Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Fontana Village with crowd

  • wcu_picturing-5873.jpg
  • This image of a crowd gathered in Fontana Village was taken by “Doc” Kelly Bennett (1890-1974). From 1942-1945, Fontana Village was inhabited by individuals and families from across the United States who were involved with the construction of Fontana Dam, a Tennessee Valley Authority project. Bennett was a prominent pharmacist in Swain County, NC. Owner of the Bryson City Drug Company, Bennett served as alderman and mayor of Bryson City, on the Swain County Board of Education, as well as several terms as NC State Senator and NC State Representative. He participated in numerous other initiatives and organizations. Known as the “Apostle of the Smokies,” Bennett was an instrumental figure in the movement to create the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He was also an avid photographer, skillfully documenting a wide variety of people, places, and events in Swain County and the surrounding area.