From the Powder Plant News
August 1918

Handling New Men

Among the hardest working men at the powder plant are the clerks in the employment office, who are kept in a rush from early to late signing up the mechanics, carpenters, laborers and others seeking employment at the plant. Although "signing up" a man is a comparatively simple task, and requires but a few minutes for each man, there have been so many new men coming to the plant within the past few days that the large force of office men are unable to handle them as fast as they come in. Yesterday, some who went to the plant early in the morning did not get their employment cards until far into the day, and it was late last night before all the applicants had been signed up and assigned to quarters. The employment office was filled again this morning, and the day will be a repetition of yesterday.

The men were sent to the plant from the Nashville office. Under the employment plan now followed, men seeking work report to the Nashville office, and, if it appears to the men in charge that they are suitable for the positions they seek they are given passes, which admit them to the plant. At the plant they are given employment cards, assigned to quarters, vaccinated and assigned to their work.

This time card belonged to Neil Hancock's (Sontara®)great uncle, John "Harvey" Morris. Harvey worked at the Powder Plant, but died from pneumonia later in 1918 on the USS Anthem on his way to combat in WWI.  Neil's grandfather said that when Harvey died, he could see the coast of France. 

The doctors at the first-aid hospital are also leading a strenuous life, for every new man who comes in must be vaccinated, unless he can show a satisfactory scar from a previous vaccination. Sometimes the number vaccinated within a day goes far beyond the thousand mark.

With the rapid influx of new men, almost every bunk house is filled to its capacity, and it is at times hard to find sleeping places for the new comers. About a dozen new bunk houses, each of which will accommodate 200 men are being built to the rear of Virginia mess hall No. 1. Some of these are almost completed and will, within the week, be ready for occupancy.

Note: when construction first began on the Powder plant,  surveyors and supervisors lived in Pullman railroad cars while laborers lived in tents.  Many of the fatalities of the time resulted from men being run over who were sleeping under railcars. 

The men who are now coming to the plant are, for the most part, sent here by government and private employment bureaus throughout this section of the country. Most of them are from western and middle Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois.

This man's photo has become synonymous with the Old Hickory Powder Plant history, but he remains unidentified.  If anyone knows who this is, please let us know.

The Creed Proposed for DuPont Workers in 1918

• I can help America win!
• I am a du Pont man.
• I know that "the man behind the gun" is depending on me.
• I know that "the boys over there" must have my help in order that victory shall come to America and the "world made safe for democracy."
• To the bluejackets and the khaki-clad, I say, "You may fire when ready." We’ll keep the powder coming.
• I know that battles have been lost and armies defeated, because, at a critical time, the ammunition gave out.
• History says that the du Pont powder worker stood back of Perry at Lake Erie in 1812, was with Scott in Mexico in 1846, made possible Appomattox in ’65; and helped tell the story of Santiago and Manila bay in 1898.
• With this glorious heritage of service to American arms in the past, as a du Pont man I can do no less than my very best.
• I know that when I am away from work it means more than if a soldier slept, for I maintain many soldiers. I know that my carefulness here counts "over there."
• I know that carelessness concealed or open, may cost an innocent man’s life.
• I know that those who go make the supreme sacrifice, but that we who stay assume great responsibilities.
• I know that with less men to do all must do more. Even with America’s army overseas, America’s man power must not decrease. I must do all in my power to help.
• I must not waste.
• I, whether manager, superintendent, department head, supervisor, foreman or operator, am doing my bit to put the do in du Pont and help America win this war.