Oak Ridge in Anderson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

1947

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2017

1. 1947 Marker

Inscription. Although many residents still felt Oak Ridge was a wartime town, they were now encouraged to view their city as possibly becoming a permanent community. This transition was kicked off January 1 when the Manhattan Engineering District handed off control of the government’s atomic energy program to the civilian U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). In April, AEC Chairman David Lilienthal told citizens in a packed high school auditorium that AEC hoped that Oak Ridge would eventually become a “normal” city with home ownership and self-government. The AEC named Len Z. Dolan as the Oak Ridge city manager. Eight people were elected to seats on a new Town Council. The city’s appearance improved as abandoned farm buildings and sub-standard dormitories were town down, and 50,000 trees were planted. The AEC built 450 modern garden apartments. A new country club offered nine holes of golf. A trial justice court replaced the justice of the peace. Citizens voted legalize the sale of whiskey. The year ended with a “Black Christmas” at Clinton National Laboratory because of uncertainties about their reactor programs and its next operating contractor.

Given by the K-25 Federal Credit Union and By the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, June 2005.

Erected 2005 by K-25 Federal Credit Union and

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By the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International, and the Tennessee - Oak Hill - Secret City Commemorative Walk series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1947.

Location. 36° 0.818′ N, 84° 15.474′ W. Marker is in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in Anderson County. It is at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike (Tennessee Route 95) and South Tulane Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Oak Ridge Turnpike. Marker is located at Alvin K. Bissell Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oak Ridge TN 37830, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee

and in Greater Knoxville.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Oak Ridge Hospital (here, next to this marker); 1949 (here, next to this marker); K-25 – The Gaseous Diffusion Plant (here, next to this marker); 1945 (here, next to this marker); Construction Workers (here, next to this marker); X-10 – The Clinton Laboratories (here, next to this marker); 1943 (here, next to this marker); Oak Ridge – Secret City (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Ridge.

Also see . . . Secret City Commemorative Walk. (Submitted on January 4, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2017

2. 1947 Marker

Secret City Commemorative Walk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2017

3. Secret City Commemorative Walk

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2017

4. Secret City Commemorative Walk

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2017

5. Secret City Commemorative Walk

Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2018. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 447 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 4, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.