Notes:
Data source is the 1990 book, "Moomaw-Mumma-Mumaw-Mumaugh Genealogy" compiled by Robert Austin Moomaw (deceased).
Data source is Beverley Seward Feild Clement. E-mail bfclement@verizon.net
Benjamin Cline Moomaw, Jr. was born in Buena Vista, VA, and died on March 12, 1978. For 37 years, he was active in Covington, VA and Alleghany County in helping the area's economy by securing new industries and other facilities. He was secretary of the Chamber of Commerce from 1924 until 1942 when he left the Covington area to work with the United States Department of Treasury selling war bonds. He retired from that job in 1959 and returned to Covington and assumed his duties as executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce.
Benjamin Clive Moomaw, Jr. descends from Leonard Mumma, born 1695-1700, died 7-1770, who arrived in America on 9-18-1732 from Rotterdam on the Ship Johnson with his wife Juliana and five children. Leonard Mumma's grandson, John Mumma was born 3-2-1750 in Lancaster Co PA. John changed the spelling of his name from Mumma to Moomaw after migrating to near Amsterdam, VA in 1791. John Moomaw and his wife, Anna Barbara Ranck, had 12 children, the first of whom was Christian Moomaw, born 12-16-1774 in Lancaster Co PA. Christian was the great grandfather of Benjamin Cline Moomaw, Jr.
Lake Moomaw, named for Benjamin, came into being as a result of completion of Gathright Dam. Gathright Dam came into existence as a result of the efforts of Benjamin Cline Moomaw, Jr. Moomaw is known as "the Father of the Gathright Dam" in Virginia and national circles.
Gathright Reservoir, as it was originally called, was authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1946. The project suffered several setbacks but initial construction was underway by 1967. In 1978, following the death of Mr. Benjamin Moomaw, the man whose efforts brought the project into the Alleghany Highlands, Congress renamed the area Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw. Construction was completed in 1981.
Lake Moomaw is located 43 miles from the mouth of the Jackson River, 19 miles north of Covington, Virginia. From the dam, the lake extends 12 miles along the Jackson River. At its normal recreational level of 1,582 feet above sea level, the lake covers a surface area of 2,530 acres and has a shoreline of more than 43 miles. Lake Moomaw has been stocked with large mouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, brown trout, and lake run rainbow trout.
Nestled in Virginia's scenic Allegheny mountains, this area provides nearly year-round opportunities for boating, water sports, fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking, sightseeing, hunting and many other activities.
The following excerpt is from Robert Moomaw's book
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Benjamin Cline Moomaw, Jr. (2211967)
Benjamin C. Moomaw was known across Virginia as the "father of the Gathright Dam". Following his death on March 12, 1978, Congress renamed the area Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw. Moomaw was born September 12, 1889 in Buena Vista, VA.
For 37 years, he was active in Covington, VA and Alleghany County in helping the area's economy by securing new industries and other facilities. He was secretary of the Chamber of Commerce from 1924 until 1942 when he left the Covington area to work with the United States Department of Treasury selling war bonds. He retired from that job in 1959 and returned to Covington and assumed his duties as executive vice president of the Chamber. He saw the Gathright Dam project as one more means of improving the economic situation
of the Greater Alleghany Highlands, and promoted its objectives -Flood Control, Water Quality Control, and Recreation.
"Mr. Ben", as he was known to his friends, was a former secretary and past president of the Virginia Folklore Society, a member and chairman of the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Board of Directors, and an elder for more than 50 years of Sinking Springs Presbyterian Church.
In Mr. Ben's own words, "I am interested in the community development that goes with Chamber of Commerce work, particularly that part of it which comes from providing a means for our people to make a living, by making jobs available, and second, by enhancing the quality of that living in helping to provide cultural, educational and recreational facilities for our people. If I live and am still in my present position, I plan to retire when the Gathright Dam is completed." The dam was not completed until 1981.
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