Hide Article Text (OCR)
AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXPharr And Stowe Have Built With Gaston'* The live components of an in* jdustrial complex under the names “Stowe, Pharr, and Imperial, centered in McAdenville and embracing Spencer Mountain and Bel-jnont locations are an inseparableand thes-part of the history [present of textile Gaston County, j- Stowe Mills, Inc.; Phorr Worsted Mills, Inc.; Pharr Yams, Inc.; ^Spencer Mountain Division; anti ^Imperial Yarn Mills, Inc., share Ifaotli with ihe industry and with •Gaston County many of the same Tleaders and builders.‘ The people of McAdenville, and mow of Spencer Mountain and Im-Uperial, revere the men who have •led the way, like the great B. L. -Stowe. They need no Introduction llo the present-day leaders, who ^are -among them daily, r And they need no interpretation of their industrial importance .^in the textile world. They know filial they are a part of a world ‘leader In a vital industry, lead* jCisliip won through the fine industrial art of spinning yarns of the ;fcighest quality.'* And they are rightfully proudin their knowledge.But there is much, much more to the story than the past history and present-day economics.There « the. eye-opening and rousing social phenomenon of McAdenville, the center of a cultural and intellectual boom that often leaves the rest of the ccunly and area somewhat behind in the rapidly unfolding calendar of whal’s new In McAdenvble?”McAdenville — and the same applies to Speneer^Mountain and Hie Imperial — is a town of beauty, a winter wonderland, a green summer park.And it is a town nf pageantry with pretty girls, of gala festivals with happy people, ot playing, learning children.One of the occasions upon which McAdenville becomes Ihe capital of Gaston County is the annual Community Day Celebration, which is observed all day on the Saturday nearest the Fourth of July.It is by far the biggest event ofits type in the county, ivilh all ofthe employees and their immediate familes and many other eager guests invited to attend. Last year, some 8,000 people came — and took part.There is a full day of activities and competitive games, beginning before noon and lasting until about 5. Thcp follows the famed barbecue supper, after which comes entertainment by professional performers, tops in their fields of TV, circus, recording.And it's all climaxed when the people and (heir neighbors take part in square and round dance I fin ales.Preceding it all are ihe swimming pageant and beauty contest the night before to select a Miss McAdenville and a Little Miss McAdenville to reign over the celebration.The event is under the sponsorship of the Woman's Club,Another — and longer occasion in McAdenville is Christmas, when the entire town gleams with lights, evergreen, and gently falling fountain.At that time of the year, Mc-iAdenville is so bright that, as oneman said, 41 When you leave McAdenville it looks like Christimas is over.’'It's not all scenery. Three thousand children share in Ihe Santa Claus party and treats. And there is the caroling, yule log burning, fdcrt-drawn through the otherwise silent night of Christmas Eve.■ Most of the year is not occasion.0The days of the weeks are detlon of volunteers, except for Hie three named professionals.Hie fact that the Stowe Mills division has now passed tho mil-licn man-hour mark without a disabling accident may in part reflect the healthy bodies and attitudes ot the people of McAdenville.Some of the men who lead the industrial plants and inspire the community are William J. Pharr,voted to turning the town into a I president and treasurer, and Datt-garden. The newly founded McAdenville nurseries on the South Fork Kiver will provide the shrubs and ihe flowers for the future at McAdenville, Spencer Mountain, and Imperial.The McAdenville Recreation Center is the core not only of recreation and competitive sports, but also of classes in arts and crafts, and social graces.It has a director. Bill West. Ty Donaldson is his assistant. Ray Jenkins is the athletic director.Some of its facilities and activities — all of which ure fully open to Spencer Mountain and Imperial folks — are the swimming pool, bowling alleys, billiard table, game room, tennis court, basketball court, table tennis, and gymnastic s.The last named course for the■w.McAdcnyilU Recreation Centeryoung, along with sHm-jrastfa?for the ladies, is taught by qualified instructors from the community who were sent to school” in the art.There are also classes in ceramics, wacd-carvmg, and dancing for children and adults.There are 19 plant softball teams, and a McAdenville team last year won the world championship In Providence, R. I. McAden* ville also produced tho runner-up to the champoin in women's soft-iel .T. Stowe, secretary and assistant treasurer, son of the founder, R. L. Stowe.Oilier top-level officers are George M. Rowe, executive vice-president, M. Carstarphen acid J. Crawford Poag, vice-presidents and assistant secretaries,R, C. Sehoortmaker is controller and assistant treasurer, and Dan C. Howe is tax officer and assistant secretary.James R. Harris is director of personnel, George R. Culberson is general manager, W, D. Lucas and J, D. Bynum are general superintendents, and there are the following divisional superintendents.Glenn Hall at Spencer Mountain, J, E. Clark at Imperial, Ken Bolts, C. C, Payne, Gordon Dom-iny, and Joe MeWhhtcr at Pharr Yarns, Harold Falls at Stowe Mills, Don Ratchford at Pharr Worsted Mills, and John Hun* sucker at Stowe Mills.Dr. Lowell E, Jennings is company physician, and Annie Roberts is industrial nurse.The plants, overall, spin yarn of all types from virtually all important modern day fibers —■ ae-rilan, dacron, orlon, say die, nylon, lycra, each with Us unique characteristics for specific purposes.And, of course, cotton at the fm-bi Ouftdufc pre-teens, teens, ^ flL?LfncP,*arr Investment Club, Woman's Club, *nd ft-si-acfi dyos C8r^1 J1™'Men's Club and, in addition, two Iroop^ each of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. sPinnochle and boxing arc other activities, and a ballroom, a complete kitehen, and a lounge and trophy room arc among the other facilities.All activities are under dircc-One of Gaston County's recent Industrie! gains is now under con-structfon at McAdenville. It is a now, modern giant for the manufacture of spun nylon yams for use by carpet manufacturers.This new plant, rising beside Interstate B5, will serve also as a iCKM proclamation to travelers from everywhere of the SI owe* Pharr-lmpcrial eye to the future,
Newspaper Details
The Gastonia Gazette
Gastonia, North Carolina, US
Sun, Apr 05, 1964
Page 30
Full Page
Clipped by
Sandra B.
USA 14 May 2020
Other Publications Near Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia Daily Gazette
Gastonia Firestone News
Gastonia Lake Norman Gazette
The Gastonia Gazette
The Gaston Gazette
