The Glenville Initiative

Written By: Carole Adams | Issue: 2016/06 - June

Glenville has an intriguing history based on the story of the building of the dam that forms Lake Glenville.

 It’s well worth the fascinating five-mile drive north on Highway 107 to discover Glenville, the lake and the village. As you round one of those mountain road curves, the best eye candy in Jackson County pops into view. There in full panorama sparkle the waters of Lake Glenville the highest elevation lake east of the Mississippi and designated a high water-quality lake. Known as “the Jewel of Jackson County,” Lake Glenville’s wooded shoreline is dotted with some of the Cashiers Valley’s most spectacular homes while the waters provide recreation for fisherman, boaters, kayakers and even beach lovers thanks to the Pines Recreation Area built a year ago by lake owner Duke Energy. 

A day at or on the lake is possible with pontoons, floats, rafts, fishing equipment and all sorts of water toys and gear even personal water craft are available for rent from waterfront marina businesses.

What’s the story? Old Glenville was a thriving town chartered in the 1850’s. Homes, cabins, farms, churches, stores, businesses and even a tourist inn created a well-known flourishing community. In 1940-41 the Aluminum Company of America wanted to generate more hydroelectric power necessary for the production of aluminum to support  the World War II effort. Glenville provided the necessary terrain and availability needed. Property was purchased from owners, moved to other locations or demolished totally to build the dam and make room for the power lake.

Contrary to myth there is no town beneath Lake Glenville. Now electricity generated from the lake is a source of electric power throughout the nation. Originally named Thorpe Lake, the name was officially changed to Lake Glenville in 2002 as a result of the joint efforts of the Friends of Lake Glenville, the Glenville Community Development Club and Duke Energy.

Old Glenville history and the subsequent development of present day Glenville and its surrounding communities has been extensively researched by members of the Glenville Area Historical Society. The society is the source of Old Glenville and the dam building history portrayed on a history kiosk at the Pines Recreation Area. The GAHS History Museum, located in Glenville Village on Highway 107, is scheduled to open in late July. The museum will contain numerous artifacts, photos, documents and narrations about Old Glenville and present day Glenville, along with historical family and community histories.

Yes, Lake Glenville offers loads of fun for visitors and residents of all ages but a healthy, attractive, safe lake does not happen in a vacuum. Duke Energy policy restricts shoreline boathouses and requires property owners to maintain natural shoreline growth. Friends of Lake Glenville, the largest member organization in the community. Friends was founded over 50 years ago to preserve and protect the lake. Members monitor lake water quality monthly year-round, keep residents well informed about lake issues at monthly breakfast meetings, sponsor the Lake Glenville “Lake Fireworks on the 4th” and support Glenville and lake activities.  

Although the lake and lake views dominate the Glenville Village corridor, businesses and community buildings make up the center of Glenville Village. The Glenville Community Development Club was organized in the 1960’s when the building was gifted to members from the Farmers Co-op Market. Now a complete façade renovation of the CDC is under way to match previous interior upgrades to the club’s event space. A highly successful Thrift Shop is housed in the CDC building while the upper level hosts monthly potluck suppers, meetings and is rented for weddings, reunions and events. Proceeds from the shop and rentals are used to fund local student scholarships, aid to residents in need and contributions to fire and rescue services. 

Next door to the CDC, the Jimmy Dillard VFW Post has already undergone a face lift and continues to be a busy place for military veterans throughout the year. Vets gather at the post most Friday evenings, provide flag ceremonies for groups, host in-season bingo nights and organize services on many national holidays.

The Glenville Initiative, founded three years ago, bands community organizations and businesses together to enhance the visual image of the Glenville Highway 107 corridor while maintaining the history and mountain ambiance.  With committees dedicated to roadside landscaping, establishing highway safety and development of additional service businesses, the GI spun-off Glenville Community, a fund to raise money for financial need plans throughout the community. The sale of monogrammed pavers for the front entry walk of the CDC building is Glenville Community’s first money-raising project  

Any dialogue about Glenville must include the many churches in the community. Along the Highway 107 corridor are the venerable Hamburg Baptist Church and Glenville Wesleyan Church. Both congregations were located in Old Glenville and moved during the lake clearing. At the Hamburg Church cemetery across the road from the church itself a few of the burial site stones are those moved from the original Old Glenville cemetery. The Church of the Redeemer is a recent newcomer to the village and churches off of the village corridor are located in Big Ridge, Norton and Yellow Mountain.

All about Glenville, the history, events and organizations and activities can be found at www.glenvillecommunity.com.