Chath am Blanketeer
Vol. 2 NOVEMBER 5, 1934 No. 10
One of Founders of Chatham Mill Passes
THOMAS LENOIR GWYN
THOMAS L. GWYN
TAKEN BY DEATH
One of the Founders af Chatham
Manufacturing Company;
Was 92 Years Old
Beautiful and impressive fun
eral rites were held Friday after
noon from the home on Gwyn
Avenue, for Thomas Lenoir Gwyn,
who passed away at ten o’clock
Thursday night from a three days’
illness.
Had Mr. Gwyn lived until the
7th of November he would have
been 92 years old. He was born
on a 6,000 acre farm which cov
ered what is now a part of Elkin,
in the home now owned by Mrs.
R. G. Franklin on West Main
street. The history of the nation
is closely linked with the life of
Mr. Gwyn and his distinguished
family. He was the youngest son
of the late Richard and Elizabeth
Hunt Gwyn, the grandson of a
Revolutionary soldier and a veter
an of the Civil War. His family
was one of the oldest in America
having come to the new world
from Wales in 1610.
Mr. Gwyn, in recalling incidents
of his boyhood, said that his first
recollections of the site of the
present town of Elkin was a
densely wooded forest where elk
and other wild animals roamed,
and friendly Indians still lived
and called at the homes of the
scattered settlers for food. He
was one of the pioneers of this
section of the state and was a
man of broad vision and integrity.
He was one of the founders of the
Chatham Manufacturing company
of this city, and was also one of
the founders of the town.
In the early eighties Mr. Gwyn
moved into Grayson county, Vir
ginia, where he farmed success
fully until 1913 when he returned
to Elkin to live. During his res
idence in Virginia he represented
Grayson county at the Virginia
Subscription Contest
starting today and ending
November 15th there will be a
contest for subscriptions to the
Blanketeer. Only the reporters on
the staff can enter this contest.
A first and second prize will be
given at both the Elkin and Wins
ton-Salem Mills.
Get busy reporters and win a
prize! The subscription price will
be the same as last year. 25c per
annum. "All subscriptions are to
be turned into Dick Chatham or
Stauber Flynt.
Constitutional Convention in 1901,
and many planks in the reigning
Virginia constitution today were
wrought by Elkin’s “Grand Old
Man” as he was reverently called.
He served with distinction
throughout the conflict in the
war between the states as a lieu
tenant in the second brigade of
the North Carolina calvary.
Though he loved the cause of the
South, he always spoke kindly of
the opposing side.
In speaking of the life of Mr.
Gwyn, Rev. E. W. Fox, pastor of
the Methodist church, of which
Mr. Gwyn was a member, read
the following tribute, which was
written by a close friend of the
family:
“Mr Gwyn was a man of
marked ability and fine judgment.
In the terms of the world he was
a very successful business man,
but this trait was secondary in
considering his character. He ap
preciated and admired Christian
character. Many times in speak
ing of a dear brother, Mr. Hugh
Gwyn, who passed away in eary
manhood, he would remark on his
piety. Mr. Gwyn’s wife, known
and beloved in this community as
“Aunt Babe”, was a very spiritual
and Christ-like character. His
devotion to her was very marked
and his admiration for her good-
nesss was most beautiful. He
never failed to commend that
quality in people.
(Continued On Page Two)
TEXTILE SCHOOL
IS OPPORTUNITY
All Employees Are Urged To En
roll Now In An Effort To
Beter Position In Life
By EARL CONRAD
Are you down in the dumps?
Are you blue and dejected? Do
you still think there’s a depres
sion because you are minus the
comforts of life that some
wealthy people have? But per
haps you are below the standard
of living and you are jealous of
your superior or boss because he
is making more money and has
life easier. But, if you knew his
past you could see where he had
slaved and worked and trained his
mind to fit the position he now
holds, you could see how he stu
died and planned so in case later
on in life he should chance upon
that position he would be able to
fulfill it.
So if you want to have a better
standard of living, start now and
plan to train your mind for that
better standard in the future. In
other words take advantage of
your opportunities. This is why
Chatham is sponsoring the textile
school in Elkin, absolutely free,
to give its employees a chance
that perhaps they didn’t have
early in life. So let’s enroll now
and take advantage of such a
golden opportunity.
Inspector Makes
Pleasing Report
Mr. Thurmond Chatham, President
Chatham Manufacturing Co.,
Elkin, N. C.
Dear Mr. Chatham:
The report of our inspector, Mr.
Gaffney, who made an inspection
of your plant No. 3 on Septem
ber 18th, 1934, shows that he
found many improvements in pro
cess such as new floors being in
stalled, painting, etc. He parti
cularly mentioned the welfare ac
tivities you are sponsoring and
spoke of the splendid co-operation
he received from the management
while making his inspection.
You are certainly to be con
gratulated on maintaining such
excellent working conditions for
your employees and I am sure
you are fully repaid in their in
creased interest and co-operation.
With best wishes, I am.
Yours very truly,
A. L. FLETCHER,
Commissioner.