by Harmon Jolley
posted June 22, 2008
) Photo by Harmon Jolley Souvenirs of the Provident Lake Club are still in use by the pool. Click to enlarge. |
A review of old maps of the Chattanooga area shows that at one time, you could have enjoyed all of the above, and often found your co-workers enjoying the same things. Several of Chattanooga’s employers once operated recreation properties on Chickamauga Lake for their employees. Most began in the 1940’s after the completion of the Chickamauga Dam.
The following companies were listed as having lake properties on the 1957 Hagen’s Official Map of Hamilton County. I’ve listed them as though one were traveling up river from the Chickamauga Dam.
* Peerless
This employer was once the leading manufacturer of Rossville. One of several jobs which my father had prior to a career in the Chattanooga Fire Department was as a spinner at Peerless Woolen Mills.
The Peerless lake property was on Turkey Foot Road, just upstream from today’s swimming area at Chickamauga Dam. The company also operated a bowing alley and gymnasium in Rossville.
* Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company
The Provident Lake Club was on Glover Road on a wooded peninsula bordering Harrison Bay. A pavilion accommodated large groups, and featured a fireplace, kitchen, and deck. The property also included a swimming pool, boat docks, tennis and basketball courts, and playgrounds.
My first visit to this facility was in the 1960’s for a party of the Gardner class of Centenary Methodist Church. My parents were members of the Sunday School class, which included a few Provident employees.
As a Provident employee, I returned to the Provident lake property quite often from the 1980’s until the mid-1990’s. Our children learned to swim there through lessons offered through the company. They especially liked the kiddie pool. It was downhill from the main swimming pool, and was supplied with water that cascaded over a wall.
The grounds of the Provident lake property were also neatly trimmed and landscaped. It even had a designated area for guests to dispose of their homemade ice cream salt water. I recall that my sister commented during a visit that the Provident facility was nicer than many state parks.
The Provident Lake Club was often the location of departmental outings. Each Easter weekend, the Provident Club Council sponsored an Easter egg hunt for children. It was amazing how quickly that the eggs were all collected after they were strewn on a grassy hillside of the property.
* American National Bank and Trust Company
American National operated a recreation area off Gold Point Circle. This was one of a few lake properties on or near Dallas Bay.
“Building to Last – the Story of the American National Bank and Trust Company” by John Longwith described the American National lake property as follows. “By 1954, apart from medical insurance and a retirement plan, they (the American National employees) had at their disposal a newly-acquired 42-acre lakeside retreat.” The book also mentions that starting in the spring of 1954, American National employees were allowed a full two-day weekend for the first time, and could thus have more time to spend at the lake.
Our church was allowed to hold its Easter sunrise service at the American property several years. If I recall correctly, there was a pavilion with knotty pine paneling, and a kitchen and boat dock.
* Camp Siskin
I assume that this was either related to Siskin Steel, or to the Siskin Rehabilitation Center. It was located near Foster-Hixson Road. If you have information on this property, please send me an e-mail at the address shown at the end of this article.
* Volunteer State Life Insurance
I also recall this property, for I worked at Volunteer prior to Provident. The Volunteer lake property was on the north side of Dallas Bay. Each year, the company hosted a picnic for its employees there.
* Camp Dixie
Dixie Yarns was a leading manufacturer off Lupton Drive. Its Camp Dixie was on the north side of Dallas Bay.
Like the Provident Lake Club, Camp Dixie is known to many Chattanoogans who were not employees of the sponsoring employer. Organizations were allowed to hold events there.
I recall that our church had its summer picnics there, and that we always had a good game of softball on their field. Our youngest son’s Scout troop held its Christmas party there a few years ago.
* Hamilton National Bank, Loveman’s Department Store
Both of these employers were shown as having lake properties off Harrison Bay Pike.
* Miller Brothers Department Store
Miller Brothers, a long-time competitor of Loveman’s, was listed as having property on Bass Bay. I worked at Miller’s in the late 1970’s, but recall no mention of a lake club during orientation.
Over the years, the company lake properties ceased operation. I’m not aware of any of the above that is still in existence as a company recreation center. In their day, they were nice “perks” for employees, and boosted morale. Company lake properties continue to be happy memories for those of us who were able to experience them.
If you have memories of company lake properties, please send me an e-mail at jolleyh@bellsouth.net.
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