Hill's Rocky Mount (Edgecombe and Nash counties, N.C.) City Directory [1952], Part 1

Author: Hill Directory Company.
Publication date: 1952
Publisher: Hill Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 804


USA > North Carolina > Edgecombe County > Rocky Mount > Hill's Rocky Mount (Edgecombe and Nash counties, N.C.) City Directory [1952] > Part 1


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CITY INDUSTRIAL BANK


(A Savings and Industrial Bank) Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.


SAVINGS - LOANS "The Bank That Serves the People" C. C. WARD, President W. M. SPEARS, V .- Pres .- Cashier YOUNG A. PULLY. Asst. V .- Pres .- Mgr. Public Relations MADELINE B. BROWN, Asst. Cashier


A. HICKS


THOS. W. HICKS


A. HICKS AGENCY


INSURANCE - REAL ESTATE Developers EDGEMONT PARK A Growing Development -and Still Growing 132 Sunset Ave. Phone 7188


City Ice Co., Inc. Pure


ICE Clean


"Dependable Service"


277 MAIN N. E.


PHONE 2-1712


CAROLINA OFFICE EQUIPMENT CO. PRINTERS - STATIONERS OFFICE OUTFITTERS UNDERWOOD DEALERS


PHONE 2-1196


ROCKY MOUNT, N. C.


QUALITY LAUNDRY & CLEANERS, Inc.


LAUNDRY RUG CLEANING


DRY CLEANING FUR STORAGE


238 Tarboro St.


Dial 7116


413 S. Church St.


FISK TIRES


HOGGARD-VANN MOTORS


Phone 5106


SER


OLD


ICE


211


BULLUCK AUTO SALES CO., Inc. Sales and Service PHONES 5110 - 5119


GOODYEAR TIRES


115-123 S. CHURCH ST.


STICKS


JOYNER OIL COMFA


Plus Service


SHELL


5


DIAL IF;


4161 4162 4163


DIAL 4161 4162 4163


The Library of the University of North Carolina


INA LVX LIBERTAS SIGILLUM CAROL . SEPTENT


SON Home


Collection of Forth Caroliniana


This book was presented


Raleigh Chamber of Commerce ₾971.33


R68h 1952


Newest and Most Modern in Eastern Carolina


AMBULANCE SERVICE


Phone 5135


ROCKY MOUNT, N. C. -- Nashville Highway


(1952) HILL DIRECTORY CO.'S


-


B


THE RICKS HOTEL 250 ROOMS


Recently Decorated


Circulatin


This book must not be taken from the Library building.


STR SPACIOUS BANQI OFFERS TO TI


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4 BANQUET and COFFEE ‹


Mo Our Coffee


B. B. NICH


PUB XNY&


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ROCKY MOUNT CITY DIRECTORY (1952)


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W. R. LANCASTER FURNITURE CO.


622 E. Thomas at Raleigh St.


"Complete Home Furnishers"


Living Room, Bed Room and Dining Room Suites. Ranges, Heaters and Oil Stoves Complete Stock of Rugs and Floor Coverings Victor Radios


PHONE 2-1697


SAFE


ECONOMICAL


gas


CLEAN


SURE


Phone 5327


"It's Twice as Fast at Half the Cost"


Refrigeration -- Cooking -- Water Heating


Bottled Gas Sales and Service


IDEAL GAS & APPLIANCE CO.


622 E. THOMAS AT RALEIGH ST. PHONE 5327


(1952) HILL DIRECTORY CO.'S


M


HILL'S ROCKY MOUNT (EDGECOMBE AND NASH COUNTIES, N. C.) CITY DIRECTORY


Vol. 1952 XVII


Containing an Alphabetical Directory of Business Concerns and Private Citizens, a Directory of Householders, Occupants of Office Build- ings and Other Business Places, Including a Complete Street and Avenue Guide, and a Numerical Telephone Directory; also a


BUYERS' GUIDE


and a Complete


Classified Business Directory


FOR CONTENTS SEE INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INDEX ON PAGE 3


MORE GOODS


ARE, BOUGHT AND SOLD


THROUGH THE


CLASSIFIED BUSINESS LISTS


PRICE


$25.00


OF THE DIRECTORY THAN


ANY OTHER MEDIUM


ON EARTH


Hill Directory Co., Inc., Publishers 207 Governor St., Richmond 6, Va.


DIRECTORY LIBRARY FOR FREE USE OF PUBLIC AT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


Member Association of North American Directory Publishers


Copyright, 1952, by Hill Directory Co., Inc.


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PHONE DIRECTORY


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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.


ASSOCIATION OF


PRO


PUBLICO


NORTH AMERICAN


TACTICTY


1898


DIRE DIREODIATO


ZE


DIRECTORY


MAY ODIREC DIREC


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 cor- rectness of all information furnished them nor the complete absence of errors or ommissions, 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


1


GENERAL INDEX


Page


Abbreviations 20


Alphabetical List of Names 21


Apartment Buildings 619


Banks 626


Board of Education


378


Buildings-Office and Public


630


Bus and Coach Lines


631


Buyers' Guide


preceding Classified


Cemeteries


632


Churches 632


City Offices 378


Classified Business Directory 617


Clergymen


634


Clubs


637


County Offices:


Edgecombe 154


Nash


315


Courts


315


Fire Department


378


Halls


659


Homes and Asylums


661


Hospitals and Dispensaries


661


Hotels


661


Libraries


668


Newspapers


674


Numerical Telephone Directory


opp


776


Organizations


677


Parks and Playgrounds


680


Police Department 378


Post Office


446


518092


Railroads 685


Schools-Parochial 690


Schools-Public 690


Schools and Colleges 690


State Offices 320


Street and Avenue Guide


701


U. S. Government 446


and TRUST CO. BANK


HIONE DIRECTORY


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INDEX TO ADVERTISERS


PAGE NUMBERS LISTED BELOW REFER TO THE BUYERS' GUIDE SECTION


Page


Acme Products


114


Alford Insurance & Realty Co .right top lines and 67


Almand's Drug Store . left bottom lines and 45


Amoco Service Stop


16


Andrews Esso Service


4


Artcraft Glass Co


61


Atlantic Construction Co


Atlantic Discount Corp


.right center lines and


Bandy's Ray .


Barkley and Jordan Service


Barnes Plumbing Co


Barnes Tin Shop


.right top lines and 110


Barnes Welding Supply Service


. left center lines and 115 74 left side lines and 53 77


Bishop Laundry Co


.right top lines and


Blue Bird Taxi left center lines and 112


33 67


Brewer Insulation Service Inc


Brown Memorial Co


left side lines and 87


Builders Federal Savings & Loan Assn of Rocky Mount right top lines and 106


front cover and


5


Bulluck M G & J W.


33


Bulluck Zeb B


left side lines and 84 11


Caddell Motors


left center lines and


53


Caro-Craft Inc left bottom lines and 59 2 Carolina Advertising Service Carolina Awning & Tent Manufacturing Co


.left side lines and 20


Carolina Building Supply Co


Carolina Cab Co


right side lines and 112


104


Carolina Concrete & Block Works


. back cover and 32


Carolina Office Equipment Co


. front cover, left side lines and 91


Carolina School of Commerce . right center lines and 30


Carolina Service Station


Central Building Distributors right center lines and


Central-Mix Co left bottom lines and


31


Central Service Station left side lines and


16 35


Ceramic Tile Co Inc


Chipley Flake B Inc left top lines and 6


Citizens Coal & Supply Co right bottom lines and


29


Citizens Saving & Loan Assn left top lines and 107


City Ice Co Inc .front cover and 66 21


City Industrial Bank front cover and


Clayton's Upholstery Shop right side lines, 12 and 113


· Coca-Cola Bottling Co Inc .left side lines and


24


Cockrell's W L Garage .left bottom lines and


17 92


Coleman-Lee Oil Co Inc


Coley C B Tile Co


35


Z


19


11


16 99


Batts Willard E


Bennett's Florist


Bob's Soda Shop


Bulluck Auto Sales Co Inc


Carbisco Flour & Feed Mills Inc left top lines and


28


Carolina Cafe


16 28


5


INDEX TO ADVERTISERS


Page


Comer Macon C right center lines and 97 Coppedge & Campbell . left side lines and 65


Daniel's Inc . left top lines and 43


Daughtridge J P & Son


36


Daughtridge Oil Co .right center lines and 93


Daughtridge Paint & Wallpaper Co


.right bottom lines and 97


Davenport Motor Co


. right center lines and


12


Davis Tile & Marble Co


left side lines and


36


Dillon Supply Co


right bottom lines and


86


Dillon-Weaver Implement Co right center lines and 52 17


Downtown Atlantic Service


Drummond's Florist


Enterprise Furniture Co


Falls Road Department Store


Farm Bureau Insurance Companies


Faulkner Electric Service . left center lines and


Firestone Stores


First Federal Savings & Loan Assn .back cover and 108


Fisher Radio Co


Fox Jas M


Gay's Funeral Home


.left top lines and


Gay's Hardware 63


Gehman's Jewelers 76


Gorham J S Hardware Co Inc


. left side lines and


62


Grimes-Morgan Plumbing & Heating Co


.back cover and 100


Grimsley Wm.M


37


Hammond Electric Service Inc


51


Heilig-Meyers Furniture Co


.left center lines and


60


Hicks A Agency


front cover and


68


Hicks Robt G Dr


left center lines


Hoggard-Vann Motors


front cover and


7


Holbrook Motor Co


8


Home Appliance Sales & Service Co Inc


left bottom lines and 64


Home Savings & Loan Association .. right top lines and 109 Hotel Ricks The . B


Ideal Gas & Appliance Co C


Imperial Furniture Co 59


Jenkins-Pearsall Machine Works 84


Jewel Box Inc The right center lines and 76


Johnson Cotton Co of Rocky Mount Inc


.left side lines and 3


Johnston Funeral Home Inc left bottom lines and A


Joyner Oil Co


.. front cover, right side lines, 54 and


93


Knowles Diner & Nursery Garden


105


Lancaster W R Furniture Co


C


Lane Manufacturing Co


87


Laundromat 80


Marigold Service Station


Mashburn Plumbing & Heating Co


Matthews Wm B right side lines and 101


55 Meadow Brook Dairy right side lines and 42


Merchants Delivery Service left side lines and 43 Merritt Otto C Plumbing Contractor 101 Mims Allan Inc left side lines and 9


Modern Builders Inc


38


Montgomery Ward & Co 44


BANK and TRUST CO.


Sa Idoad


ERRR DILECTORY


Hassell J M & Son left bottom lines and 59


24


Hertzberg Furs


53 56 43 74 37 13


103 75 55


17


You


6


INDEX TO ADVERTISERS


Page


Moore's Antique Shop


59


Morton Wm S


74


Nash Brick Co 25


Nash Coal Co


.left bottom lines and


31


Nashcombe Electric Co Inc


38


Neville Joseph T


106


Newport Sign Co


111


North Carolina Hide & Fur Co


85


North State Construction Co Inc top stencil and 34


Parker's Restaurant and Dining Room


left center lines and 104


Pearsall Oil and Fuel Co Inc right center lines and 94


Pemberton Inc . right bottom lines and 4


Penney J C Co Inc


45


Peoples Bank & Trust Co .front stencil and 22


Peoples Building & Supply Co right side lines and 26


Peoples Oil Co Inc right side lines, 54 and 94 49


Petway Electric Co


Phillips Service Station


Pittman's G L Esso Service


Planters National Bank & Trust Co The


. backbone, left top lines and


23 74


Policy Holders Agency Inc


Powell Business Equipment Co right side lines and 90


Pridgen Tire Co Inc right side lines and 95


Public Electric Service


40


Public Office Service .right bottom lines and 90


Purvis Cleaners & Dyers .right side lines and 47


Quality Laundry & Cleaners


front cover, right side lines and 78 13


Quality Motors


Quinns Inc .left center lines and 57


Radio Hospital


right bottom lines and 104


Rawls & Winstead Inc


14 B


Rio Restaurant


right bottom lines and 106


Robbins Electric Co


103


Rocky Mount Bowling Center


25


Rocky Mount Floral Co right bottom lines and 52


Rocky Mount Furniture Co


57


Rocky Mount Hardware Inc left center lines and 63


65


Rocky Mount Laundry & Dry Cleaners Inc


. bottom stencil, 48 and 80


41


Rocky Mount Mills


Rocky Mount Plumbing & Heating Co Inc


.right side lines and 102


Rocky Mount Tile Co


. left side lines and 39


Rose Buick Co


right side lines and 14


46


Satterfield Motorcycle Co


89


Sharpe Joe Esso Servicenter


Shaver Battery & Auto Parts Co ... . left center lines and 18


Simmons & Harris Inc . back cover and 69


Soden W & Sons right bottom lines and 111


Southern Concrete Products Inc 33


41


Southern Office Supply Inc left side lines and 92


Stallings Oil & Coal Co left center lines and 95


61


Stancil Grocery & Market


Standard Electric Co right side lines and 50


17


18


Ricks Hotel The


Rocky Mount Home Supply Co


Rose I W Drug Co right top lines and


18


Southern Dairies Inc left top lines and


7


INDEX TO ADVERTISERS


Page


Standard Insurance & Realty Corp


. back cover, right top lines and 70


Star Furniture Co Inc


State Finance Co .right bottom lines and 58


. right bottom lines and 81


Stokes Funeral Parlor


56


Sullivan Jack Inc


right center lines and 102


Sunshine Laundry of Rocky Mount Inc


79


Tanner's Transfer


113


Tar River Ice Co


Tar River Service Station


65 18


Taylor B H Oil Co . ribbon bookmark and 10


Taylor Bernard Motor Co ribbon bookmark and


10


Taylor's Department Store


44


Texaco Center left side lines and 19


Thomas Robt V "Red'


39


Thorpe Music Co


89


Tobacco Belt Rulane Co 60


Twin County Motor Co


15


Twin County Rental Co Inc right top lines and 75


Twin County Tile Co


40


Walker-Carter


right side lines and 48


Walker H M Lumber Co Inc


back cover, right side lines and 82


Waters Bros right bottom lines and Y


Wester's Upholstery Shop


113


Whaley Furniture Co left center lines and 58


Whitley Archie B Paint & Wallpaper Co


. back cover and 98


Wiggins Albert R . right side lines and 74


Wilkinson-Bulluck & Co Inc


. left bottom lines and


71


Wilkinson G A Inc


72 49


Williams Lumber Corp


.front and


83 back lip margin, right and left side lines, 27 and Williams Merle E Paint & Wallpaper Co 99


Wilro Inc


106


Wimberley & Gregory .back cover and 73


Wood Oil Co right top lines and 96


Wood Products Manufacturing Co. . left center lines and 114


Wood's Service Station . right top lines and 15


Woodley's Market


right center lines and


61


Worthington Electric Service


40


Yelverton Coal & Oil Co . left bottom lines and 96


Yop


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va SarIdOG


Dnu CTORY


Williams Cleaners


MORE GOODS ARE BOUGHT AND SOLD THROUGH THE CLASSIFIED BUSINESS LISTS OF THE DIRECTORY THAN ANY OTHER MEDIUM ON EARTH


INTRODUCTION


HILL DIRECTORY CO., Inc., publishers of Southeastern Directories, present to subscribers and the general public, this, the 1952 edition of the Rocky Mount City Directory. A new feature, the Numerical Telephone Directory, 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 rendering the best in Directory service. With an unrivaled organization, and having had the courteous and hearty cooperation of the business and professional men and resi- dents, the publishers 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.


Five Major Departments


The five major departments are arranged in the following order :-


THE ALPHABETICAL LIST OF NAMES of residents and business and professional concerns is included in pages 21 to 498, 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 Rocky Mount, and the name, official personnel, nature and address of each firm and corporation in the city.


THE BUYER'S GUIDE, preceding the Classified and separately paged from 1 to 116, 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 re- presented. 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 informa- tion immediately available, is obvious. General appreciation of this fact is evidenced by the many reference users of this City Directory service.


THE CLASSIFIED BUSINESS DIRECTORY is included in pages 617 to 700, on yellow paper. This department lists the names of all business and professional concerns in al- phabetical 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 and professional world. More buyers and sellers meet through the Classified Business Directory than through any other medium.


and


TRUST CO.


ETE DRO STORY


PEOPLES BANK


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10


INTRODUCTION


THE DIRECTORY OF HOUSEHOLDERS, INCLUDING STREET AND AVENUE GUIDE, on pink paper, covers pages 701 to 716. In this section the numbered street are ar- ranged in numerical order, followed by the named streets 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. Special features of this section are the designation of tenant-owned homes and the designation of homes and places of business having telephones.


THE NUMERICAL TELEPHONE DIRECTORY, a new feature, on blue paper, begins opposite page 776.


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 manu- facturing 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 public reference, and serve as per- petual 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 600 Directory Libraries installed in the chief cities of the U. S. and Canada by members of the Association of North American 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.


-


ROCKY MOUNT


"THE GATEWAY CITY"


(By R. Graham Dozier, Manager, Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce)


Statistical Review


Form of Government-Council-Manager. Incorporated as a village in 1867, as a city in 1907.


Population-1950 U. S. Census, 27,644; local estimate at present, 30,000. American-born, 99.4%


Area-7 square miles.


Altitude-114 feet above sea level.


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


Parks-17, with total of 140 acres, valued at $200,000. .


Assessed Valuation-$39,250,000, with $1 per $100 tax rate, plus 25c school supplement.


Bonded Debt-$4,123,000.


Financial Data-3 banks, with total deposits of $35,201,- 561.96 (Dec. 31, 1950), and total resources of $37,590,084.34 (Dec. 31, 1950). 4 building and loan associations, with total assets of $6,916,190.70 (Dec. 31, 1950).


Postal Receipts-$221,424.84 (calendar year 1950).


Telephones in Service-9,296.


Churches-50, representing all leading denominations. Building and Construction-Value of building permits, $3,150,043.50 (1950).


Aerial View of Rocky Mount Business District


and


TRUST CO.


'HONE DIRECTORY


va SarIdOdd


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12


INTRODUCTION


Industry-Chief industries of city and surrounding ter- ritory; Manufacturing and agriculture. 75 manufacturing establishments, employing 8,500 workers, and paying wages of $13,000,000 annually. Principal manufactured products: Cotton yarns, pile fabrics, broad silk, rayon fabrics, cordage products, venetian blinds, lumber products, fertilizer, cotton- seed products, brick, veneers, ice, ice cream, dairy products, bottled drinks, stock feed, flour and meal, bakery products, processed tobacco, and tents and awnings.


Trade Area-Retail area has radius of 60 miles, and population of 200,000; wholesale area, radius of 120 miles (Mostly east of city).


Newspapers-1 daily and Sunday.


Radio Stations-WEED, WEED-FM, WCEC and WCEC- FM.


Hotels-4, with total of 350 rooms.


Railroads-Atlantic Coast Line (Emerson Shops located here).


Air Lines-Capital.


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


Bus Lines-2: Carolina Coach Co. and Seashore Trans- portation Co.


Airports-1 municipal and 1 private.


Amusements-Largest auditorium in city (high school) seats 1,200 persons. 5 moving-picture theatres, with total seating capacity of 2,900 persons. Also 3 drive-in theatres. 1 golf course.


Hospitals-4, with total of 280 beds.


Education-10 public schools, including 2 senior high. 1 parochial school. Number of pupils in public schools, 5,250; teachers, 180.


Public Libraries-1 with 31,000 volumes.


City Statistics-Total street mileage; 103, with 46 miles paved. Miles of gas mains, 48; sewers, 67, storm and sanitary.


Tobacco Warehouse District


13


INTRODUCTION


Number of water meters, 7,269; light meters, 8,421; gas meters, 4,585. Capacity of water works, 6,750,000 gallons; daily average pumpage, 4,500,000 gallons; miles of mains, 88; value of plant, $652,000. Fire department has 26 men, with 2 stations and 9 pieces of motor equipment. Value of fire department property, $65,000. Police department has 46 men, with 1 station and 5 pieces of motor equipment having two-way radio and 4 motorcycles.


Rocky Mount's Forward March


Rocky Mount was incorporporated as a villlage 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; 1940, 25,568; 1950, 27,- 644. The local estimate at this time is 30,000.


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 1950 there were sold on the Rocky Mount tobacco market, 66,900,000 pounds of bright-leaf tobacco. Rocky Mount is also a large market for cotton, with two cotton storage warehouses. Rocky Mount also is proud of its curb market.


The industrial development is merged with the distribu- tion of farm products. The city has ten tobacco factories and redrying plants, cotton mill, rayon mill, silk mill, plush mill, mattress factory, two fertilizer factories, cordage fac-


One of the Largest Bright-Leaf Tobacco Markets in the World


TRUST CO.


PEOPLES BANK and


HOWE .DIRECTORY


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14


INTRODUCTION


tory, several woodworking plants, tank fabricating plant, two bakeries, venetian blind manufacturers, plywood manu- facturers and feed mills, and in addition to these the At- lantic Coast Line Shops. There are at present 8,500 indus- trial workers employed in the city, with a payroll of more than $13,000,000 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. U. S. Highway No. 301 is an important link in the route from Main to Florida and carries more coastal traffic than any other north-south East Coast high- way, 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 government in 1927. Chief among the characteristics of this are better administrative organization, improvements in the structure of government, and the elimination of un- necessary expense, to the end that the tax dollar may be expended economically, and that the cost of government may be reduced wherever possible without detriment to pub- lic service. The tax rate for governmental purposes during the past several years has been greatly reduced. Not only does the city have an unusually comfortable credit margin, but with $6,000,000 worth of municipally owned and operated utilities consisting of gas plant, water plant and light plant, there is the definite assurance that the city can and will al- ways 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 be- ing reduced annually, and an adequate sinking fund is being


Rocky Mount Mills


15


INTRODUCTION


provided in an orderly fashion, while every necessary im- provement 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 362 acres. It has two paved runways, each 150 feet wide, with one runway 3,800 feet long and the other 4,000 feet long. The.airport is constructed so that an additional runway can be paved 150 feet wide and 4,000 feet long, which will provide taking off and landing in any direction. The Municipal Airport is lighted and has a complete weather bureau, a new code beacon and a revolving beacon. It is classed as a No. 3 airport. There is an improved hangar 80 by 100 feet, and it is so constructed that additional hangars can be provided when needed. Rocky Mount is an important stop on the Norfolk-Knoxville and Washington, D. C .- Rocky Mount routes of the Capital Airlines.




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