Comments for Notes on the History of Randolph County, NC

Comment on Cotton Textile Manufacturing Processes by macwhatley

macwhatley — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:26:54 +0000

I visited Lewiston about 15 years ago, trying to find out more about the Lewiston Machine Works. It was evidently started as an adjunct to the mill corporations, to make their original machinery. It was later spun off into its own independent company.

This is also what happened in Lowell, Manchester, and Saco. But the Amoskeag and Lewiston machinery mfrs. (which eventually specialized in very narrow market segments) didn’t do as well as Saco and Lowell, which merged and covered the entire textile machinery market.
The Machine Works buildings were still standing, and empty, near the train station when I was there.
Fires in these enormous buildings don’t surprise me, once the sprinkler systems are disabled.

Bobbin manufacture was an ancillary industry, like shuttle manufacture.
Both had more to do with wood-working production machinery than with textiles.

Here in the South, bobbin and shuttle production is what grew into the furniture industry after the Civil War.
Bobbins just needed a lathe to be turned. In the antebellum times, I think it was one lathe, one bobbin, but very soon they started to use pattern lathes, originally developed by the US Armory in Springfield, MA to make gunstocks, to turn multiple bobbins from a single pattern guide.
There were many different types of bobbins- one for every different kind of spinning frame, roving frame, winder, twister, creel, etc. (Then, as now, manufacturers didn’t try to make their parts interchangeable).

Comment on Cotton Textile Manufacturing Processes by Dparker

Dparker — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:34:36 +0000

do you have info on the factory in Lewiston, Maine. My great grandfather and great uncle owned the bobbin factory. Harry J. Parker Everett Parker

I hope to learn more about the mill, location and manufacturing. Recently there was a horible fire at one of the original mill buildings in Lewiston, I can send you site to view images and info.

Comment on Coffin’s Mills by Roxanne Ingold Thomas

Roxanne Ingold Thomas — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:27:54 +0000

I’ve enjoyed reading on your blog, and I’m sure I will check back again. I agree with you that somehow so many beautiful buildings in town have either been neglected over the years or have lost their “front yard”. I think the original entrance to the Randolph Hospital was so nice with the large maples. I live on Worth Street, actually within walking distance from your law office, and wondered if you knew any history about my house or if you could steer me in some direction to find out the history of when it was built and by whom. I live across the street from the white house of the late B.B. Walker (I think originally the McCrary house) in the khaki and olive green Craftsman house. Thank you for any information you can provide!

Comment on CENTRAL FALLS by Roxanne Ingold Thomas

Roxanne Ingold Thomas — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:11:46 +0000

Hi,
I love reading about places around Asheboro and Randolph County on your blog. The above-pictured Central Falls bridge made me think of my favorite photo of my late paternal grandparents, W.T. (Torrence) Ingold and Hazel Vuncannon Ingold. The photo shows my grandma dressed in her Sunday best and him in his WWII uniform on the Central Falls bridge. My grandfather worked for 44 years for the Burlington Industries factory in Central Falls. He was a mechanic at the mill, and my father still has his wooden tool bench that he used at the mill to store his tools. In fact, he was seriously injured while at work when a “shuttle”, as he called it, flew off of the loom into his eye while he was working on a weaving machine. He was in severe pain, blacked out, and had to crawl his way to the infirmary. He said it was so loud in the mill that no one could hear him calling for help, and the incident resulted in him having to wear a glass eye. I also remember him mentioning eating over at the “Rock Store” in Central Falls.

Comment on Solomon Hendricks’ Powder Mill by macwhatley

macwhatley — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:21:21 +0000

Thanks so much, Becky.
For those who don’t know, Ms. Bowman has spent untold hours transcribing the local news items for Franklinville and Worthville from The Courier. Her books are invaluable resources for our community, and my only regret about them is that collections of local newspapers don’t go back beyond 1903. There are some times I’d give a lot to have the same level of information from the 1870s, 80s and 90s.
Mac Whatley

Comment on Solomon Hendricks’ Powder Mill by Becky Bowman

Becky Bowman — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:18:20 +0000

Mac,

I have been reading your excellent “Notes on the History of Randolph County” series. They are very good. You have expanded my knowledge of Randolph County history.

Concerning Solomon, Tobias, and Samuel Hendricks Solomon is my gggg Grandfather. B. 6 Sep 1784. d, 1 Dec 1875. He was the son of Tobias Hendricks b. c1763 in PA, d. 1847 in Randolph. Tobias was the son of Samuel Hendricks b. c1733 in PA, d. 1824 in Randolph. Solomon married Catherine Craven 1789-1858 in 1810. My line runs through Solomon and Catherine’s daughter, Mahala, who married Jeremiah Wright.

I never knew that Solomon had a Powder Mill. Census records show him as just a farmer. That info never got passed down.

Solomon and Catherine are buried at the old Salem Meeting House cemetry on Patterson’s Church Road. Jeremiah and Mahala Wright at Old Mt. Tabor Church off Iron Mountain Road.

Thank you for sharing your research with us.

Becky Bowman
Siler City, NC

Comment on Revolutionary Soldier EDWARD BEESON by Don Tiffin

Don Tiffin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:41:35 +0000

I think Edward Beeson was born in 1757, died 1837 in Alabama and was married 4 times…his other wife was Martha Clark. That is the data I have anyway. I am his 4th. Great Grandson.

Comment on Manly Reece by Liz Wheaton

Liz Wheaton — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:43:34 +0000

Hi Mack,

A friend just sent me the link to this site, and after reading just this one post, I’m sure I’ll be savoring it for a long time to come. I’ve been looking for information on traditional music in NC for some time, and I’m doubly grateful to know the person who’s devoting the time to document this as well as your other Rand. Co. history.

You may cover this elsewhere in the blog, but are there traditional musicians (and/or dancers) who are still active in this area? I would love to get together with others to listen/watch/learn more!

Thanks so much for your effort, Mack!

Liz

Comment on SANDY CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH by Dennis Ward

Dennis Ward — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:01:49 +0000

What are the names of the 16 founders of Sandy Creek Church in 1755 or family names if full names not known. Does William Ward appear as one of them? His grandson Thomas Ward joined the Primitive Baptist Church in Madison Co TN in 1834

Comment on Midway Filling Station/ ‘Mineral Springs’ by Carole Watterson Troxler

Carole Watterson Troxler — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:03:23 +0000

I’m a big fan of this website! Great images and careful entries and compilations. Thanks for your care.