USA > North Carolina > Gaston County > Gastonia > Hill's Gastonia (Gaston County, N.C.) City Directory [1962] > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143
Art Metal U.S.A.
SPENCER'S, Inc. OFFICE SUPPLIES - EQUIPMENT
257-59 W. Main Av.
Phone UNiversity 5- 2356
RHYNE & SIMMONS OWNERS JENKINS RENEEDLING COMPANY, INC. Reneedling - Card - Screens _ Cylinders INDUSTRIAL SHEET METAL 1410 N. CHESTER ST.
PHONE UN 5-0522 and UN 5-8911
Gastonia MUTUAL SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION SAVINGS AN
ME
EDERA
OF YOUR INVESTMENT
MEMBER
ORGANIZED 1905
INSURED
NK SYSTE
B. CARTER
INC. TEXTILE MACHINERY AND SUPPLIES
226 Linwood Rd., P.O. Box 237- Tels. UNiversity 5-1201 and UNiversity 5-1202
COMPLETE OFFICE PLANNING
"Your Friendly Stationer"
O.G.PENEGAR COMPANY
Office Equipment
Inc. Office Equipment and Supplies Business Machines
174-176 W. FRANKLIN AV.
Tels. 865-1236 865-1237
Cocker Machine & Foundry Company Manufacturers of Textile Machinery
Plant and Office Ranto, N.C. P.O. Box 431 Gastonia, N. C.":
Tel. VAlley 4-356560
D
W E L
S DRUG STORE Inc
Prescriptions Called for And Delivered
Anywhere
Gastonia
DIAL UNiversity 5-2366 FREE DELIVERY SERVICE 611 E Franklin Av
BRYANT ELECTRIC REPAIR COMPANY, INC.
SERVICE
PHONE INWARIN
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS
MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIRS
OANKI
UP TO 110,000
A.
THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
LUX
LIBERTAS
THE COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA PRESENTED BY Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
C971.36 G25h
1962
BEMOL - Molybdenum Lubriconts
BLACK & DECKER - Electrical Tools
BROWN & SHARPE . Precision Tools CARBORUNDUM - Bonded ond Cooted
Abrosives CARMET . Carbide Tools, Blonks ond Inserts
CLARK . Electricol Controls
CLARK - Steom Trops and Volves
CLIPPER - Belt Locing
COLUMBIA - Ropes
CONSOLIDATED KINETICS . Mounting Pods DIXON - Crayons
DODGE . Tronsmission Equipment
DRONSFIELD - Atlas Emery Fillet
FAFNIR - Ball Bearings
FAIRBANKS . Trucks ond Casters
FAIRBANKS-MORSE - Pumps and Motors
FERRY - Cap and Set Screws GAMISCO · Bobbin Enomel GOODYEAR - Industriol Rubber Goods GRABLER - Pipe Fittings HASKELL - Bolts and Nuts HEIN-WERNER -Hydroulic Jacks INGERSOLL RAND - Air Compressors JABSCO - Pumps
ors of Industrial Products
JENKINS . Volves
JOHNS-MANVILLE - Packings
JOHNSON . Bronze Bors ond Bearings
JONES & LAUGHLIN . Steel
LOWELL - Mill Croyon
MARIETTA - Points MIL FORD - Hack and Bond Sow Blodes NICHOLSON - Files
PLEWS - Oilers
PYRENE-CO2 - Fire Extinguishers
REEVES - Tronsmission Equipment RELIANCE - Motors
RIDGE - Pipe Tools ond Wrenches
SOUTHERN - Wood Screws ond Stove Bolts SPAULDING . Fibre Cans and Boxes STANDARD - Cutting Tools STANDARD PRESSED STEEL . Socket
Fosteners ond Shelving
STARRETT . Precision Tools STEPHENSON . Belt Dressing SYLVANIA . Lamps ond Fixtures
UNITED STATES - Ring Trovelers WHEELING - Steel Pipe
WILLIAMS - Wrenches WISS . Sheors ond Snips YALE - Locks ond Hoists
Availability Serviceability Dependability
613 East Franklin Ave.
UNiversity 7-7221
HILL DIRECTORY COMPANY
A
S AGENCY
338 W. Main Av.
Tel. 867 -7286
A
GASTONIA LL SUPPLY CO.
THE GASTONIA
19
GAMISCO 20
MILL
SUPPLY CO
E
INSURANCE
B
COCKER MACHINE & FOUNDRY CO.
MANUFACTURERS OF TEXTILE MACHINERY
FACILITIES INCLUDE: Patterns, Foundry, Machining, Stainless Steel Fabrication and Sheet Metal Work, Assembly and Engineering.
HIGH SPEED WARPER and CREELS for all synthetic and natural fibres HIGH SPEED SIZERS and CREELS for all synthetic and natural fibres CYLINDER and STEAM DRY SPECIAL SIZE BOXES and DYE BOXES, C( BALL WARPING, SINGEING, LINKING, COI INDIGO DYEING and SLASHER
METALLIC YARN WINDERS - AI
This book must not be taken from the Library building.
SPECIAL TEXTILE MACHINERY JOB WORK in foundry, stainless steel machine sh
-.
MANUFACTURERS OF OTHER
Write us for cuts and any desir the above Machinery in which
Plant and Office |
P. O. Box 431, Gastonia
GASTONIA CITY DIRECTORY
Form No. 471
DRUGS
RK B
C
N
IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
N DRUG TORE ؟
EUVER
C
RAINBOW PAINT STORE
E. STUART HARRIS DEAN C. WOOD
New Location 215 E. Franklin Ave.
Exclusive Dealers in DeSoto Paints
DESOTO
1110 premium quality HOUSE PAINT fume & mildew resistant
Wall Paper and Painters' Supplies
FLOOR SANDERS and POLISHERS FOR RENT ALSO PAINT SPRAYS - LADDERS
215 E. Franklin Ave. Tel. 865-2371
HILL'S GASTONIA (GASTON COUNTY, N. C.] CITY DIRECTORY 1962
INCLUDING DALLAS, FLINT MILLS VILLAGES NOS. 1 AND 2, GROVES MILLS VILLAGE, LOWELL, NEW HOPE ACRES, RANLO, SMYRE AND WEST VIEW HEIGHTS
Cantaining an Alphabetical Directary af Business Cancerns and Pri- vate Citizens, a Directary af Hausehalders, Occupants of Office Buildings and Other Business Places, Including a Camplete Street and Avenue Guide, a Numerical Telephane Di- rectary and Much Infarmatian of a Miscellaneaus Character; alsa a
BUYERS' GUIDE
and a Complete
Classified Business Directory
FOR DETAILED CONTENTS SEE INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INDEX
RILico ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICAN
PRICE
Ops
1898
$50.00
IZED
DIRECTORY
PUBLISHERS
HILL DIRECTORY COMPANY, Publishers 2910 W. Clay St., P. O. Box 6874, Richmond 30, Va.
DIRECTORY LIBRARY FOR FREE USE OF PUBLIC AT GASTONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 601 W. FRANKLIN AVE.
Member Association of North American Directory Publishers
Copyright, 1962, by Hill Directory Company
Excerpt from Section 104, Title 17 United States Code Annotated
WILLFUL INFRINGEMENT FOR PROFIT .-- Any person who will- fully and for profit shall infringe any copyright secured by this title, or who shall knowingly and willfully aid or abet such infringement, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment for not exceeding one year or by a fine of not less than $ 100 nor more than $1,000, or both, in the dis- cretion of the court.
ASSOCIATION OF
PRO
RILico
NORTH AMERICAN
ATY
1898
ZEC
DIRECTORY
PUBLISHERS
PUBLISHERS NOTE
The information in this Directory is gathered by an actual canvass and is compiled in a way to insure maximum accuracy.
The publishers cannot and do not guarantee the correctness of all information furnished them nor the complete absence of errors or omissions, hence no responsibility for same can be or is assumed.
The publishers earnestly request the bringing to their attention of any inaccuracy so that it may be corrected in the next edition of the directory.
Hill Directory Company, Publishers
INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INDEX
HILL DIRECTORY COMPANY, publishers of Southeastern Directories (pub- lishers of the Gastonia City Directory since 1934), presents to subscribers and the general public, this, the 1962 edition of the Gastonia City Directory, which also includes Dallas, Flint Mills Villages Nos. 1 and 2, Groves Mills Village, Lowell, New Hope Acres, Ranlo, Smyre and West View Heights. The inclusion of New Hope Acres is new.
Confidence in the growth of Gastonia's industry, population and wealth, and in the advancement of its civic and social activities, will be maintained as sec- tions of this Directory are consulted, for the Directory is a mirror truly re- flecting Gastonia to the world.
The enviable position occupied by HILL'S Directories in the estimation of the public, has been established by rendering the best in Directory service. With an unrivaled organization, and having had the courteous and hearty coop- eration of the business and professional men and residents, the publishers feel that the result of their labors will meet with the approval of every user, and that the Gastonia Directory will fulfill its mission as a source of authentic in- formation pertaining to the community.
Five Major Departments
The five major departments are arranged in the following order: --
I. THE BUYERS' GUIDE constitutes the first major department, printed on goldenrod paper, and contains the advertisements of leading manufacturing, business and professional interests of Gastonia. The advertisements are indexed under headings descriptive of the business represented. This is reference ad- vertising at its best, and merits a survey by all buyers eager to familiarize themselves with sources of supply. In a progressive community like Gastonia, the necessity of having this kind of information immediately available, is ob- vious. General appreciation of this fact is evidenced by the many reference users of this City Directory service.
II. THE CLASSIFIED BUSINESS DIRECTORY is the second major depart- ment, printed on canary paper. This department lists the names of all business and professional concerns in alphabetical order under appropriate headings. This feature constitutes an invaluable and indispensable catalog of the numerous interests of the community. The Directory is the common intermediary between buyer and seller. As such, it plays an important part in the daily activities of the commercial, industrial and professional world. More buyers and sellers meet through the Classified Business Directory than through any other medium.
III. THE ALPHABETICAL LIST OF NAMES of residents and business and professional concerns, is the third major department, printed on white paper. This is the only record in existence that aims to show the name, marital status, occupation and address of each adult resident of Gastonia, and the name, official personnel, nature and address of each firm and corporation in the community.
IV. THE DIRECTORY OF HOUSEHOLDERS, INCLUDING STREET AND AV- ENUE GUIDE is the fourth major department, printed on green paper. In this section the numbered streets are arranged in numerical order, followed by the named streets in alphabetical order; the numbers of the residences and busi- ness concerns are arranged in numerical order under the name of each street, and the names of the householders and concerns are placed opposite the numbers. The names of the intersecting streets appear at their respective crossing points on each street. Special features of this section are the designation of tenant- owned homes and the listing of telephone numbers.
V. THE NUMERICAL TELEPHONE DIRECTORY is the fifth major depart- ment, printed on blue paper.
L. L. IDOL
IV
INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INDEX
Community Publicity
The Directory reflects the achievements and ambitions of the community, depicting in unbiased terms what it has to offer as a place of residence, as a business location, as a manufacturing site and as an educational center. To broadcast this information, the publishers have placed copies of this issue of the Directory in Directory Libraries, where they are readily available for free reference, and serve as perpetual and reliable advertisements of Gastonia and vicinity.
The Gastonia Out-of-Town City Directory Library
Through the courtesy of the publishers of the Gastonia City Directory, a Directory Library is maintained in the offices of the Gastonia Chamber of Com- merce, forfree reference by the general public. This is one of more than 1,000 Directory Libraries installed in the chief cities and towns throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico by members of the Association of North Ameri- can Directory Publishers, under whose supervision the system is operated.
The publishers appreciatively acknowledge the recognition by those pro- gressive business and professional men who have demonstrated their confidence in the City Directory as an advertising medium, with assurance that it will bring a commensurate return.
HILL DIRECTORY COMPANY, Publishers.
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Poge numbers below refer to the Buyers' Guide Section
Page
Able Plating Co . . right top lines and 111 79
Acme Petroleum & Fuel Co Inc. . bottom stencil. right side lines, 67 and
Akers Center Pharmacy Inc
Artistic Memorials Inc. .
Auten Carl W Building Contractor
B & S Machine Co Inc .
left side lines and
Barkley Machine Works
.left side lines and
Beacon The
Belle Chemical Co Inc. back cover, left bottom lines and
Belmont Textile Machinery Co
Bennett Brick & Tile Co
right top cards and
Bradley Flyer & Repair Co .left bottom lines and
Brown-Medlin Drug Store . back lip margin, right side lines and
Brown's Radio & Electric Service.
Bryant Electric Repair Co Inc .
front cover, Insert at Name in
Bryant Supply Co Inc Insert at Bryant Electric Repair Co Inc and
Burrell Melody Center
Caldwell Robert F Insurance Agency.
Caldwell's Drug Store Inc
front cover, right side lines and
Candor Machine Inc.
Carolina Steel Roller Machine Inc
Carothers Funeral Homes Inc .
right top cards, Insert at Name
in Alphabetical Section and 73
Carter Mary Paint Store
right top cards and
Centralized Services Inc .
right top cards and
Citizens National Bank The
front stencil, left top and right bottom
lines, 14 and 15
City Wrecker Service & Garage
10 and
154
Cobb Trucking Co .
.right side lines and
42
Cobb American Service
. right side lines and
123
Cocker Machine & Foundry Co .front cover, left top and right bottom
cards, B, 99 and 128
Cohen's Inc
28
Comer J T & Co left bottom lines and
86
Consolidated Credit Corp left side lines and
96
Cornwell Ernest & Sons Inc right side lines and
31 95
Dixie Concrete Co.
top stencil, right top cards, 39, 50 and
Duke Power Co.
Ferguson Gear Company.
First Federal Savings & Loan Assn right side lines and
121
Franklin Hardware Co right top lines and
Furr's Laundry & Cleaners.
Gaston Body Shop
Gaston Electric Co Inc left side lines and 61 61
Gaston Electric Contractors Inc
left side lines and
Gastonia Belting & Supply Co Inc
148 18
Gastonia Coca-Cola Bottling Co
right side lines and
Gastonia Combed Yarn Division of Botany Cottons Inc. . . right top cards
143 146
Gastonia Floor Sanding & Tile Co
. 43 and 66
Gastonia Glidden Paint Center
left side lines and 109
Gastonia Hearing Aid Service
81
Gastonia Insurance Agency Inc
right top lines and
85
Gastonia Lumber Co . .
right side lires and 21
Gastonia Mill Supply Co The
left bottom lines, A and 148
Gastonia Mutual Savings & Loan Assn.
front cover, left top and right . bottom lines and 122
Gastonia Textile Manufacturing Co Inc right top lines and 144
Gastonia Textile Sheet Metal Works Inc left top cards and 146
. Alphabetical Section and 60 . left bottom lines and 64 104 92 54 126 126
Carter A B Inc .
front cover, right side lines, 102 and 127 108
Cason W H. .
152 2
D & W Leather Products . left side lines and
119 Z 139
First Union National Bank of North Carolina backbone and 16 80
Fulghum James E right top lines and 35 26 10
. and
Gastonia Comber Needling Co .
left top cards and
. left top lines and 52 103 30 124 138 118 24 138 19 125 53 63
VI
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Page
Gastonia United Oil Co Inc. . . Insert at Name in Alphabetical Section and 68 Gibson Die & Stamping Co Inc . right top cards and 98
H & E Tobacco Co. 149
Haas Textile Parts & Machinery Co
left bottom lines and 129 71
Hagan Oil Co
Harrison Realty Co right top cards and
116
Hawkins Neal Companies .left side lines and 151
Hawkins Neal Contractor . left side lines and
Helen's Dress Shop
Henley Paper Co left top lines and
Hill Directory Company
Holland's Hardware & Builders Supply Co right bottom lines, 20 and 35
. left side lines and
4
Homes Inc . .
right top cards and
32 92
Hopper Jim Insurance Agency
Howe Distributing Co Inc
.left top and right bottom lines, 6 and
Ideal Industries Inc .
right bottom lines, tabbed Insert at Name in
. Alphabetical Section and 130
Ideal Machine Shops Inc
left bottom lines, tabbed Insert at Ideal
131
J & J Electric Service . .
right top lines and
Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Co of Greensboro, NC. .. . left bottom lines and 86
Jenkins Cleaners
Jenkins Dairy .left top cards and 45
Jenkins George A Agency Inc
front lip margin and
87
Jenkins Metal Shops Inc .
. left side lines, 100 and 147
John's Toy & Hobby Shop.
Johnson H V & Son of Gastonia Inc left top lines and
left side lines and 78
Kelly R J & Sons Inc .
Kennedy's Rexall Drug Store . left top and right bottom lines and
Kluttz Machine & Foundry Co back cover, left bottom lines, 132 and
133
Kluttz Rings Inc .
back cover, 132 and
133 11
L & S Sales & Service
left top lines and
8
Lee W D & Co
left side lines, Y and 139
36
Lewis Motors Inc of Gastonia left top cards and
11
Lewis Realty & Construction Co
Lewis W D Textile Machinery Co
left side lines and 36 140 42 left top cards and 81
Long Jim Inc .
left side lines and
left bottom lines and
123 140 9
Lytle Buick - Pontiac Inc
.right top lines and
Mann Construction Co
back cover, right side lines and
46
Maxwell Brothers Inc
right side lines and
75 153 66
McClure's Floor Sanding
right bottom lines and
74
McLurd & Babington
left top cards and
29
Moore & Stewart Inc .
left side lines and
12
Morris Jewelry Co Inc.
95 56
Moss Rexall Drugs .
back cover, right top lines and
120
Norris Engineering Co .
17
Norris Supply & Machine Co
84 117
Parker L Jack Realty Co
71
Penegar O G Co Inc . front cover, right top lines and
105
Penner L W Building Contractor
37
Petroleum Transportation Inc
.left side lines and 151
25 62
59
.back cover, right bottom and
83 69
Johnston's Furniture Co . left side lines and 72 55
Leazer's Dock Auto Electric
Lewis Brothers.
Lineberger James R .
Long Ray & Dan Sheet Metal Works
Long Spindle & Machinery Co
left bottom lines, X and 33
Matthews - Belk Co.
McCall Bros Pump & Well Co
McLean & Son Broad Oaks Chapel
left top cards, 93 and 116
Milo Concrete Co
Nolen Concrete Supply Inc. .. back cover, left and right top cards, 40 and Nolen-Smith Concrete Paving Inc .
51
Patterson-Campbell Oil Co
151 28 110
49
Home Appliances Co . .
Howe's T Q Garage Inc
84 7
. Industries in Alphabetical Section and Imperial Chemical Corporation
VII
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Petty Machine Co Inc .
left side lines and
Piedmont Machine Shop Inc
Piedmont Motors Inc
left side lines · · . ·
Quality Cleaners .
Queen's Texaco Service .left side lines and
Rainbow Paint Store. .
Rankin L S & Sons Inc
right top lines and . right side lines and
Rawlings-Lyda Co Inc
left bottom lines and
Rhyne A Leonard Co.
Rhyne M A & Sons Inc.
Rhyne & Simmons.
front cover, left top and right bottom lines and right top lines and
Roach Plating Co
Ro Pat Textile Wood Products
Rosdahl Machinery Riggers & Movers
right top cards and Roseboro William "Bill" Building Contractor
Roy B S & Son Company .
Rudisill Brothers Co Inc.
St Michael's Catholic Church.
Schneider Leon Inc
Sears J C & Sons
right bottom lines and
Seth Lumber Co Inc
Sherrill Manufacturing Co Inc
Shuford J Fred Construction Co.
Smart Shop The. .
Smith Chevrolet Co Inc right bottom lines and
Smith W Z "Bill" Insurance Agency .right top cards and
Smith's Cut Rate Drugs. . Insert at Name in Alphabetical Section and
Southeastern Plating Co Inc.
Spencer Lumber Co Inc . .
back cover, right top lines, 23 and
Spencer's Inc .
front cover, left top lines and right top cards and
Stewart Paul Machine Co Inc
Summerrow Furniture Co.
right top lines, 77 and
Summey Drug Co.
Sunrise Dairy Inc
Superior Bolster Co right top cards and
Textile Parts & Machine Co Inc.
137
Thermo Control Service Inc
right side lines and
Vogue The .
left top cards and
Watson Insurance Agency Inc.
Welding & Industrial Supply Inc
Whisnant Howard Furniture Co Inc.
78
Whitesides & Co
left top lines and
91
Wilson & Minges Co.
. left side lines, 3 and 115
Wilson Transfer Co Inc
left bottom lines and 150
Wix Corporation . . left top cards and 13
Yancey W Harrelson
117
Yarborough & Elrod Inc
114
Young Insurance Agency.
left top lines and
93
Young Mercantile Co Inc.
83
82 89 27 90 152
Todd Insurance Agency
88 57 113 97 107 38 141 94 58 44 142
Stewart J H & Sons
left side lines and 106 45 136 112 149 101 37 141 82 25 47 34 left top cards and 22 145 38 48 13
Page
134 135
59 12 C 70 76 125
Rayfield & Stewart Inc
GASTONIA
"City of Unlimited Opportunity"
(Courtesy of Gastonia Chamber of Commerce)
Location and History
Gastonia is pleasantly and strategically located in the geographical center of the Piedmont Section of the Carolinas. This Piedmont is the section between the Coastal Plain on the east and the mountains on the west; it runs north-east and south-west; its average elevation above sea level is about 800 feet; and it contains the greatest concentration of population and industry in the southeast.
The section which now contains Gastonia and Gaston County was settled by Scotch-Irish and German settlers during the last half of the eighteenth century. These pioneers laid out their farms along the fertile countryside where only the Catawba Indians had previously lived. They treated the Indians fairly, there was no trouble between the races, and the Catawbas fought with them against other Indian tribes and in their struggles during the Revolutionary War. It is no sur- prise that the Battle of Kings Mountain, the turning point of the Revolutionary War, was fought only 20 miles from Gastonia by these same pioneers who were determined to preserve their political and religious freedom.
Photo by Harley Ferguson
Twenty miles west of Gastonia, the Kings Mountain National Military Park, the turning point of the Revolutionary War. Thousands of tourists visit this historic spot every year. This is a picture of the battleground monument.
In 1846 Gaston County, of which Gastonia is the County Seat, was formed by a division of Lincoln County. It derives its name from Colonel William Gaston who was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina and a con- gressman from North Carolina serving in the House of Representatives. Gaston is relatively small in area, having only 358 square miles.
Gaston County was only two years old when its first cotton manufacturing plant, the Mountain Island Mill, began operations. In 1852 the Woodlawn of "Pin- hook Mill" began making textiles, and from these small beginnings the county has developed into the foremost textile manufacturing county in the nation -- it consumes more cotton and has more active spindles than any other county.
IX
INTRODUCTION
This is a reproduction of the Woodlawn Factory of "Pinhook" Mill, as it was more familiarly known. It was built in 1849, in Gaston County, operated by water power, and was the second textile manufacturing plant in Gaston County.
Two modern textile manufacturing plants in Gastonia. Twenty three thousand people are engaged in manufacturing textile products in Gaston.
From a predominantly agricultural economy in the beginning, Gastonia and its mother county have developed during the century into North Carolina's third largest industrial county. While Gaston has maintained its supremacy in textile manufacturing, it has also diversified and added to its long list of products, in the making of which 29,000 persons are employed.
From a crossroads settlement, Gastonia was incorporated in 1877 and has grown to over 37,000, and a metropolitan population of 60,000. Lots of its manu- factured products have an international market, and its good industrial climate beckons other industries to come and enjoy its benefits. With all its rapid, but stable growth, it has not neglected its educational, cultural, religious and rec- reational facilities.
For several generations the predominant industry has been manufacturing, and with this background the people possess an inherited aptitude for mechanical work and an ability to compete successfully. Census reports indicate that 47 % of employed persons are engaged in manufacturing and 32 % in white collar occupations. Those employers who have had occasion to compare Gastonians with those from elsewhere are very positive in their tributes as to their loyalty
X
INTRODUCTION
-
Pboto by Harley Ferguson
A few of the great variety of textile products made in Gastonia.
3
Gastonia's great asset is its people-quick and eager to learn and conservative in their thinking
and the readiness with which they acquire mechanical skills. They are quick and eager to learn, cooperative and friendly in their attitude to their employer, and basically conservative in their thinking.
XI
INTRODUCTION
Completely adequate transportation facilities are at your "finger tips" in Gastonia. These facilities consist of three railroads, twenty-five motor freight carriers, a network of four U. S. and three State Highways, and the Douglas Air- port, fifteen miles distant, which schedules 100 passenger and freight flights per day.
MMERS
AKERS MOTOR LIMIT, INC. GASTOMIA, A. C.
330
AKERS
1 Mt
All means of transportation are readily available to Gastonia and its varied enterprises.
Retail Trade
Gastonia's trading area includes Gaston County and spills over into three adjoining counties, with an aggregate population of 250,000. The latest estimate by Sales Management gives Gastonia total retail sales of $66,458,000 and Gaston County $114,535,000.
Financial
Supporting Gastonia's spectacular growth is an aggressive attitude on the part of its banking fraternity and a formidable array of assets available from its three banks and two savings and loan associations. There are seven local branches for the convenience of banking customers.
XII
INTRODUCTION
Shoppers can have their most fastidious needs satisfied at Gastonia's mercan- tile counters.
One of the numerous plants in Gastonia where textile machinery is made.
XI !!
INTRODUCTION
Educational and Cultural
The educational facilities of the community are closely adjusted to its in- dustrial, economic and cultural needs. Beyond the level of the splendid public and parochial schools are Belmont Abbey College (Senior), Sacred Heart Acad- emy, a junior school for girls, Gaston Technical Institute with four two-year terminal courses in technology, the North Carolina Vocational Textile School, the Industrial Education Center with vocational courses for high school students and adults, the Evans College of Commerce and the Gaston Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. The Gaston County Nature Museum has had wide acclaim for the great variety of its fossils, artifacts, mineral and animal specimens. Many choral and study groups and associations and clubs add greatly to Gastonia as an attractive place to live and do business. The County Library with 110,000 volumes, has seven branches over the county for the convenience of all the people.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.