USA > North Carolina > Edgecombe County > Rocky Mount > Hill's Rocky Mount (Edgecombe County, N.C.) city directory [1934] > Part 1
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CITY INDUSTRIAL BANK
SAVINGS INSTALLMENT LOANS "The Bank That Serves The People" C. C. WARD, Pras. B. F, BALLENTINE, V.PNG, W. N. SPEARS, Cashier
FREE REFERENCE
Chamber of Commerce
125 Main N. E.
INSURANCE - BONDED WAREHOUSE REAL ESTATE
132 Sunset Ave. Phone 724
CITY ICE CO., Inc.
Safe
ICE Clean
Open Every Day
277 North Main Phone 56
City Directory Library
PEOPLES BANK & TRUST CO.
"For the People"
COMMERCIAL -- SAVINGS __ TRUST DEPARTMENTS
Safety Deposit Boxes
Consult The Buyers' Guide
17 to 48 Pages
BULLUCK AUTO SALES CO.
CHEVROLET!
Sales and Service
PHONES 1700-1791
117 5. CHURCH ST
A. HICKS -J. J. RICHMOND
The Library of the University of North Carolina
LYZ
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Collection of Porth Caroliniana
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(1934) HILL DIRECTORY CO.'S
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ROCKY MOUNT CITY DIRECTORY (1934)
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HILL'S WE OD OUR PART ROCKY MOUNT
(EDGECOMBE COUNTY, N. C.)
CITY DIRECTORY Vol. 1934 IX
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
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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 Publisbers
Copyright, 1934, by Hill Directory Co., Inc.
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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.
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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 cor- rectness 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 CO., Inc., Publishers
GENERAL INDEX
Page
Abbreviations
48
Alphabetical List of Names
49
Apartment Buildings 342
Associations and Clubs-Commercial 342
Banks and Trust Companies
344
Buildings-Office and Public 346
Bus and Coach Lines-Motor
347
Buyers' Guide
17
Cemeteries
347
Chamber of Commerce
222
Churches
348
City Government
222
City Courts
222
Classified Business Directory
341
Clergymen
349
Clubs
350 222
Fire Department
359
Homes and Asylums
360
Hospitals and Dispensaries
360
Labor Organizations
365
Libraries
367
Newspapers
370
Parks and Playgrounds
372
Police Department
222
Post Office 256
Railroads
374
Schools-Public
377
Societies-Benevolent and Fraternal 378
Societies-Miscellaneous
379
Street and Avenue Guide and Directory of Householders 281
United States Officers 256
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Page
Avera Wm W
40
Belk-Tyler Co
29
Bishop Laundry Co .right top lines and 41 Bulluck Auto Sales Co .... marginal line front cover and 19
Carolina Awning & Tent Manufacturing Co.
.back cover and 22
Carolina Building & Supply Co right top lines and 25
Carolina Office Equipment Co left side lines and 45
Carolina School of Commerce
marginal line back cover and 27
Central Service Station
19
Citizens Building & Loan Co left top lines
City Furniture Exchange
34
altfor20
Halls
8
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Page
City Ice Co
front cover and 35
City Industrial Bank . marginal line front cover and 25 20 20 Coastal Auto Service Cockrell's W L Garage right side lines and Colonial Ice Co . . left side lines and 36 38 Commercial Building & Loan Association. Daniel's Inc . .left top lines and Davenport Motor Co .right side lines and 30 Dozier Supply Co 21 26 33 Enterprise Furniture Co Fallow Flower Shop Inc right side lines and Firestone Service Stores Inc right top lines and 32 21 Gay RR left top lines and 34 Gorham J S Hardware Co 35 18 Greathouse & Butler .right side lines and Griffin W Knight 39 Hammond Electric Co .right side lines and 31 Hicks Alphonso front cover and 44 22 Hunter Oil Co 34 Lancaster W R Furniture Co . back cover and May & Gorham left side lines and 30 31 McCall T C Drug Co right top lines and Merriam Agency The left side lines and Nash Brick & Coal Co right top lines and 39 28 27
Peerless Cleaners
left side lines and
Peoples Bank & Trust Co
. front cover, right top lines and 23
Planters National Bank & Trust Co
Quality Cleaners
Quinn's Inc
Radio Service Shop
Randall Fred B
Rawls & Winstead Co
Richmond Jesse J
Ricks Hotel The
Rocky Mount Finance Co
Rocky Mount Floral Co
Rocky Mount Homestead & Loan Assn
Royal Palm Restaurant . back cover, right top lines and 26 .left side lines
Simmons & Harris Inc
left side lines and 40 32
Standard Electric Co Inc
Standard Insurance & Realty Corp.
right top lines and 40
Summerlin Funeral Home
Tar River Lumber Co Inc
Twin County Rental Co right top lines and
Walker H M .right side lines and
33 42 44 43
Ward C C .right top lines and 41 Wilkinson, Bulluck & Co
.top and bottom stencils, left top lines and 37
Williams Lumber Co .left top lines and
43
Wimberley & Whitehead right top lines and 38
Woodard Wm C ..... marginal line back cover and Z
.left side lines and front stencil, backbone, left top lines and 24 . back cover and 28 3 44 41 18 front cover and 44 2 42 32 .right side lines and
INTRODUCTION
HILL DIRECTORY CO., Inc., publishers of Southeastern Directories, present to subscribers and the general public, this, the 1934 edition of the Rocky Mount City Directory.
Confidence in the growth of Rocky Mount's industry, pop- ulation and wealth, and in the advancement of its civic and social activities, will be maintained as sections of this Di- rectory are consulted, for the Directory is a mirror truly re- flecting 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 BUYERS' GUIDE, pages 17 to 48, printed on tinted paper, contains the advertisements of leading manufactur- ing, business and professional interests of Rocky Mount. The advertisements are indexed under headings descriptive of the business represented. 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 com- munity like Rocky Mount, the necessity of having this kind of information immediately available, is obvious. General appreciation of this fact is evidenced by the many reference users of this City Directory service.
THE ALPHABETICAL LIST OF NAMES of residents and business and professional concerns is included in pages 49 to 279. This is the only record in existence that aims to show the name, marital status, occupation and address of each adult resident of Rocky Mount, and the name, official per- sonnel, nature and address of each firm and corporation in the city.
THE DIRECTORY OF HOUSEHOLDERS, INCLUDING STREET AND AVENUE GUIDE, covers pages 281 to 338. In this section the names of the streets are arranged in alpha- betical 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 con- cerns are placed opposite the numbers. The names of the intersecting streets appear at their respective crossing points on each street.
THE CLASSIFIED BUSINESS DIRECTORY is included in pages 341 to 382. This department lists the names of all business and professional concerns in alphabetical order
10
INTRODUCTION
under appropriate headings. This feature constitutes an invaluable and indispensable catalog of the numerous inter- ests of the community. The Directory is the common inter- mediary between buyer and seller. As such it plays an im- portant 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 manufac- turing 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 read- ily 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 450 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 sys- tem 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.
ROCKY MOUNT
"THE GATEWAY CITY" (By Erle H. Austin, Secretary, Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce)
Statistical Review
Form of Government-Council-manager.
Population-Total, 21,412; males, 10,156; females, 11,256; total colored, 8,702; white males of age, 6,167; white females of age, 6,461 (1930 U. S. Census). Local estimate at present, 27,000. American-born, 99.6%.
Area-4.5 Square miles.
Altitude-114 feet.
Climate-Mean annual temperature, 60.8 degrees.
Parks-2, with total of 50 acres, valued at $25,000.
Assessed Valuation-$17,586,106, with $.63 per $100 tax rate.
Bonded Debt-$1,291,500.
Financial Facts-3 banks, with total deposits of $3,974,- 773.90 (June 30, 1934), and total resources of $4,894,460.94 (June 30, 1934). 5 building and loan associations, with total assets of $2,564,115.12 (Dec. 31, 1933).
Postal Receipts-$63,128.52 (fiscal year ended June 30, 1934).
Telephones in Service-3,000.
Churches-32, representing leading denominations.
Building and Construction-Value of building permits, $67,384 (1933).
Industry-Chief industries of city and surrounding ter- ritory: Manufacturing and agriculture. 42 manufacturing establishments, employing 4,000 men and 500 women, paying wages of $5,000,000 annually, and having products valued at $26,000,000 annually (1933 report). Principal manufac- tured products: Cotton yarns, pile fabrics, broad silks, shirts, overalls, cordage products and lumber products.
Trade Area-Retail area has radius of 60 miles, and population of 250,000; wholesale area, radius of 120 miles, and population of 500,000.
Newspapers-1 daily and 1 weekly.
Hotels-4, with total of 350 rooms.
Railroads-Atlantic Coast Line.
Highways-U. S. 64 and 301; State, 40, 43, 90 and 95. Airports-1, municipal.
Amusements-Largest auditorium in city seats 1,200 persons. 3 moving-picture theatres, with total seating ca- pacity of 2,000 persons. 1 golf course.
Hospitals-3, with total of 215 beds.
Education-9 public schools, including 2 senior high. Number of pupils in public schools, 5,249; teachers, 129. Value of public school property, $918,556.44.
Public Libraries-1, with 12,354 volumes.
City Statistics-Total street mileage, 142, with 20 miles paved and 2 miles under construction. Miles of gas mains, 43; sewers, 36. Number of water meters, 3,983; light meters, 4,440; gas meters, 2,435. Daily average pump of water works,
12
INTRODUCTION
4,000,000 gallons; miles of mains, 34; value of plant, $1,000,- 000. Fire department has 11 men, with 2 stations and 6 pieces of motor equipment. Value of fire department prop- erty, $65,000. Police department has 20 men, with 1 station and 5 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 850 people. Ten years later, in 1900, the U. S. Census gave it a population of 2,937; in 1910, a population of 8,051; in 1920, 12,742, and in 1930, 21,412. The local estimate at this time is 27,000, including suburbs.
Located at the gateway point of one of the most pros- perous sections of the state, and with a network of high- ways 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 assis- tant general superintendent of the northern division of that road. Situated in the heart of a rich agricultural dis- trict, the city is logically a marketing center for farm prod- ucts. In the average tobacco season, around forty-eight million pounds of bright-leaf tobacco are sold on the Rocky Mount market, and usually about 12,000 bales of cotton are sold on the market each year.
The industrial development is merged with the distri- bution of farm products. The city has seven tobacco fac- tories and redrying plants, a cotton mill, a silk mill, plush mill, mattress factory, two fertilizer factories, a cordage fac- tory and several woodworking plants, and in addition to these, the Atlantic Coast Line shops. There are at present around 4,500 industrial workers employed in the city, with a payroll of more than $5,000,000 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 North Carolina State Highway Route No. 40, running north and south, and on State Highway No. 90, running east and west. Incidentally, Route No. 40 is an important link in the Washington-Florida Short Route, running from Maine to Florida, and Route No. 90 is a link of U. S. Route No. 64 from the Atlantic to the Pa- cific 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 unnecessary expense, to the end that the tax dollar may be expended economically, and that the cost of government may be re- duced wherever possible without detriment to public service. The tax rate for governmental purposes durng the past seven years has been reduced from 74 cents to 27 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 $17,000,000. Not only does the city have an unusually comfortable credit margin, but with the five mil- lion dollars' worth of municipally owned and operated utili- ties consisting of gas plant, water plant and light plant,
13
INTRODUCTION
there is the definite assurance that the city can and will always control its tax rate, at the same time giving its citi- zens 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 in- debtedness is being annually reduced, and an adequate sink- ing 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 han- gar, 80-100 feet, has just been completed.
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. The water plant is modern in every respect. The plant has a daily pumping capacity of 4,000,000 gallons, with the regular filters, chlor- inators and alum-feeding devices.
Rocky Mount boasts of one of the most up-to-date gas plants in the entire South. National periodicals have prom- inently 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 com- pleted, will mean an even and full pressure at all times and at any place served. The operating expense has been re- duced to a minimum, at the same time assuring maximum 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. Lowest rates in the state and a maximum of power are attracting the attention of users of this power for industrial purposes, and a great industrial growth is anticipated. Ad- ditional power from privately-owned concerns is also avail- able in Rocky Mount and the immediate vicinity.
Rocky Mount has one high school and five grammar schools for white pupils, and one high school and two gram- mar schools for colored pupils. There are thirty-two churches in Rocky Mount, seventeen for white persons and fifteen for colored persons.
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
14
INTRODUCTION
operating municipally, two parks, three groups of tennis courts, one swimming pool, and four playgrounds, including one for colored people (the only municipally-owned play- ground for colored persons in the state). All of 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 his- toric 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 unsually 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 Memorial Swimming Pool-a cool spot and a delight to the children and nurses during the warm summer months.
The only eighteen-hole golf course in northeastern North Carolina is situated in 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 interesting and fascinating. The clubhouse is a hand- some structure, costing approximately $45,000. Life member- ships and annual memberships are obtainable by desirable persons, and the club is handsomely supported by a member- ship that is representative 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 As- sociation, 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 developments six years ago were farm and wooded lands, while today they represent the zenith of modern home archi- tecture.
Apartment houses of the two and four apartment type are rapidly being built, and for the family that prefers this mode of living, these apartment houses are so located as to make them easily accessible to the business district and other industrial plants and enterprises.
Rocky Mount has the usual fraternal orders, namely: Masons, Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and Red Men. There are three civic organizations: Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club and Civitan Club; also Merchants' Association and Chamber of Com- merce.
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