Widows Bar Dam facts for kids

The Widows Bar Lock and Dam was a special structure that used to be on the Tennessee River in Jackson County, Alabama, USA. It was built to help boats travel safely and to control the river's flow. The dam was located about 407 miles (655 km) up the river from where it empties out, close to a smaller stream called Widows Creek.

Building the Widows Bar Dam

The Widows Bar Dam was finished on September 8, 1924. It was designed and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This is a group of engineers from the U.S. Army who build and manage big projects like dams and waterways.

The dam had a special part called a navigation lock. This lock was like a water elevator for boats. It was 60 feet (18 m) wide and 265 feet (81 m) long. Boats would enter the lock, the water level would change, and then they could move to a different part of the river. This made it easier for boats to travel past the dam.

Why the Dam Was Taken Down

In the 1930s, a new government program called the New Deal started. As part of this, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was created. The TVA took over managing the Tennessee River. Their job was to control floods and make river travel even better.

The TVA decided that the Widows Bar Dam was too difficult and expensive to keep running. So, it was taken apart. This happened when the bigger Guntersville Dam was being built. The materials from Widows Bar Dam were used, or it was simply removed to make way for the new plans.

What's There Now

Today, the place where the Widows Bar Dam once stood is home to the Widows Creek Power Plant. This is a power plant that uses coal to make electricity. It was built in the early 1950s.

Most of what was left of the old Widows Bar Dam is now underwater. It's covered by Guntersville Lake, which was formed by the Guntersville Dam.