A Note From Sheryl

When I moved to this lake with its Tennessee and Kentucky shores over two and one-half decades ago, different friends and acquaintances commented that some day the lake and area would lose its beauty for me. Wrong! After all this time, it not only holds that breathtaking beauty but it has now faced me two-fold.

Darren asked me to give him a little “push” to get him motivated on this project, but I believe the tide has turned as he has gotten me enthused. Now, we would like to inspire you.

Come along with Darren to the river days and vast pasture lands of our ancestors and friends we never knew. He will tell his stories and views of what lies beneath these pristine waters of today, and he will let you envision the totally changed environment and surroundings of present day.

Maybe you can compare “then to now” and determine for yourself where the real beauty lies. As you read along, ask yourself if you would rather have been drawn to this area before the lake was formed and endure the hardships of our early settlers or just simply enjoy the Dale Hollow Lake of present and the future it holds for our loved ones? It has been and will always be a remarkable place to remember and visit.

So, with that said, come along with the Gravedigger as he blends present day stories and pictures with their historical past. He will bring forth this great history of yesterday, revive it, and unfold it into the way we see it today.

By compiling this book, I can only hope we can “ move” you as much as it has touched both of us. Enjoy.

Thank you, Darren, for the love and encouragement you have shown me. ~

Sheryl Shell

(The Gravedigger’s Mom)

2008

A Note from Darren

I never wanted to be a historian. I never wanted to be an author. In fact, for years, about all I really wanted out of life was to live and work and play on Dale Hollow Lake. And that, my friends, I have done in multitudes. I work hard, play hard, and love this lake like no other place in this world. I have been to other lakes around the country and have truly enjoyed what they have to offer. But those lakes aren’t Dale Hollow. For me, this one is it. And by the grace of God and the love of my family and friends, I have been able to live my life on this wonderful body of water for decades. These shores have changed me—they’ve sparked my interest down to the minutest of details of age-old history here. I can talk for hours about the old buildings and people, the huge bridges and cemeteries, things that existed here before me. The smallest of artifacts from the old Obey River Valley enthuses me to no end.

And then one day, someone suggested I write some of this stuff down. I then realized that I should have paid much closer attention to my writing classes in school. Sometimes spell-check on my computer can’t even recognize the words I try to spell. But thanks to some wonderful proofreaders, I’m able to tell the cool stories that happened way back in yesteryear…right here on the Dale.

A few years ago, I wrote my first Dale Hollow story. I’ve now compiled numerous books and countless articles in newspapers and different publications around the area. I give tours of the campgrounds, telling history through the fictional eyes of an “old gravedigger” from the lake-building era.

This book is a compilation of my articles and stories from the past couple of years. Some of these stories overlap my other books, just as history overlaps itself in many ways. I hope that through these stories, you can come to love this fantastic reservoir with the same love we have for it. I’ve been told I have a unique set of eyes. I see the water of the present—and the history of yesterday…and I want to share it all. With my mother’s heart-felt help, together we will try to unfurl history and enrichen the present…all right here on Dale Hollow. Having said that, one might think I’m a Momma’s-boy. Well, dang-it…we’ve hiked the trails, swam the shores, crawled the caves, and just about everything this ol’ lake has to offer. So if that makes me a Momma’s-boy, then I guess I am. And if you don’t like it…I’m tellin’ Mom. You’ll be in serious TROUBLE!

Thanks to all of you that have taken time to say such kind words about my (our) stories. Thank you for your interest in my favorite place on earth. ‘Cause, this old Gravedigger loves what he does. And even though I never really wanted to be—I think I’ve become a historian, and maybe even an author…and I guess the rest is history.

I’d like to express my gratitude to those authors that have donated articles to enhance this book. Mr. Mark Willis, Mr. Andy Mitchell of Mitchell Media, Mr. Jesse Walton and mother, Lori of Lake Times News, Terry and Andrea Burkhardt of Dale Hollow Marketing Group, Mr. Thomas Weaver of the Dale Hollow Horizon, Mr. Tom Weir, and also the staff of the Clinton County News—I thank you all for your generous help. My publishers at Fideli have been sweetheart ladies to work with—thanks. I have a couple hundred other people to thank on this project, but I’ll do it in person rather than here. That way I can do it with a hug. But to my mother I owe my greatest thanks. This book would not have happened without her great effort and love—and that whole “raising me” thing. She and Dad are the best. I love you

both. ~

Best Regards to all,

Darren, The Gravedigger