Newspapers / The Daily Record (Dunn, … / Oct. 21, 1964, edition 1 / Page 7
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Erwin Takes On New Look With Changes Erwin, a cmcnunity of 3,000 located near the Cape Fear River end site uf Eastern North Caro i:na's largest textile producer, has long been Known as a mill village. And, for good reason: Practically everything in the community once belonged to Erwin Mills, Inc. But, things ace changing there. There are a few Harnett County old timers who can recall when the present town of Erwin was forest and farm land. Tha*t was before J. B. and B. N. Duke, the Durham tobacco empire builders went into the textile business. The Dukes, along with the late W. A. Erwin and others, buiUt a plant in Dur ham to make cloth which could be used to sew into tobacco bags A little later, they also began mak ing muslin sheeting and, after some sucoess at that venture, star ted the South’s first denim weav ing operation. At the turn of the century, the denim business was good in a predominately rural South and Er win Mill* looked around for a piade to expand, iln 1903, the NOW SHOWING IN COLOR WITH A CROOKED SHERIFF IN' feVENOORS oaw't I &TAHID I CHANCE B 'Round ■ R'VAK I'Htws istts.y' .fcut wa»»« <•»",. thine UkkeryoJ. ever sgg»‘ . ASLO - ELVIS PRESLEY Love Me Tender' 1 sr£WM/?r Starts THURSDAY .RocKADORis/ tony Hudson \Day/RaNDaik SeND Me No ^ Rowgrs^L/ ■ TacfeeuCoCor* Last Times TODAY #/MARNIE/# company purchased 5,000 acre* of land In this area and buiK a plant to manufacture denim cloth. This was the beginning of what is known as the town of Erwin- But, the village wag then known as Duke — after the founding company’s fa thers. Then in 1924, Trinity College in Durham changed its name to Duke University after the Duke family created a multi-million_ dol_ iar endowment for the Methodist '“ducational institution. In order to eliminate confusion for postal authorities. The Harnefct County community’s identity was changed to Erwin—jn honor of Mr. Erwin, president cf the Company. The denim business flourished through the first quarter of the 20th Century and in 1926, the Company decided to expand and transfer denim production to Er win. As a result, a second weave Plant and large indigo vat dyeing plant was built there. Thus, for' over 60 years Erwin Mills has teen the primary source of employment in this community and for many years was almost the sole employer. Today, Erwin Mills, [ (which became a division of Bur lington Industries in 1961 after Burlington acquired Erwin) em ploys more than 1,750 persons in its local operations But, as some folks hereabout remember, there was a time when the present acres of manufacturing buildings, the paved Streets and parking lots, residences and busi ness structures were but farm land and virgin timber. Soon af ter erection of the plant there in 1903, the company began building houses for Its workerh, laying out streets and — in general — creat ing a community around the plant. In all, the company built more than 300 houses in the village. Pt was sron realized by the com pany and local mill management that a community is more than a manufacturing facility and houses. It needs commerce- It got ft in 1905 when the late E. R. Thomas established the first store -- to sell drugs and general merchan dise — in a house located a’t the corner of North 13th and East H. Street. T„day, this is the site where Central Carolina Bank is constructing a new branch — the f-rst new comstruction in “down town” Erwin since 1946 The Thomas Dug Store was mo ved in 1906 across the street into a. new building erected by Erwin Mills. About the ‘same' tirffe the '.ompany constructed another bu ilding at the eastern end of what is now a block of business structu res. This was occupied by Hassell Simpson and operated as a company score for several years. Erwin’s fir sit school was conducted in the second story of this building un til a school building was construc ted. 1 The company built several more store buildings in 1925 to fill out Erwin’s downtown business block end in 1946 three additional com mercial buildings were erected Not only did the company ex tend its activities into construc tion of commercial properties, but it also built the first hospital and teacherage, in addition to com munity activities buildings and re creational facilities. The first major change from “mill village” status toward ‘‘home rule” came in 1951 whe nthe com pany sold some 675 homes to employee « occupants, while re taining possession of property ad jacent to the mills — should ad ditional manufacturing area be ne cessary. Now, a second major change is Underway and nearing completion. This involves the sales of approx imately 50.000 square feet of pro NORTH CRAOLINA SPOTTED SWINE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION, INC. SHOW & SALE SATURDAY OCT. 241964 Show at 10:00 A. M. Sale at 1:00 P. M. DUNN QUALITY FEEDER PIG BARN DUNN, N. C. perty comprising tbs Erwin busi ness district to the present store and office occupants. For the first time, the community’s 15 differ ent businesses, three doctors and a dentist will be downftown Erwin property owners rather than lease - holders. C. W. Howell, manager of the local operations of Erwin Mills, explained the reasoning behind the company’s decision to sell the bu siness property. “We felt that It was in the best long-range inter ests of the community, to sell the buildings to the present occuparrts. We found in the sale of the ho mes to employees, a developing sense of puide In home ownership The homes took on more indivi duality than was In evidence pre viously. Today, we think there is a better spirit of citizenship here because the employee owns his own home and is a more responsi ble part cf the community “We believe that the sale of the business buildings will also act as a long-range benefit to the town. In the past, the business and professional people of the community were dependent upon the company to a large degree. Operating under a sort of ‘gen tit man's agreement,’ the local bu sinessman found it difficult to plan long-term, because of a month -to-month, or year-to-year rent besis. Now, as owners of their bui ldings, they are free to develop for the future” Yes, things are changing in Er win — and there are many sign* of progress. The mills are In the. midst of a multi - million dollar modernization program, a new bank is going up, an addition to the community hospital is nearing completion, and with seif-owner ship of community's businesses -- who knows what additional pro gress the future will bring? \very Services Thursday afternoon Kermit Holt Avery, 54, of Route 1, Erwin, died early Wednesday morning at his home He was a retired farmer, son of Mrs Callie Morgan Avery and the late W L Avery. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 3 o’clock from Pleasant Grfcve Free Will Baptist Church Rev. M L Byrd will officiate assisted by Rev. J M Ore gory and burial wlH b« In the church cemetery The body will remain at Hatcher, Skinner and Drew Funeral Home vntil one hour prior to the serv »«*• Mill Surviving are his wile, Mrs. Gen eva Smith Avery of Route 1, Er win; his mother, Mrs Callie Avery of Raleigh; one son Willie Avery of the home; three daughters, Es ther Mae, Shirley and Angelene, a',1 of the home; three brothers, Ralph and Chester, Avery, both of Route 1, Erwin, David Avery of Route 3, Dunn; one sister, Mrs. Council Williams of Route 1, Coats. TAKE THE STEP RIO CLARA, Venezuela fOPI) — - Jose F. Reyes and Justa Medina, ~ who had lived together for IS — years, were married here this week by Father Enrique Martin, Jose is 87. Justa is 85 BAN BEATNIKS BOURNEMOUTH, England (UPI) — The town counci here is con sidering a by-law to ban beatniks from sleeping on, the beach anrf under the pier. g mu SE SUPERMARKET NEIGHBORLY SERVICE - DEPENDABLE QUALITY - IMPORTANT FOOD SAV INGS. SHOP WHERE YOU GET THE MOST FOR YOUR MONEY. EXTRA SPECIAL CHOICE GROUND BEEF RED CROSS WHOLE KERNEL CORN PACKER'S LABEL TOMATOES Your 303 ^ Choice CANS KINGAN'S HYGRADE ALL MEAT BOLOGNA lb. 39c BANQUET CHICKEN & TURKEY POT PIES PET - RITZ PIE SHELLS FRENCH FRIED POTATOES 5 ™ 89c 3-*1.00 2 ■“ 29c PREMIUM SALTINES lb. box 29c FLEETWOOD INSTANT COFFEE 5 Os. JAR 79c FLEETWOOD COFFEE Ground To Order 69. Lb. Bag POUND CAN 73c FREE! 2 LBS. OF MEAL With MARTHA WHITE FLOUR 5 £ 63c FINEST ALASKA ZEST PINK SALMON CAMPBELL’S ffH TOMATO SOUP PHILLIPS PORK & BEANS TALL CAN CAN LARGE 2</a SIZE CAN 49c 10c 19c MUSE SUPER MARKET CALIFORNIA RED TOKAY GRAPES lb. 10c VIRGINIA WINESAP APPLES 419c U. S. NO. 1 WHITE POTATOES 19 lb. bag 49c NEW FLORIDA GRAPE FRUIT each 10c COLLARDS lb. 1* WAXED RUTABAGAS «• 5c
The Daily Record (Dunn, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 21, 1964, edition 1
7
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