Columbia in Maury County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

GrafTech International
⎯⎯⎯
National Carbon Company

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 6, 2020

1. GrafTech International / National Carbon Company Marker

GrafTech side

Inscription. GrafTech Internaitonal Since 1937, GrafTech has called Maury County home, welcoming multiple generations of employees and supporting thousands of families. The site was chosen in part because of the newly formed Tennessee Valley Authority, which would eventually become dependent on the Columbia plant to supply electrodes for TVA's Godwin, Tennessee and Sheffield, Alabama plants. To ensure its longevity, GrafTech continued to expand its innovations to reach new industries, including advanced energy, electronics, chemicals, aerospace and transportation. In 2012, GrafTech celebrated the 75th anniversary of this manufacturing facility.

National Carbon Company GrafTech was a major contributor to our nation's industrial history. The National Carbon Company constructed this plant In 1937 as a carbon electrode manufacturing facility, supplying electrodes to the phosphorus, ferroalloys and calcium carbide industries. During World War II, the U.S. government selected the company to support the allies' efforts. In 1952, the Columbia plant began producing graphite electrodes to serve the growing demand for the electric arc furnace.

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In 1977, this site became the largest electrode plant in the world, supplying the highest quality graphite electrodes for the steel industry.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3D 79.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.

Location. 35° 38.488′ N, 87° 2.628′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Tennessee, in Maury County. It is on Santa Fe Pike 0.1 miles north of U.S. 412, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 791 Santa Fe Pike, Columbia TN 38401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in Greater Nashville.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 6, 2020

2. GrafTech International / National Carbon Company Marker

National Carbon side

the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: "Betty Lee Park" (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Harlan Willis Memorial Bridge (approx. 1.4 miles away); Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 1½ miles away); Thank You (approx. 1.6 miles away); Jane Knox Polk Chapter (approx. 1.6 miles away); The Polk Family (approx. 1.6 miles away); Camille Leonie Herndon (approx. 1.7 miles away); Greenwood (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 6, 2020

3. GrafTech International / National Carbon Company Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 744 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 10, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

GrafTech International⎯⎯⎯National Carbon Company

GrafTech International
⎯⎯⎯
National Carbon Company