Nine men killed during construction of Dale Hollow Dam honored with plaque
By ED CAHILL
Citizen-Statesman Editor
An open house held at the Dale Hollow Dam Power Plant on Sunday, June 10, 2001 featured a dedication ceremony for a plaque listing the names of nine men who were killed during the construction of the dam.
The nine men listed on the plaque are:
- Alex West, who died in a vehicle accident hauling supplies on April 17, 1942.
- Harry Nicholson, who died when he fell to his death on Aug. 26, 1942.
- R.R. Langston, who died while working with heavy equipment on Oct. 2, 1942.
- Ress White, who died in a vehicle accident on his way to work on March 10, 1942.
- Fowler Dulworth, who died in a vehicle accident on his way to work on March 10, 1943.
- Herbert White, who died on March 11, 1943 after being in the same vehicle accident on his way to work on March 10, 1943.
- Boss Hestand, who fell from a raft transporting workers across the river and drowned on May 6, 1943.
- Jack Johnson, who died when trash racks fell on him on July 22, 1943.
- Irvin Roberts, who died when the trash racks fell on him also on July 22, 1943.
Also recognized during the brief ceremony was Arley Hood, who lost his life during the clearing of the lands around Dale Hollow Lake, and the 118 individuals who have lost their lives as a result of drowning in Dale Hollow Lake.
According to Shirley Cherry, administrative assistant to the superintendent of the Dale Hollow Dam Power Plant, the names of the nine men listed on the plaque were gathered from different sources, including newspaper stories, former workers on the dam project and family members.
"If anyone was overlooked, it was due to lack of records or information and we greatly apologize," Cherry said. "We just had to go on the information we had."
The plaque, which is mounted on a post beneath a small shelter, is located near the entrance to the Dale Hollow Dam Power Plant.