Hill's Gastonia (Gaston County, N.C.) City Directory [1959], Part 2

Author: Hill Directory Company.
Publication date: 1959
Publisher: Hill Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 1028

USA > North Carolina > Gaston County > Gastonia > Hill's Gastonia (Gaston County, N.C.) City Directory [1959] > 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).

INTRODUCTION

The Changing Scene

Seventy-five years ago this was an undeveloped, backwoods community with nothing to indicate that it was destined to become a giant industrial center. In 1848 some local citizens, recognizing the county's rich natural resources, built the Mountain Island and Woodlawn cotton mills. But industrial development did not begin in earnest until a railroad was built through Gaston County in 1872, bringing the manufacturers into touch with available raw material supplies and the large consuming markets of the nation.

Growing

TEMPLE

COMMERCE

Gastonia's Main Street and shopping district.

One of the Largest Tire Fabric Plants Under One Roof in the World, located in Gastonia.

XII

INTRODUCTION

Industrial Supremacy

Today Gastonia's 48 textile plants, with 600,000 spindles, have an average annual payroll of approximately $50 million. Gaston County has 128 textile plants, besides numerous other smaller and allied manufacturing interests. The native-born labor is dependable and unusually intelligent, and there is no discernible friction in industrial relationships between employer and employee. Industrial products include: Cotton yarns, tire fabric, textile machinery, sewing thread, crocheting and knitting yarns, labels, gears, weavers' knotters, roller covering, dress goods, sheeting, leather belting, silk, rayon, mattresses, furn- iture, textile supplies, hosiery, shoe laces, army uniform cloth, motor-oil fil- ters, carbon manifolds, novelties, industrial paper products, electrical goods, machinery, corrugated boxes, moulded plastics, power chain saws and many other articles.

Machinery Made in Gastonia Finds Its Way to the Far Corners of the Earth.

Gastonia's labor is one of its great assets.

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INTRODUCTION

More and More People

Each decennial census has recorded a substantial growth in population. Population figures since 1880 are as follows:

1880 - 236

1890 - 1,033

1930 - 17,093 1940 - 21,313

1900 - 4,610

1950 - 23,069 1910 - 5,759 1955 - 34,389 (Special 1920 - 12,871 Census Enumeration)

1959 - (Est.) 36,000

Gastonia is located on U. S. Highway No. 29 from Washington to Atlanta, frequently referredto as the "Main Street of the South,"and also on Interstate No. 85 soon to be constructed.

Excellent Transportation

Gastonia is on the main double-track line of Southern Railway from New York to New Orleans, and is also served by the Carolina and Northwestern and the Piedmont and Northern Railways. Important highways running through the city include U. S. 29, "The Main Street of the South," U. S. 321, U. S. 74, and N. C. Highways 7 and 274. Three bus lines plus a number of motor-freight and express companies operate in all directions from Gastonia. Gastonia is only 20 minutes from the Charlotte airport, served by Eastern, Delta, Capital, Southeastern and Piedmont air lines. Gastonia has one landing field on the city's outskirts, and one airport.

Power is an Important Factor

Adequate power is an industrial necessity, and Gastonia is fortunate in having an abundant supply. Several of the Duke Power Company's mammoth hydro-electric and steam auxiliary plants are close by in Gaston County. Any- one considering Gastonia as a place to live or as the location of a business can be sure of the highest type of service as well as the most economical rates.

Natural Gas

The Public Service Company of N. C. has made natural gas available in Gastonia. It comes from the fields in Texas, brought by the Trans-continental Pipe Line Company, and the pipe line is within 1-1/3 miles of Gastonia's limits.

Water and Electricity

Gastonia has a splendid new, modern water plant with clear water source. Electricity, purchased by the city from Duke Power Company, is retailed to residential and industrial users. Users outside the city are served directly by Duke Power Company.

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INTRODUCTION

Rankin Lake, the eighty-five acre artificial lake which impounds 250 million gallons of water, the source of Gastonia's supply of fine water.

Telecommunications

Splendid telephone service is furnished Gastonia and the numerous nearby towns and cities by the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Co.

Financial

North Carolina has no ad valorem tax on property. Rate for the city of Gas- tonia is $1.50 per $100, and for the County of Gaston, $1.10 on $100 valuation. Municipal property is valued at over $9 million. The stable government of North Carolina is fair to capital and to labor, and has a sympathetic understand- ing of industry's problems.

There are two strong national banks in Gastonia and two thriving building and loan associations, all giving efficient service to the community.

One of Gastonia's Modern Junior High Schools.

Education

The splendid school system is made up of 18 modern school plants, with an enrollment of 12,000 in the metropolitan area. Gastonia is also the home of Gaston Technical Institute, operated under auspices of the School of Engineering of N. C. State College, where technical courses are offered in civil technology, clectrical technology, electronics technology, and mechanical and production

INTRODUCTION

technology. The N. C. Vocational School is operated by the Vocational Educa - tion Department of North Carolina, and offers tuition-free courses in yarn manufacturing, weaving, tailoring, knitting, and designing. Both of these schools are valuable to the industrial life of the community. Evans College of Commerce in Gastonia has the important task of training many young people to take their places in the commercial and industrial field. Belmont Abbey College, a four - year college for men, and Sacred Heart Academy for girls, are located at Bel- mont, N. C., nine miles from Gastonia.

Belmont Abbey College, located at Belmont, N. C. ten miles east of Gastonia.

NORTH CAROLINA

1.01

North Carolina Textile Vocational School, located in Gaston County.

Civic Life

Gastonia is a church-going city, with 100 churches representing practically all the well-known denominations-Protestant, Catholic and Jewish.

The value of active civic clubs is appreciated in Gastonia, where strong units of Rotary, Kiwanis, Civitan, Lions, Optimist, Altrusa, and Pilot clubs are giving valuable service. All the leading fraternal organizations are represented in the city, also. Gastonia Woman's Club owns its own handsome building.

Golf courses, swimming pools, tennis courts, parks and playgrounds furnish plenty of opportunity for healthful recreation. A favorite recreation spot is huge Catawba Lake, formed by Duke Power's Company's development of the Catawba River. Summer homes and bath houses dot the shoreline of its sprawling waters, and boating, swimming, and water skiing are popular sports.

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INTRODUCTION

Water Skiing on Catawba Lake, only eight miles from Gastonia.

There's gracious living in Gastonia.

For the prospective resident, Gastonia is favorably situated. In less than 3 hours by automobile a Gastonian can be in the incomparable mountains of North Carolina, the lovely "Land of the Sky. " He is also only 3 hours away from Pine - hurst and Southern Pines, famous winter resorts. In warmer weather, the tempting Atlantic beaches can be reached in 5 hours.

Gastonia has two splendid general hospitalsfor whites and one for Negroes. In addition, there is also the N. C. Orthopedic Hospital, the only state-owned and state-maintained institution of its kind in the South. It cares for patients of both races.

INTRODUCTION

XVII

Gaston County Dairy Herd.

Farming Opportunities

Though truck farming has developed rapidly, Gaston still imports thousands of dollars worth of food that could be raised-with profit-in this county. The fast-growing industrial population of the city is a challenge to the farmers of the area to produce more food and feed crops each year. Dairying and poultry farming have advanced a great deal in recent years, but there is still a need for further development. Fruit growing, too, is gaining in importance, and it is true that no finer peaches can be grown anywhere than those produced in Gaston County. A market for these is close at hand.

GASTON TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

Gaston Technical Institute, where technicians are trained for the many phases of work incident to the Piedmont section of North Carolina. The Institute is located at 1025 West Franklin Avenue in Gastonia, and is operated by the Engi- neering Department of N. C. State College.

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INTRODUCTION

Anyone wishing more information about this hustling, friendly city of the Piedmont Carolinas and its advantages and resources is cordially invited to write directly to the Gastonia Chamber of Commerce.

INTE

Familiar Scenes in Gastonia's Business District. Photos by Harley Ferguson.

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INTRODUCTION

Machinery Made in Gastonia Finds a Market Throughout the Civilized World.

ITY EAN MORE

TION TY

A section of the large plant in Gastonia where chain saws are made.

INTRODUCTION

One of the numerous plants in Gastonia where textile machinery is made.

YELLOW PAGES

GASTONIA (NORTH CAROLINA)

1959

R Bouo PUBLICO ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICAN

SANIZ

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Hill's Gastonia (Gaston County, N.C.) City Directory [1959], Part 2

Author: Hill Directory Company. Publication date: 1959 Publisher: Hill Directory Co. Number of Pages: 1028

Author: Hill Directory Company.
Publication date: 1959
Publisher: Hill Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 1028