Hill's Rocky Mount (Edgecombe County, N.C.) City Directory [1940], Part 1

Author: Hill Directory Company.
Publication date: 1940
Publisher: Hill Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 544

USA > North Carolina > Edgecombe County > Rocky Mount > Hill's Rocky Mount (Edgecombe County, N.C.) City Directory [1940] > Part 1

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City Industrial Bank Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

SAVINGS

INSTALLMENT LOANS "The Bank That Serves The People" C. C. WARD, Fres. S. E. BALLENTINE, V .- Pres, W. W. SPEARS, V. Preo, Casaler

A. HICKS

INSURANCE -- REAL ESTATE Developer EDGEMONT PARK A Growing Development -- And Still Growing 132 Sunset Ave.

Phone 724

CITY ICE CO., Inc.

Safe ICE Clean

Open Every Day

277 North Main Phone 56

PEOPLES BANK & TRUST CO. Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

COMMERCIAL - SAVINGS -- TRUST DEPARTMENTS

Safety Deposit Boxes

17.3

Bulluck Auto Sales Co.

Sales and Service

118-123 S. CHURCH ST.

Tires and Tabes

PHORES 1700-1701

FUEL OIL C

ICE C D

COAL

FOR REFERENCE

Do Not Take From This Room Eastern Laivas -- - BRASWELL MEMORIAL LIB

SPORTING GOODS 5401 9100 135 086 6

Distributors for GOLDSMITH Preferred Sports Equipment (Wholesale institutional and team orders solicited)

John Innes, Tax Collector City of Rocky Mount, N. C.

Also Light Hardware -- Moore's Paints Bicycles -- Toys -- Tricycles Evinrude, Elto Outboard Motors Official Distributors of Boy Scout Supplies

EXPERT REPAIR SERVICE to Guns - Bicycles - Rods - Reels Outboard Motors - Locks - Lawnmowers Nameplates for Dog Collars and Key Rings Stamped Keys Duplicated - Lawnmowers Sharpened Picture Frames Made-to-Order Tennis Rackets Restrung

SYNERS®

SPORTSMEN'S HEADQUARTERS

Cor. Main and Hill Sts. 330500 Telephone 178

(1940) HILL DIRECTORY CO.'S

HOUSE

B Z ONLY

THE NEW RICKS HOTEL 250 ROOMS

Recently Decorated

AIR CONDITIONED THROUGHOUT

STRICTLY EUROPEAN

Levo thy Mount, N. C.

SPACIOUS ASSEMBLY ROOM FOR BANQUETS, CONVENTIONS

OFFERS TO THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELER AND TOURIST COURTESY, COMFORT AND SERVICE

FREE ENCLOSED PAVED PARKING SPACE 125 CAR CAPACITY INDIVIDUAL GARAGES

MODERATE PRICES IN OUR COFFEE SHOP AND DINING ROOM

WM. A. MEADOWS, Lessee-Manager

ROCKY MOUNT CITY DIRECTORY (1940)

350550

ROYAL PALM RESTAURANT

JAMES D. MANOS

Air Conditioned

Cier of Roder Mast N. C.

6 Excellent Food

Good Food Is Good Health

FURNISHED ROOMS

155 Main St. S. E.

Phone 521

(1940) HILL DIRECTORY CO.'S

HILL'S ROCKY MOUNT (EDGECOMBE COUNTY, N. C.)

CITY DIRECTORY Vol. 1940 XII

Containing an Alphabetical Directory of Business Concerns and Pri- vate Citizens, a Directory of Householders, Occupants of Office Buildings and Other Business Places, Including a Complete Street and Avenue Guide; also a

BUYERS' GUIDE

and a Complete

Classified Business Directory

FOR DETAILED CONTENTS SEE GENERAL INDEX

6/6/40

IATION

NORTH AMERICA

PRICE

$12.00

UBLISHERS

Lity of Rocky Mount, N. C. Joho Inney, Tax Collection

HILL DIRECTORY CO., Inc., Publishers 8 North Sixth Street (Fourth Floor), Richmond, Va.

DIRECTORY LIBRARY FOR FREE USE OF PUBLIC AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Member Association of North American Directory Publishers

300050

Section 28, Copyright Law In Force July 7, 1909

That any person who wilfully and for profit shall infringe any copyright secured by this act, or who shall knowingly or wilfully 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 one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or both, in the discretion of the court.

BONO PUBLICO ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICAN

NIZED

1898

DIRE DIRECTORY

DIRECTORY

LISHERS

Wilkinson, Geo. W. left side lines and 29

Church Rocky Mount, N. C.

New Home Building & Loan Assn. .right top lines and 11 B

INTRODUCTION

HILL DIRECTORY CO., Inc., publishers of Southeastern Directories, present to subscribers and the general public, this, the 1940 edition of the Rocky Mount City Directory. A new feature, the designation of tenant-owned homes, marks this edition.

Confidence in the growth of Rocky Mount's industry, population and wealth, and in the advancement of its civic and social activities, will be maintained as sections of this Directory are consulted, for the Directory is a mirror truly reflecting Rocky Mount to the world.

The enviable position occupied by HILL'S Directories in the estimation of the public, has been established by render- ing the best in Directory service. With an unrivaled organi- zation, and having had the courteous and hearty cooperation of the business and professional men and residents, the pub- lishers feel that the result of their labors will meet with the approval of every user, and that the Rocky Mount Directory will fulfill its mission as a source of authentic information pertaining to the city.

Four Major Departments

The four major departments are arranged in the follow- ing order :-

THE ALPHABETICAL LIST OF NAMES of residents and business and professional concerns is included in pages 21 to 375, on white paper. This is the only record in existence that aims to show the name, marital status, occupation and ad- dress of each adult resident of Rocky Mount, and the name, official personnel, nature and address of each firm and corporation in the city.

THE DIRECTORY OF HOUSEHOLDERS, INCLUDING STREET AND AVENUE GUIDE, on pink paper, covers pages 377 to 440. In this section the names of the streets are arranged in alphabetical order; the numbers of the residences and business 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. A new feature of this section is the designation of tenant-owned homes.

THE BUYERS' GUIDE, beginning opposite page 440 and separately paged from 1 to 34, on goldenrod paper, contains the advertisements of leading manufacturing, business and professional interests of Rocky Mount. The advertisements are indexed under headings descriptive of the business repre- sented. This is reference advertising at its best, and merits a survey by all buyers eager to familiarize themselves with sources of supply. In a progressive community like Rocky Mount, the necessity of having this kind of information im- mediately available, is obvious. General appreciation of this fact is evidenced by the many reference users of this City Directory service.

INTRODUCTION

THE CLASSIFIED BUSINESS DIRECTORY is included in pages 475 to 538, on white paper. This department lists the names of all business and professional concerns in alphabeti- cal order under appropriate headings. This feature consti- tutes an invaluable and indispensable catalog of the numer- ous 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 and professional world. More buyers and sellers meet through the Classified Business Directory than through any other medium.

Municipal Publicity

The Directory reflects the achievements and ambitions of the city, depicting in unbiased terms what it has to offer as a place of residence, as a business location, as a manufactur- ing site and as an educational center. To broadcast this in- formation, the publishers have placed copies of this issue of the Directory in Directory Libraries, where they are readily available for free public reference, and serve as perpetual and reliable advertisements of Rocky Mount.

The Rocky Mount Directory Library

Through the courtesy of the publishers of the Rocky Mount City Directory, a Directory Library is maintained in the offices of the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce, for free reference by the general public. This is one of more than 500 Directory Libraries installed in the chief cities of the U. S. and Canada by members of the Association of North Ameri- can Directory Publishers, under whose supervision the system is operated.

The publishers appreciatively acknowledge the recog- nition by those progressive business and professional men who have demonstrated their confidence in the City Direc- tory as an advertising medium, with assurance that it will bring a commensurate return.

HILL DIRECTORY CO., Inc., Publishers.

Cifgol Rocky Monolith G. Juha Jane , Ter Orilector

ROCKY MOUNT

"THE GATEWAY CITY" (By Erle H. Austin, Secretary, Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce)

Statistical Review

Form of Government-Council-manager.

Population-1930 U. S. Census, 21,412; 1940 U. S. Census preliminary report, 25,959, local estimate at present, 27,000. American-born, 99.4%. NASA 13.590 FOGRCOMBE 119782

Area-5.5 square miles. TOTAL 25,568

Altitude-114 feet above sea level.

Climate-Mean annual temperature, 60.8 degrees F .; average annual rainfall, 55.56 inches.

Parks-5, with total of 75 acres, valued at $50,000.

Assessed Valuation-$18,244,446, with $.63 per $100 tax rate.

Bonded Debt-$1,820,000.

Financial Facts-3 banks and 2 trust companies, with total deposits of $7,450,085 (Apr. 1, 1940), and total-resources of $8,624,564 (Apr. 1, 1940). 4 building and loan associations, with total assets of $2,000,000 (June 1, 1940).

Postal Receipts-$90,212.31 (calendar year 1939).

Telephones in Service-3,919.

Churches-49, representing all leading denominations. Building and Construction-Value of building permits, $745,075 (1939).

Industry-Chief industries of city and surrounding ter- ritory: Manufacturing and agriculture. 50 manufacturing establishments, employing 4,750 men and 750 women, paying wages of $6,000,000 annually, and having products valued at $27,000,000 annually (1939 report). Principal manufactured products: Cotton yarns, pile fabrics, broad silk, cordage, lumber, fertilizer, cottonseed products, brick, veneers, ice, ice cream, dairy products, bottled drinks, stock feed, flour and meal.

Trade Area-Retail area has radius of 60 miles, and pop- ulation of 250,000; wholesale area, radius of 120 miles, and population of 500,000.

Newspapers-1 daily and 2 weeklies.

Hotels-4, with total of 350 rooms.

Railroads-Atlantic Coast Line.

Highways-U. S. 64 and 301; State 43 and 95.

Airports-1, municipal.

Amusements-Largest auditorium in city seats 1,200 persons. 4 moving-picture theatres, with total seating ca- pacity of 2,900 persons.

Hospitals-3, with total of 215 beds.

Education-12 public schools, including 2 senior high. 1 parochial school. Number of pupils in public schools, 5,687; in parochial, 35. Number of teachers in public schools, 161; in parochial, 4. Value of public school property, $1,073,797; parochial, $15,000.

1/13/41 0

INTRODUCTION

Public Libraries-1, with 14,989 volumes.

City Statistics-Total street mileage, 165, with 30 miles paved. Miles of gas mains, 45; sewers, 45. Number of water meters, 4,857; light meters, 6,273; gas meters, 3,521. Capacity of water works, 3,000,000 gallons, daily average pumpage, 1,500,000 gallons; miles of mains, 45; value of plant, $356,000. Fire department has 11 men, with 2 stations and 8 pieces of motor equipment. Value of fire department property, $65,000. Police department has 30 men, with 1 station and 3 pieces of motor equipment.

Rocky Mount's Forward March

Rocky Mount was incorporated as a town in 1867 and as a city in 1907. Its growth has been phenomenal. In 1890 the town was credited with 816 people. Ten years later, in 1900, the U. S. Census gave it a population of 2,937; in 1910, 8,051; in 1920, 12,742; in 1930, 21,412, and in 1940 (preliminary report), 25,959. The local estimate at this time is 27,000.

Located at the gateway point of one of the most pros- perous sections of the state, and with a network of highways and railway connections to strengthen its geographical assets, it is recognized as eastern North Carolina's foremost jobbing and distributing center.

The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad maintains one of its largest shops here, and this is headquarters for the superin- tendent of the Richmond district. Situated in the heart of a rich agricultural district, the city is logically a marketing center for farm products. In the season of 1939 there were sold on the Rocky Mount tobacco market, 68,244,650 pounds of bright-leaf tobacco. Rocky Mount is also a large market- for cotton, and there are two cotton storage warehouses for storing cotton, and a cotton yard is maintained for the sale of cotton at auction. Rocky Mount also is proud of its curb market. The Rocky Mount curb market is one of the two largest curb markets in the U. S.

The industrial development is merged with the distribu- tion of farm products. The city has seven tobacco factories and redrying plants, cotton mill, silk mill, plush mill, mat- tress factory, two fertilizer factories, cordage factory and several woodworking plants, and in addition to these the Atlantic Coast Line Shops. There are at present around 5,500 industrial workers employed in the city, with a payroll of more than $6,000,000 per year.

Rocky Mount is situated 120 miles south of Richmond, Va., 120 miles southwest of Norfolk, Va., and 120 miles north- west of Wilmington, N. C. It is on U. S. Highway No. 301, running north and south, and on U. S. Highway No. 64 run- ning east and west. Incidentally, U. S. Highway No. 301 is an important link in the Washington-Florida Short Route running from Maine to Florida, and U. S. Route No. 64 is a link of an important highway running from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast.

City Government

The Rocky Mount city government operates under a council-manager charter, having adopted this form of gov- ernment in 1927. Chief among the characteristics of this are better administrative organization, improvements in the structure of government, and the elimination of unneces- sary expense, to the end that the tax dollar may be expended

INTRODUCTION

economically, and that the cost of government may be re- duced wherever possible without detriment to public service. The tax rate for governmental purposes during the past 13 years has been reduced from 74 cents to 38 cents. Rocky Mount's net debt is less than 3% (while the lawful limit is 10%) of the total assessed value of taxable property of ap- proximately $18,000,000. Not only does the city have an un- usually comfortable credit margin, but with $5,000,000 worth of municipally owned and operated utilities consisting of gas plant, water plant and light plant, there is the definite assur- ance that the city can and will always control its tax rate, at the same time giving its citizens and industries the last word in service, for Rocky Mount's plants are of a capacity able to care for double the present population and industry. Rocky Mount's indebtedness is being reduced annually, and an adequate sinking fund is being provided in an orderly fashion, while every necessary improvement and expansion is going on.

Municipal Airport

The Municipal Airport is located just outside the city limits on U. S. Highway 301 and along the main line of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, and is less than ten minutes' automobile ride from the center of the city. The area of the airport is 237 acres. The field has been perfectly leveled off to permit planes to land from every direction, and there is an open clearance entirely around it. A first-class hangar, 80x100 feet, has been completed, and the field is lighted with the latest lighting equipment.

The City's High Lights

Rocky Mount has a temperate climate. The average temperature is 60.8. From a health standpoint, the city is ideal. Records show that there have been no epidemics. The water supply is pure; the milk supply has passed every test, and received commendation from every source of in- spection. The city has all modern sanitary regulations, with health officers empowered to enforce them.

Rocky Mount owns its public utilities. A new water plant has been completed at a cost of $356,000. It has a filtra- tion plant rated at 3,000,000 gallons per day, complete with pumping equipment, and an elevated steel tank (capacity, 1,000,000 gallons). Rocky Mount boasts one of the most up- to-date gas plants in the entire South. National periodicals have prominently mentioned this plant as a model for any municipality contemplating the building of a gas plant. A network of piping and equipment has been worked out, and when completed, will mean an even and full pressure at all times and at any place served. The operating expense has been reduced to a minimum, at the same time assuring maxi- mum working efficiency. Ably-managed and well-financed, it is considered one of the most profitable properties of the city, and year after year a neat sum is derived from this source. It represents the first municipally-owned gas plant in the state.

Rocky Mount has a new $1,000,000 power plant, situated on the banks of the historic Tar River. This plant was de- signed and built on the unit system, providing for three times the k.w. capacity as that now being used. In this way the future needs of the city are handsomely taken care of. Low- est rates in the state and a maximum of power are attract-

INTRODUCTION

ing the attention of users of this power for industrial pur- poses, and a great industrial growth is anticipated. Addi- tional power from privately-owned concerns is also available in Rocky Mount and immediate vicinity.

Rocky Mount has one high school and six grammar schools for white pupils, and one high school and four gram- mar schools for colored pupils. There are 49 churches in the city.

Rocky Mount has gone beyond its duty in providing playgrounds and playground equipment for its children. It has provided handsomely for the child's amusement by oper- ating municipally, four parks, three groups of tennis courts, one swimming pool, and four playgrounds, including one for colored people (the only municipally-owned playground for colored persons in the state). All these grounds are carefully looked after by a park committee.

The beauty of Battle Park attracts thousands of visitors yearly, and during the warm summer months, picnickers find it an ideal spot for their outings. It borders on the Tar River, and the rocky mound whence Rocky Mount derives its name is in the center of the park. A Confederate monument to the Bethel heroes greets the visitor at the southern entrance, and the driveway winds along the banks of Tar River, across which is located the second cotton mill ever operated in the state of North Carolina.

Braswell Park is unusually well located, being nearer the central part of the city than any of the other parks or play- 'grounds. A wealth of playground equipment is found here. The playground is situated between Park View Hospital, the Public Library, the municipal tennis courts and the Me- morial Swimming Pool-a cool spot and delight to the chil- dren and nurses during the warm summer months.

The only 18-hole golf course in northeastern North Caro- lina is located at Rocky Mount at the Benvenue Country Club. This course is well laid out, affording the golfer enough of the uncertainties of the game to make the sport interest- ing and fascinating. The clubhouse is a handsome structure, costing approximately $45,000. Life memberships and annual memberships are obtainable by desirable persons, and the club is well supported by a membership that is representa- tive of the best citizens. The club is happy in the fact that it has no debts. A full-time golf professional has charge of the links and golf storerooms and lockers. Visitors are always welcome to the club. Rocky Mount is also represented in the Eastern Carolina Golf Association, some of its main officers making their homes here.

The rapid growth of the city may be easily noted by a visit to suburban Rocky Mount, where handsome homes are continually being built in developments both to the east and west of the original residential section. All recent develop- ments have been taken into and made a part of the city and are served with all modern conveniences. Some of these de- velopments ten years ago were farm and wooded lands, while today they represent the zenith of modern home architecture.

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.

Hill's Rocky Mount (Edgecombe County, N.C.) City Directory [1940], Part 1

Author: Hill Directory Company. Publication date: 1940 Publisher: Hill Directory Co. Number of Pages: 544

Author: Hill Directory Company.
Publication date: 1940
Publisher: Hill Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 544