![]() ![]() By 1966, nearly 3,000 customers were served by NRLP. In 1959 the Tate Dam underwent major repairs, the first repairs since the flood of 1940.īlue Ridge Electric began providing additional voltage around 1963, replacing the 1,000 Kilowatt steam turbine generator. The Oak Grove Substation was built and the campus Physical Plant was enlarged. There was tremendous growth within Boone during the next year. A hydro induction generator was installed on campus and produced a 10 percent increase in power efficiency. In December 1954, IBM electronic clocks were installed to control the Tate Dam power plant machinery, replacing the plant operator. Meters were installed throughout Boone during this timeframe. It was located on campus and used 5 tons of coal per day to operate. ![]() The first steam engine began operating in 1926 and produced 180 kilowatts. Also in this year, electric ranges were introduced in Watauga County. In 1925, NRLP was able to utilize the campus Steam Plant as a backup power source. ![]() But the dam was so sturdy that they were unable to remove it entirely. For safety reasons after its retirement, NRLP employees dynamited the Tate Dam, blowing holes in it to let the water through. The Tate Dam remained in operation until 1972. The dam was made of concrete and spanned 26-feet across. There were three 750 kW transformers feeding a 4,160 V transmission line for the potential of a 2250 kW peak load. On October 30, 1924, the Tate Dam and larger generating plant located on the Middle Fork of the New River began service. In 1924, a steam plant with a generator was built on campus to supply additional power to a growing community. Its location on the Middle Fork of the New River would offer a constant water flow, thus providing a consistent electric current to better serve the growing campus and community. During that same time, work began on a new plant and dam (later named the Tate Dam). The machinery was completely destroyed, disrupting electrical service for almost four months. On March 23, 1923, a short circuit caused by an overworked generator caused a fire that gutted the power plant. McKinley Ayers of the Tennessee Eastern Electric Company came to Boone to work on the power plant and soon became the first Superintendent of NRLP. On July 12, 1916, a flood caused extensive damage to the wooden dam and destroyed the machinery, disrupting service for two weeks. There were three employees responsible for maintaining service to the school and six Boone residences. NRLP's system consisted of 15 miles of line run on poles made from local chestnut trees. The plant and dam were located at the lower end of the Edminsten Farm on the South Fork of the New River and their remains can still be seen today on the Greenway Trail. The power plant housed a 75 KW rope driven generator powered by a 10-foot dam built of heavy timbers. David Shearer, an electrical engineer, was hired to supervise the building of the dam, placing of the machinery, construction of the power lines, and maintaining operations. We believe there may have been a dam on Kraut Creek next to campus as early as 1914 however, information to confirm this is not available. ![]() Blanford Barnard Dougherty, then President of Appalachian Training School, commissioned the building of Boone's first electric generating plant. ![]()
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