GASTONIA • NORTH CAROLINA
VOLUME X-NUMBER 13
DECEMBER, 1961
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Rubber • Chemicals • Textiles
Synthetics • Metals • Plastics
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"I Wonder As I Wander", folk-carol with its Hughes of Martins Creek Road, Murphy, look
tender Nativity theme, is most at home in the across a Cherokee County landscape, sug-
pine-covered hills of Western North Carolina, gestive of the mood in the beloved Christmas
because it was here the song was preserved carol. The Hughes are the parents of Elmina
and given to posterity. Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Bradshaw who works in Twisting.
A GIFT FROM THE HILLS
A chance meeting of a folkways collector
and a wandering family has left a beloved song
in the living tradition of Christmas the world over
One of the world’s most beloved folk-
carols of Christmas is a gift from the hills
of Western North Carolina. Back in the
early 1930s John Jacob Niles, well-known
American folklorist, was recording the
old ballads handed down from generation
to generation to the people in the South
ern Highlands.
It was near Christmas. Wandering along the
main street of Murphy, Niles heard a young
girl singing a plaintive little song in minor
key.
The folklorist had not heard it before. . . “I
wonder as I wander out under the sky. .
He pushed through the listening crowd and
asked the little girl to sing it again. As he
made a recording of the song, he was sure he
had heard something new . . . and somehow,
something very old and rare, yet common as
the eternal blue haze over the Smokies, spring
water, mountain sunlight, and the rugged hills
themselves.
the little girl said she had no idea
who might have written the “piece” she was
singing. She’d always known it . . . didn’t
know that it was especially unusual.
Her name was Annie Morgan, and she was
s member of a transient family, leaving
Murphy that very day. The family headed
west. When Niles tried to foUow it up, no
body west of Murphy could remember seeing
More on page 3
Off-Job Safety
For December
At quitting time on your shift, you can’t tuck away
safety-awareness-and-practice in your locker, desk drawer
or toolbox as you head for home. At least if you do, you are
a choice candidate for injury yourself, and you may be the
cause of injury to someone else. This is the truth behind
observance of Off-the-Job Safety Month in December.
Every year, all Firestone
plants in the United States set
aside the months of May and
December for stressing away-
from - the - job injury control.
Within or near these two months
are five major holidays and each
one takes its lion’s share of toll
in injury and death every year.
Most of these injuries and fatili-
ties occur at home, at play, on
the highways, or other places
beyond the job.
"Our company is vitally in
terested in its employees as peo
ple 24 hours of every day—not
just while they're on the job in
factory, store, or wherever else
Firestone - Ohtsu
Plant In Japan
To Produce Tires
The Firestone company plans
to produce tires in Osaka, Japan,
in cooperation with the Ohtsu
Rubber Industry Company, Ltd.
An agreement signed by the two
companies gives Firestone its
fourth facility for production of
tires and tubes in the South
Pacific and Eastern Hemis
pheres. A plant was opened in
Bombay, India in 1940; at
Christchurch, New Zealand in
1948; and at Manila, The Phil
ippines in 1957.
Under the agreement, Fire
stone will provide technical in
formation and assistance and
share its knowledge of new de
velopments with Ohtsu. Both
Firestone tires and the Ohtsu
brand will be produced in the
—More on page 3
they may work," said Gastonia
plant general manager Harold
Mercer.
Figures gathered in the com
pany’s safety department show
that in a typical month, injuries
taking place away from the job
and leading to lost time at work
outnumber on-job injuries at
least 30 to 1.
ANNOUNCING the annual
emphasis on control of holiday-
season injuries, company safety
manager M. R. Batche said the
main purpose of the effort is the
reduction of pain and suffering
to employees and their loved
ones. Mr. Batche pointed out
—More on page 4
☆ ☆ ☆
• Faye Kennerly with a time
ly message. She works in Weav
ing (synthetics).
December 16
Children’s Yule Parties Set
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa
Claus. And he’s on his way for
a pre-Christmas Eve visit with
Firestone youngsters in the Gas
tonia area. This will be St.
Nick’s 22nd annual whirlwind
flight to Christmas parties for
children of Firestone households
here.
By special arrangement, Santa
loads up many nice things some
where south of the Arctic Re
gions and has them piled high
at the parties here. Members of
the industrial relations depart
ment at the Gastonia plant serve
as special agents for the fun and
frolic.
The parties will go according
to traditional schedule — this
year, on Saturday, Dec. 16. As in
the past, shows will be staged
in three installments, two at the
Webb Theatre downtown, with
beginning time 9 and 11 a.m.;
and at the Palace Theatre on
North York street, beginning at
10:30 a.m.
At all performances Santa will
be on hand to see that gifts are
handed out. His appearance will
be preceded by a program of
sparkling movie fare, including
cartoons, short-length comedy
and other features.
Children through 13 years of
age who are members of Fire
stone households will be honor
ed guests.