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Dismal Swamp 1800s

1802     William Farange builds first hostelry in Camden County, N.C.

1803     Thomas Moore wrote “THE LAKE OF THE DISMAL SWAMP”

1805     Dismal Swamp Canal began limited through navigation for flat boats

1810     Jericho Canal completed

1812     Feeder Ditch completed

1814     First recorded passage of a vessel other than a shingle flat

1818     President James Monroe visited the Dismal Swamp

1819     First Lottery held to raise funds for improving the Canal

1820     Second Lottery held

1822     Cross Canal completed

1823     First passage of completely loaded schooner “Rebecca Edwards”

1825     Erie Canal completed

1826     U.S. Congress purchased 600 shares of Dismal Swamp Company

1826     Dismal Swamp Canal enlarged as a shoal draft ship canal

1829     Third Lottery held

1829     Lake Drummond Hotel built

1829     President Andrew Jackson visited the Dismal Swamp Canal

1829     Federal Government purchased 200 additional shares of stock

1830     “Lady of the Lake” first steamer designed to ply the canal

1830     North West Canal completed

1842     Moses Grandy, a former Camden County slave, dictates his autobiography in London.

1856     Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp is published.



1862     Confederate troops prevented the destruction of the Dismal Swamp Canal Locks

1867     State of Virginia’s 600 share-holdings sold at auction

1871      North West Canal closed by dam built to conserve water

1878     Congress sold its shares in the Dismal Swamp Canal

1888     Last sale of lumber harvested from the Dismal Swamp

1890     Emma K – Dismal Swamp’s favorite vessel – was built

1899     Dismal Swamp Canal enlarged in substantially its present form

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