Toledo Bend unique among dam construction projects
ETHA plans day-long seminar on history-making lake

The Sabine River was once the dividing line between the orderly east and lawless west.

"In the old days if outlaws could swim the river and get to Texas, they knew they were safe," Dr. Joe Dickerson is fond of telling visitors. He was speaking of East Texas ancestors who settled Jasper and Newton counties in the 1800's.

These days, it would be a long swim from Sabine Parish in Louisiana to the Texas side. In 1961, after more than 10 years of planning, Texas and Louisiana held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Toledo Bend Dam and Reservoir, which was completed and officially dedicated in 1969.

The lake is unique for a number of reasons:

It is the largest man-made body of water in the South; covers 205,00 acres; spans 15 miles at its widest point; has 1,264 miles of shoreline.

The hydroelectric power plant produces an estimated 205 million kilowatt hours annually.

It cost $70 million in 1960's dollars, about $4.5 billion today. It is the only project of its kind built without federal funds; three investor-owned utility companies and the two states jointly financed the construction.

The East Texas Historical Association (ETHA) will celebrate the history, current status, and future of Toledo Bend at an all-day symposium April 12 at The Wesley Center in Jasper.

Speakers include Robert Ammons of Many, LA; Sam Force Collins of Newton; Dr. James Fickle of the University of Memphis; Linda Curtis-Sparks of the Sabine Parish Tourism and Recreation Commission; Donnie Henson and Jerry Clark of the Sabine River Authority of Texas; and Jim Pratt, director of the Sabine River Authority of Louisiana.

Curtis Sparks, Ann Galassi and Dean Scott Beasley are preparing videos, brochures, photo and artifact displays. The symposium will include a tour of the Toledo Bend Dam and observation area.

ETHA is based at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches. For more information, contact the Jasper / Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce at 384-2762.