The Lopsided Three: History of Railroading, Logging and Mining in Northeast Tennessee Valleys

The history of railroading, logging, and mining in three northeast Tennessee valleys - the Holston, the Doe, and the Watauga valleys - is chronicled in THE LOPSIDED THREE. The book includes information about four railroads that operated in this area: the Virginia & Southwestern Railway, the Holston Valley Railway, the Laurel Railway, and the Beaver Dam Railroad, as well as their numerous logging and mining operations.

By the late 1920s, the majority of the valuable timber had been harvested, leaving the slopes covered in stumps and prone to erosion. Many of the mines, which rarely turned a profit, had been shuttered. Additionally, much of the railroad trackage had been abandoned.

The Great Depression and the devastating flood of 1940 dealt the final blows, driving the last remaining logging and mining operations out of business and resulting in the demise of the few surviving railroads.

The region's once-thriving industries had come to a gradual and inevitable decline. The stump-covered slopes, abandoned mines, and abandoned rail lines stood as a testament to the region's economic decline.

The book provides a comprehensive historical account of the rise and fall of these industries in the three northeast Tennessee valleys. It offers readers a glimpse into the bygone era of railroading, logging, and mining, and the lasting impact these activities had on the landscape and communities of the region.

The comprehensive and well-researched nature of THE LOPSIDED THREE ensures that it will be a valuable resource for historians, researchers, and anyone interested in the industrial history of northeast Tennessee. The book's engaging narrative and attention to detail make it a compelling read for both academic and general audiences.

Overall, THE LOPSIDED THREE is a poignant and insightful exploration of the region's past, capturing the rise and fall of its once-thriving industries and the lasting impact on the land and its people.

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