Newspapers / The Elkin Tribune (Elkin, … / Oct. 4, 1934, edition 1 / Page 2
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Elkin Twenty Years Ago (A SUPPLEMENT) Through the courtesy of Mr. J. R. Windsor there was put into my hands a few days ago a copy of the industrial edition of The Tribune that was published in the summer of 1914. And this old fragment of the earlier journalism of this publi cation contains many interesting facts. It also shows that I made a few mistakes in the historical sketch of Elkin that has been running in The Tribune for the past few weeks, which I would like to correct at this time. The first correction that I would like to make is that the pastor of the Methodist church at that time was the Rev. J. A. J. Farrington, in stead of the Rev. J. P. Hipps whom I stated was here. Mr. Hipps was here the next year. Another correction is that Dr. L. R. Salmons was one of the physi cians of Elkin at that time, and Dr. H. C. Salmons was located in Jones ville, being mayor of our neighbor ing town. Another correction is that there was only one "livery, feed and trade and sale stable" in Elkin twenty years ago, according to a statement in this old paper I have, instead of the three that I stated as being here at the time. However, another stable was being planned at that time, and was built a year or so later. /msgmj jw ia Agent Sinclair Refining Company (Inc.) H. P. GRAHAM FRIDAY OCT. 512 Tomunson k PRESENTS THE 352 ANNIVERSARY FURNITURE ! —STYLE SHOW CELEBRATING ' 35 YEARS OF PROGRESS 1899 1934 TOMLINSON EXHIBITION BUILDING 10 A. M. to 10 P. M. - HIGH POINT. N. C. f ~ ' Tomlinson of High Point, North Carolina, is the only furniture manufacturer in America, so far as we know, who holds Style Shows for the public. ' Because it is in celebration of Tomlinson's 35th Anniversary, the finest and most elaborate of these Style Shows will be held Friday, October sth, from 10:00 A. M. to 10:00 P. M. All four floors of the imposing Tomlinsoft Exhibition Building will be used to display perfect examples of the furniture-maker's art. English and Continental period designs, Colonial | American and Modern American will be shown in every variety. If beautiful furniture, displayed in lovely surroundings, appeals to you, by all means take advantage of this opportunity. —Be Tomlinson's Guest Friday, October 5th — No admission charged No sales made No prices quoted - FREE. ADMISSION CARDS HLRL REICH HAYES BOREN (Incorporated) PHONE 70 , ELKIN, N. C. By GRADY BURGISS Still another correction is that Mr. A. L. Reeves was connected with Somers Si Company's 5c and 10c store then instead of having a store of his own. Somers & Co. also had stores in Mt. Airy and North Wil kesboro in 1914. Perhaps there are other little er rors that could be located by a more thorough study of the material at hand, but these mentioned are all chere are of any importance that I have in mind just now. Any fur ther corrections by anyone else will be welcomed and appreciated. One of the most interesting items in this old paper that was published 20 years ago is the following: "There are now 24 automobiles in Elkin, the kind and owners being as follows: Overland: E. P. McNeer and B. L. Johnson; Hupmobile: W. W. Whitaker, Dick Smith and H. H. Barker; Reo: Raymond Chat ham and G. T. Roth. Ford: T. G. Harris, T. G. Trivette, J. S. Atkin son, Dick Grier, C. H. Bililngs, R. B. Lewis, C. G. Armfield, E. G. Click, M. Q. Snow, C. E. Holcomb, J. W. Ring and A. L. Reeves. Buick: R. L. Poindexter and J. R. Poindexter; Maxwell: T. H. Eidson; Carmeron: Byrd Snow, and I. H. C. truck, El kin Hardware Co." There is also shown a picture of "Jargo" Elkin's first automobile. This is a very small contraption looking somewhat like a buggy with the shafts taken THE ELKIN TRIBUNE, ELKIN. NORTH CAROLINA off. W. Wj Whitaker and P. A. Brendle are shown in the seat of it. And here is a statement about the fire department which may remind you of some of the humorous spurts in the Gab Bag in regard to that organization: "The fire department has a hand reel and hose and hand fire engine, but the fire company has become disorganized, the bucket brigade method being more effec tive. However, with the completion of the waterworks, the fire company will be re-organized on a firm ba sis." And here is one about the lock up: Elkin has a good lock-up, but it has bedn used only one time for about two hours since it was built four or five years ago." But if the local lock-up did not have such a rushing business in the "good old days" there were other things that did; for we learn that Elkin had the distinction of being the largest country produce market in North Carolina, handling more than 10,000 coops of chickens and over 8,000 cases of eggs annually. It Is further stated that about 750,000 pounds of fruit and 4,000 bushels of peach seed were handled each year. The manufacturing plants are represented as doing a very large business also, there being shipped by them approximately 2,500 car loads of manufactured goods a year, going to all parts of the U. S., and to Canada and Mexico. The volume of the business represented in dol lars amounting to $1,500,000. Among the many things that were shipped from Elkin at that time was the brogan shoe made by the Elkin Shoe Co. Mr. A. M. Smith, with his factory, was able to make over 400 pairs daily, and shipped 150 car loads each year to a dozen or more of the states of the Union. The Dixie Hardware & Manufac turing Co., also did a large business in the manufacture and shipping of the Eidson Patented Canner and the Eidson Patented Mail Box. These two inventions of Mr. T. H. Eidson were shipped into a great many of the southern states. The Elkin Buggy Co., manufac tured high grade buggies, and did a thriving business here in 1914., But because of the constant changing of times and customs some of these industries have either had to diminish their business, or close out altogether, i The town commissioners of Elkin twenty years ago were G. T. Roth, J. S. Atkinson, E. G. Click and C N. Bodenheimer. (Mr. Bodenheimer was an ex-postmaster then.) C. G. Armfield was mayor, J. P. Hendren, clerk and treasurer, and W. W. Harris was constable. And here is a statement about the tax rate: "The tax rate for gen eral purposes is twenty-five cents on the SIOO property valuation and $1.65 on the poll. The special taxes for water, sewerage and school pur poses increases these amounts to $1.32 and $2.25 respectively." Another statement about clubs and secret orders is as follows,: "Five secret and fraternal orders are represented here, including the Masons, Odd Fellows, Junior Order, Red Men and Knights of Pythias, while the boys have an active Boy Scout organization and the ladies of the town nave a Reading Club, Community Club and Civic League." And this about the telephone: "A local telephone exchange gives the people of Elkin inter-communica tion and many lines penetrate the country and enter nearby towns. The Bell lines give excellent long distance service." There is also a long write-up about a modern brick hotel that was to have been built on a lot between East Main and Market streets at the present location of the F-W Chevrolet Co. It was to have had 34 rooms, a large dining room and ample kitchen facilities, and was to have fronted on two streets. Mr. W. S. Gough was the financer and pro moter of it. This statement is made about it: "This hotel will have all modern conveniences for the benefit of the guests, including a barber shop, news and cigar stands, sample rooms, steam heat, private and public baths, city water and sewerage and a spacious lobby. It will contain 34 well-furnished living rooms and will have three stories and a basement." Construc tion was begun on the building, which was to have cost $15,000, but for some reason the project was abandoned. Thus one of Elkin's dreams was not realized in order chat a better one might be accom plished! Still another interesting item which is contained in this old edi tion of The Tribune in 1914 is one about the old wooden bridge which spanned the Yadkin river. It is, in part, the old Jonesville Bridge, which spanned the Yadkin river between Elkin and Jonesville for 41 years un til last year, had the unique position of being the .longest wooden suspen sion bridge in the world, as far as could be ascertained, the span being 210 feet. The bridge was built in the winter and spring and opened up in May 1872 by a company of stockholders among whom were R. R. Gwyn, A. Chatham, etc., the work being done by a Mr. Lindsay from New England. The material for the bridge, which was enclosed except at the ends, was of the best variety and was sound when the bridge was torn down after serving as a means of communication between Surry and Yadkin counties for 41 years. The J old bridge was operated a s a toll bridge until 904 when Surry and Yadkin counties purchased It from the stock company and made it I free." I remember crossing this old bridge a few times, and I think that I shall never forget the beauty and grace of the large rainbow like arches, one on either side, that were; thcsupporting parts of this old pro- i duct of human skill and ingenuity.! There are many pictures in this old 1914 copy of the Tribune show-, ing the streets, stores, factories, i churches and many of the dwellings: as they were at that time. And the j front page presents a bird's-eye view : of Elkin taken from the top of the j hill In Jonesville at the present home j of Mr. J. I. Cockerham. Though the j picture is somewhat dim the general; appearance of what it shows of the town looks rather familiar. There! are also two pictures of the old; wooden bridge referred to above. A picture of the business sectU.n of the town as it looked in 1890; has these words beneath it: "All of j the business houses in Elkin were on | the street along the creek and are shown is this picture." (About all 1 that is shown in the picture is the j old cotton mill, two or three dwell- j ings and three or four stores). I There are also several pictures of the leading business and professional] men, the pastors of the churches. I educators, members of the town j council, etc. In a full page ad of the Chatham j Manufacturing Co., are these words: | "Twelve grades of blankets, with corresponding range prices.—They go to practically every state in the union, and to many of our island possessions.—Mills at Elkin and Winston-Salem, have not shut down for more than a week or ten days at Xmas since mills started in 1878. Output is 5,000 pairs of blankets per week." And in an ad for the grocery store of the Rev. J. R. Jolly, which was at j the present location of the Lawrence j Dry Cleaning Co., we find this state ment : "In the first brick building! erected in Elkin, and always JOL-1 LY". Another full page ad., for the Elk- j in Hdwe. Co., has this to say: "We j are agents for the famous Blue Ridge buggies, H. H. Babcock bug gies, George E. Nissen and J. I. Nis sen ywagons, Elkin Harness Co's. wagon and buggy harness, collars and bridles." Many other things are contained in this old paper about how Elkin looked and what went on within her peaceful bounds twenty years ago that would be of interest to many people, but I shall now desist from any further discussion of them, lest I tire you with the length and tedi ousness of this sketch. Perhaps at some later date The j Tribune will want to republish the historical sketches of both Elkin and Jonesville that are given in this pa per, along with other things of in- j terest that are in it. Five Indian towns of prehistoric times have been discovered in Southern Peru by an archaeological expedition. Tailoring Dress Making All Kinds of Sewing Mrs. C. W. Laffoon West Main St. Elkin, N. C. Your Chains. You Won't Nerd Tbtm With \mffM No aww, no more fioundanag u mud, no more stalling in sand. TKe big knob* take hold with a powtcful gnp and send you on your way v Yea—throw away your chains I SINCLAIR SERVICE STATION SINCLAIR H-C GASOLINE SINCLAIR MOTOR OILS E. Main St., Below New Bridge ELKIN, N. C. Red Goose Shoes Give The Most In • COMFORT B • APPEARANCE • STYLE Shoes for the entire family . . . and one of the biggest stocks we ve ever had, which guaran tees you the shoe you want in size, color and style. All Red Goose, which means a better shoe at a reasonable price. Aj£» LADIES' SHOES We have shoes in all styles for ladies. High heels, military, or ... low. All widths and sizes. And ' they're priced in a wide range ffli iM Men, you'll find both com fort and good looks in our men's shoes. And they weat like iron. All styles. o $5.98 v —- GIRL'S SHOES Our Red Goose shoes for girls are the very thing for H&I school wear! Good looking /' and strongly made. In pret- jf ty new styles, too. BOY'S SHOES / p. School boys demand strong shoes. Red Goose will fill j the bill at a saving! Fine •'•••-' for growing feet. '& SI.OO to $1.98 V\— F. A. Brendle & Son F. A. Brendle Elkin, N. C. J. D. Brendle NO We Do Not Replace Chevrolet Engines We Don't Need Too! You've heard of motor car engines that per form like a million dollars when they're new —but soon burn themselves out completely —and have to be replaced. "Skyrocket" en gines—we call them. They take off with a lot of zip and zoom! They streak away with a bit of dash and sparkle! Then: S-s-ss-st! Pheeee! Boom! Aaahhh! It's all over! And if you want to get this same brilliant perform ance again, you have to go out and buy an other skyrocket engine. In fact, the builders of this "skyrocket" type realize its short comings so well they have to provide special facilities for REPLACING THEIR ENGINES. We believe that the public is "feu up" on en gines like this. We believe that sane, wise buyers want an engine they can drive for years that will last the life of the car. That's why Chevrolet uses a six-cylinder, valve-in head engine with cast iron pistons and a cushion—balanced , mounting. It never seems to wear out. It NEVER needs replacing. It's easy to service. It's easy on gas and* oil. It's built for years of dependable low-cost operation. F-WChevroletCo. ELKIN, N. C. —— ■ Thursday, October 4, 1934
The Elkin Tribune (Elkin, N.C.)
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Oct. 4, 1934, edition 1
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