AUGUST, 1959
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PAGE 3
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SATURDAY DOWNTOWN—Afternoon on Lincolnton's Main street, looking west. Lincoln
County court house (end of the block) stands impressively in the center of Court Square.
EMPLOYEES’ HOMETOWN
Lincolnton:
^The City With A Future’
Yesteryear and Tomorrow
walk hand-in-hand at
Lincolnton. Her people—in
dustrious, loyal, efficient,
and having strong religious
ties—are justly proud of
their community’s gift to the
past. But they are even more
proud of her optimistic
slogan; “The City With A
Future”.
Located on the banks of the
South Fork River and on junc
tion of highways 2, 150, and 321,
Linconton is in the heart of the
highly-industrialized Peidmont
of North Carolina. It is the seat
of government, geographical
center, and leading community
in Lincoln County.
Outstanding Community
Before Revolution
At the time of the War for
American Independence, the
town was already a cultural and
commercial center. Many of its
original homes still stand.
Through the years the town has
remained a trading center for a
rich farming and industrial area
reaching beyond the borders of
Lincoln County.
The town is named for Ben
jamin Lincoln, hero of a Re
volutionary battle which was
fought on land within the pres
ent city limits.
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☆
The majority of Firestone
Textiles people call Gastonia
"hometown". But several
hundred employees commute to
their work here from outside
communities in both Carolinas.
Of these dozens of hometowns,
some are of such significance as
to merit feature stories in the
plant newspaper.
This is the second of a series.
☆
☆
Lincolnton was settled large
ly by German and Dutch
Protestant refugees seeking rest
from oppression because of their
religious beliefs. The community
'I
CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL—Jack Hall of Twisting (syn
thetics) and daughter Phyllis Ann at entrance to Confederate Me-
ftiorial Hall on Academy Street. The house is sometimes referred
to as the Old Academy Building because it first housed Pleasant
Hetreat Academy in 1813. The Mary Wood School was here in
1900. In 1908 the local UDC chapter acquired use of the building
■'vhich now houses the public library and museum.
today bears lasting testimony to
the sturdy faith of its settlers.
Almost all religious denomina
tions are represented among the
many churches.
There is Plenty of Room
For Expansion
Lincolnton lays claim to its
motto, “The City With A Fu
ture” partly through its good
location, resources, abundant
labor supply, suitable climate,
and its diversified industry.
Although in a leading indus
trial area, it is not hemmed in
by industrial expansion. While
it enjoys plenty of room for
growth, its easy access to the
connecting network of federal
and state highways places it in
a good location from both busi
ness and pleasure standpoints.
At 860 feet above sea level
and its closeness to the cool
mountains to the west, Lincoln
ton enjoys an average tempera
ture of 58.6 F.
Textiles the Leader
In Industry
Labor is highly productive.
This is supported by the fact
that every industry has in
creased appreciably from its
original size.
Textiles predominate, with
furniture production ranking
second. Lumber products, tex
tile machinery and supplies,
flour and feed, concrete mater
ials, poultry and eggs are also
produced. Machine shops and
some mining add to the indus
trial scene.
Transportation facilities in
clude freight and bus service.
There are other features
which help make Lincolnton a
good hometown. It has two
well-equipped hospitals. An out
standing school system is main
tained through 12 grades. Teach
er certificate renewal courses
are offered at the high school,
and adult educational courses
are available through the Uni
versity of North Carolina exten
sion service.
Two semi-weekly newspapers
are published. Southern Tex
tile News, a leading trade jour
nal, is published in Lincolnton.
Radio station WLON has been
—more on page 4
m.
C
"TEA TABLE" BOULDER—On the court house lawn, Mrs.
Jack Hall and son Daryl study a landmark commemorating the
Battle of Ramsour's Mill in 1780, site of which is one-half mile north.
The stone itself is sometimes called "Tarleton's Tea Table" because
British General Tarleton is said to have taken his meals off the
boulder during the Revolutionary War.
a
HISTORICAL TREASURES—W. G. Hall of Weaving (syn
thetics) visits among a rare collection of historical items in the
Old Academy Building. Exhibiting two pieces reminiscent of the
spinning-weaving home arts of a century ago is Mrs. Joseph Gra
ham. president of the Southern Stars Chapter United Daughters
of the Confederacy. Museum boasts unusual collection of Confed
erate mementoes.
TIME OUT—Leonard Tench of Weaving (synthetics) pauses
for a deep draught of well water on his 30-acre, Lincolnton, Route
4 farm. The second shift weaver cultivates 19 acres with the help
of his "steel mule".