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PAGE 6—THE HERALD. Ahoskie, N. C—MILESTONE YEAR 1959
AHOSKIE PLANT OF AHOSKIE MANUFACTURING COMP ANY—INDUSTRIAL LEADER IN 20th CENTURY HERTFORD
AMCO Began Modern Developmehf
Of Industry in Ahoskie Section
AHOSKIE — In October of 1953,1 subscribed 5110,000 in stock and] ments for a long-term lease to the
•he Ahoskie Industrial Develop-1'iebentures. | Ahoskie Manufacturing Company.
^ ^ 1. j I The corporation borrowed money, Cornerstone for the community-
ment Company was chartered erect a 5285,000 brick building, I sponsored building was laid on
with J. C. Sessoms heading the air-conditioned, and in less than | May 13, 1955, and in mid-October,
group of, 123 local citizens who I three years completed arrange-11955, the factory began operation.
Basnight Has Become Byword
AHOSKIE — The name Bas
night has become a byword ^
through eastern North Carolina
and southern Virginia, for W. H.
Basnight and Company, Inc., has
grown to be the largest independ
ent wholesale distributor in the
area.
Big, blue Basnight trucks are
' seen constantly, carrying the
many lines of merchandise han
dled by the firm—ranging from
fancy groceries to automotive
supplies, and from candies to dog
food.
W. Howard Basnight, who
founded the firm on May 1, 1927,
was a great promoter, both of his
business and his town. He started
his business career, after gradu
ating from Duke Univerity, as a
salesman with Barnes - Sawyer
Grocery Company, in which his
father, the late H. S. Basnight,
was a stockholder.
The elder Basnight >ad come
to Hertford County from Wash
ington County, and lived at Har-
rellsville before moving ^o young
Ahoskie. In Ahoskie, farmer-lum
berman Basnight became active
in other businesses, and his son
followed in his footsteps.
Howard Basnight believed in
helping the town—as town coun
cilman, county commissioner,
chairman of the board of direc
tors of Roanoke-Chowan Hospi
tal, donor of the Ahoskie High
School band room — more civic
services than can be mentioned.
The Ahoskie Methodist Church
was also one of his chief interests.
On the 25th anniversary of the
Basnight company in 1952, Ralph
L. Basnight succeeded his father
as president of the firm. W. H.
Basnight became vice president
and chairman of the board, the
post he held at his death in 1955.
As president of the Basnight
company, Ralph Basnight is con
cerned not only with the corpora
tion, but the extensive farming
interests left by his father.
W. Ivey Johnson, who has been
with the company since its organ
ization, is general manager of
the wholesale enterprise, and has
served as president of the N. C.
Wholesale Association. Other em
ployees who have served with the
firm for many years include T. R.
Rogers, head of the bookkeeping
operation, who also joined the
company when it was organized;
P. E. Dukes, secretary, office
manager and credit manager; R.
N. (Bob) Carter sales manager;
George F. Burgess, J. Elverton
Brett, Dan Miller, A. K. Bracy
and O. R. Creech, senior sales-
From the original five em
ployees, the Basnight force has
now grown to over 50 persons,
including salesmen, warehouse
men, truck drivers, mechanics
and repairmen, and helpers.
R. L. Basnight succeeded his
father on the board of the Roan
oke-Chowan Hospital and as di
rector of WRCS radio station. Por
tions of the Basnight estate were
divided between Mrs. W. H. Bas
night, the widow, and Miss Mar
tha Hope Basnight, a daughter;
and sisters, Mrs. Louise B. Lyom successful operation of the
the wholesale firm. Another sqh,
W. H. Basnight, III, died in ^tly
manhood, and the fountam at
Since .that time, AMCO's pro
duction of children’s coats, coat
and legging sets, and car coats
for Sears, Roebuck and Company
has paid off in dividends both to
stockholders and everyone in the
Ahoskie area. A payroll of over
half a miOion dollars annually is
given to about 280 employees
mostly white women.
New residents came to Ahoskie
as key personnel of the AMCO
plant. New trades for this area—
patternmakers, cutters and
sociated phases of the sewing
operation—became part of general
conversation. Best of all.
proficient at sewing found needed
employment outside of their
homes.
During the first two years, pro
duction included 75 styles of coats
for fall and winter, and about 6C
styles for spring and summer,
ranging in size from infant to
6-X. Last year, however, the
new demand for car coats caused
installation of a new department
with about 60 employees handling
this item only.
Sewing in the 55,000-square foot
plant is done on a piecework
basis. But the huge volume of
material and accessories must be
received and stored before use—
and pressed, finished, and stored
again before final shipping tb
Sears distribution centers. There’s
a specially-designed Contin-U-Rail
system which assures steady flow
of units from one department to
the next, and a 9,200-square foot
warehouse to accommodate the
finished products.
Lloyd Nolan is general manager
of the AMCO plant. Continued
and Miss Ethel Basnight, who pany last spring enabled, the
were also original stockholders Ahoskie Industrial Develop^nenl
Company to pay dividends \ o f
three per cent for the secobd
year. This is one indus'ry which
Ahoskie High School was dOTated truly bears the “lilad'J in /.hoslee”
in his memory. Y" i ^labei. , ' ' lo
1759-1959
Hertford County s Milestone Year
73 Years of Service...
Confidence, born of 73 years of faifhful service in fhis
area, prompfs families fo turn fo us in time of sorrow.
They know they can depend on us for careful affenfion
fo every detail, thoughtful comfortsforthe family. Where
perfection of service is a tradition.
W.J.M.HOLLANDandSONSJnc.
— Funeral Home —
MURFREESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
1944-1959
This Year Marks Our
/S'" ANNIVERSARY
We supply the folks who are building a better Hertford County.
Since we opened in 1944we have always offered-QUALITY BUI'LC-
!NG MATERIALS and EVER-DEPENDAELE SERVICE.
THANKS
To all the folks who have made our business grow through
their friendship and continued patronage.
WE CELEBRATE
A MILESTONE in North Carolina History. .
the 200th Anniversary of Hertford County.
A. W. MYERS
BUILDING SUPPLIES
209 N. Railroad St-
AHOSKIE
Phone 2896
WeVe Passed
Many Milestones
Working Together...
The'farmers of this area have done a wonderful
job ever the years. . . . They have-been the back
bone of progress in the Roanoke-Chowan.... I hey
have been interested in the schools . . . interested
in their communities and their churches. These
wonders have been accomplished by good, hard
working people working- together. We are proud
we have had the opportunity this past 32 years of
working with and'for these fine folks. We appre- ■
date their friendship and their confidence. Let's
celebrate our 200fh -Anniversary with pride in
the past and confidence in the future.
WELL OVER A QUARTER CENTURY OF
PEANUT BUYING SERVICE IN THE R-C AREA
Your Neighbor
W. B. Everett -Peanut Buyer
Agent-for POND BROS. Peanut Co.