mm»^,
But The FROM 'BACK YONDER'
Smokestack Wasn’t Moved
"Many a change—everything's moved around except
^’fiaybe the boiler room and the smokestack/' observed
Frederick Thornton after his sentimental journey back
^0 the Firestone plant this summer. He'd been gone
since the late 1920s.
Mr. Thornton, now retired and living in Columbia,
C., came with Mrs. Thornton and some other mem-
^®rs of the family to visit here, look for old ac
quaintances—and to bring along two old photographs
the era when he was employed here—almost six
years before Firestone purchased the mill.
United Appeal
Thornton came to work here in the early 1920s and
stayed on the job until around 1929 when he went with
Continental Can Co. in Baltimore. He retired there five
years ago and moved to Columbia.
His keepsake photo of the mill here appears to have
been made on a quiet Sunday morning—or was it
during a vacation shutdown? The group picture of the
cloth-room "crew" is of around 1928-29 vintage.
The people? Miss Marguerite Styers, secretary to the
division general manager, sought the help of her
sister (Mrs. Mattie McCann—second from left, back
row, and now retired) for identification of most of the
persons in the group. Does anyone identify the 'un
knowns'?
At Firestone In October
County Goal: $348,000
Early October is starting time for the Firestone Textiles
^'^'plant campaign in this year’s Gaston County United Ap
peal. Through this the 15th annual United campaign, 33
h^alth-welfare agencies combine their fund collections into
appeal for help which makes possible their services in
1968.
Gaston County United Appeal
the new designation for the
'^^mpaign organization which
served the past 14 years un-
^er the name Greater Gastonia
^fiited Fund and Council.
Beyond Gastonia, the UA
Service area now includes Dal-
Harden, Lowell, Mt. Holly
Ranlo.
This year’s United Appeal
goal is $348,000—up nine per
cent over that of last year. The
increase was called for because
of rising costs generally, some
added member agencies, ex
panded services of some agen
cies, and the enlarged service
area with a population of al
most 72,000.
The yearly UA drive is the
only general money appeal made
in the plant here. Firestone peo
pie have the privilege of making
the "one gift—one time" through
payroll deduction.
Throughout the years, Fire
stone people’s combined gift to
the United effort has represent
ed a major contribution to the
campaign, with an unusually
high per-person rate of giving.
The “fair-share” record of giv
ing also has been outstanding.
The 1966 Firestone contribu
tion was $32,031.41.
Every year many Firestone
people give volunteer service to
the United effort, from the on-
the-job solicitor with sign-up
cards; to top leadership posi
tions.
Campaign president for 1966
— More On Page 2
Front, seated from left: Mrs. Clara Wilson; Unknown;
Callie Oliver, Dolly Brown; Unknown; Jane Padgett.
On knees, from left: Dorothy Short, Mrs. Nina Dilling,
Mrs. Fay Crenshaw Sahms, Metta Francis.
Gertrude Bradley, Dessie Short, Gertrude Clouse.
Basha McMahann, Naomi Owens. Standing, from left:
Man unknown; Mrs. Mattie McCann, Chloe Hollifield
(deceased), Donnie Lytle (deceased), Mrs. Laura Haney
Austin; Unknown; Mrs. Mimms, Mrs. Carl Rob
inson, Mrs. Julia Leonard (deceased). Standing, far
right; Mrs. Lola Hyden, the supervisor.
Of this group, Mrs. Dilling (second from left, front
row) is the only one still employed here.
GASTONIA • NORTH CAROLINA
Tire$ton«
SEPIEMBER • 1967
0 A GIANT
Rising UP
In mid-August construc
tion on the new fabric-treat
ing unit began to rise above
ground on the site of the old
millpond. The first day of
work of the construction
crew presented the picture
here — a giant steel frame
work reaching upward to be
come part of the main unit
of the installation which is
planned fore lectronically
treating polyester tire fabric,
from yarn twisted and wov
en here.
The unit under construc
tion is planned for beginning
operation sometime in
December of this year. It
will be another progress
landmark at Gastonia. The
first electronically - control
led fabric-treating unit, put
into operation here in late
1954, was a pioneer in its
field. It was the world’s first
tire-cord-treating factory of
its kind.
Benson, N. C., population
around 2,500, is 30 miles north
east of Fayetteville and not far
up the road from Bentonville
Battleground. The Johnston
County town is well known for
its timber and lumber industry,
cottonseed mills and gins; and
as an agricultural center built
around the growing of cotton,
tobacco and corn.
Benson has other claims to
Mules And Cotton
distinction: Each year it has the
State Singing Convention in
June and Mule Day Celebration
in the fall. See Travel Notes,
page 4, for more on the 18th
annual celebration which honors
the lowly (and ornery?) beast
and his contribution to our way
of life before and after the com
ing of the tractor.
Rec Center Arts-Crafts Show
A two-day exhibition of gar-
den-grown items; arts, crafts
and hobby articles will be held
at Firestone Recreation Center
in October. The public showings,
sponsored by Variety Garden
Club of Firestone, begin at 9:30
a.m. Oct. 12 and 13.
Exhibit-items entries are re
stricted to Variety Garden Club
members and their families, and
to a limited number of others
through invitation from the
sponsoring club.
Mrs. W. R. Turner Sr., Varie
ty Club leader and a past presi
dent of the group, will conduct
sessions of a workshop on
Christmas decorative arrange
ments; and speak on artflower
arranging, candlemaking and
other crafts.
Garden specimens to be dis
played include fruits, flowers,
foliage, potted plants and dish
gardens. There will be craft dis
plays of nut rings, Flemish
flowers and handiwork of all
kinds.
A “something from nothing”
grouping will show scrap quilts,
flowers and wreaths made from
‘tin’ cans; and other craft items
from discard materials.
Hobby exhibits will include
woodwork items and candles.