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DuPont purchased more than a plant site when it decided to build a rayon plant in this part of the country.  It also bought a village, resulting in a company-town that was destined to become an important part of this location's history.

Old Hickory, the town was named, in memory of the late President Andrew Jackson whose home, the Hermitage was nearby.  (The village had originally been named Jacksonville.)

For DuPonters who have come to know Old HIckory as a modern village with well-kept homes, attractively landscaped lawns and shady paved streets, it would be hard to visualize the barren, gulley-ridden treeless town of 1923 that greeted the early arriving DuPont engineers who came to prepare for construction of the rayon plant. 

Hastily erected for the powder plant workers, many of the houses and indeed the town must have presented  a depressing appearance.  As told in an article, "Rebirth of Prosperity," in the April 1948 issue of Rayon Yarns:  "The houses themselves were pathetic monuments to the folly of neglect.  Only about 15 percent of them were occupied and most of these were in terrible condition and barely livable.  Porches were falling in and roofs sagging, making it even hazardous to enter many of them.  And then there were the two-story apartment buildings, built when expediency and not beauty was the primary objective."

The streets, with the exception of a concrete road running through the village, were full of ruts and ditches and many were almost impassable.  The old wooden sidewalks were rotting away and the remaining sections were harbors for rats and snakes.

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Much, obviously had to be done and this trail-blazing force of engineers set about hiring carpenters, painters and plumbers to initiate a face-lifting for the village and to make the dwellings livable for future DuPonters.  Much of the plumbing had to be replaced.  The old wallboard was removed and replaced and all other necessary repairs were made, climaxed by a paint job.  Soon after the construction of the plant was started, paving of the streets and laying of concrete sidewalks began.  Several thousand trees were planted, further improving the village's appearance.  

When the improvements were completed the village homes through the 1930s and 1940s were among those most desired by DuPont employees.  There were many advantages in having a company home.  Rent was inexpensive ($12 a month for some homes):  necessary services, such as painting and floor sanding, were provided by DuPont's village service organization: and, in times when many employees did not own a car, houses were within walking distance of the plant.

 

Opening Day Village Swimming Pool - 1946

The services provided by the company "just couldn't be beaten," recalled one former resident.  "The company fire department would even replace a fuse in your fuse box."

After owning and maintaining the Old Hickory village for more than tow decades, the DuPont Company decided in 1946 to sell its residential property.  This was accomplished as part of a redevelopment program which did much to start Old Hickory on its way to becoming the special type of community that residents feel it is today.

Work on the remodeling of houses started in 1948 and was completed in three years.  Work was done by the village service department which grew from a force of 68 employees to over 300, along with several subcontractors.   In total, the company renovated almost 900 dwelling units and then sold them to employees.

In addition almost 500 houses were sold for removal from Old Hickory.  The sight of these homes being hauled away is still recalled by many present day DuPonters.  "There was a period when hardly a day passed without some house passing by the plant," said D.M. Barnette, a longtime employee who retired from Personnel.  "Many went to Madison, although some were taken as far as Gallatin and White House."

In a short time the town's appearance had clearly improved.  Colonial and bungalow homes were added and beautiful brick and frame homes began to occupy once-vacant lots on Jones Circle, Rolling Green, Riverside Road and other new areas.

Many other improvements were accomplished at the same time, and in 1951 DuPont conveyed its public services to the Old Hickory Utility District, a municipal corporation formed by residents of the village.  Among the services were a water system, sewage disposal plant, sewers and a fire hall and equipment.  

Old Hickory retained its close identification with the plant - - and probably always will - - but in no other way did it remain a company town.

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Taken from, "Our Old Hickory Heritage", a DuPont publication. 

 

 

 

 

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