Ever wonder, as you drive along I-77 admiring the sun glinting off Lake Norman’s waves, what this area was like before the Cowan’s Ford Dam opened in 1964? Ever ponder what was lost when the Catawba River flooded behind the dam to create Lake Norman, named for Norman Cocke, the former president of Duke Power?

The question of what’s lost when a mighty river is dammed is the topic of “One Foot in Eden” by Ron Rash, this fall’s town wide reading selection by the DavidsonReads committee.

The book focuses on the flooding of the Jocassee Valley in South Carolina, but DavidsonReads committee members hope it will provoke reader interest in the history of Lake Norman. To that end, the committee has organized a visit Saturday to the Duke Energy Explorium to learn more about Lake Norman’s history.

As committee chair Cristina Shaul explained, “One Foot in Eden” takes place in the 1950s in the Carolinas, in a region bought by the “Carolina Power Company,” whose representatives are clearing the land of farmers so that a lake can be formed. A visit to the Explorium is a way to see how that history resonates with the formation of Lake Norman.

"One Foot in Eden," by Ron Rash (Click to buy from Amazon.com)

“This is an event that relates to the book in a tangible way,” said Ms. Shaul.

Explorium special tour

Ms. Shaul encourages anyone interested in the book – whether you’ve read it yet or not – to head to the Energy Explorium Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. The visit is appropriate for all ages – including children. A staff member will provide an introduction to the center and visitors will be able to watch an optional 25-minute movie about the creation of Lake Norman or go on a mile-long nature hike.

The Explorium is located in Huntersville on Rte. 73. Admission is free. A map and hours and more information can be found at the Explorium website.

Second town book

“One Foot in Eden” is the second book selection for DavidsonReads. Last year, the committee chose “The Bridge” by Doug Marlette, which is also set in the Carolinas and focuses on the area’s mill history.

This year’s novel selection tells the story of Sheriff Will Alexander, who is trying to find the suspiciously missing Holland Winchester. As the sheriff heads from his office in Seneca to the hill country of his youth, he confronts a way of life that is about to be lost forever to the power company flooding project.

The author Ron Rash is perhaps better known for his poetry than his fiction, and brings his Appalachian heritage to his writing. “One Foot in Eden” has a lyric tone, with the Dog Star hanging ominously over the scorched land and the planting of a dogwood tree taking on symbolic meaning. Mr. Rash uses five different perspectives to tell the story, which builds in suspense and has an unexpected conclusion. To learn more about the author, click on an interview with him by Southern Scribe.

The DavidsonReads committee has planned a number of different ways to connect readers to the book. Besides Saturday’s tour of the Explorium, the committee has also scheduled lectures on Native America culture (to tie into the book’s reflection on the Native American stories about “The Valley of the Lost” which is today’s Jocassee) and on naturopathic medicine (to connect with the Widow Glendower, who offers medicinal herbs to some of the book characters, to various success). The committee has also invited Mr. Rash to come to Davidson to speak about his book and sign autographs.

DavidsonREADS events:
(Events will be held at the Davidson Public Library unless otherwise indicated)

• Saturday, Aug. 23, 2:00 p.m. – Family Day at the Duke Energy Explorium in Huntersville. Meet at the Explorium on Highway 73. Take a hike on the nature trail by the lake.
• Tuesday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m. – Book Discussion led by local writer Susan Lawson
• Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m. – Book Discussion, held at The Pines, led by local writer/poet Tony Abbott.
• Thursday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. – Lecture on Native Americans by historian Carol Higham
• Friday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. – Meet the author, Ron Rash
• Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 – 11:30 a.m. – Author book signing at Main Street Books
• Friday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. – Lecture by naturopathic doctor Amy Naylor
• Sunday, Nov. 16, 4-5 p.m. – Finale: Davidson Historical Society presentation on Lake Norman, to be held at Town Hall.

Related articles about DavidsonREADS:

April 30, 2008: DavidsonReads launches Book #2 at Town Day

Nov. 6, 2007: DavidsonReads: A ‘Bridge’ for discussion