They say timing is everything, and that even goes for establishing a town. Old Hickory, located in eastern Davidson County, began as an industrial complex and community funded by the federal government and the Dupont Engineering Co. The gunpowder factory Dupont built was a promising venture to serve the World War I effort, and it attracted upwards of 56,000 workers. But with the signing of the armistice just months after the plant’s opening, the demand for munitions dropped, and the Old Hickory Village population dwindled to 500 within a year. Cumberland University professor Tara Mitchell Mielnik will explore the ill-fated “powder city,” weaving in contributions by women, African-Americans and Mexican immigrants. Her research into the architectural history of the village will guide discussions of buildings in other Dupont company towns and the unique architecture preserved in Old Hickory today. SARA LEE BURD
Building Powder City: Old Hickory Village
