Historic Context of the Roanoke Rapids and Gaston Dams

Cultural resources are known to exist microcrystalline lithic sources. within the and Roanoke Subsistence focused on the exploitation Rapids Lake project area (Appendix B). of Holocene plant and animal resources, Human occupations have been especially white-tailed deer, hickory documented archeologically to date from nuts, and acorns. Settlement patterns as early as 9500 BC, the Paleoindian included use of both floodplains and period, through the Archaic, Woodland inter-riverine uplands in a seasonal and protohistoric periods, up to the early round based on the availability of eighteenth century. Euroamericans resources and presumably on a social entered the area in 1715 and soon system that included base camps during established plantations above the fall and winter months and foraging floodplain of the Roanoke River. camps over the balance of the year.

The earliest occupations documented in Middle Archaic sites (6000 - 3000 B.C.) the project area (i.e. Halifax, are characterized by a distinctive series Northampton, Warren Counties, North of projectile point types. Particularly Carolina and Brunswick and Mecklenburg concentrated in the Roanoke River basin Counties, ) are represented by a is the Halifax projectile point type. At this small number of isolated Paleoindian time, a greater diversity of tools were Clovis artifacts found in surface contexts. used suggesting that a broader spectrum No radiocarbon dates or stratified sites of hunting and gathering and, are associated with this time period. In consequently, a more varied diet was the Piedmont of and typical. In addition, a variety of local Virginia, the transitional late stone sources were used for Paleoindian/Early Archaic are manufacturing tools. represented by Hardaway-Dalton points, eared projectile points with vestigial Late Archaic sites (3000 - 1000 B.C.) are fluting. Sites associated with Clovis and again distinguished by characteristic tool Hardaway-Dalton points are relatively types (e.g. Savannah River biface and few and far between. Gypsy stemmed projectile). Hunting and gathering continued as a subsistence By contrast, the North Carolina Piedmont base until limited horticulture began to contains evidence of a high density of be practiced in the North Carolina and Archaic sites. The Archaic Period is Virginia Piedmont. The proliferation of subdivided into Early, Middle, and Late small sites and variety of projectile point subperiods. Early Archaic sites (8000 ­ styles and tool types including ground 6000 B.C.) are distinguished by the stone tools suggests that the overall presence of corner-notched, side notched population had grown by this time. and bifurcate based projectile points. Smaller territories were associated with Sites of this subperiod demonstrate a various populations that began to preference for highly siliceous exchange non-utilitarian objects. 1

Soapstone vessels, grooved stone axes, a practice that continued into the Late elaborate ground stone tools and Woodland subperiod. Such practices ornaments, and native copper are have been interpreted as indicative of associated with many Late Archaic sites. complex social behavior.

The following cultural stage recognized in Late Woodland Piedmont sites (A.D. the North Carolina and Virginia Piedmont 1200 – European Contact) tended to be is the Woodland Period. The hallmark of located on broad, fertile floodplains along the Woodland Period is the presence for the major waterways, along the the first time of ceramics among the tool floodplains of minor streams, and in the kit. Early Woodland ceramics are uplands on broad toeslopes overlooking characterized in the Piedmont of North the floodplains. Distinctive ceramic types Carolina by the Badin Series, pottery typify this cultural subperiod, primarily typified by a dense, hard paste with sand defined based on patterns of exterior temper and cord or fabric-impressed surface treatment (simple stamped, exterior surface treatments. Small cord-marked, cob-marked, and check stemmed project points such as the stamped impressions) and temper Small Savannah River and Gypsy (primarily sand tempered until the Stemmed are thought to be historic period when crushed quartz contemporaneous with the Badin Series temper became more common). Coe ceramics. The major mode of subsistence referred to these ceramics as the Vincent during the Early Woodland was hunting Series and later Clements Series. and gathering. However, the bow and Horticulture was an important element of arrow is an additional technological the local economy. Corn, beans, squash, innovation distinguishing Early Woodland and fruit were grown although hunting from the Late Archaic subperiod. and gathering continued to be important components of local subsistence. Site Middle Woodland sites are marked by a density indicates that population growth change in ceramics to those of the was a factor at this time. Yadkin and Uwharrie Series. Middle Woodland ceramics are manufactured of The earliest historic period sites within fine sand tempered ware with plain, the project area are attributed to the simple-stamped, fabric-impressed, cord- who had settlements along marked, or net-impressed exteriors. the Roanoke River in the mid- Differences in ceramic type are defined seventeenth century. The Occaneechi based on vessel shape, temper, and controlled European Trade with Native exterior treatment. Often they are Americans in the area, acting as middle associated with particular varieties of men and controlling the types of trade triangular projectile point types. During goods that were brought west, e.g. Middle Woodland times, the floodplains firearms and metal tools were not were used for settlements while uplands distributed to other Native American were used for hunting and gathering groups. After 1676, the Occaneechi left activities. During this period, some the Roanoke River basin moving to the prehistoric peoples constructed mounds, Eno River. Consequently, after this time 2

Virginian traders began to exchange Roanoke River at Weldon, North Carolina goods directly with the Virginia - North was completed. Consequently, Weldon Carolina Piedmont tribes. became a major market and transportation center for the middle European settlement in what became Roanoke River area, and cash crops Halifax, Northampton, and Warren became more important to local farmers. Counties, North Carolina and Brunswick However, by 1860, southern Virginia and and Mecklenberg Counties, Virginia northern North Carolina remained began during the period between 1720 primarily rural with barter still a common and 1730. With few developed roads, the form of exchange. area remained home to small subsistence farmers who earned money by producing The local economy was greatly disrupted household crafts rather than by by the Civil War. Railroads that ran producing agricultural goods for market. through Weldon were the lifeline of the Confederacy. Supplies and troops were The Revolutionary War had little impact transported by rail throughout the on the project area. Following the war, theater of the Civil War. The major some improvements were made to local military target in the area was the roads and to the Roanoke River to Wilmington and Weldon Railroad’s bridge facilitate transportation. The Roanoke over the Roanoke River. Union forces Navigation Company was funded by both attacked the bridge in July of 1863 but the Virginia and North Carolina the Confederate forces were successful legislatures in 1817. One of the local at protecting this target. No major improvements was the construction of a engagements occurred in the vicinity of canal and locks around the falls of the the Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Roanoke at Weldon. The canal was Lake areas but the farms were generally completed in 1834. Soon after untended during this period. completion, some of the lower locks were damaged by flooding but were never Farming slowly revived as the major repaired. industry in the project area during the Reconstruction Period. Major cash crops As the transportation network in the included cotton, corn, and tobacco. Due region improved, tobacco became an to impacts from plant disease and poor important cash crop. The Raleigh & commercial conditions, tobacco’s Gaston Railroad, from Emporia, Virginia importance to the local economy to Raleigh, North Carolina, was under diminished. By 1920, cotton was the construction in the mid-1830s. The major crop. By the twentieth century, portion from Emporia to the Roanoke local farms were typically smaller (less River was completed first, by 1838. The than 100 acres) and owner-operated and community of Gaston, North Carolina tenant farms were well represented was established at the southern end of within the five counties that make up the this line, on the north side of the project area. Roanoke River. The line was soon thereafter extended to Henderson, North By the early 1950s, following two world Carolina. By 1840, a railroad linking wars and the Great Depression, the local Wilmington, North Carolina to the labor force was diminished. The presence 3

of factories in local cities further drew encouraged by the construction of labor away from farms as many young Roanoke Rapids Lake and Lake Gaston in people chose factory work over farming 1955 and 1960, respectively. These for their life’s work. Growth of facilities were built to produce industrialization in the area was hydroelectric power for the region.

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History of Roanoke River, Canal, Locks and Dams

The Roanoke River flows approximately the construction of the canal was 400 miles from the valuable for the production of hydro- of Virginia to the in mechanical power and hydro-electricity. North Carolina. Named for the Roanoke In 1882, the Roanoke Navigation Water tribe of Native Americans, the river drops Power and Manufacturing Co. purchased 114 feet in elevation in 13.5 miles as it the old navigation canal. In time, a corn passes from the Piedmont to the Coastal mill, grain elevator and cotton mill were Plain in North Carolina. built. They used hydro-mechanical power from the canal. By 1900, electric power Native Americans referred to the plants were built at the locks in Roanoke Roanoke as Moratoc or "river of death" Rapids and Weldon. because of its tendency to flood. This flooding deposited rich and fertile soil for At about the same time, Major Thomas the plantations that developed along the Emry, the "Father of Roanoke Rapids," Roanoke in the 1700’s. established what would become the Roanoke Rapids Power Co. Emry built a Over the years, farming along the power canal eight-tenths of a mile long Roanoke increased and so did the need that helped start the city of Roanoke for to getting tobacco, cotton and other Rapids. This opened the door to textile goods to market. In 1784, George and paper mills that employed hundreds. Washington said river transportation In 1909, the Roanoke Paper could "open a wide door and make a Manufacturing Co. opened. It would smooth way for the produce of that become the first Kraft Paper Mill in the Country to pass to our markets …" . The mill still operates Knowing this, Virginia Gov. Patrick Henry today, drawing about 24 million gallons signed legislation in 1783 for Virginia to of water a day from the old power canal. make transportation improvements on the Roanoke. North Carolina followed suit In 1924, the Virginia Railway and Power in 1784. Co. (predecessor of today’s Dominion) bought the Roanoke Rapids Power Co. This led to the establishment of the Electricity was provided from the power Roanoke Navigation Company canal and canal until the company started locks. In 1824, a nine-mile long canal operation of the Roanoke Rapids Lake was developed on which bateaux — up to Hydro-Station in 1955. The Lake Gaston 65 feet long — were used to transport Power Station was added in 1963. produce and other goods. At the peak, about 353 bateaux were in use, carrying Today, these facilities provide electricity goods estimated at about $6 million per to thousands of households and many year. industries, while providing home sites, outdoor recreation and tourism. With the advent of railroad Dominion has been a vital partner in transportation, the navigation canal preserving the rich history of the became unprofitable. However, the same Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail in severe change in elevation that required Roanoke Rapids. 5

This is a photo of the "diversion" dam that was in place in 1941 before the existing Roanoke Rapids dam. It was used to divert water from the river to the power canal.

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This photo shows horses being used during repairs to the power canal in 1941.

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Construction of the existing Roanoke Rapids dam, which began in 1951.

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To get more energy from the river, a tailrace was constructed. Construction involved blasting and removing solid bedrock, 40' deep by 60' wide, for about 1.2 miles. This gave the dam a higher "head" which gave the turbine- generators about 20 percent more generating capacity.

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Bateaux Brunswick Belle rests at the Roanoke River Canal Museum.

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Visitors also can view the original locks at the Roanoke River Canal Museum.

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