History Alcoa, Tennessee

1 history

1.1 company town
1.2 great depression , world war ii
1.3 modern alcoa

history
early company town

shortly after pittsburgh reduction company changed name aluminum company of america in 1907, company began investigating possibility of establishing large smelting operation in east tennessee. hydroelectric potential of little tennessee river, exits mountains 20 miles (32 km) southwest of alcoa, 1 of primary incentives, company s aluminum smelting operation require massive amounts of electricity. in 1910, company established base camp @ known calderwood, known alcoa , , known such until name reapplied company s operations in north maryville few years later.

the company considered several potential plant sites in knoxville, etowah, , monroe county, chose north maryville due in part influence of maryville mayor samuel everett (1864−1941). 1914, company had completed initial purchase of 700 acres (280 ha) in north maryville, , had initiated construction of smelting plant , 150 houses company employees. alcoa s chief engineer edwin fickes , hydraulic engineer robert ewald drew plans town house plant s workers. town design called acquisition of 7,500 acres (3,000 ha), , included 4 sections— vose , springbrook in north (around springbrook park) , bassel , hall in south (around south plant). hall, named inventor of aluminum electrolytic process, segregated community plant s african-american workers. oldfield, small community between planned town , maryville, later annexed city of alcoa.

world war brought spike in demand aluminum, , company expanded north maryville operations. in 1919, rolling mill (now west plant) completed, , company purchased knoxville power company little tennessee valley holdings. same year, company s town officially incorporated alcoa . c.l. babcock town s first mayor, , victor hultquist first city manager. hultquist, alcoa s superintendent of construction, remained city manager until 1948, , oversaw of town s development. in 1920, alcoa had population of 3,358 people living in 700 houses.

the great depression , world war ii

early alcoa classic company town , company maintaining paternalistic relationship city. city s welfare wholly dependent upon company s fortunes. presented problem company, feared workforce leave jobs elsewhere during times of low production. thus, during great depression, company maintained steady production levels in spite of lack of demand aluminum. managers sought cut workers hours— @ 1 point dropped 30 hours per week— rather slash jobs. end of decade, company had stockpiled 42,000 tons of aluminum.

the depression (and accompanying new deal legislation) brought increased labor union activity in alcoa. strike in 1934 forcibly ended when hultquist deployed large police force. second strike in 1937 broken in similar fashion, 2 striking workers shot , killed , national guard forced intervene.

world war ii proved immensely profitable alcoa, aluminum needed aircraft construction. production increased 600% during war, , company s alcoa operations workforce swelled 12,000. in 1940s, company built north plant, @ time of completion world s largest plant under single roof.

modern alcoa

after world war ii, city of alcoa became less , less dependent upon parent company. alcoa s public image had suffered due hardline stance toward labor unions, , in response, launched series of public relations initiatives, including donation of land schools, parks, , airport construction. company desegregated facilities during period. in 1950s, company began selling off company housing employees. in 1956, ross walker became first city manager not employed company, , toward end of decade, company had relinquished ownership of city utilities. completion of hall road viaduct in 1940s , continued development of mcghee tyson airport on subsequent decades led commercial expansion , helped city diversify economy.