Hill's Burlington and Graham (Alamance County, N.C.) City Directory [1961], Part 2

Author: Hill Directory Company.
Publication date: 1961
Publisher: Hill Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 1076

USA > North Carolina > Alamance County > Burlington > Hill's Burlington and Graham (Alamance County, N.C.) City Directory [1961] > Part 2
USA > North Carolina > Alamance County > Graham > Hill's Burlington and Graham (Alamance County, N.C.) City Directory [1961] > Part 2

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 (link on the Part 1 page).

Aerial View of City

INTRODUCTION

Labor

Greater than any other resource of Piedmont Carolinas is the character of its men and women. This has made the industrial development possible and at- tracted a host of manufacturers.

Long before the Revolution these pioneers ranged down the valleys of the Appalachians from Pennsylvania, Maryland and other states. Largely of English stock, with admixtures of German and Scotch-Irish, they settled in the hilly Piedmont section. Their descendants are true to those early traditions. They are energetic and ambitious. It is these qualities that years ago overcame the handicap of debt and stagnation left by the Civil War. They are keen to take their place in the forefront of the nation's development.

Manufacturers coming from older, over-industrialized sections, have been struck by the ready intelligence of these people, their eagerness to be taught, and their loyalty.

National Market

Piedmont Carolinas is 300 miles closer tothe country's center of population than, for example, New York City. Based on the Life Insurance Sales Research Bureau studies, careful percentages have been worked out for every county in the U. S. in terms of ability to buy.

A 600-mile circle (the economical marketing radius) center on New York reaches 44.5 per cent of the national purchasing power. Centered on areas farther north and east, a smaller proportion of the national market will be included.

A similar circle drawn from Piedmont Carolinas embraces 66.8 per cent of the country's purchasing power -- a 50 per cent greater availability to the national market.

Cost of Living

It has been estimated by one authority that the cost of living averages each Piedmont workman several dollars per week less than an equal standard of living costs in more highly industrialized parts of the country. Houses cost less; food costs less. The mild climate requires lower fuel and clothing costs. Naturally labor costs less.

CIVIC FEATURES

Location and Area

Alamance County is located in the famous rapidly-developing industrial area known as the Piedmont Section. It lies between north latitude 35 degrees 52 minutes and 36 degrees 17 minutes and west longitude 79 degrees 16 minutes and 79 degrees 34 minutes, in the north central section of the state. (Burlington's altitude is 656 feet). The county has 492 square miles land area, or 314,880 acres.

History and Peoples

The following is quoted from a study by John W. Harden, entitled "Alamance County : Economic and Social," and published by the University of North Caro- lina: "It is not known exactly when the early settlers came to the region which is now Alamance County, but in 1700, when Lawson, an English explorer and adventurer, journeyed through this locality, he found it heavily forested and in the hands of the Saxaphaw Indians, with only a few scattered whites present." "It seems that this section of the state was first settled by immigrants from the Rhine River section of Germany, known as the Palatine.'

"These early settlers were augmented in 1720 by immigration of settlers from the North, and it was this movement that gave the region its first white inhabitants in any number. These came from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and even the more distant New England. The newcomers were mostly Scotch-Irish, German and English families, the last being mainly Quaker in religion."

Population

In 1930 the population within Burlington's city limits was 9,737, with several thousand in the immediate suburbs. According to the 1960 U. S. Census, the city's population was 34,600. The population of Alamance County is 85,376, 1960 Census.

DIAL CAMII 7-2771 ALL DEPARTMENTS

ANKING SERVICES

WACHOVIA -

XII

INTRODUCTION

ALAMANCE BATTLEGROUND

STATE HISTORIC, SITE

Alamance Battleground

Within a two-mile radius of the City Hall there are now 42,000 while a four- mile radius will take in over 53,000 or over 50 % of the population of the entire county.

The following are 1960 population percentages for Burlington:

Native White

88.0 per cent

Foreign-born white

0.6 per cent

Negro . 11.4 per cent

Total native-born 99.4 per cent

The population of Alamance County during the 1950-60 decade increased 20 per cent, while the population of Burlington increased 40.5 per cent.

Churches

The essential religious atmosphere of the community and its influence on Burlington's citizenship are indicated by the presence of 43 churches (37 white and 6 colored), including all leading denominations, this being a ratio of one church to every 800 of the population. Total membership in local churches is around 20,000.

Education

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES-Within a two-hour automobile ride of Burlington, within North Carolina, are at least seventeen white colleges and universities of the first rank, and several within this radius in the neighboring state of Virginia, making a total of more than twenty. Of these, four are State institutions and ten are denominational. There also are a number of Negro educational institutions, State, denominational and private, within the same area.

Elon College, supported by the Congregational-Christian Church, is located four miles from Burlington, and is one of the best equipped educational institu- tions in the state, as to buildings, strength of faculty, and equipment.

CITY SCHOOLS-The Burlington city public schools rank among the best in the state. The local school district has 21 buildings, of which 16 are white and 5 Negro, the district embracing Burlington and its suburbs. In 1960 the faculty consisted of 338 teachers, the enrollment of students being a total of 9,206. Classroom and laboratory equipment, library, auditorium, gymnasium and play- ground facilities are adequate.

The public school system is governed by a local Board of Education and a superintendent under the supervision of the State School Commission, and is financed principally from State funds, the State having assumed the support of all public schools through a state-wide system set up in 1933 by legislative act.

XIII

INTRODUCTION

First Baptist Church

ATT

Walter Williams High School

Burlington has a business college giving commercial classes, bookkeeping and stenographic instruction.

There are also several private kindergartens, a parochial school and one private day school with grades 1-4.

The Industrial Education Center for Burlington and Alamance County is adequate for the present and plans are in the making for enlarging the building and offering additional courses as demands are made on this facility. The vari- ous courses of study offered are planned by the State Department of Trade and Industrial Education with the assistance of consultant committees representing industry.

The Industrial Education Center offers trade and technical courses designed to provide the practical and theoretical training needed to secure employment and advancement in selected fields of work. The student's time is spent in the laboratory developing the necessary manipulative skills, and in classroom study of applied (related) subjects such as mathematics, science, drafting, technical report writing, and other selected areas of study. In 1960 the Industrial Educa- tion Center had 1,804 students and 35 teachers.

ALL DEPARTMENTE

XIV

INTRODUCTION

Walter Williams High School Stadium

Pictured above is the new Industrial Education Center for Burlington and Alamance County.

LIBRARY-A public library, supported by the city and county has 41,166 volumes, while the circulation for home use in one year totaled 142,657. This does not include use within branch school libraries.

Recreation

Burlington is within a few hours' ride of the noted beach resorts along the coast, the nationally-known sandhill resorts around Southern Pines and Pine- hurst, and the far-famed summer mountain resorts surrounding Asheville, in the western part of the state.

There are many game preserves in the area. Bear and deer are found in coastal and mountain counties. Raccoons, foxes, opossums, quail, and rabbits are available throughout the state. Brant, ducks, geese and other migratory birds winter in large numbers on the coast and there is also excellent fishing along the coastal sounds and in the lakes and streams of the interior.

Within an easily-accessible distance of Burlington are excellent hunting and many streams and lakes for fishing.

INTRODUCTION

Scene at Burlington Municipal Swimming Pool

Community Y M CA

Within the city are playgrounds at each of the schools, baseball and football fields, several parks, a number of tennis courts, the Alamance Country Club with an excellent 18-hole golf course, an 18-hole public golf course, "Sham- rock," three theatres, and a year-round recreation commission program. A large park with stadium, swimming pool and complete recreational facilities are available for the public.

Burlington has a modern community center operating as a YMCA offering an organized recreational program for men, women, and children.

AHVORDAN ONDINYE

XVI

INTRODUCTION

Alamance County Hospital

COMMERCIAL FEATURES

Trade Area

Burlington's retail and wholesale trade area covers a radius of 15 to 20 miles, including all of Alamance County and parts of the 5 adjoining counties, this area having a population of over 125,000.

The volume of retail business in Alamance County was $92,785,000 in 1960 and of this amount, Burlington stores did a retail volume of $61,591,000. Burlington ranks 11th in population in the state but rated 11th in retail sales. Per capita annual income for Burlington in 1960 was $2,014, and per family, $7,110. The city is rated 9th among North Carolina cities in effective buying income, 6th per capita and 6th per family.

Local Stores

A recent survey of the nearby trade area indicated the decided preference of customers within Burlington's area for patronizing local stores, because of the excellent quality and service, the variety and the prices of commodities, which compared favorably with those of cities much larger. There is a very small percentage of mail-order and out-of-town shopping. Approximately 88.4 per cent of those in the Burlington area buy in Burlington.

Hotels

The city has two commercial hotels-the Alamance, with a capacity of 200, there being a total of 100 rooms (25 double and 75 single), all with bath; on the first floor a dining-room, on the mezzanine two private dining-rooms, and a ballroom on the second floor; and the Piedmont Hotel, with a capacity of 100, having a total of 68 rooms, of which 53 are single and 15 double, some with bath and some without. There are several good motels in or near Burlington. The Fleetwood Motel-38 units; The Lee Motel-19 units; and Kirk's Motel-40 units.

Hetwoord MOTEL

VACANCY

Fleetwood Motel U. S. Highway 70

XVII

INTRODUCTION

There also are a large number of private rooming houses and boarding houses, as well as ten apartment houses.

Financial Institutions

Two commercial and two industrial banks. Two building and loan associa- tions. Twelve personal small-loan companies within the city, which are in position to handle local commercial and financing needs along sound lines.

Transportation

RAIL-Railway passenger and freight service over the Southern Railway lines connects with all other rail routes, there being one passenger train each way daily, with through Pullman and sleeper service to important points. Burlington is only one night out of New York by rail.

Freight service time between Burlington and New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore :

Knoxville . Two days

Savannah and Atlanta

Three days

New Orleans

Four days

Memphis

Four days

Chicago

Five days

Six package cars operate daily to junction points. Daily through freight service is furnished on three of four trains each way. Local freight service both ways every other day, switching service to and from Greensboro each day except Saturday. Local side-trackage sufficient for some 600 cars.

EXPRESS-Adequate express facilities are furnished by the Railway Express Agency. Express delivery time: Between Burlington and New York City, 16 to 17 hours; Washington, eleven hours; and other major points on schedules equally prompt proportionate to distance.

BUS-Hourly passenger bus schedules are maintained in every direction, making connections for all points, while several short-line bus services are in operation to nearby towns and a local bus service operates on regular routes within the city and to nearby industrial sections. There is, of course, adequate local taxicab service.

MOTOR TRUCK-Twelve long-distance motor truck freight lines with local terminals operate from or through Burlington on daily schedules north and south to the larger cities, making connections for Western and Eastern cities.

AIRPLANE-A commercial airport, operated by the Burlington Flying Service, located two miles west of the city's business section, is equipped with two hangars, and has repair service and other supply facilities, telephone, taxi and bus connections with the city, with several passenger planes available on the field, making possible connections with the major established air mail and passenger routes. Fairchild Field, east of the city, is operated by the Alamance Flying Service.

INDUSTRY

Alamance County's industrial history dates from the year 1837, when Edwin M. Holt, who was born and reared in the county, established a cotton mill on the Alamance Creek, four miles southwest of Burlington.

About 1854, this mill began the production of colored woven cotton fabrics, the first in the South to produce this material.

In 1887, when Burlington acquired its name, there were 3 cotton mills, 1 coffin factory, and a few smaller plants. Today there are 67 hosiery mills, 19 other textile mills and 59 miscellaneous plants-a total of 145 industrial plants in a community with a population of 34,600.

Industrial expansion has been steady. The Lafayette Mills were established in 1881; the E. M. Holt Plaid Mills in 1883; the Lakeside Mills in 1893. In other parts of the county the older plants include the White Furniture Company, established in 1881; Durham Hosiery Mills, in 1898, and Virginia Cotton Mills, in 1894.

Burlington has become known as the hosiery center of the country. The first hosiery mill here, the Daisy, was established in 1896, followed a few years later by Burlington Knitting Co., Whitehead Hosiery Mill, Sellers Hosiery Mill, May Hosiery Mills, and McEwen Knitting Mills-the last being the first in the sec- tion to manufacture full-fashioned hose. These were followed by many others, most of which are still operating.

Beginning in 1923, with the establishment here of Burlington Mills, the rapid expansion of this group of plants, now numbering 11 in and near the city with some 100 in other cities in the area, has brought the weaving industry to the forefront, making the city known for dress goods, art silk, tapestries, and other cotton, rayon and silk fabrics, as well as for hosiery.

NKING SERVICES

WAX

XVIII

INTRODUCTION

Burlington Industries Plaid Mill Plant

Scene at South Main Street City Park

Private Home

INTRODUCTION

XIX

Private Home

Western Electric Company came to Burlington in 1946 and since that time has grown until they now employ approximately 4,000 people in the Burlington plant.

Other industrial lines represented by local manufacturing plants are lumber, building materials, brick and stone, insecticides, disinfectants, caskets, soft drinks, ice, mixed feeds, dairy products, baking, printing, proprietary medi- cines, cosmetics, gas, paper boxes, foundry and machine shops, foods and textile supplies.

Industrial Payrolls in the Burlington area average well over $93,000,000 annually, with 20,253 persons employed.

AIL APPASTAL

INTRODUCTION

INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH OTHER INCORPORATED TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES IN ALAMANCE COUNTY

INCORPORATED TOWNS:

GRAHAM-The county seat of Alamance County, Graham has a population of approximately 8,000 people. Graham has a good downtown shopping area with modern stores, one commercial and one industrial bank, one building and loan company and one small loan company. Graham has the City manager form of government with a tax rate of $1.75. Graham has some manufacturing but is primarily a residential area.

MEBANE-Population approximately 4,000 people and has some important manufacturing plants including White Furniture Company, Craftique Furniture Company, Kingsdown Mattress Company, The Mebane Company, and Apparel, Inc., manufacturers of "Peaches and Cream" dresses for children. Tax rate in Mebane is $1.80.

ELON COLLEGE-Entirely residential with a population of approximately 1,300 people. Within the town limits is located Elon College with a student body of about 1,500 and the Congregational-Christian Home for Children with ap- proximately 100 children living there. Elon College has no manufacturing and is an exceptionally fine residential community less than one mile from the Alamance Country Club. Tax rate is $1.15.

OTHER COMMUNITIES

HAW RIVER-Located two miles from the city limits of Burlington, has a sanitary district and a population of approximately 1,500. Cone Mills, Inc. manufacture, dye, and finish corduroy in two plants in Haw River. In addition to Cone Mills there are several small industrial plants in the community.

OSSIPEE-Population approximately 500 people. Burlington Mills has a plant here and also Frissell Fabrics, Inc. is located in this community.

ALTAMAHAW-Population approximately 750 people. Glen Raven Mills, Inc. operates a hosiery plant in this community.

SAXAPAHAW -- Population approximately 600 people. The main source of income is the Sellers Manufacturing Company.

ALAMANCE -- Population 500 people. Main source of income is the Kayser- Roth hosiery plant which manufactures men's and ladies' full fashioned hosiery.

GLEN RAVEN-Population approximately 1,000 people. Main source of income is Glen Raven Mills and Holt Hosiery Mill.

SWEPSONVILLE-Population approximately 800 people. Main source of income is Virginia Mills.

OFFICIAL CENSUS FIGURES

ALAMANCE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

Alamance County, N. C.

Burlington, N. C.

1880

817

1890

18,271

1,716

1900

25,665

3,692

1910

28,712

4,808

1920

32,718

5,952

1930

42,140

9,737

1940

57,427

12,198

1950

71,220

24,560

1960

85,376

34,600

YELLOW PAGES

BURLINGTON AND GRAHAM (NORTH CAROLINA)

1961

UBLICO ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICAN

1898

Hill's Burlington and Graham (Alamance County, N.C.) City Directory [1961], Part 2

Author: Hill Directory Company. Publication date: 1961 Publisher: Hill Directory Co. Number of Pages: 1076

Author: Hill Directory Company.
Publication date: 1961
Publisher: Hill Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 1076