Just above Toccoa Falls, a reservoir was created when E. P. Simpson built a rock dam to generate hydroelectric power for the surrounding area. The Toccoa Falls Institute built an earthen dam over the original rock dam in 1940 to increase power generation for its growing student population. After World War II, the reservoir, Kelly Barnes Lake, was expanded again by increasing the size of the dam. After 1957, it was discontinued as a power source but remained open as a recreational site.
After four days of heavy flooding, the dam failed in the early morning hours of 6 November 1977. The resulting torrent of water raced without much warning through the Toccoa Falls College campus, killing 39 people and injuring 60. It destroyed nine houses, 18 mobile homes, numerous college buildings, and many automobiles. It was the largest disaster in Georgia since the 1930s and devastated the community.
A memorial to the victims was placed near the falls by the class of 1986, and another monument is located near the courthouse in Toccoa. The victims were: Karen Anderson, Joey Anderson, Becky Anderson, Gerald “Jerry” Brittin, William L. “Bill” Ehrensberger, Peggy Ann Ehrensberger, Robert Ehrensberger, Kristen Ehrensberger, Kenny Ehrensberger, David Fledderjohann, Mary Jo Ginther, Brenda Ginther, Rhonda Ginther, Nancy Ginther, Tracy Ginther, Cary E. Hanna, Tiep “Tia” Harner, Robby Harner, Christopher Kemp, Cassandra Metzger, Dirksen Metzger, Jeremiah Moore, Ruth Moore, Edward E. Pepsny, Carol Pepsny, Paul Pepsny, Bonnie Pepsny, Eloise J. Pinney, Monroe J. Rupp, Jerry Sproull, Melissa Sproull, Jocelyn Sproull, Joanna Sproull, Richard J. Swires, Jaimee Veer, Mary N. Williams, Betty Jean Woerner, and Deborah Woerner.
I was only 4 or 5 when this occured. I didn’t live anywhere near where the flooding happened, but I do remember this day. There was also a book published about the break. There were lots of pictures of the cars tossed against trees and people poiting to where the water lines were.
I lived in Toccoa from 1973 until 1985.
THe story of that dam is very similar to the private dam built on a fork of the Conemaugh River by Andrew Carnegie and his millionaire pals. Being private, it was rarely if ever inspected. It failed after heavy rainfall, catastrophically, in May 1889 and killed many folks downstream in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.