Before Lake Norman existed, the Catawba River shaped daily life across the Carolina Piedmont. Farms, mill villages, churches, and family communities lined the riverbanks for generations.

But in the early twentieth century, that relationship began to change.

In this episode of Made in Carolina, we explore the early creation of Lake Norman and the growing influence of Duke Power along the Catawba River. Through oral histories and historical context, we trace how industrial expansion, the Great Flood of 1916, and hydroelectric development reshaped both the landscape and the lives of the people who called the river home.

Featuring the voices of historians and community members, this episode examines how communities experienced these changes differently—through opportunity, displacement, loss, and memory.

This is the story of when the river began to change.

Featured Voices

• Michael Connor – Family history and community memory
• Richard Eller – Mill villages and labor history
• Chuck McShane – Regional history of Lake Norman and Duke Power
• Katie Dickinson – Childhood memories of watching the lake form in Huntersville

🌊 In This Episode

• The Great Flood of 1916
• The rise of Duke Power along the Catawba River
• Hydroelectric expansion across the Carolinas
• Mill villages, farming communities, and displacement
• Watching Lake Norman take shape in real time
• Community memory and land loss

🎶 Credits

Created, produced, and hosted by Lolita Rowe

Original music by Sister Sai

Additional audio:

• “steady rain_wind gust 158.wav” by leo153 — Freesound.org (CC0)
• “Long Way” by Rexlambo — Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

🌐 Resources & Further Reading

• A History of Lake Norman: Fish Camps to Ferraris by Chuck McShane
• North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources — Flood of 1916
• Duke Energy Illumination: “From Great Flood, New Life for Catawba River” by Akeem Flavors
• French Broad Adventures — “Remembering the Flood of 1916”

💛 Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you, consider supporting Made in Carolina by sharing the show, leaving a review, or buying me a coffee.

Every bit of support helps sustain independent storytelling, oral history, and community memory projects like this one.

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🌐 madeincarolinapodcast.com 📧 [email protected]