Kelly Dam Disaster

Kelly Dam Disaster (HM174G)

Location: Toccoa, GA 30577 Stephens County
Buy Georgia State flags at Flagstore.com!
Country: United States of America
Buy United States of America flags at Flagstore.com!

N 34° 35.733', W 83° 21.617'

  • 0 likes
  • 0 check ins
  • 0 favorites
  • 429 views
Inscription
On the morning of Nov. 6, 1977, the dam holding back the lake above the falls broke. The forty acres of water surged down over the falls, through the park, down the valley through the campus, leaving in its wake 39 dead and 60 injured. All of the dead and injured were connected in some way with Toccoa Falls College. When the tragedy occurred, thousands of people from all over the world rose to the aid of the college and surrounding community. Over three million dollars in public and private gifts and grants, and thousands of hours of volunteer labor made recovery possible.

As is true here in the park, recovery is not complete, but is progressing.

Toccoa Falls College began in 1907 in Golden Valley, North Carolina. In 1911, after purchasing Haddock Inn and 100 acres of property including the 186 foot high Toccoa Falls, Dr. Richard A. Forrest, president and founder, moved the school to the present campus. In 1975, the board of trustees changed the name from Toccoa Falls Institute to Toccoa Falls College.

The college is dedicated to a single purpose, glorifying God through the training of Christian young people to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and his church. For over seventy years, the school has maintained this original goal. In carrying out this purpose, the college has enjoyed a close fellowship with many evangelical churches and mission societies. Today graduates of Toccoa Falls College serve in over fifty countries of the world and most of the United States. The sun never sets on the alumni of Toccoa Falls College.

On day you will walk the trails of the park or along the stream through campus and will find the recovery has been completed. It will be possible because of the assistance given by thousands of private individuals, the United States government, the State of Georgia, and County of Stephens, and the City of Toccoa. Churches, volunteer agencies, schools, and industries and businesses by the literal hundreds have rendered aid. To all these, Toccoa Falls College says, "Thanks."

The college continues and recovery is possible because of a gracious God. This school is "a tree of the planting of the Lord." It has been tried by fire and water but with his help it will continue to have an ever increasing ministry to the world.
Details
HM NumberHM174G
Tags
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Saturday, September 6th, 2014 at 10:59pm PDT -07:00
Pictures
Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.
Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)17S E 283543 N 3830724
Decimal Degrees34.59555000, -83.36028333
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 34° 35.733', W 83° 21.617'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds34° 35' 43.98" N, 83° 21' 37.02" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)706
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 23 Memorial Terrace, Toccoa GA 30577, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.

Check Ins  check in   |    all

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.

Comments 0 comments

Maintenance Issues
  1. Is this marker part of a series?
  2. What historical period does the marker represent?
  3. What historical place does the marker represent?
  4. What type of marker is it?
  5. What class is the marker?
  6. What style is the marker?
  7. Does the marker have a number?
  8. What year was the marker erected?
  9. Who or what organization placed the marker?
  10. This marker needs at least one picture.
  11. Can this marker be seen from the road?
  12. Is the marker in the median?