An Independent Weekly Newspaper . . . Sevenly-Firtt Year of Continuous Publication
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1959
FOR BEST RESULTS
advertisers invariably uac the column* of
the Democrat. With its full paid circula
tion, intenaely covering the lecal shopping
area, it's the beat advertising medium
available. ; /. . ? ' I' '? "" ?I?'!
VOLUME LXXI->- NO. 37
WATAUGANS offered bright business opportunity
$50,000 Plant Expansion Drive Opens
Shadowline To Have 100 More Jobs; $250,000 New Payroll
Prompt Civic Action Will Double This Local Group Of Workers
Employees of Shadowline, Incorporated, m Boone. ? Kneeling: Hack
Brown, Lester Matheson, Hubert Matheson, Bill Triplett, George
Greene, Johnny Greene, Billy Miller, Arnold Cooper, Eugene Wilson,
Sherrod Salsbury, president of Shadowline, Hubert Inman, Hal
Johqson, Lynwood Stephenson; Standing: Gladys Minton, Opal Har
mon, Betty Harmon, Jessie Baldwin, Mabel Brown, Emogene Lentz,
Mary Gaulden, Grace Norris, Shirley Matheson, Eualla South, Faye
Cornell, Ann Dancy, Pinkie Church, Carleen Perry, Alberta Isaacs,
Kaye Campbell, Jeanette Roark, Thelma Simmons, Mary Lee Hartley,
Joan Thomas, Gerry Keller, Martha Norris, Reta Warren, Alice
Wintrier, Iri? Aldridge, Mary Grace South, Jeanette Miller, Nell
Vines, Christine Stokes, Barbara Townsend, Helen Hartley, Aretta
Critcher, Tress ie Greene, Marilyn Penley, Mary Collins, Lillian
Hagaman, Irene Miller, Pauline Johnson, Louise Hodges, Mary Lea
Jones, Iva Lee Woodring, Pauline Isaacs, Jean Teems, Betty Church,
Vera Isenhour, Sue Warren, Petri Watson, Hazel Towntend, Gerry
Ragan, Catherine Cole, Juanita Bodenhamer, Faye HcCurry, Stella
Hayea, Naomi Iaaaca, Betty Aahley, Earlene Williams, Hattie Wilson,
Geraldine Moody, Mary Sherrill, Norene Seatz, June Norria, Sylvia
Stevena, Grace Ray, Gladya Harmon, Jewell Ragan, Dean Wilcox,
Bernice McGuire, Beatrice Pitta, Peggy Vannoy, Joan Maat.
PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY SOLE PURPOSE
Watauga Industries, Chamber
Commerce Secure Local Plant
Watauga Industries, Incorporated, was organized two
years ago for the purpose of promoting industry in Watauga
County. It was incorporated and authorized to issue a thousand
shares of stock at $100.00 per share. Glenn R. Andrews is
president; Jerry Coe, vice president; R. D. Hodges, Jr.,
treasurer; and Herman Anderson, secretary. Stanley A. Harris
is executive vice president.
In cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce Industry
Committee a contact was made with Mr. Sherrod Salsbury,
president of Shadowline, and the Shadowline Company agreed
to open a branch in Boone provided Watauga Industries would
build the building and rent it to them on a nine year contract.
This was Watauga Industries first big project to attract
industry to Watauga County.
Shadowline would pay 8% interest and have the privilege
of purchasing the building. Shadowline keeps up the building
and the grounds without any expense to Watauga Industries.
Some $35,000.00 worth of stock was sold. Watauga Indus
tries borrowed $38,500.00 and built the building.
Mr. Harris pointed out that Shadowline paid rent
last year amounting to $5,806,00, and in addition to paving
the parking lot, the note has been reduced to $34,000.00
and "everything Jooks to a very prosperous future for
both Shadowline Company and Watauga Industries."
Now Shadowline desires to enlarge their plant because
they have more orders than the present force can produce,
therefore, they need more employees than can be housed in
the present plant. An addition 80* by 100' will cost approxi
mately $50,000.00. Additional stock is now for sale at $100.00
per share. Current value according to the bank is $116.00.
Stock should pay a minimum of 5% gross, and unless Shadow
line buys the property, should pay above 7 9b.
Officials of Watauga Industries pointed out that their
services are available to any industry that might consider
locating in Watauga County, and Mr. Andrews stated
that arrangements similar to those between Shadowline
and Watauga Industries could be worked out. If a build
ing is needed for housing an industry, the group will
make an all-out effort to meet the need. I
About two years ago a labor survey was made in
the county to determine if enough workers were avail
able to Justify industry considering locating here. Nearly
4,500 people said they would be available for working in
the county.
Mr. Salsbury, whose company employed many of these
people, said this about the labor supply, "We have found an
(continued on page two)
'<
Plant Began
Operation
Here In '57
Shadowline, Incorporated, began
manufacturing of lingerie in Boone
in July of 1997. The company
employs 100 people at present, and
had a payroll last year of $250,
000.00.
Hal Johnson, local manager,
points oat that of these 1M
employees, M of them are con- ,
aidered Watauga natives. The
other four are native North Car
olinians, and all of them live
In Watauga now.
The company employs mostly
women, as the manufacture is
mainly a sewing process. Included
in articles made by Shadowline are
panties, slips, gowns, pajamas,
robes, and bed jackets. The local
plant is engaged primarily in mak
ing woven fabric gowns.
These items are sold nationwide,
Mr. Johnson said, and are boasted
as "the world's finest lingerie."
Both woven and tricot materials
are used in the manufacture.
Managing personnel includes Mr.
Johnson, who came here from the
main plant in -Morganton. He hat
been with Shadowline for 10 years.
Hubert Inman, plant engineer, is a
native of Greensboro, and has been
with Shadowline for about three
years.
Mrs. Thelma Simmons, forelady,
has 10 years' experience with
Shadowline, and is a native of
Caldwell County. Lynwood Steph
enson. mechani' and maintenance
man, formerly of Wilmington, has
been with .the company for three
years. Q
Mrs. Mary Lee Hartley U secre
tary of the local branch, and Eu
( Continued oo page two)
Endorses Expansion Program
Glenn R. Andrewi, president of Watauga Industrie!, Inc.,
issued the following statement, as he urged the people of Watauga
county to cooperate in locating more industry in the county:*
in iwo/ we iormeo mo
Watauga Industries, Inc. for
the purpose of promoting
and assisting industry iit
Watauga, both to help the
industry we have and se
curing new industry.
"Shortly after our organ
izing we were contacted by
Mr. Sherrod Salsbury of
Morganton, the manager o{
the Shadowline, Inc. plants.
It was indeed gratifying to
the Industry committee and
the citizens of Watauga to
have a good prospective
manufacturer show interest
in locating in Boone.
"Then for several weeks
a grotip of industry workers
?ought out the location for
the Shadowline plant. We
looked at many places over
a period of several weeks
before determining that the
present site could be obtained, and that a right of way could be
obtained to reach the beautiful site of the modern factory of
Shadowline ai it itands today.
"In every problem that came up we found the Shadowline
people fair and agreeable to work with. No one could a?k for
more agreeable tenants, and 1 feel that we are deeply indebted
to this firm, and it is the duty of all our people to lend a helping
hand in seeing that we meet the wishes of the firm in their
present operation and seeing that funds are raised to expand the
factory to the size they need for the production of their markets."
GLENN R. ANDREWS
John Greene operate* doth laying machine at Shadowline plant, in
preparation for making the cloth into lingerie. The laying machine
operate* on a table almoat the length of one tide of the building, and
unrolla the material from the bolt auto g amooth straight pile.
? .
/ ,
T earns Of W orkers Start T oday
To Sell Stock In New Structure
The Chamber of Commerce, in its session Tuesday noon, lent endorsement to the
movement to build an addition to the plant of Shadowline, Inc., local lingerie manufacturers,
designed to double production and payroll and put nine units of solicitors to work to raise
Leaders
Endorse
Project
Statement* from civic leaden
concerning the proposed expansion
of Shadowline and the part Wata
uga Industries, Inc., is playing are
printed below:
I wish to express my endorse
ment of the campaign to raise
$90,000 for the expansion of the
plant of Shadowline so as to pro
vide jobs for more than one hun
dred additional Watauga County
people. ?
Your Mayor and City Council
will do everything possible for the
well being of the community
through the establishment of add
itional industrial facilities here,
and the expansion of those we now
have.
I want to felicitate Shadowline
on their fine rocord of progress
here. Watauga Industries, Inc., is
to be congratulated for the fine
work it has done.
Let's continue to work together
for the good of the city and county.
Yours very truly,
GORDON H. WINKLER,
Mayor of Boone
"Shadowline, Inc., has been ?
most satisfactory company to deal
with, and their payroll has added
much to our economy.
"We have been constantly seek
ing new industrie?.tThis expansion
is even better than a new industry
that would employ 129 persons.
"Shadowline has been tried. We
know they are good. They art hap
py with us too. fcH
"When the expansion hat been
completed and 100 to 138 tddition
( Continued on po|o two)
the required $50,000, so that the new factory unit may be
built and occupied at the earliest possible time.
Financing of the new industrial project will be handled
by subscribing to shares in Watauga Industries, Inc., the
local promotional institution which built the present Shadow
line factory with privately-solicited funds.
Under the plan, the buildings are leased to Shadow
line for a rent sufficient to carry the indebtedness of the
financing institution, Shadowllne having an option to buy
the property. Buiiness leaders of the community have
joined in expressing complete faith in the venture as ?
sound investment, and no stone will be left unturned to
get the $S0, 000 subscribed at the earliest possible time.
Teams which will begin the sale of stock this (Thursday)
morning are composed of the following:
Blowing Rock: Howard Holshouser, Bob Hardin, Bill
Lents.
Appalachian College: Dr. Lee Reynolds, Howard Cottrell,
Vance Howell, John Corey, Dr. W. H. Plemmons.
Boone: Jerry Coe, Vaughn Koten; Glenn R. Andrews, R. '
D. Hodges; Jr.; W. H. Gragg, Willys Chester, Herman Ander- .
son; D. L. Wilcox, Guy Hunt; Ralph Winkler, Paul Winkler, ?
Stanley A. Harris; Estel Wagner, J. C. Goodnight, O. K.
Richardson, Grady Farthing, Neil Farries.
The new building to result from the campaign will ex
pand the facilities of the plant so that one hundred mora
people will be employed, or practically double the present
payroll.
All members of the Chamber of Commerce, it is pointed *
out by Herman W. Wilcox, chairman, will associate them
selves with one of these committees in taking subscriptions
for stock.
Mr. Wilcox and members of the solicitations groups point
out that subscriptions of stock are not to be regarded as
contributions ? that the stock is good and represents a sound
investment for the individual and for the community.
The sales campaign will continue from today until the
necessary amount of stock is sold, which it is hoped will be
almost immediately.
The building, and additional payroll are assured, when- ,
(continued on pay* two)