POWERGRAMS

As part of Alabama Power's legacy as a steward of cultural resources, the Environmental Compliance department often takes a lead role in historical discovery and conservation through archaeological investigations, preservation and historical documentation. In conjunction with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Environmental Compliance employees work with organizations from across Alabama to record state history. Environmental Compliance Engineer Bill Gardner is working with a team from the University of Alabama to rediscover the life and history of the construction camps and permanent village at Lay Dam. "The archaeological process at the village has been two-fold," Gardner said. "We are using GPS to locate and map structures identified on historic maps and drawings that no longer exist. Then, we look for artifacts that have been left behind to tell us more about village life. While we have stories and personal accounts of life at the Lay Dam village, it is special to find something that was actually used in daily life." During the early 1900s, when the dam at Lock 12 was being built, the construction camp was the largest city between Birmingham and Montgomery. It contained housing for the engineers, carpenters, white, black and foreign workers, mess halls, a small commissary, and office and storage areas. When the dam became operational in 1914, most workers moved on to different projects, with only a select few staying on. For these workers, a more permanent village was formed, with family-style homes, a school, community hall and recreational facilities. By the 1950s, most of the village was unoccupied and was later taken down due to safety concerns. Today, there are a few physical reminders of the village such as stairs, concrete floors and the remains of the community swimming pool. The rest of the village grounds have been overtaken with more than 40 years of vegetation growth. "This village was specifically designed to create an environment that would promote the health and well-being of the hydroelectric facility's workers," said Matt Gage, director of the University of Alabama Office of Archaeological Research. "It was developed at a time when access to good medical care, education and community development in the region were lacking. Alabama Power was able to build an entire town from scratch to help build and maintain the dam and power generation units." To aid the archaeological survey at Lay Dam, Gardner has been researching historical documents from the camp and village construction, as well as interviewing people who lived there from the 1930s to the 1960s. Gardner hopes that most of the structures that were part of the permanent village can be identified and that a human aspect of the foundation remains and artifacts can be applied. "These weren't just concrete forms and junk thrown on the ground; these were people's houses and toys," Gage said. "They tell a story about the folks that lived here and helped to build Alabama Power and harness the rivers for the development of our state." The archaeological survey will be ongoing through late fall. Images of identified structures and artifacts will be on exhibit in the Alabama Power Corporate Archives Museum Aug. 22- Nov. 7 in an exhibition, "From Water to Watts – 100 Years at Lay Dam." For more information about the archaeological investigation, contact Gardner at wsgardne@southernco.com or call 205-257-4082. By Erin Harney Archaeologists find remnants of village HISTORY 5 1937 Wyandotte toy travel trailer recovered during the archaeological investigations. Top right: Ben Lundberg of the University of Alabama and Alabama Power's Bill Gardner use GPS to log the location of stairs that once led to a 1920s boathouse. Above: Original 1920s schoolhouse foundation overgrown by vegetation.

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