Creation of Smith Mountain Lake

Construction Begins for Smith Mountain Lake Dam

5/24/1960

Since the 1920s, Appalachian Power planned to generate electricity by controlling the Roanoke River. Construction of a hydroelectric dam finally started in 1960.

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Anchor script text: At the Bedford-Pittsylvania County line---(start film) Workmen are busy clearing the Roanoke River Banks preliminary to the construction of the 50-million dollar Smith Mountain Dam project. (show film) Newsmen were shown the site of one of the two facilities yesterday which will serve the huge hydro electric project. Appalachian Power Company spokesmen say the upper dam will be at Smith Mountain Gap, about 46 miles downstream from Roanoke, and 33 miles Southwest of Danville. The lower dam will be about 18 miles downstream from the upper one, in Pittsylvania and Campbell Counties. The Sollit Construction Company is clearing an access road and land for the upper dam. An official says it probably will take a year and a half to pour concrete, and it may be 3 years before the entire project is completed.

Workers Strike at Smith Mountain Lake Dam

6/23/1961

A contractor's employment of non-union labor provokes union members to halt construction of the dam.

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Anchor script text: (LIVE ON) (ROLL FILM) Roanoke River Basin Association members went to Pittsylvania county today to see what progress had been made on the Smith Mountain Dam site. (START FILM) There wasn't any progress to report. Instead, this scene met the member's eyes. A Union dispute has brought work on the multi-million dollar project to a standstill. The strike involves a dispute over the use of non-union employes working for a sub-contractor. The General Contractor- the Sollitt Construction Company - refuses to give any information on how many workers have struck. Appalachian Power Company says it's hoped the dispute can be settled quickly. Work is continuing on the lower dam at Leesville. (LIVE ON)

Construction Continues for Smith Mountain Lake Project

5/8/1962

Construction crews work at the Leesville Dam site as well the larger Smith Mountain Lake Dam. The two dams will form a hydroelectric power unit, with the smaller Leesville operation repumping water to the Smith Mountain Lake reservoir to be used again for power generation.

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Anchor script text: (ROLL FILM) Work on the Leesville Dam of the Smith Mountain Hydroelectric project is expected to be complete this summer. (TAKE FILM) However the larger Dam at Smith Mountain Gap will not be closed until early in 1963. Over 600 men are employed at the two dam sites. The general outlines of the main dam are taking shape with the basic foundation well underway. Concrete is being poured in two 10 hour shifts daily. When complete the dam will be 227 feet high, 816 feet long and have a spillway 210 feet high. Eventually two lakes will be created covering an estimate 23-thousand 400 acres of land with about 600 miles of shoreline in five Southwest Virginia Countys. Its expected that the facility will provide some 440-thousand kilowatts of electric power for about a half million customers. There are provisions to expand the capacity of generators in the future to prove 580-thousand kilowats. The dam will utilize one unusual concept. Water will fall thru turbines from the upper dam into the lower dam. A portion of the water will be pumped back to the upper dam to be used again.

Smith Mountain Lake Boat Race

5/9/1971

The Smith Mountain Lake Dam created a massive recreational opportunity for the region's residents. Speedboat races were frequent on the lake.