By Oscarville: The Black Community Buried Beneath Lake Lanier
The Lost Legacy of Oscarville: A Thriving Black Community Erased and Submerged Beneath Lake Lanier
Long before Lake Lanier became infamous for its unexplained drownings, it was home to Oscarville, Georgia—a flourishing Black community built on resilience, hard work, and success. That is, until it was violently taken away.
In the early 1900s, Oscarville was a thriving town where hundreds of Black families owned farms, operated businesses, and established schools and churches. Despite the harsh realities of the Jim Crow South, its residents built a prosperous and self-sufficient community.
But in 1912, tragedy struck. Racial violence, fueled by false accusations, ignited a campaign of terror. After a white woman named Mae Crow was found assaulted and killed, three Black teenagers were falsely accused and lynched. This led to a wave of brutal attacks by white mobs, who burned homes, lynched residents, and forced families to flee for their lives.
Historians estimate that over 1,000 Black residents were violently displaced. Those who attempted to stay faced relentless intimidation, arson, and deadly attacks. Eventually, Oscarville was erased, its people driven away, and its land stolen or sold under unjust conditions.
Decades later, in the 1950s, the U.S. government flooded the area to create Lake Lanier, permanently submerging what remained of the once-thriving Black community. To this day, remnants of Oscarville—trees, buildings, and even roads—still exist beneath the lake’s surface.
Some believe the lake is haunted by the spirits of those wronged, seeking justice for the atrocities committed. Lake Lanier has since gained a reputation as one of the deadliest lakes in America, with hundreds of drownings and mysterious accidents over the years. Many suspect that its violent past plays a role in its dark history.
One survivor, Chastity Blunt Dawson, believes an ancestor saved her from drowning in Lake Lanier. Her story, along with many others, is featured in the new documentary Surviving Lake Lanier.
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