New marker tells history of Old Hickory Village

George Murphy, left, a worker with the Highway Marking Division of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, prepares to place the state historical marker at Hadley Avenue and Old Hickory Boulevard. Tilting their heads to read the marker are Wilson Stewart, Terry Swartz and Jack Butler.

From The TENNESSEAN
Monday, March 17, 2003
By Suzanne Normand Blackwood
Staff Writer
     OLD HICKORY - Motorists driving on Old Hickory Boulevard will now have an opportunity to stop and read about the history of Old Hickory Village.
     A state historical marker for the 1918 company town built by DuPont was installed recently at the intersection of Hadley Avenue and Old Hickory Boulevard near Hadley Ball Field.
     Jack Butler, president of the Old Hickory Village Neighborhood Association, described it as a "joyous" occasion.
     "A lot of people have worked a long time on this," he said. "I think the whole community is very happy."
     Terry Swartz, chairwoman of the neighborhood association's historic zoning overlay committee, said that the marker had been in the works for more than a year.
     Linda T. Wynn, assistant director for state programs for the Tennessee Historical Commission, said neighborhoods must meet the same requirements as any historic site that qualifies the be included in the state historical marker program.
 

What the marker says     "Old Village was built on 5,600 acres in 1918, when the DuPont Company signed a contract with the Federal Government to operate and construct the world's largest smokeless powder plant. Mason and Hanger Construction Company built 3,876 buildings to house and service the community that consisted of churches, schools, hospitals, shops, a post office, and a theater. The residents paid rent according to their salary. Homes ranged from bungalows to 10-room, three-story houses. Dupont sold the lots and homes in the 1940s."

TDOT workers Benjamin R. Vaughn and George Murphy place the marker where members of the Old Hickory Village Neighborhood Association hope plenty of people will see it.

     "That is to fall within the context of Tennessee history," she said, "The marker program commemorates significant persons, places and events within Tennessee history."
     Typically, candidates for the state historical program must be at least 50 years old, but there are a few exceptions, such as historic events from the modern civil rights movement, Wynn said.
     Applicants for state historical markers also must go through a review process.
     "A markers and monuments committee reviews the text of the marker and makes a recommendation to the commission," Wynn said. "It is the full body of the commission that makes the final decision."
     State historical markers may be paid for in one of three ways, Wynn added. The state may cover half of the cost, leaving the other half up to the sponsor. Or the sponsor may pay the entire amount for the sign, as in the case with the Old Hickory Village Neighborhood Association, which paid for the sign using Metro grant money.
     The neighborhood association received a $5,000 grant from Metro for the purpose of erecting signage for the Village. The association matched half of that amount.
     In the past, the state has provided full funding for state historical markers. But because of the state budget crisis, that has not been feasible in recent years, Wynn said.
     Old Hickory Village also has a "reader board" that allows the neighborhood to post community events. At night, the sign is lighted for visibility.
     "It's kind of a neighborhood entry sign," Swartz said about the reader board. Plans are to add to the sign a banner that says "Old Hickory Village."
     Another Metro historical marker is across from the Old Hickory Post Office, in a grassy area with a gazebo. That area, known as the triangle, "was the center of Village commerce back in the day," Swartz said.
     Swartz said she thinks the new sign is in a good location, making it visible to people passing through.
     "We feel this marker will enhance the awareness of the rich history of Old Hickory Village," she added.
     The Tennessee state historical marker program has been in existence since 1950. Now there are 1,600 markers across the state.
     Anyone interested in having a person, place or event considered for recognition in the state historical marker program may call the commission at 532-1550. ■