OH229 Howard Williams Oral History
Collection Title
Jackson Purchase Oral History Project - Kentucky Dam Project
Loading...
Series Number
OH229
Interviewee
Williams, Howard
Interviewer
Rousey, Eric
Date Interviewed
November 18th, 1995
Processed by
Jessica Davis
Date Processed
November 26th, 2013
Description
2 sound discs (1 hour, 12 minutes)
Abstract
Howard Williams recalls his experiences working for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) during the construction of the Kentucky Dam. The interview contains many detailed stories related to the dam from the late 1930s through the mid 1940s. He describes how the TVA deceived some landowners into purchasing their land, the TVA's hiring process, dangerous working conditions, accidental deaths, salaries, labor unions, working the graveyard shift and various other projects he worked on. He retells a story of a black laborer who found a vein of gold while working on the dam and sealed itin concrete so as the prevent other sfrom discovering the vein.
Biographical/Historical Note
Howard Williams was born in Marshall County, Kentucky on October 9, 1909. He was hired by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as a laborer during the construction of the Kentucky Dam in 1938. He was eventually promoted to a carpenter's apprentice and later as a carpenter. Prior to working for the TVA, he worked several months in Detroit at the Dodge motor plant and briefly on the Paducah flood wall. After the dam was completed he became a building contractor. He served as the Building Trades representative in Paducah for five years. He died on March 12, 2000.
General Information
No user access to original recordings. Use audio user copies, digital derivatives, transcripts, and/or tape indexes. This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Permission for reproduction must be requested from Murray State University.
Subject Headings/Descriptors
Williams, Howard, 1909-2000.
Kentucky Dam (Ky.)
Marshall County (Ky.)
Tennessee Valley Authority. Dams – Kentucky.
Land Between the Lakes (Ky. And Tenn.) – History.
Recommended Citation
Rousey, Eric, "OH229 Howard Williams Oral History" (2025). Kentucky Dam. 39.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/oh-kendam/39
Audio Transcript