Pap, ar RR
The Kings Mountain Herald
August 21, 2008
KM author
releases
book on local history
at library’s exhibit Sat.
EMILY WEAVER
eweaver@kingsmountainherald.com
The Mauney Memorial
Library will open a new
exhibit “Rhythm of the
Factory: Life and Labor in
North Carolina’s Textile Mill
Communities” at 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, August 23, with a
book signing and presenta-
tion from Tom Shytle about
his new publication
“Carolina Roots: - From
Whence I Came.”
Have you ever wondered
what it was like to grow up
in one of the several mill vil-
lages that surrounded Kings
Mountain back in textile’s
hey-day? Have you ever
heard tales of swimming in
the WPA hole here in KM?
Well these tales and more
are tucked into the pages of
Shytle’s new book. “Carolina
Roots: From Whence I
Came,” gives readers a
unique glance at the stories
behind history.
Most of the tales are not
likely to be documented in
schoolroom history books.
But as colorful as they may
seem, they are real observa-
tions of a boy, who grew up
in the throes of the Great
Depression; a boy, who
hoped to be a man so he
could join the other men,
who left home to beat the
Nazis in World War II; and a
man who had the chance to
fight and the opportunity to
change his perceived roles in
life.
Shytle grew up in the
mountains of North Carolina
and in the Park. Yarn Mill
Village near Kings
Mountain. In personal recol-
lections, he recalls life in the
mill village and working at
the mill along with his father
and mother, in the book.
These accounts of local histo-
ry tie in to the library's new.
exhibit.
Shytle’s new book, which
will be available at the open-
ing ceremony, centers
around the circumstances
ES
TOM SHYTLE
and note-worthy memories
which helped shape him, the
community, the state and the
nation over the past 75 years.
According to librarian
Margot Plonk, “The textile
industry in Piedmont North
Carolina was among the first
to feel the ripple effect of the
stock market crash in
October 1929. The author
was barely a year old in 1933
when his family was forced
by events, over which they
had no control, to leave the
cotton mill where they
worked and relocate to the
mountains of Western NC.
Economic conditions there
were even worse.
“By 1939 war was already
raging in Europe and the
mills were flooded with
orders to produce fabrics for
the military. When the
author was seven his family
moved back to the mill vil-
lage; to much better condi-
tions. His story is about his
experiences while growing
up on a cotton mill village
followed by a career in the
US Air Force. From the Great
Depression to the 21st centu-
ry his story includes the soci-
ological, political, and eco-
nomic dynamics of that peri-
od; and his personal reaction
to the evolution that shaped
our world during the last
seventy-five years.”
For more information
about the book-signing or
exhibit, call 704-739-2371.
--w be he
OBITUARIES
TONI ERNST LAWSON
KINGS MOUNTAIN - Toni
rnst Lawson, 44, of 201
Linwood Road, died August 12,
2008. She was born in
Cleveland County.
She was daughter of the late
Odrey Ernst and Pauline
Dotson Ernst. She was a home-
maker.
She is survived by sons, Brent
Lawson and Craig Lawson,
both of Kings Mountain; broth-
er, Robert Ernst of Kings
Mountain; sisters, Martha
Scism and husband Bruce, Sue
Ernst, and Roxanne McDonald,
all of Kings Mountain; and
grandchild, Mikaylah Griffin.
The graveside service was
held at 4 p.m. Friday, August
15, 2008 at Mountain Rest
Cemetery, followed by inter-
ment.
A guest register is available at
www.HarrisFunerals.com
Harris Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
WILLIAM SCHOFIELD, JR.
GROVER - William Harding
Schofield, Jr., 56, of 121 Ayers.
Road, died August 18, 2008 at
his home
after a long
battle with
brain cancer.
He was
born in
Providence,
RI. He was a
truck driver
and served in
the United
States Navy in 1969.
He is survived by his wife of
25 years, Julie Andrews of
Grover; parents, William and
Rachel Zaccininni Schofield of
Lincoln, RI; sons, Vincent
Andrews and wife Regina of
the U.S. Army and Cody
Andrews of Grover; daughter,
Tara Darity and husband Nate
of Inman, SC; brother, David
Schofield of Pawtucket, RI; sis-
ter, Norma Gendron and hus-
band Jeff of North Scituate, RI;
and seven grandchildren.
A graveside service will be
held at 2 p.m. Thursday,
August 21, 2008 at Salisbury
National Cemetery, Salisbury,
NC. The family will receive vis-
itors from 10-11:30 a.m. prior to
the service on Thursday at
Harris Funeral Home.
Interment will follow at
Salisbury National Cemetery,
501 Statesville Road, Salisbury,
NC.
A guest register is available at
www.HarrisFunerals.com
Harris Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY BUD MEDLIN
Cynthia Joyce Biddix, a Kings Mountain native, passed away
at the age of 81 on August 3, 2008 in Fla. In addition to daugh-
ters, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she is survived
by her brother, Bud Medlin of Kings Mountain.
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