How does one begin a blog about one’s home town? I can only write about my memories growing up in the small town of Troutman, North Carolina. My parents both
grew up in and around Troutman. When I was a child my grand mother would always say ” Troutmans” when talking about the community. I always thought it odd when she spoke of it in the plural form. When I got older, I found out that the community began as a Blacksmith shop that was owned by a gentleman with the surname of Troutman. The old people would say I am going to Troutman’s which included all the little shops surrounding the blacksmith shop. Later the town dropped the “s” but the old people of the community continued to use the term they had become use to.
My Parents built a small house just out side of the city limits. When I began 1st grade
I started at the brand new building in the fall of 1951. I think my class was probably the 2nd class to go to school at that location. There were a couple of grocery stores, a couple of gas station, some beauty shops, a drug store, barber shops, a post office, a couple of manufacturers, lots of churches, a movie theater, a hardware store and train depot and probably more businesses that I can’t remember. In 1951 after the WWII things were beginning to grow all over including the little village of Troutman. Many schools have been built since then. Duke Power Company began to grow and offer power to more and more people in the more rural areas as well as the growing surrounding cities.
The big power company realized there would be a greater demand for electricity so they began to plan the lake to use the water for generating an abundance of power. It took many years to build the dam, acquire the land that the water would cover, clear the land, and move the homes and villages, and the factories that would be flooded. Lots of the farmers really didn’t understand all that was taking place and later felt they were cheated and were bitter about the whole situation.
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I remember riding around about once a month to see how high the water had risen. It was an exciting time for me. I realized at that young age that this would become a resort of such. The water was almost full be time I graduated in 1963. I know it would be hard for anyone who sees the lake now, to imagine the shores of Lake Norman with only trees and underbrush all up and down the acres of shoreline. The Duke Power State Park was developed and I spent lots of time there with my children during their child hood. In fact my Daughter worked there between High School and college semesters. It’s name was recently changed to Lake Norman State Park.
There has been so much building, and tearing down and rebuilding. So many little deeded lot and leased lot have been sold for great profits. The little cabins have been razed to make room for the many mansions now being built or already built along the shoreline.
There are not many vacant lots available now and their value continues to climb. The southern end of the lake seems to have the best views and deep water. However the north end of the lake still has some beautiful property available and a lower tax rate. It has been quiet an experience watching our small communities of Troutman and Mooresville explode so fast in the last 40 years and especially in the last 20 years. People from all over the United States have found our beautiful Lake Norman to be a great place to live.
Many people from more sophisticated area have found our small town ways a little quaint and provincial but with the growth in Charlotte and Mooresville they are now finding a greater variety of things for entertainment, dining, shopping, and for those who like to shop in New York, the airport is less than an hour away.
Now days there are so many people from other areas of the country. Some of them tell me I am the first person they have met who is a native of the Lake Norman area.
Some people are amazed when I say “I remember before the lake was built”.
Well, before I ramble on all night I will stop.
If you would like to have some specific information about Lake Norman, email me and I will research it for you.
nancy.shoemaker@cbunited.com
Best regards,
Nancy Shoemaker
Realtor®/Broker
Coldwell Banker United
467 River Hwy
Mooresville, NC 28117
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Nancy Shoemaker's Blog- At Lake Norman 