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The Caromount News
PUBLISHED EACH MONTH BY AND FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE WILSON AND CAROMOUNT DIVISIONS OF SIDNEY BLUMENTHAL & CO. INC.
VOL IV, Number 3
MARCH, 1946
Final Examining Nears
Prewar Level
According to Norman McKin
non, Superintendent, “The Final
Examining Department has near
ly reached its prewar level of
production”. In February an av
erage of 1550 pieces of cloth per
Week were examined and prepared
for shipping. Mr. McKinnon
stated that “good eyesight and
cloth sense” were essential quali
fications for performing the final
inspection effectively. About one
nionth ago the Finishing Depart
ment was yelling for “racks”;
now the Final Examining Depart
ment is in high gear and is yell
ing “cloth”.
There has been a noticeable
increase in the variety of beauti
ful colors that travel the length
of the converting building recent
ly. There has been a marked im
provement in the quality of the
rayon and alpaca cloths reaching
the final inspection tables.
^Tiss Marie Daniels has been
transferred from the Weaving De
partment to the third shift of
the Final Examining Department
where she has assumed her duties
as framer. Miss Daniels replaced
Mrs. Bertha Eason who has moved
out of town.
News from Oscar Satterfield
indicates that he is anxious to
discard his army gear and re
sume his work at Caromount. He
hopes to be in the States by June.
Bradley Visits Here
ENTRANCE TO WILSON PLANT
Wilson Plant
Richard C. Bradley has been
discharged from the Army and is
on terminal leave now. He was
assigned to the 84th Infantry Div
ision while overseas in the E. T.
0. He participated in the cam
paigns of Central Europe, Rhine
land, and Ardennes.
At the close of the war Mr.
Bradley was at Weisbaden, Ger
many, and finally moved on to
Berlin. He was assigned to as
sist in guarding a train load of
coal as it travelled through Ger
many. After having followed sev
eral incorrect directions and in
structions, his party later learn
ed that an overpass in their ram
bling tour carried them over the
moving train, the object of their
search, and further that the train
Went unguarded and three cars
(Continued on page 3)
In February, 1941 the South
ern Division of Sidney Blumen-
thal and Company, Inc., expanded
to include the present Wilson
plant and it began.its operations
in March of that year. Fifty
looms were installed and put into
operation as soon as possible with
a total employment of approxi
mately one hundred. These em
ployees include weavers, loom fix
ers, knife fixers, and material
handlers who had had very lit
tle or no experience in textile
work, but made splendid progress
in learning their jobs.
All yarns for the Wilson Plant
are prepared and supplied by the
Caromount Warping Department.
The cloth is woven in Wilson
and subjected to raw goods ex
amining there. After the weaving
and examining processes are com
pleted, the cloth is returned to
Caromount for dyeing, finishing,
and final examining.
Pfc. Skinner In Japan
Pfc. James A. Skinner is sta
tioned in Yokohama in Japan.
At present he is assigned to the
Air Corps but plans are being
completed for his transfer to
another outfit. He stated that
news from home is always wel-
eomed by the overseas service
men.
In describing Yokohama and
surroundings, Pfc. Skinner writes,
“Mount Fujiyama can be seen
very easily—It really shines when
covered with snow.”
Prior to entering the Army in
April, 1945, Pfc. Skinner was
employed in the Caromount Weav
ing Department.
Wilson Auto Accident
Eight Looms On
Auto Cloth
The first production of auto
cloth in the Weaving Department
has been described as of fair
quality. Four additional looms
have been devoted to this pro
duction making a total of eight
looms on auto cloth. There is
an increasing demand for this
auto cloth now that the General
Motors strike is being settled.
The increase in the number of
looms on this cloth in the South
ern Division depends on the quali
ty produced by these eight looms
weaving at the present.
Six persons were injured on the
night of March 17 when cars
driven by John D. Gold, Jr. and
Benjamin Harris, negro chauffeur,
collided on Kenan and Warren
Streets in Wilson, one car over
turning on top of a fire hydrant.
In the overturned car driven by
the chauffeur were Mr. and Mrs.
R. T. Smith and E. H. Suessmuth.
They were hospitalized for treat
ment.
James Ragsdale of Florence, S.
C., Wilbur Turner and Gold were
occupants of the Gold car. Rags
dale suffered a coneussion of the
brain. Gold was slightly injured,
and Turner escaped without in
jury.
The Smith car was almost de
molished and the other car was
badly damaged.
Reid Assists Scouts
Scoutmaster Perry English has
announced that Tom Reid joined
the staff of Scout Troop 13 as
Assistant Scoutmaster in early
March replacing Horace Hudson
who was unable to continue this
work. Mr. Reid is a native of
Rocky Mount and a former scout
of Troop 11. He entered the
Army in February, 1941, and was
discharged in July, 1945. He
served with an observation bat-
allion of the Field Artillery in
North Africa, Sicily, France, and
Germany. At present he is en
gaged in business with his father,
G. C. Reid.
Many scouts of Troop 13 are
participating in the advancement
program. Harvey English and
R. G. Capps appeared before the
Board of Review on March 25
for advancement to second class
scouts and Vernon ^oody,
John Daniel Everette, Paul Lind
sey, and Cecil Hartley, Jr., were
reviewed for first class scouts. At
a meeting just prior to the Board
of Review, the scoutmaster’s Pow
Wow Circle discussed plans for
the coming camporee.
Plans have been completed for
the troop committee to meet with
Troop 13 at their regular meeting
on March 28.
Dennis Gardner, first class
scout and son of Mr. and Mrs.
John Gardner, has recently reg
istered with Troop 13. His reg
istration with Troop 14 had ex
pired. Billy Littleton, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Willie Littleton, has re
cently been inducted into this,
(Continued on page 3)
Fire Causes Loss
On Thursday, March 14, at
about 8:00 o’clock p. m., fire
completely destroyed the garage,
pack house, and poultry" brooder
on the property of W. C. Davis,
Caromount loom fixer, who lives
on Nashville Highway, Route No.
1. The loss, estimated at $2,000.-
00 was partially covered by in
surance. In addition to loss of
buildings, many farming imple
ments, fertilizer, and hay were
destroyed. The dwelling was
slightly damaged.
An explosion of the oil brooder
has been determined the cause of
the fire. The Roeky Mount Fire
Department was called to fight
the fire.