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| plant_commission = 1964
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Revision as of 03:19, 4 May 2012

Greers Ferry Dam
Greers Ferry Dam in Cleburne County, Arkansas
Greers Ferry Dam is located in Arkansas
Greers Ferry Dam
Location of Greers Ferry Dam in Arkansas
CountryUnited States
StatusOperational
Construction began1959 (1959)
Construction cost$46.5 million
Power Station
Commission date1964
TypeConventional

Greers Ferry Dam is a dam on the Little Red River in Cleburne County in the U.S. state of Arkansas. It impounds Greers Ferry Lake. The dam is located north of Little Rock.

Building the dam

Construction of the dam began in March 1959 and was completed in December 1962. The lake serves the Heber Springs area flood control, and is a site for recreation and power generation. When construction began on the dam in 1956, hundreds of workers showed up looking for work. The newly-hired workers then rented empty houses next to the construction site, and workers were even building their own homes next to the soon-to-be lake. Once all the workers arrived, people and business owners saw an opportunity in this construction and built motels, shops, and stores next to the construction site so workers would have a place to shop and relax. Farmers also felt the benefit of the construction, as work on the lake created demand for livestock and agriculture.

Dedication

After completion, the lake was dedicated on October 3, 1963 by John F. Kennedy.[3] The trip was his last major public appearance before his fateful trip to Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, where he was assassinated. This event marks the only time a sitting president has visited Cleburne County. In his remarks in Heber Springs, Kennedy explained that the Greers Ferry project and others like it were investments in Arkansas and the nation's future. He was right - after the lake filled, tourism boomed, many businesses reopened, and Greers Ferry Lake became one of Arkansas' leading destinations. Today, many resort communities dot the shores of Greers Ferry Lake.

References

  1. ^ "Greers Ferry Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2006-05-09.
  2. ^ "Greers Ferry Dam, A project of the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers" (Document). Heber Springs Chamber of Commerce. October 3, 1963. p. 1. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  3. ^ "Remarks in Heber Springs, Arkansas, at the Dedication of Greers Ferry Dam". The American Presidency Project. October 3, 1963. Retrieved August 2, 2011.

See also