Early 20th Century Summer Homes
Stayton
As with other communities in Dickson County, Stayton was probably established in the early 1800’s. Saw mills, agriculture and tobacco were the mainstays and provided the necessary resources required by the operation of the Cumberland Iron Works. One of the early roads through Stayton known as the Old Metal Road was so named because of the large amounts of metal hauled over it to the Cumberland River.
Two of the earliest businesses were the Phillips and Son Store and the Nicks-Speight General Merchandise Store. The Stayton Bank and Trust was organized and chartered in 1907. In the early 1900’s, The Tobacco Factory and Warehouse was owned and operated by Henry C. Nicks. Two schools were located in the community, the first known as the Old Friendship School was built about 1899 on a lot near Big Barton’s Creek and still stands today. The last one was organized and built in the early 1940’s.
About the turn of the 20th century, some Nashville residents discovered the area. They built nice summer houses in which to live to escape the heat of the city. For a time Stayton became the place to get away to during the summer months. The small community is largely residential where local residents commute to jobs in the surrounding cities.
