Although E.I. du Pont and his family effectively served as the face of the du Pont business, none of the business's successes would have been possible without the thousands of workers who lived and labored there over the course of the company's history. Today, visitors to Hagley can still visit the on-site community of houses and buildings where employees of the powder yards resided.
Life at the Workers' Hill Community
The du Pont powder yards and workers' community would have been a busy place in their heyday. The community was designed to offer workers and their families all they needed for daily life. In addition to houses, the community featured a company store, a garden where community members would have grown their own food, a church and Sunday school, and more.
Du Pont company records show that in 1820, the powder mill employed a total of 120 workers whose average monthly wage was $17.73. By 1860, that number had nearly tripled to 345 workers earning $21.32 monthly—a testament to the growth of the company, as well as American industry. In addition to powder yard workers, the company employed a variety of other types of laborers, including millwrights, charcoal makers, farriers, nailmakers, brickmakers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, surveyors, and more.
E.I. du Pont was a skilled businessman, and he knew the importance of practicing discernment when it came to hiring. He adhered to a strict set of rules when it came to taking on employees: for example, he never hired anyone who had worked in other powdermills. In addition, given the dangers of working with gunpowder, du Pont required that employees spend "a considerable time" doing outdoor work before being allowed to work in the mills themselves. Outdoor work might have included things like transporting materials, gathering willow to make charcoal, and other non-skilled labor outside of the powder yard.
Du Pont was also a compassionate employer. As an immigrant himself, he knew what it was like to want (or be forced to seek) a better life elsewhere. The workers' community was full of French, Irish, English, and Italian immigrants. Between 1823 and 1856, a period of time that included the Irish Potato famine, it's estimated that the du Pont company helped more than 1,500 people emigrate from Ireland to the US.
Although workers at the du Pont powder yards enjoyed better treatment than they might have elsewhere, their lives were nonetheless difficult—and often dangerous. Children who were old enough were put to work in the machine shop. And in spite of precautionary measures, explosions still occasionally happened. Over the lifespan of the millworks, 228 people were killed in explosions.
If you've ever wondered about the lives of workers in the 19th century, Hagley is an excellent place to learn. Our knowledgeable staff and volunteers provide immersive experiences, allowing visitors to see these hallmarks of American industrialization in action.
The mission of Hagley Museum and Library is to foster innovation and inspiration through our historical collections. Located on the site of E.I. du Pont's gunpowder works, Hagley's offerings include a library dedicated to the study of American business and technology, a unique patent model collection, and the restored historical mill and workers' community, as well as the home and gardens of the du Pont family. Hagley also hosts a variety of events intended to educate and engage the wider community. Plan your visit today, or consider donating to support our work!