Need for power led ALCOA to Blount

July 17, 2005 Finding less expensive ways to separate aluminum from the other elements to which it was bonded and the resulting need for large amounts of power to operate aluminum smelters led ALCOA to the watershed of the Little Tennessee River in 1910.

more 

Smelting process is still in use today 

July 24, 2005 Essentially the same, less expensive process for smelting aluminum from bauxite co-discovered by Charles Martin Hall in 1886 is in use worldwide today.
more  

Tapoco Lodge is near Cheoah Dam 

July 31, 2005 Tapoco Lodge, just a short walk from Cheoah Dam, is located in a community that reached a peak population in excess of 2,000 during construction of the Cheoah and Santeetlah dams. The Lodge was not built until 1930 and when a road reached the area a year later it was opened to the public. It has 10 guest rooms in the lodge, and five cabins with 15 rooms as well as a dining room that seats 90. In recent years it has been sold by ALCOA but remains open to the public.
more 

In 1910, Alcoa began purchasing land in the Smoky Mountains to start construction of dams that would power its new smelting facility.

The smelter made its first metal in 1913, followed by Tennessee's first fabricating facility, the West Plant, in 1920 (which operated until 1989) and the North Plant fabricating facility in 1942.

The Continuous Cold Mill recently celebrated it's 20 year anniversary in 2007. 
 

 Chilhowee Repair 

Click image to enlarge 

In late 2008, Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI), Tapoco Division, lowered the water level of Chilhowee Reservoir to repair a settlement, or subsidence, on the south embankment of Chilhowee Dam. The reservoir was lowered one to two feet per day until the water level reached a maximum drawdown of about 24 feet.
more 

Tennessee Roots

Click image to enlarge

Read more about the Tennessee Roots in this community.
more