Hazel Creek History
(Compliments of Duane Oliver)
1830….Moses Proctor became the first settler on
the creek
1832….Hiram Proctor is the first white male born
on the creek
1835….Samuel Cable is the second settler on the
creek
1837….Catherine Proctor is the first white female
born on the creek
1830’s..Robert McCampbell prospects fro gold but
finds copper in
Eagle
Creek areas
1850….Dr. Calvin Post
prospects for gold in Eagle and Hazel Creek
areas,
finds copper vein
1864….Moses Proctor
dies; first white person buried on the creek
1869….George Westfeldt
buys land on hazel Creek
1871….Swain County formed
from Macon and Jackson Counties;
Charleston
(Bryson City) is the county seat
1883….Fonzie Hall finds
copper on the creek
1884….Railroad reaches
Bryson City
1875….First Proctor
log church-school built
1880’s.Bradshaw, Jones,
and Medlin establish stores
1886….Proctor post office
established; Jimmy Bradshaw is first
postmaster
1887….Medlin post office
established; Marion Medlin is its first
postmaster
1889….Railroad reaches
Bushnell
1889….Adams comes to
Hazel Creek, buys land and opens mind
1890’s..Log school-churches
built on Cable Branch, Bone Valley,
and
Walkers Creek
1892-1898….Taylor and
Crate log Hazel Creek
1901….Adams mine closes
1903….Ritter Timber
cruisers arrive
1904-1907….Kephart
lives on the creek
1907….Southern
Railway line extended to Hazel Creek and Fontana
1907….Ritter
surveys rail line up the creek
1908….Second
school-church built at Proctor
1910….Ritter
builds town of Proctor
1910….Ritter
starts lumber production
1925-1928….Road
from Bryson City built
1927….Adamswins
lawsuiy, mine not reopened
1927….Eagle
Creek mine opens
1928….Ritter
leaves Hazel Creek
1943….Adams
mine reopens
1944….Fontana
Dam completed and everyone must leave Hazel Creek