Carvins Cove, Virginia

Carvins Cove, Virginia
Ghost town
Carvins Cove, Virginia
Location of Carvins Cove in Virginia
Coordinates: 37°22′10″N 79°57′29″W
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyRoanoke & Botetourt
EstablishedEarly 1800s
Abandonedc. 1940s
Named forWilliam Carvin
Elevation
1,168 ft (356 m)

History

The community was established in the early 19th century with the establishment of a grist mill at the falls along Carvins Creek.[2] Its namesake, William Carvin, is recognized as the first settler in the Hollins area of present-day Roanoke County.[1] Before the community was destroyed in the 1940s, it included the Rocky Branch School, Cove Alum Baptist Church, the Cove Alum Springs resort hotel, the Tuck-Away Park amusement park and at least 60 homes.[3]

The demise of the community began in the early 1920s when the Virginia Water Company announced that a dam was to be constructed in the vicinity of the community to impound water.[1] By November 1926 the company made public their intention to construct this dam at the Carvins Creek falls.[4] Construction of the 80-foot (24 m)[5] tall abutment was complete by 1928, however the actual reservoir would not be complete until the mid-1940s following the acquisition of the Roanoke Water Works by the City of Roanoke.[2] By 1942, the City of Roanoke acquired the Roanoke Water Company and completed the process of purchasing the land in the Cove necessary to complete the reservoir. The final structures were auctioned by the city on February 14, 1944, effectively marking the end of the community.[2]

All told, the city acquired over 12,000 acres (49 km2) through purchase and condemnation at a cost of approximately $1 million.[4] The reservoir was completely filled by May 1946 when water topped the dam.[2] The completed facility subsequently became the largest supplier of water to the city upon its official dedication on March 25, 1947.[1][2]

Today the reservoir serves as the Western Virginia Water Authority's primary source of water for 130,000 customers in the Roanoke Valley.[6] Additionally, the Cove is the second largest municipal park in the United States and offers numerous hiking and equestrian trails, connection to the Appalachian Trail and boating opportunities.[7] Remnants of the former community can be seen in the numerous stone foundations that are still visible throughout the present day reserve.[4] Additionally, during times of drought submerged foundations become visible as the shoreline recedes.[8]

See also

References
  1. Kagey, (1988) p. 334.
  2. Staff reporters (July 26, 1998). "Carvins Cove timeline". The Roanoke Times. p. A5.
  3. Kagey, (1988) p. 334–335.
  4. Chittum, Matt; Betty Hayden Snider (July 26, 1998). "Carvins Cove once was a close-knit community". The Roanoke Times. p. A1.
  5. City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation. "Carvins Cove Natural Reserve". Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  6. Western Virginia Water Authority. "Carvins Cove Natural Reserve". Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  7. City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation. "Carvins Cove joins Roanoke Parks and Recreation". Archived from the original on 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  8. Sullivan, Erin (August 1, 1999). "Low water level highlights litter; Carvins Cove shoreline shows long-submerged trash". The Roanoke Times. p. A1.

Bibliography
  • Kagey, Deedie (1988). When Past Is Prologue: A History of Roanoke County. Roanoke County Sesquicentennial Committee, Walsworth Press, Inc.
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