in the state legislature and Congress. The interview focuses on Wise's efforts to defund the Stonewall Jackson Dam project after being elected to Congress.

Michael Kline Lewis County, WV Talking Across the Lines, Berea College Special Collections & Archives
Edith Coltrane and Kemp Davis Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

Interview with Edith Coltrane and Kemp Davis, Sierra Club members, Deep River Citizens Coalition

Michael Kline Lewis County, WV Talking Across the Lines, Berea College Special Collections & Archives
Edith Holden Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

Interview with Edith Holden

Michael Kline Lewis County, WV Talking Across the Lines
Francine Snyder Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

On March 16, 1985, Michael Kline interviewed Francine Snyder for a project related to the impacts of the Stonewall Jackson Dam project in Lewis County, West Virginia. Snyder, a local resident, provides detailed accounts of her experiences and those of her family and neighbors during the planning and construction of the dam. She discusses the emotional and physical toll the project took on the community, particularly in terms of displacement and the destruction of family homes and historic buildings.

Michael Kline , Lewis County, WV Talking Across the Lines
John Redabaugh Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

On November 12, 1984, Michael Kline interviewed John Redabaugh for the Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal oral history project in Lewis County, West Virginia. Redabaugh, who has lived in the area for many years, was born into a farming family that has operated in the region for generations.  Redabaugh shares insights into his life as a dairy farmer, his family's history, and the broader agricultural community that once thrived in the area. The interview delves into the detrimental effects of the Stonewall Jackson Dam project on the local community.

Michael Kline Lewis County, WV Talking Across the Lines, Berea College Special Collections & Archives
John Reed Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

On December 19, 1984, Michael Kline interviewed John Reed, head of public relations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for an oral history project focusing on the Stonewall Jackson Dam removal in Lewis County, West Virginia. John Reed, who traveled from Pittsburgh to the dam site, discussed the complexities of the dam's construction and the extensive planning and coordination required among different districts and federal agencies.

Michael Kline Lewis County, WV Talking Across the Lines, Berea College Special Collections & Archives
Mary Aspinall Stonewall Jackson Dam Removal

Mary Aspinall, a farmer, has lived in the Stonewall Jackson Lake area for forty years. Originally from the Roanoke area, she and her husband moved to their current farm after the dam was proposed on the West Fork River. Prior to their current farming endeavors, the Aspinalls owned a farm in the Roanoke area. Their decision to relocate was influenced by the proposed construction of a dam on the West Fork River, which promised new opportunities and challenges for the local agricultural community.

Michael Kline Unknown Talking Across the Lines, Berea College Special Collections & Archives