Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

An appointment for research is required. All materials in the collection are available for research. No interlibrary loan.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Edmondson Electric Company Collection, Appalachian Collection, McConnell Library, Radford University, Radford, VA. Edmondson Electric Company Collection , Accession # AC 030, University Archives, McConnell Library, Radford University

Acquisition Information

Accruals

Additional accruals are not expected.

Custodial History

This collection was found with the Virginia Iron Coal and Coke Collection. It is not known if these ledger books were originally part of this collection.

Processing Information

Processed by David Atkins, Spring 2013.

Biographical Information

The Edmondson Electric Company was formed by the Edmondson brothers and was located in Meadowview, VA. The Virginia State Corporation Commission issued the company's charter, 11482, on January 6, 1914. The first company president was E.H. Edmondson and S.W. Edmondson served as company secretary. Shortly after being issued its charter the company began construction of the Edmondson Dam on the Middle Fork of the Holston River, not far from Emory, VA. Upon completion the dam was 30 feet tall, 36 feet wide at its base, and 200 feet long. The dam served as the company's hydroelectric facilty starting in 1921, with a maximum capacity of 2000 horsepower and a minumum of 1000 horsepower. The Edmondson's hydroelectric operation supplied the towns of Chilhowie, Meadowview, Emory, Glade Spring, and Abingdon with electricity. The dam formed a small lake that served as a swimming and fishing hole for locals. Lake Pocahontas Camp was built on the lake's edge and offered a mountain retreat to young boys and girls in the mid 1920's. The dam and hydroelectric plant operated until 1963, when it was closed due to maintenance issues. It remained unused until it was partially demolished in 1982. Today the dam still spans the Middle Fork of the Holston River at a height of approximately 14 feet.

Scope and Content

The Edmondson Electric Company Collection contains seven ledger books with company financial records dating from 1914 to 1934. The ledgers list open and closed accounts the company had with local residents and businesses, as well as payroll acounts and employee records are listed. There are daily and yearly expense reports and journal entries within the ledgers. Financial records and expenses of the dam construction are also listed in the ledger books.

Arrangement

Box 1 contains ledger books 1-2

Box 2 contains ledger books 3-5

Box 3 contains ledger books 6-7

Box 1: Edmonson Electric Company Ledger Books

Box 2: Edmonson Electric Company Ledger Books

Box 3: Edmonson Electric Company Ledger Books