The Sylvania Plant began production only a few months after the Great Depression began.⁵ The Great Depression brought forward many financial hardships to all Americans. The Sylvania Plant, however, offset this harm in Fredericksburg by offering its citizens stable careers. The Sylvania Plant remained consistent with its success as the plant continued production throughout the early twentieth century.⁶
The timeline above follows the Sylvania Plant through its early years. The timeline highlights its announcement as well as its opening and how successful it was as time progressed. The timeline also highlights a tragedy that struck the Sylvania Plant. Highlighting tragedies such as these bring light to the danger of working in a factory. It also shows the individuals who worked at the plant. The timeline ends by highlighting how the Sylvania Plant has continued to be perceived by those in the local community.
Footnotes:
¹ “Location of New 1,000,000 Plant is Announced,” Peninsula Enterprise, May 25, 1929, Chronicling America. ; The Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Richmond, VA, “National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Sylvania Plant Historic District”, SG100004980. Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
² Lee R. Coleman and Frasia D. Trice, An Economic and Social Survey of Spotsylvania County (University of Virginia, 1934), 49, HathiTrust.
³ “One Dead, 14 Hurt in Factory Blast,” The Evening Star, June 18, 1934, Chronicling America.
⁴ Coleman and Trice, An Economic and Social Survey of Spotsylvania County, 49, HathiTrust.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid.