Made In Carolina Podcast

Lolita Rowe
  • 4.0 (1)
  • History

Made in Carolina is a storytelling podcast about the people, places, and things created in North and South Carolina. Each season dives into a different theme — from submerged towns hidden beneath man-made lakes to the foods, drinks, and cultural traditions that define the region. Through local voices, history, and conversation, host Lolita Rowe uncovers the stories that make the Carolinas unique.

Episodes

  1. Lake Norman, Part 2: When the Water Came

    May 7

    Lake Norman, Part 2: When the Water Came

    Before Lake Norman existed, the Catawba River shaped daily life across the Carolina Piedmont. Farms, mill villages, churches, and family communities lined the riverbanks for generations. But in the early twentieth century, that relationship began to change. In this episode of Made in Carolina, we explore the early creation of Lake Norman and the growing influence of Duke Power along the Catawba River. Through oral histories and historical context, we trace how industrial expansion, the Great Flood of 1916, and hydroelectric development reshaped both the landscape and the lives of the people who called the river home. Featuring the voices of historians and community members, this episode examines how communities experienced these changes differently—through opportunity, displacement, loss, and memory. This is the story of when the river began to change. Featured Voices Michael Connor – Family history and community memoryRichard Eller – Mill villages and labor historyChuck McShane – Regional history of Lake Norman and Duke PowerKatie Dickinson – Childhood memories of watching the lake form in Huntersville🌊 In This Episode The Great Flood of 1916The rise of Duke Power along the Catawba RiverHydroelectric expansion across the CarolinasMill villages, farming communities, and displacementWatching Lake Norman take shape in real timeCommunity memory and land loss🎶 Credits Created, produced, and hosted by Lolita Rowe Original music by Sister Sai Additional audio: “steady rain_wind gust 158.wav” by leo153 — Freesound.org (CC0)“Long Way” by Rexlambo — Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 🌐 Resources & Further Reading A History of Lake Norman: Fish Camps to Ferraris by Chuck McShaneNorth Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources — Flood of 1916Duke Energy Illumination: “From Great Flood, New Life for Catawba River” by Akeem FlavorsFrench Broad Adventures — “Remembering the Flood of 1916”💛 Support the Show If this episode resonated with you, consider supporting Made in Carolina by sharing the show, leaving a review, or buying me a coffee. Every bit of support helps sustain independent storytelling, oral history, and community memory projects like this one. ☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/madeincarolinapodcast 🌐 madeincarolinapodcast.com 📧 madeincarolina2022@gmail.com

    37 min
  2. Lake Norman, Part 1: Before the Lake

    Apr 25

    Lake Norman, Part 1: Before the Lake

    Before it became Lake Norman, this landscape was home to farms, mill villages, and generations of families who built their lives along the Catawba River. In this episode of Made in Carolina, we explore what life looked like before the water rose. Through oral histories and historical context, we hear from those who experienced the region firsthand—and from those who have studied its past. From family farms near Caldwell Station to the rise of textile mill communities, this episode traces the rhythms of daily life in the Carolina Piedmont—where land, labor, and community were deeply connected. It also examines how systems like mill villages and company stores shaped everyday experiences, and how broader forces like industrialization and segregation influenced opportunity and survival. This is the world that existed before Lake Norman. And it is the story of what stood to be lost. Featured Voices Michael Connor — Community member sharing family and farm life memoriesRichard Eller — Historian, Catawba CountyChuck McShane — Historian of the Lake Norman regionSound Credits Original Music Music by Sister Sai Sound Effects & Ambient Audio Gentle Waves – Sand Point Beach at Sunrise (6-20-24) by Ambient-X https://freesound.org/s/743340/ License: Attribution 4.0Queen Street Mill, automatic loom starts and runs.wav by phonoflora https://freesound.org/s/201176/ License: Attribution 4.0Queen Street Mill, loom running then stops.wav by phonoflora https://freesound.org/s/201181/ License: Attribution 4.0Crickets, Grasshoppers, Birds.wav by editor_adp https://freesound.org/s/144457/ License: Creative Commons 0Restless Cattle Mooing by NickTayloe https://freesound.org/s/813363/ License: Creative Commons 0Factory whistle / train whistle by kentspublicdomain https://freesound.org/s/477827/ License: Creative Commons 0Baseball Hit and Crowd Cheer by AmishRob https://freesound.org/s/214989/ License: Attribution 4.0Additional Music “Long Way” by Rexlambo Source: SoundCloud License: Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0) Free Download / Stream: https://audiolibrary.com.co/rexlambo/long-way Listen: https://soundcloud.com/rexlambo/rexlambo-long-way Promoted by Audio Library: https://youtu.be/EVvMLfDoJwQImage Credit: North Carolina Route 1006 Bridge, Catawba River, Catawba County, NC. Library of Congress (HAER NC,18-STOPT.V,1–4). No known restrictions.

    40 min
  3. Bonus Episode: The River That Became Lakes

    Apr 9

    Bonus Episode: The River That Became Lakes

    Before Lake Norman, there was a river. A river that shaped the lives of the Catawba Nation and the communities that lived along its banks. In this bonus episode of Made in Carolina, we explore the early vision that transformed the Catawba River into a hydroelectric system—and set the stage for the creation of Lake Norman. This episode is a reflection on change, memory, and the landscapes that exist just beneath the surface. Resources & Credits 🎧 Audio & Music Credits Original Music – Sister Sai Used with permission“Long Way” – Rexlambo Source: SoundCloud License: Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0) Free Download / Stream: https://audiolibrary.com.co/rexlambo/long-way Stream: https://soundcloud.com/rexlambo/rexlambo-long-way Promoted by Audio Library: https://youtu.be/EVvMLfDoJwQ“reenactment3.aif” – alienistcog Source: Freesound License: CC0 (Public Domain)“small lake waves.wav” – Mick_ Source: https://freesound.org/s/705035/ License: CC0 (Public Domain)“NATIVE DRUM LOOP B 16BARS 100BPM.wav” – sandyrb Source: https://freesound.org/s/86653/ License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)📚 Research & Historical Sources Lake Wylie History https://lakewyliecarolinas.com/history/About the Catawba Nation https://www.catawba.com/about-the-nationHistory of Cornelius, North Carolina Provided by the Cornelius Jaycees https://www.lakeandvillage.com/blog/history-cornelius-nc/ 🎙️ Podcast Credits Created, produced, and hosted by Lolita Rowe 🎧 Made in Carolina Podcast 🌐 https://www.madeincarolinapodcast.com/ ☕ Support the show: Buy Me a Coffee Follow, share, and leave a review wherever you listen.

    16 min
  4. Season 1 Returns: Submerged Stories Continue

    Season 1 Trailer

    Season 1 Returns: Submerged Stories Continue

    The story isn’t over. Made in Carolina returns with the second half of Season One: Submerged Towns—beginning with a special bonus episode that sets the stage for what comes next. Before the water came… there were communities, families, and histories rooted in the land. In this next chapter, we move deeper into those stories—centering the people who lived them. 🎧 The bonus episode is coming soon. And with it, the continuation of Season One. Show Notes Created, produced, and hosted by Lolita Rowe Original music by Sister Sai Sound Credits small lake waves.wav by Mick_ — https://freesound.org/s/705035/ License: Creative Commons 0NATIVE DRUM LOOP B 16BARS 100BPM.wav by sandyrb — https://freesound.org/s/86653/ License: Attribution 4.0🌐 https://www.madeincarolinapodcast.com/ Follow Made in Carolina wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this trailer, share it with a friend and help us bring these stories to more listeners.

    2 min
  5. Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, Part 4: Memory and Movement

    11/14/2025

    Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, Part 4: Memory and Movement

    The conclusion of the Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie story Episode 7 explores the aftermath of the flooding of the Santee Basin – how families relocated, rebuilt, and carried memory forward across generations. Through conversations with Dr. Robert Hart and Dr. Kelsey Moore, we explore the migration, federal resettlement programs, church-community rebuilding efforts, and the archival silences that obscure Black lived experiences. From sharecropping and wartime job shifts, to the promise of land and the reality of displacement in the Lowcountry, this story invites listeners to remember what’s often submerged — in water and in memory. Featured Voices: Dr. Thomas Robert Hart, Dr. Kelsey Moore Created, Produced, and Hosted by: Lolita Rowe Original Music: Sister Sai Website: Tiffany Messer-Bass Sound Engineering: Saira Raza Music Credits – Sister Sai “Wanderer” “Cerulean Mood” “Dandelion” 🎧 Sound Effects – Freesound.org (CC0 License) Old Piano – Somber Chords.wav — DeVern Hitting Nail into Wall with Hammer — Kate_is_yellow Samsung Smartphone Hammering — designerschoice Pond Water & Ripples at Chappaquidick Bridge — Filmscore Waves Gently Breaking on Lakeshore — leonelmail Archival Audio – Library of Congress John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip (AFC 1939/001), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress Call to Action: Follow the series and share your reflections using #MadeInCarolinaPodcast Support the show: ☕ buymeacoffee.com/madeincarolina Resources: Archival Image Credit: Many families tore down their houses in the Santee–Cooper Basin to rebuild them outside the flooded area. Near Bonneau, South Carolina. March 1941.Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division:LC-USF34-043456-D [P&P], LOT 1533 (corresponding photographic print).Other Number: E 5985. Related links: Great Migration – National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/migrations/great-migration• The Truth Behind “40 Acres and a Mule” – PBS: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/the-truth-behind-40-acres-and-a-mule/

    29 min
  6. Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, Part 3: The Making of a Waterscape

    11/07/2025

    Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, Part 3: The Making of a Waterscape

    Beneath the still waters of Lake Marion lies the ghost of a forest — and a town named Ferguson. Before the Santee River was dammed, the Santee River Cypress Lumber Company had already stripped much of the swamp bare, cutting and milling its centuries-old cypress. By the time the flood came, the forest that once sheltered the town was already gone. This episode traces how the Santee Basin itself was transformed — not only socially but ecologically. Thousands of acres were cleared, burned, and drowned to make way for progress, yet pieces of that past remain: the stumps of Sparkleberry Swamp, the ghost forests along the coast, and the memories carried by the water. Through the words of historian Dr. Robert Hart, we follow the making of a waterscape — and reflect on what progress submerge. Featured Voice Dr. Robert Hart, historian — on the environmental and coastal consequences of the Santee-Cooper ProjectCredits Created, produced, and hosted by Lolita Rowe Original music by Sister Sai Website by Tiffany Messer Bass, with production support from Saira Raza sound effects/field recordings from Freesound.com S: Lake Waves 3.wav by Benboncan | License: Attribution 4.0 S: forest wind 1111AM 220617_0400.wav by klankbeeld | License: Attribution 4.0 S: Life underwater at Mamori.wav by laurent | License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 S: Forest Birds Crow Wind by atks_ | License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 Songs (all by Sister Sai) - Ossabaw Sunrise (unreleased) - Wanderer (from Extempore) - Dandelion (from First Flight) Archival Image: Cut-over land in the Santee-Cooper Basin.Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division,LC-USF34-043522-D [P&P], LOT 1533 (corresponding photographic print).Other Number: E 173. Call to Action Visit madeincarolinapodcast.com for show notes and more stories waiting under the water. Share your reflections using #MadeInCarolinaPodcast or support the series on Buy Me a Coffee. Next Episode Preview Next time, we follow the families who moved with the water — tracing how they rebuilt, remembered, and redefined home after the flood.

    30 min
  7. Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, Part 2: The Ground Remembers — Echoes of Identity and Faith in the Santee Basin

    10/31/2025

    Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, Part 2: The Ground Remembers — Echoes of Identity and Faith in the Santee Basin

    Across the Santee Basin, communities built lives rooted in land, labor, and belief. In the years after emancipation, Black, Indigenous, and European families shaped intertwined identities through farming, faith, and community — stories that still echo in the cemeteries, churches, and waters that remain. The Ground Remembers explores how race, land, and belief shaped who belonged — and what endures beneath the water. Featured Voices: Dr. Thomas Robert Hart, Dr. Kelsey Moore Created, Produced, and Hosted by: Lolita Rowe Original Music: Sister Sai Sound Credits: Tukinuitto, uitto / Log driving by YleArkisto — freesound.org/s/322618 — CC Attribution 4.0 ST Slide Guitar Blues Riff 2 by juskiddink — freesound.org/s/58493 — CC Attribution 4.0 African Drums at Night by hutsvoid — freesound.org/s/202419 — CC NonCommercial 4.0 Old Piano – Somber Chords by DeVern — freesound.org/s/427307 — CC0 BELLLrg – Cool Spring Baptist Church Recording by Nicholas Judy — TDC Gentle Waves – Sand Point Beach by Ambient-X — freesound.org/s/743340 — CC Attribution 4.0 Image Credit:Negro tenant farmer who had to move out of the Santee-Cooper basin, near Bonneau, South Carolina. LC-USF34-043512-D [P&P], LOT 1533 (corresponding photographic print). Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division — hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8c04944 Call to Action: Follow the series and share your reflections using #MadeInCarolinaPodcast. Support the show: ☕ buymeacoffee.com/madeincarolina

    40 min
  8. Lake Marion & Moultrie, Part 1: Reaching the Port of Charleston

    10/25/2025

    Lake Marion & Moultrie, Part 1: Reaching the Port of Charleston

    Before Lake Marion or Lake Moultrie existed, South Carolina imagined connecting the Santee and Cooper Rivers to the port of Charleston. From the 18th-century Santee Canal to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal vision, this episode follows the long road from dream to dam — a story of ambition, technology, and belief in progress. Historians Dr. Thomas Robert Hart explains how the New Deal reshaped the Lowcountry, while Dr. Kelsey Moore explores how that progress touched African American communities whose lands lay in its path. Featured Voices: Dr. Thomas Robert Hart, Dr. Kelsey Moore Credits Created, produced, and hosted by Lolita Rowe Original music by Sister Sai www.madeincarolinapodcast.com Call to Action Follow the series and share your reflections using #MadeInCarolinaPodcast. Resources & Further Reading The Southern Blues of the Great Flood — Scalawag Magazine https://scalawagmagazine.org/2022/02/southern-blues-music-great-flood/Lakes — South Carolina Encyclopedia https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/lakes/Santee Canal Site Investigations — South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/sc_institute_archeology_and_anthropology/divisions/maritime_research/project_publications/siteinvestigations/santeecanal/Sunken Plantations: The Santee Cooper Project — Douglas Bostick (2008)Jacksonborough Assembly — South Carolina Encyclopedia https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/jacksonborough-assembly/Santee Canal: America’s First Superhighway — SCETV Classics https://www.scetv.org/stories/2025/santee-canal-americas-first-superhighway-etv-classicsAmerican Revolutionary War — Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_WarSound Credits (Freesound.org) Writing_Pen_01.wav — moai15 — CC0 reenactment2.aif — alienistcog — CC0 swamp.mp3 — saha213131 — CC0 2021-09-01-digging-006.wav — ilmari_freesound — CC0 Distant Thunder 3 — Fission9 — CC0 Heavy_Rain_Distant_Thunder.wav — morvei01 — CC0 electric hum less buzz.wav — soundofsong — CC0 light switch.wav — kwahmah_02 — Attribution 3.0 reenactment3.aif — alienistcog — CC0 78end.wav — x_25 — Attribution 3.0 Cajun Lick Full.wav — JustPlainPhillip — Attribution 4.0 waltz_op_posth_a_minor_3.flac — Kardithron — CC0 Old Piano - Somber Chords.wav — DeVern — CC0

    25 min
  9. Lake Murray, Part 3: Memories Beneath the Water

    10/16/2025

    Lake Murray, Part 3: Memories Beneath the Water

    Episode Description As Lake Murray filled, entire communities vanished beneath the rising waters—homes, churches, and hundreds of graves now rest below the surface. In this episode, archivist and storyteller Lolita Rowe explores the remnants of those submerged memories. Featuring reflections from J.R. Fennell of the Lexington County Museum, along with archival voices from Ralph and Herman Wessinger, this story highlights the deep roots, loss, and remembrance preserved beneath the waters of Lake Murray. Featured Voices J.R. Fennell, Lexington County MuseumRalph and Herman Wessinger – Interview on the Lake (May 18, 1979), Lexington County MuseumCredits Created, produced, and hosted by Lolita Rowe Original music by Sister Sai Archival audio courtesy of the Lexington County Museum Special thanks to J.R. Fennell and the Lexington County Museum. Website maintained by Tiffany Messer Bass. Special Thanks to my Mom, Brenda Rowe. Thanks for listening to all my iterations of this and my many podcast scripts. ☕ Support the show: Buy Me a Coffee Like, share, and follow for more on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram Website: Made in Carolina Podcast Sound Credits Old Piano – Somber Chords.wav by DeVern — CC 0marching_snare_with_reverb.wav by waldschrat1510 — CC 0B-25s Taking Off by Fight2FlyPhoto — CC BY 3.0Gentle Waves – Sand Point Beach At Sunrise 6-20-24 by Ambient-X — CC BY 4.0Cello created by Lolita Rowe in GarageBand.Music by Sister SaiResources & Further Reading Cemeteries Beneath Lake Murray Holding Lexington History Honored on Land with Memorials – Catharine Barone, Lexington Chronicle, July 29, 2025History of Lake MurrayRemembering the Columbia Army Air Base – Margaret D., Richland Library Blog, November 9, 2022Southern Museum of Flight

    32 min
  10. Lake Murray, Part 2: Building the Lake

    10/09/2025

    Lake Murray, Part 2: Building the Lake

    Episode 2 – Building the Lake Season 1: Submerged Towns Beneath Lake Murray lies a story of labor, endurance, and transformation. Episode 2 uncovers how thousands of workers—Black, white, immigrant, and Indigenous—built one of the South’s largest man-made lakes. Through archival footage, oral histories, and expert insight, we reveal the human cost, progress, and memory tied to the creation of the Saluda Dam. Featuring J.R. Fennell of the Lexington County Museum, Jane Guignard Curry from the Walker Local and Family History Center, and oral histories from Ralph and Herman Wessinger. 🎧 Created, produced, and hosted by Lolita Rowe Original music by Sister Sai Archival audio courtesy of the University of South Carolina Moving Image Research Collections Special thanks to J.R. Fennell, the Lexington County Museum, and the Walker Local and Family History Center at Richland Library Website maintained by Tiffany Messer Bass ☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/madeincarolinapodcast 📚 Research & Archives: Gandy Dancers (1994), Folkstreams – folkstreams.net/films/gandy-dancers Wikipedia – “Gandy Dancer” (Sept 2025) – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandy_dancer Lake Murray Dam – Outtakes (1929) Fox Movietone News Collection, USC MIRC https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/MVTN/id/6132/rec/1 Oral History with Jane Guignard Curry – localhistory.richlandlibrary.com/digital/collection/p16817coll19 Ralph & Herman Wessinger Interview (1979), Lexington County Museum 🌊 Sound Credits: Bigvegie, bitlab_coop, visualasylum, kyles, dobroide, Ambient-X (via Freesound.org) 🗓️ Coming Next: The final chapter of Lake Murray explores what lies beneath the water today and the military mysteries that still rest below the surface. 🎧 New episodes drop every Thursday.

    31 min
  11. Lake Murray, Part 1: The Land Before the Lake

    10/02/2025

    Lake Murray, Part 1: The Land Before the Lake

    Before Lake Murray ever existed, this land was home to thriving communities that would soon face upheaval as the dam project began. In this first episode of our Submerged Towns mini-series, Lolita Rowe is joined by J.R. Fennel to explore the lives, work, and faith that shaped the communities which disappeared beneath the waters of Lake Murray. ✨ Episode Credits Host & Producer: Lolita RoweGuest: J.R. Fennel, Director of the Lexington County MuseumTheme & Original Music: Sister Sai — sistersai.bandcamp.comAdditional Sound Effects: sourced from Freesound, used under Creative Commons licenses (full attributions below). 🎧 Sound Effect Attributions (Freesound) BELLLrg-Samsung Galaxy Smartphone, CU_Cool Spring Baptist Church, Ringing, Pulley Squeaks_TDC — by designerschoice — link — License: Creative Commons 0river church bells 8pm 210626_0299.mp3 — by klankbeeld — link — License: Attribution 4.020171029_calm.morning.wav — by dobroide — link — License: Attribution 4.0Gentle Waves - Sand Point Beach At Sunrise 6-20-24 — by Ambient-X — link — License: Attribution 4.0 💙 Support the Podcast Made in Carolina is an independent project. If you’d like to support the show, you can buy me a coffee to help me keep bringing these Carolina stories to life. 🔗 Stay Connected Facebook: Made in Carolina PodcastInstagram: @madeincarolinapodcastTikTok: @madeincarolinapodcastYouTube: @madeincarolinapodcastEmail: madeincarolina2022@gmail.com

    20 min
  12. Introducing Made in Carolina

    Season 1 Trailer

    Introducing Made in Carolina

    A sneak peek at Season One: Submerged Towns, where we uncover the stories of communities lost beneath engineered lakes across the Carolinas. This episode includes the sound Gentle Waves – Sand Point Beach At Sunrise 6-20-24 by Ambient-X, available on Freesound and licensed under CC BY 4.0.

    1 min

Trailers

About

Made in Carolina is a storytelling podcast about the people, places, and things created in North and South Carolina. Each season dives into a different theme — from submerged towns hidden beneath man-made lakes to the foods, drinks, and cultural traditions that define the region. Through local voices, history, and conversation, host Lolita Rowe uncovers the stories that make the Carolinas unique.

Information

  • Creator
    Lolita Rowe
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lolita Rowe
  • Show Website
    Made In Carolina Podcast