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Dyess was established in 1934 as part of the Depression-era New Deal. It functioned originally as an agricultural cooperative project--essentially, a government-sponsored experiment in communism. Its intention was to give a fresh start to poor families ruined by the Depression. Each family was given 20 to 40 acres and a small house for no money down and very low interest. In their first year in town, each family also received a cow, a mule, groceries, and other necessary supplies. The colony's cotton was sold communally, and everyone shared in the profits from this and from the general store and cannery also.
Though most of the colony was farmland, a small part of it is actually built as a small town. The town core is a half-circle, and contains the historic administration center and the Pop Shop. In its earlier years there was also a hospital, a cafe, a beauty parlor, a barbershop, and a school. The rest of the town is pretty typical of a small Delta town, albeit maybe a little more well-maintained.
The former administration building (www.wikipedia.org)
The town remained under government control until the late 1940s, and was incorporated as a a regular municpality in 1964.
However, Dyess's main claim to fame is as the boyhood home of the man in black himself, Mr JR "Johnny" Cash, and his brother Tommy. As a kid, they and my great uncle JP used to run around together. Folks that have folowed country music in the last 10 years might also have heard of Buddy Jewell, who is also from Dyess. A bunch of other minor musicians big in the 50s and 60s rock/country scene in Memphis were also from Dyess.
www.rollingstone.com
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