Russell Burnett, son of George and Clara Russell Burnett and brother to Cila, Clinton and Bertha, grew up in Big Valley. Like so many other families, their 45-acre farm and home was purchased by TVA for $1,100 in 1934 for the Norris Dam project. He is one of those persons who holds no hard feelings against TVA. He says his dad was able to purchase a better farm between Maynardville and Luttrell, the Goldie Tharp farm, for $800–and that TVA even paid his dad for the Sarvis (Serviceberry) trees on his farm.