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 Fun Facts about Jefferson County: A Bullet History of Douglas Dam
By: Robert D. Jarnagin, Jefferson County Historian

“What is the origin of the Douglas name associated with Douglas Dam?” This is one of the most common questions asked in this county. After some exhaustive research, here is a bulleted list of the history on the naming of the Dam:

•  In the book The Douglas Project, Technical Report No. 10, by United States Tennessee Valley Authority - Chapter 1 states that the name was derived from Douglas Bluff.

•  In the beginning it was referred to as the Douglas Project / Douglas Dam and appears to have been named for the Douglas Bluffs on the French Broad River.  The Douglas family owned land in the area where the dam was built.

•  Much of the information provided was found in a scrapbook of newspaper clippings kept by Reuel B. Pritchett, who is also credited with starting the Jefferson County Historical Museum housed in our         courthouse.

•  The government reported in November 1941 that "Douglas Dam is badly needed for power for defense purposes".

•  Dandridge's opposition ally was Tennessee Senator Kenneth D. McKellar.

•  Senator McKellar withdrew his opposition to Douglas Dam on January 22, 1942 and the next day the House approved 30 Million for the Douglas Project.

•  January 29, 1942 the Dandridge Banner headline reads "AT LAST THE DRAGON HAS US!  Look at an overview photo of Douglas Lake and you will see how the name fits.

•  February 4, 1942 The Knoxville Journal reported sending the following telegram to President Roosevelt - "We respectfully urge you to request of the proper authorities that they change the name of TVA's new "Douglas Dam" to the more fitting one of "Douglas MacArthur Dam" as an appropriate tribute to the adamant courage of a great national hero.  Your action in so doing would gratify thousands of devoted and patriotic citizens throughout this area".

•  The Knoxville Journal continued to use the name "Douglas MacArthur Dam" in future articles, but I find no evidence that the government or TVA ever decided to rename the dam.

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A lifelong resident of Jefferson County, Bob Jarnagin is presently the Owner and President of H.B. Jarnagin & Co, Inc. in Dandridge, TN. He   graduated from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. He is active in a number of county organizations including the United Way of Jefferson County, the Dandridge Memorial Library, Jefferson County Historical Society, East Tennessee Historical Society and the Jefferson County Genealogical Society to name a few. Bob was appointed the Jefferson County Historian in 2006 and is still serving in that capacity today. He has received both the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year award in 2001 and the Jefferson Countian of the Year in 2009. He also received the Jefferson County Citizenship Award in 2008 and the Samuel M. Walton Leadership Award in 2009. Currently, he is conducting guided walking tours of the Dandridge Historic District and gives presentations to various organizations about early Jefferson County history. He presently resides in Dandridge, TN, with his wife, Susie, and his children, Jenny and Weston.