Butler, Tennessee "The Town That Wouldn't Drown"

Butler, TN may not be well-known to the outside world, or even to our neighbors on Johnson City or Boone, NC, but it’s history is one which illustrates many of the changes which have occurred as the land west of the Allegany Mountains was settled.

History comes alive at the Butler Museum in Butler, TN.  Built in 2000 out of native lumber, the Museum is a replica of the train depot which once brought settlers and speculators to the mountains. The Museum is dedicated to telling the story of the communities along the Watauga River Valley and Butler, TN “The Town That Wouldn’t Drown”.

Founded by the last graduating class of Watauga Academy in Butler, TN, Shoun's Lumber Company, the Butler Ruritan, and built by the inmates of the Northeast Correctional Facility, the Museum recounts 200 years of life in the mountains of northeast Tennessee.

From the time of Daniel Boone there had been a settlement at the headwaters of the Watauga River.  Legend has it that while traveling on his way to Kentucky, Boone stopped next to the river in a lush pasture.  Here he turned his faithful horse, Roan, loose to live out his days in comfort.  There was plenty of fresh mountain water and lush green grass for grazing so Boone knew Roan would comfortable in his last days.

 

On his return two years later, stopping at the same peaceful riverside site, he saw a fat glossy horse in the distance.  Immediately on sensing his presence, the horse ran up to Boone.  Overjoyed to see his faithful companion so healthy and welcoming of his appearance, Boone took his saddle from the horse he had been riding, saddled Roan and over the mountains they went reaching home in quick time.

In the following years, settlers arrived creating homes, farms and businesses along the fertile river valley.  Soon it was large enough for a grist mill and the town become known as Smith’s Mill.  Next came a small general store where farmers could purchase those items they couldn’t raise themselves.

In 1860 a secondary school was organized.  Named Aenon Seminary it soon had borders from the surrounding area as well as local students.  Boarders, including some of the teachers, were housed with local residents during the school year. The school grew and soon built their own brick building which was finished in the spring of 1886.  It became known as Holly Springs College. 

But war arrived in the mountains.  Although some of the settlers had slaves, most of them sided with the Union.  Times were uneasy for everyone during those war years.  No battles were fought in the area, but many of the men did leave to join one side or the other.

As the new century began, the railroad finally arrived in Butler and in 1902 Holly Springs College because Holly Springs Institute and then in 1906 it became the Watauga Academy.  From then until the last class in 1948, Watauga Academy was a leading educational establishment in Northeastern Tennessee.  Until its students were transferred to Hampton or Mountain City schools, the Academy had day and boarding students.  Today, the local students of Butler can choose to attend the schools in Carter or Johnson County because Butler straddles the county line.

 “New Butler” was created by the Tennessee Valley Authority during the Roosevelt Administration.  Started in the late 1940’s, once again war interrupted the history of Butler.  But as soon as the war was over, in 1945 the TVA began to buy up the farms and homesteads of families living in Butler along the Watauga River.  The TVA’s idea was to control flooding, to bring electricity to the mountains and as it turned out, to create one of the best recreational lakes in Tennessee! The dam was completed and the gates were closed in December, 1948.  Soon Butler was just memories and photographs.  When completed the dam was the largest earthen dam in the world.  Today it is the third largest as there are two larger ones in China along the Yellow River.

But it disrupted the lives of over 700 families who had lived along the river for generations.  Houses were moved, businesses were closed down, families were split with the older members having to leave the area when the younger members were unable to find jobs.  Some were moved to a tract of land which the TVA had bought and called Carderview.  Some bought land with the money they received from the TVA for their homes and moved into the hills.  Others just gathered their belongings and moved away.  But all kept alive the memories of Butler.

To Be Continued