Newspapers / The Franklin Times (Louisburg, … / March 25, 1969, edition 1 / Page 4
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The Fr f ??> n Tw*U?r * TKwr?4?y in Times ??*???? AN Of Cmmtf Your Award Winning County Newspaper LOCAL EDITORIAL COMMENT Turning The Corner J. Harold Talton, energetic chair man of the county's Industrial Deve lopment Commission, said -- while standing in the rain in a muddy field Monday -- "Franklin County is turn ing the corner". The occasion was the ground breakingfor the J. K. Rishel Furniture Company plant here and Talton is right. Just a few years ago - and most will remember - industry, was some what of a step-child in this farm oriented county. It took quite a while for a hand full of industry enthusiasts to convince the majority that times were changing and that Franklin need ed to get on the wagon of progress. Once convinced, however, the people have put themselves wholeheartedly into the struggle to gain new industry and at the same time continued their support of the county's agricultural base. The Rishel plant is a shining ex ample of the success this county has obtained in its efforts to "turn the corner". In the process, one by one new industrial plants have cropped up across the county. New jobs? ? -new homes and a boost in the county economy is being seen. And with it all has come a change in attitude. From the Board of County Commissioners to the man on the street, the message has arrived. If Franklin is to go for ward, it has to do it through industrial development. The community officially wel comed the Rishel company Monday with growing expressions of praise for the many efforts put forth in bringing about the "dream" as Mayor V. A. Peoples put it. Now that the corner is turned, there should be better days ahead. Things Work Out Back in September, 1966 when the Board of County Commissioners vot ed to sell the old Ben Franklin Board ing Home property to make way for Carolina Fine Woods to build a plant, there was a great hue and cry about doing away with the home. When in October, 1967 Carolina announced its decision not to locate here, the criti cism of the Board intensified. Now, however, those who were of the Board's actions must realize they acted in haste. Things - as often they do - have worked out just fine. By selling the property, the Com missioners opened the way for the new Rishel furniture plant. It will locate where Carolina Fine Woods had planned to. And now, in place of the old. costly operation of the Ben Franklin Home, a new modernly appointed Brentwood Rest Home has opened on NC-39 just outside Louisburg. The residents of the Franklin Boarding Home will be returning this week to a brand new structure -- far more ade quate to meet their needs than the old one. Many never doubted the wisdom of the county getting out of the rest home business. Although some second thoughts were given to the decision when the emotions entered the pic ture, the decision has now been clear ly vindicated. v The county has a new industry to locate on the property and it also has a new rest home, second to none. Things do sometimes have a way of working themselves out for the best. Rishel (Continued from Page 1) offered potential workers with these qualifications." A number of other persons spoke briefly at the luncheon in. welcoming the furniture firm to the county. Among those expressing apprecia tion for Rishel electing to locate here and offering official welcomes were: State Senator E. F. Griffin, speaking for the General Assembly; Tom Broughton. Assistant Administrator State Division Commerce and Industry for "all state agencies"; W. H. Taylor, county attorney for the Board of County Commissioners; V. A. Peoples. Mayor of Louisburg; Dr. Cecil W. Robbins. President. Louisburg College; J. Jackson Dean, speaking for local induitry; G. M. Beam. Jr.. speaking for Louisburg businessmen and Harold Talton spoke on behalf of the ID Commission Other officials of the company present were B. C. Lodenslager. Assis tant Secretary and Lewis C. Phillips. Vice President. Hal Thompson, Ral eigh building contractor and John Lat imore, Durham architect and members of their staffs were also present. Clay Taylor, an associate of the Latimore firm and a former resident of Louis burg, was among those present at Monday's ceremonies. Closing out the ceremonies. Ken neth Schubart. Director of Industrial Development, presented Mr. Mellish with a plaque containing a mounted silver shovel and an inscription wel coming Riahel. The plaque was pre sented by the "people of Franklin County" to commemorate the ground breaking date. Mr. Mellish responded and presented to the people of the county a beautiful color photograph of the proposed new plant. Mellish. addressing the group as "new friends" said that In the 112 year history of the company, "I am unable to find any occasion equal to this one in significance." He added that the "Project is hand in hand with the community, the state and Rishel." He praised those who assisted in the decision to locate here pointing to Hunter Poole and others in he State Commerce and Development Depart mrat. He said that Poole "convinced me that Louisburg Is an unusual com munity " He said that "Joe Sturdlvant of the Community Colleges convinced me that proper training was available in the area and naming Ken Schubart, Harold Talton and Charles Davis said, "These and others with Industrial De velopment here met every challenge." He also praised the Board of County Commissioners for helping with the financing of the water line to the site. Speaking of Louisburg College, Mellish said. "This is the kind of environmejU we are happy to join." All in all. it was a great day for industry hunters and those who watch and benefit from their activities. The rain had slackened considerably when the ceremonies ended and later in the day, the sun tried-although mostly unsuccessfully-to peek through. Re gardless. it was nevertheless a bright ? day for Franklin County and Louis burg. Another industry is on its way. Water Line (Continued from Page 1) to share equally in the loan. Holden and Waccamaw President L. R. Bowers conferred by telephone while the meeting was forced into unofficial recess as Commissioners Faulkner, E. M. Sykes and Robert L. Burnet te moved outside the room. An effort by Chairman Brooks Young to have the matter acted on while Burnette and House were still in attendance fell through as Burnette rose and left the room. Final agreement, however, came lat er and attorney W. H. Taylor was authorized to draw up the proper papers. Once this is done, the Board is expected to officially pass the required resolution. 'The government ought to crack down on these young radicals u ho feel justified in destroying public property'.' Excerpts from the Address by Representative L. H. Fountain at the Ground-Breaking Ceremony for {he J. K. Rishel Furniture Company Plant in Louisburg "I am sure that all of you are as glad as 1 am, that out of the many possible places to choose from, the Rishel Company picked Franklin County, and the city of Louisburg as the site for their new factory. "When completed, the plant Will be a decided asset to the community. It will provide jobs for 150 people. It will bring increased income into the community, and it will enhance the economic position of the city and the county. The advent of new industry and jobs is always an important and newsworthy event. It spells progress and opportunity fpr the city and for the people who live there. It is a sign of an energetic and dynamic community able, to stand on its own two feet, able to face the challenges and pfospects of twentieth century America, and able to give its citizens the good life they deserve. "New industry allows small cities like Louisburg to be in the mainstream of the ever changing American society and economy. The magnitude of the movement to urban areas has been explored by the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, on which I have the honor to serve, which published a report on urban and rural America. It explains that the move ment of People from rural to urban America has resulted in a situation in which there are more "wide open spaces" in the United States today that at any time since the closing of the frontier in the late 19th century. Part of this movement has been caused by the agricultural revolution which has resulted in a drop in the density of population in rural areas, even as it has risen elsewhere. Moreover, fewer acres are under cultivation today than previously, even though the average size of farms is larger. The shift in population and the loss of farm jobs has occurred here in the Louisburg area. In 1950, there were over 5,700 agricultural workers in Franklin County. In 1960, there were a little over 3,600, workers in this group. The ten year period saw a loss in he county of just over 2,00 agricultural jobs. During the same period the county ex perienced a net outmigration. with the pop ulation dropping by 8.3 percent. "The changes in population and em ployment in the nation and the Louisburg area add emphasis and importance to the decision of J. K. Rishel to locate a new furniture company plant here. The economic growth of small cities, such as Louisburg, is essential to stem the migration to the large metropolitan areas. Many of those who live In large cities feel that the quality of life there is not what they would like. The traffic, noise, pollution, and the frantic pace of large cities takes many of the joys out of life. There is a feeling on the part of many Brentwood (Continued from Page 1) functional furnishings. A 'modern kitchen adjoins the dining and recep tion area. Holt said he plans to land scape the surrounding grounds and will construct a picnic area in front of the structure for use by the community as well as the residents. As he did at groundbreaking cere monies held here on April 29. 1968, Holt again said he is happy to become a part of the community and pledged his efforts at community service. Also as he had done earlier, he credited Industrial Development Commission Chairman J. Harold Talton with his being here. He said Talton was the first person to contact him. He compli mented Talton at Sunday's open house as well as others for their aid In his location here. The initial announcement in 1968 said the home would employ around 18 people and would purchase be tween $40,000 and $*0,000 in local goods and services annually. Estimates of the coat of the structure were placed at the time at around $175,000. It is situated on five and a half acres near the Fox Park Road on NC-39, one mile east of Louisburg. that it is in small cities, such as Louisburg, that the most enjoyable and pleasant living is found. The job opportunities presented by this new plant makes it possible for people to remain here and to continue to enjoy the pleasures of small city living unparrelled by any large city in America. "We are very lucky and honored to have the Rishel Company decide on Louisburg. The company is an old, established firm with annual sales of over five million dollars a year. This million dollar corporation has been manufacturing furniture continuously since 1857. They currently make wooden office and household furniture. The plant here will be used to produce a new line of living room and dining room furniture. The new factory which will rise on this spot represents a two million dollar investment. When completed, it will be a modern factory covering 117,000 square feet, and will com plement the Rishel Company's already ex isting plant in Willlamsport, Pennsylvania. "While the beauty of North Carolina, and the charming city of Louisburg, should be enough to make anyone want to locate his plant here, there are other reasons which make the State and this city an attractive place to settle. One of the principle reasons the Rishel Company decided to come was the availability of labor. "An enterprise needs workers capable of fitting into the routine of industrial employ ment. This means reliability, promptness, an ability to learn, and a desire to progress. This community offered potential workers with these qualifications. In addition,- the North Carolina Industrial Training Program, which assists in training local citizens to be able to successfully Till the jobs created by the new factory, was an important inducement in persuading the Rishel Company to come. "An area can have all the best to offer an industry, but it will do no good for the community if no one knows about it. Community development groups and in dustrial development commissions play a key role in attracting industry to an area, and thus insuring its continued economic vitality. These development groups repre sent, and are the outgrowth of the com munity. They are another aspect of the American way at doing things, as example of people helping themselves. "The efforts and the success of the Franklin County Development Commission, and its executive director, S. Kenneth Schu bart are a good example of the work of local development groups. Officials of the J. K. Rishel Furniture Company credit Mr. Schu bart. Mr. J. Harold Talton, the Chairman of the Franklin County Development Commis sion, and Charles Davis of the Development Corporation of Franklin County with play ing an important part in their decision to locate here. I am sure that these gentlemen can tell you that encouraging industrial development is a difficult job. "This ground breaking ceremony is the outcome of hard work by both the local residents who have assumed responsibility for encouraging industrial development, and the officials of Rishel Furniture Company., who had to evaluate the Information pre sented them and come to a decision. I am sure that the work begun on this plant today heralds the beginning of a long, fruitful, and prosperous association between Louisburg and the J. K. Rishel Furniture Company. 1 congratulate you all. Wilt#, Th. Sun I London) "Ltt'i Teach Franco a Lesion ? ( lr ??'? All Oo lo Spain This Year" j^COME f T0 THINK OF IT..." f by frank count To The Editor: Some mix-up in the postal department caused the enclosed letter to find its way into my hands. 1 would appreciate your taking the trouble to see that it gets into the hands of the one to whom it is addressed. Thank you. Walter N. McDoftild Rite Fork Sandy creek ext. March 21 1969 Dear cuzzin Prank. Ever since them peppie in Rallie and Chariot give you thet reward fer tellin it like we knows it is arond here, I been wurried that youll start talkin like t)iem. The other day 1 wuz seated in the coolest place in Franklin county gettin ready to make use uv the news paper frum the next county, when jest before wrinklin it up to cut down on some of the kresses. I saw that that newspaper had a article on how gud it was that Johnson wont lected last nov. Somehow or other I got the idea that that was a slap at Nixum. 1 caint see why they get mad at nixum cause he aint done nothing after being presidont for only two months. Fer as I can tell he ain't done nothin all his life. Thet hawg I got in the lot aint done nothin all his life, and I dont think he's goin to start now jest because I'm goin to make some of his inne'rds into chittlins. Whus I started out to say wuz thet, yestiddy 1 went down to the mail box to get my favorite papar and came back to the house, put a littered not in the fare place sos I cud see the reck on the frunt page better (the ole lady says I jest wanted to see them brids), and then turned over to see whut cuzzin Frank had to say, when I red thet run-in you had with old Junipher. Now yo oie papy used to say thet Junipher dident no which way the corn grows any how and thet the best praise you could give a fellow was to copy him. Frank, how come you copied thet out uv ole Jonathan's paper? Has he got to you? Them chittlins'll be ripe next week. Tell Harold to bring you and Joe over and we'll frie some. cuzzin Noar Count With all the mail I get. I just aint got time to answer all them letters. It interrupts my whittling and my meditating and it takes away a whole lot of fishing time. But, as any faithful reader, can see, this one deserves a answer. I appreciates that fellow passing it along since them boys at the post office went blind and delivered it to the wrong place. Now I can't under stand that. You know them boys when they're sober k nows where old Frank hangs out. After all, who else around these parts is better known and gets more mail than old Frank? And I keep my dog tied up, too. Shame on them- PO boys. I ain't totally convinced that Cousin Noah wrote this little piece. He can't spell that good in the first place, but he used to know how to spell his name. 'Course times change and Noah could a decided to spell it with a "R" instead of a "H" but I can't for the life of me figure out why. But I ain't never been so hum-mil-lated in all my born days. Who would ever accuse old Frank of copying anything from old Jonathan's paper? Me, old Frank-the epitaph of honesty and purity. And besides, it was Junipher that told the story. He might a copied the idea except I happen to know that he cant read. We went to school together. But I wouldn't put >U0 past Junipher to a stole the idea. He always did have a sticky mind. - ? -*? But I ain't so upset over Cousin Noah's accusations. I've got that figured out. It ain't no big thing. I'm just gonna shoot his toes off next time I see him. The thing that frets me is his inviting them srfangers to the chittlin supper. Who in thunderation is Harold ai^d Joe? J CAFETERIA STVLE
The Franklin Times (Louisburg, N.C.)
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March 25, 1969, edition 1
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