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Old McFarland - 1 Cherokee National Forest, Polk Co., TN |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2021) |
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Old McFarland - 1 Cherokee National Forest, Polk Co., TN |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2021) |
| Although there were a few settlers here in the early 1800s, the community of McFarland didn't appear until 1890 when the Old Line Railroad was completed. A Post Office was established here in 1895, and the town became a section HQ for the railroad. Besides the RR workers, it soon became a hub for the USFS developing the newly created Cherokee National Forest. The town was mostly abandoned by the time it began its next act, as a major construction hub for TVA's Apalachia dam and hydroelectric power generation project in the early 1940s. |
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| Early overview of the town Based on the buildings shown, including the two story hotel (visible at upper left), this photo was taken after the turn of the century but before TVA's construction of the Apalachia Power Project. (Photo ref. Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association) |
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| There is little remaining of this early phase of the town |
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| A few moss-covered rock walls and stone-lined terraces... |
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| I found day-lilies and yucca indicating some of the old home sites. |
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| All of the earlier buildings are gone by the time TVA began using the site as a construction zone for the Apalachia Project in 1941. (Ref. National Archives Atlanta, TVA, RG-142-(15) Apalachia Project Construction, Photo 15T15) |
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| Another photo of the same area one year later in 1942. (Ref. National Archives Atlanta, TVA, RG-142-(15) Apalachia Project Construction, Photo 15T258) |
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| One of the railroad sidings is still visible, although its rails are long gone. |
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| The main rail line is still in use; old replaced ties are piled in the woods along the tracks. |
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| This cistern on a hillside may have been the hotel's water supply |
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| Moss-covered cistern |
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| The inside of the cistern is divided by a brick wall... |
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| One of the entry holes was broken long ago... |
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| Footings for the conveyor belt that traveled from the railroad siding up to the concrete plant (seen in earlier 1942 photo). |
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| Massive base of the concrete mixing plant. |
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| Looking like a model for the Greek Parthenon! |
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| Concrete plant in operation (Photo ref. TVA - The Hiwassee Valley Projects,Tech Report No. 5, Vol 2 The Apalachia, Ocoee No. 3, Nottely, and Chatuge Projects) |
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| Another view |
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| Looking up at "ceiling" of the mixer base |
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| One more view of the concrete mixer base... |
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| Footings from another conveyor These were from the conveyor shown in the earlier "Concrete plant in operation" photo |
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| Upended footing |
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| Another concrete conveyor footing. |
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| Footings from the Blower building |
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| More Blower footings |
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| Footings from the Compressor building I identified these structures from an old TVA layout of the McFarland operation... |
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| More Compressor footings |
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| Approaching the McFarland Adit This is one of several access points along the tunnel, used initially to allow tunnel construction from multiple points, and now for maintenance. |
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| This Adit is particularly scenic, thanks to the flow from the creek. The view of the upper waterfalls is hidden as one gets closer to the adit. |
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| I need to check out this diverter wall with an arch above the adit... I had too many other places to explore to climb up there on this visit... |
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| McFarland Adit |
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| Some moron had busted the lock off the portal door, and it was hanging open... |