MILL WHISTLE
Steam Whistles Are
Discontinued At All
Mills In Tri-Cities
Familiar Sounds Outmoded By
Radio And Modern Timekeep
ing Devices
The closing of an era was marked
Friday, October 12, when a linal long
blast silenced the steam whistle at the
Finishing Mill. The traditional blow
ing of the whistle gave way to progress
and their familiar, deep-toned sounds
'Will be heard no more throughout the
countryside. The steam whistle at
Draper was discontinued on the same
day. Other textile mills in the Tri-
Cities already had stopped blowing their
Whistles.
A symbol of the almost-forgotten
Past when people awoke, worked and
ate by their blasts, the whistles were
found to be unneccessary in these days
Of radio time signals and modern clocks
and watches. Progressive industries
are fast abandoning steam whistles as
Serving no useful purpose.
Steam whistles were discontinued
at the Bedspread and Karstan Mills
ttiany years ago. Quieter and more ef
ficient electrical sirens are stragetically
Placed throughout the departments to
signal starting and stopping times.
Also, for a long time, workers in some
®iills have not been able to hear the
steam whistles because of the noise of
ttiachinery and consequenly the flash
es of lights inside the plants indicates
the beginning and ending of shifts.
Membership Campaign
Closes At Girls Club
Mrs. Jack Washburn of the Rayon
Cloth Department won first place and
a cash prize of $20.00 in the annual
•Membership campaign at the Girl’s
Club. In second place was Mrs. Lance
■A-gee who received a Caro-Nome cos-
*netic set given by Spray Drug Com
pany. Miss Della Hawkins of the
Fieldcrest Training Department, in third
Place, received a basket of groceries,
gift of Edwards Super Market. In fourth
Place was Mrs. Juanita Glenos who
Won an aluminum clothes dryer given
by Burke’s Ben Franklin Store. Miss
Cornelia Jones, in fifth place, received
a refrigerator water bottle donated by
C. P. Smith Department Store.
9
n
LAST BLAST FROM WHISTLE—Picture at right shows the steam whistle atop
the Finishing Mill Machine Shop which has served lor many years and now has
been silenced. At left, Dan Aheron, who blew the whistle for many years, pre
pares to pull the cord sounding the final blast. Looking on, left to right, are Frank
T. Suttenfield, Bleachery and Finishing Mill superintendent; John W. Arnall,
assistant superintendent, Finishing Mill; and M. W. Hayden, master mechanic.
34 Persons Complete
First Aid Training
Two first aid training classes m whicn
34 persons participated came to a close
Friday, September 28, after having met
five times a week for two weeks. The
class was taught by O. Franklin Griffith,
senior safety instructor for the North
Carolina Industrial Commission. Red
Cross first aid certificates were awarded
to those successfully completing the
course. The classes met in the central
YMCA gymnasium, the morning class
meeting from 11 a. m. until 1 p. m. and
the evening class from 7 p. m. until 9
p. m.
Sponsored by Fieldcrest Mills the
standard Red Cross first aid course with
civil defense supplement was taught.
H E. Williams, safety director at Field
crest, said it is hoped that members of
the group will be encouraged to study
further and to become first aid instruc
tors. He said plans are under discussion
concerning classes in February to train
instructors n first aid. With civil defense
activities being accelerated, there are
indications more persons would like to
take first aid training.
New Coffee Vending
Machines Installed
At Bedspread Mill
As a convenience to employees, the
Company has installed coffee and Coca
Cola dispersing machines at the Bed
spread Mill. The devices were first
put into use, Monday, September 24.
In announcing the new service to Bed
spread employees, E. W. Medbery, pro
duction manager, stated that the ma
chines were installed on a trial basis. If
the system works out satisfactorily, it
will be continued in the Bedspread Mill
and consideration will be given to plac
ing similar machines in the other plants,
Mr. Medbery said.
The machines are of the newest type
and are eQuipped with automatic change
makers. The coffee machine dispenses
the drink any way that is preferred—
with or without cream or sugar. The
price for a *^Coke” or cup of coffee is a
nickel. .
The canteen service at Bedspread is
being continued on regular schedule.
Except for Coca Cola, the usual drinks
are served from the canteen wagon. Op
eration of the new dispensers is being
handled by the Y.M.C.A. Canteen.