Before Norris Dam at Loyston City- Loyston was a community in Union County, TN, that was flooded by the waters of Norris Lake, after the completion of Norris Dam in 1935. Established in the early 19th century, John Loy helped it grow into a trading center for local farmers. By the time the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began making plans to build Norris Dam in the early 1930s, Loyston had a population of approximately 70 residents, and consisted of a post office, a school, and several small businesses. Below are photographs taken during this time period.

Filling station at the heart of Loyston, photographed in 1933

Sharp's Station Methodist Episcopal Church in Loyston, photographed in 1933

Oakdale School near Loyston, photographed in 1933

Grinding sorghum cane at the Stooksberry homestead near Andersonville, Tennessee, October 1933

The Stooksberry homestead near Andersonville, Tennessee. This land will be submerged by the Norris Dam Reservoir, October 1933

Boiling down sorghum at the Stooksberry homestead near Andersonville, Tennessee, October 1933

Family group on farm near Andersonville, Tennessee. This family owns two acres and has always lived in the vicinity, October 1933

Boy plowing potato field with a mule and bull-tongue plow on steep slope on J. W. Melton farm on Andersonville, Tennessee, road, October 1933

Lost Creek Cemetery-Lost Creek Cemetery is believed to be one of the oldest cemeteries in Union County and was in Campbell County before Union County was formed.  Many of the headstones date back to the early settlers of Sharps Station in the 1800s.

Old Road way towards the cemetery from the lake.

Many headstones without identification.

My foot next to a headstone.

Henry Rice died at the home of his daughter, Elizabeth Rice Smith, in a cabin called the "loom house" located behind the Lost Creek post office in 1818. Henry Rice was buried with his soldier friend. Henry Rice had 6 boys and 6 girls.

Remains of the Log Church.

Lost Homestead-During the building of Norris Dam, over 152,000 acres of land was purchased, 2,841 families and 5,226 graves were relocated

Remains of a home after Norris Dam built in 1933

Parts of the house underwater

Property next to the house remains.

Stone wall that is still located on property lines.

The Wall in the Woods

 The stone walls were boundaries of old farmsteads and keeping sheep and cows from wandering too far. Horses or oxen pulled the heavier stones from nearby fields on sleds. This wall is located on Wood Duck Island.