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The history of Catawba Falls can not be told without first mentioning Colonel Daniel W. Adams. Colonel Adams was a conservationist who lived in Old Fort from 1914 until his death in 1957. Prior to his army enlistment in 1917 he was employed by the U.S. Forest Service, which he joined in 1909. In 1911 he invented and constructed the first forest fire tower in the world, which was erected in the Arkansas Ouacita National Forest. In 1912 and 1913 he was engaged in purchasing land for the U.S. Government as part of Pisgah National Forest and Shenandoah National Park. Milestones in the busy and civic life of Colonel Adams included spearheading the establishment of a water system for Old Fort and building of a power plant at Catawba Falls. He also opened feldspar and mica mines in Mitchell County and helped establish the Daniel Boone National Forest. His efforts in the conservation program were a major contribution in the establishment of National Parks and Forest in the south eastern United States. On August 31 1989 Daniel W. Adams sells the land containing the Catawba Falls to the Trust for Public Land Inc. November 22, 1989 Old Fort News Bulletin The Old Fort Chamber of Commerce has a meeting at Four Oaks Fish Camp to discuss plans on maintaining a public access trail to the falls. Mayor elect Robert Wilson had concerns over the gate put up at the bridge. Mary “Binkie” Adams explained that the gate was to protect their saw milling equipment and that the Adams family has never charged the public for access to the falls. Pat Cook, planning director for the Forest Service from Asheville and James Outz from the McDowell County Forest Service were in attendance; Cook stated there will be no commercial timber harvesting or motorized traffic in the Falls area. It will remain open for hiking and camping. On April 3 1995 the McDowell County board of commissioners voted to abandoned the small section of road after the bridge, this resulted in 12 years of restricted access to the falls.
Adams' Catawba Dam Number 1, 1923. The waterline which exited thru a hole where the water is flowing was made of boards bound with iron hoops. The water was carried thru this waterline to the building shown here which generated the power. Shown here are the present condition and the original pictures. Pictures are from the Bill Nichols collection at John's Market in Old Fort, prints can be purchased there of many of Old Fort's historic events. From Binkie Adams column 8-13-1986 Old Fort News Bulletin Daniel Adams built a dam close, but not too close, to the Catawba Falls, and then two hydro-electric power houses. One of these, located beside the dam was run by water brought down the mountain from a tributary of the Catawba River. The lower power house was constructed of stone and was quite picturesque. A large wooden pipe brought water down the hill from the high concrete dam a quarter of a mile above. In 1928 he sold the power plant to a small company, Jupollo Power and Light, which in turn sold to another company. Eventually Duke Power company took over, closed the Catawba facility, and ran a line from Marion to Old Fort. Rutherford Trace. McDowell County and in particular the community of Old Fort contributed to General Rutherford’s efforts to remove the Cherokee from their lands in western North Carolina. A large group of local militia joined him and his troops in Old Fort as they began to ascend the mountain across Catawba Falls and into Buncombe County. While this event is difficult to conceive today, it is of great historical significance to the community of western North Carolina. The action paved the way for settlers to enter the area and to cross into Buncombe County on their way west. Also visit Davidson's Fort Website, www.davidsonsfort.com for more information on this project. |
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