Local historian and author Katherine Duncan recalled that at first, people thought the town of Guntersville was ruined because the economy was centered around farming, but noted that the “resentment gradually gave way to rejoicing as people began to see the potential that the lake held.”The Birmingham News reported in November 6, 1939, that “Guntersville has huge industrial expansion.” The reporter quoted the Chamber of Commerce president, who stated that power rates in Guntersville were reduced about 30 percent with the coming of the dam, opening an entirely new field to town — the development of small industries. On a sweltering day in early August 1939—eighty years ago—the Birmingham (Ala.) News reported that “over 50,000 souls” lined the banks of the newly formed Guntersville Reservoir. In fact, according to Bassmaster, today Guntersville ranks as the number one lake in the southeast for bass fishing. According to TVA spokeswoman Malinda Hunter "The reason we're doing this pilot program is because we want to demonstrate that there is interest in the public to tour the dams and see the facilities".If the public expresses interest in restarting the tours, Guntersville Dam will be a cool space for the public to visit once again.To learn more about the Guntersville Dam and future tours here are some links...Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. Please When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The Guntersville mayor and City Council toured the Guntersville Dam on Monday, Nov. 4. It was the largest crowd ever to assemble in northern Alabama.
The Guntersville Dam is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In fact, a meeting was held in October 1935 at the county courthouse to alleviate anxiety. .
The first of three generators was placed in service on August 1, 1939.Larry Smith, editor of the book Guntersville Remembered, called “the most important event in the history of Marshall County—the completion of Guntersville Dam.” Certainly, another completed hydro facility showed the progress TVA was making in the unified development plan of the Tennessee River system. The words he penned then are still relevant today:“Under the town’s own plan, the industrial uses of the waterfront are separated from the recreational uses, and this city, extending in a long peninsula into the broad blue waters of Guntersville Lake, is today one of the most attractive small cities in the whole South, with its population increased more than 50 percent. It is number two in their 2019 list of the Top 100 Bass Lakes in the nation.TVA's tallest dam was built in a hurry to help power the industries that would help win WWII. Friday, June 15, 2018 10:00 AM (CT) Guntersville Dam Guntersville Dam Road Grant AL 35747. In fact, he wrote a fitting close to the story in his 1944 book, Democracy on the March. The enthusiasm about the rural electrification program that I noticed particularly while I was speaking to this crowd… was really amazing.” He went on to write that “there is somehow a magic about TVA kilowatts.”On December 4, 1935, two months after Lilienthal spoke on the courthouse steps, construction began at Cole’s Bend, eleven miles below the town of Guntersville. On tour were the four large power producing turbines. Over the years, Lake Guntersville became a fishing destination. Thank you for registering for the Built for the People pilot tour program. David Lilienthal, one of TVA’s three board members, addressed the crowd of farmers and businessmen.