100 Years Ago
Old Nantucket Spinning Department Employees - around 1908
The industrial expansion brought a dramatic increase in the Leaksville Township population over the three decades from 1890 to 1920. The main source of new employees was the farm population (mostly tenant farmers but some farm owners) from the nearby Virginia counties. They came from Pittsylvania, Henry, Patrick, Floyd, Carroll, and Franklin counties, but the heaviest influx was from the mountain counties of Patrick and Floyd. Many of the new employees at the Bedspread Mill and at the Karastan Mill later were known to have come over from the North Carolina hill counties of Stokes, Surry, and Wilkes, primarily Stokes, but the major recruiting grounds generally appeared to be the Virginia hills. "Agents" from the mills visited homes and farm communities, recruiting individuals and often whole families. The whole family would move together to the particular village, and kinfolk would follow. (James E. Gardner, Eden, Past & Present 1880-1980.)
The town made an agreement in October of 1908 with the International Telephone Company, to establish and maintain efficient and satisfactory telephone systems in the town and giving them the right to establish and maintain poles with telephone wires through and along the streets, supplying the citizens with telephone facilities for and during the period of ten years. (Town of Leaksville Minutes Book)
The Dunn & Bradstreet listing of businesses in 1909 still showed five tobacco enterprises, but the advent of a textile plant within the town combined with the absorbing growth of the large cigarette companies (under Reynolds and Duke) was soon to bring an end to Leaksville's position as primarily a tobacco center. (James E. Gardner, Eden, Past & Present 1880-1980.)
The Leaksville Light and Power Company was established in 1909 by E.B. King and J. Frank King (with E.B. King as president) as a local enterprise. Electricity was generated on Matrimony Creek by this company at a site adjoining the King flour mill, which continued in operation. At a mass meeting of officials and citizens of Leaksville on January 6, 1909, the Leaksville Light and Power Company was given franchise to establish an electric lighting system for streets in the town, with a stipulation to observe the moonlight schedule. When demand for electricity was particularly heavy, the Leaksville company apparently purchased electricity from the Southern Public Utilities Company to supplement its own output. (James E. Gardner, Eden, Past & Present 1880-1980.)
50 Years Ago
City of Eden
Town of Leaksville Mayor was D. Floyd Osborne in 1958. Commissioners included G.L. Dallas, Nathan Anderson, Jones W. Norman and Blair Burke and C.B. Rakestraw. Clerk was J. F. Kemp.
In March a discussion was held referencing to the licensing of Pin Ball Machines. A resolution was passed on March 11, 1958 recognizing the passing of the late Chief of Police, Thomas S. Meeks. In April the Chief of Police and Town Clerk were to see what could be worked out about installing a buzzer or a telephone on the Boulevard so that the policeman working this section can be located.
A resolution was passed on June 5, 1958 with reference to the consolidation of the Towns of Leaksville and Spray.
Town of Spray
Mayor A.B. Land, Commissioners J.F. Law, David Harris, R.W. Hunter, R.E. Miles and David Cook – Town Clerk Mildred G. Adams.
In March of 1958 there was discussion about not tearing down the remains of the old Colonnade building, but it was reported that the insurance on the property had not been settled, but the property owners stated they would tear it down and clean up the property when this was done.
In April of 1958 Mr. Robert Moore, Executive Secretary of the Tri City Chamber of Commerce came before the board to see what could be done about cleaning up the river bank behind the buildings near the traffic circle and also behind the laundry and cafe, that this was the first thing people saw coming into town.
Town of Draper
In 1958 the Mayor of Draper was Mayor H.R. Lindsey and Town Commissioners were: Paul Shropshire, Clarence Combs, Broadus Burgess, L. Vance Reece and Virginia Tiller. Town Clerk was Pearle N. Steagall.
A list was presented of people who had been reported to be dressing hair in their homes and charging a set price for the work without purchasing a license.
The City of Eden
Historical Display
In the past we have had several excellent displays that included:
· The World’s Fair Rug – Tree of Life Pattern 791, introduced by Karastan in 1932 and wear-tested at the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair.
· 1967 Consolidation of Leaksville, Spray and Draper with newspaper clippings and memorabilia.
· Dan River Steam Station photographs from 1948 to the present.
· Eden Fire Department and the history of the Leaksville, Spray and Draper Departments. Historical photographs, original fire helmets, and two 1940’s hand drawn pumpers.
· Eden Police Department and the history of the Leaksville, Spray and Draper Departments. Ron Hooker’s collection of early photographs and his book entitled “Joining of Forces”.
· Black History Month and collections from Ms. Elretha Perkins-Neal, Ms. Elizabeth Lassiter, Ms. Naomi Abbott, Ms. Mary C. Bell, Mr. Roger Brown, Mr. James Strong and Mr. Malcolm Allen. Early photographs and church and school histories as well as Mr. Allen’s beautiful African clothing collection.
· Take Me Out To The Ballgame Display – the history of baseball and softball in the Tri-Cities. Historical photographs as well as a vast collection of softball shirts and news clippings from Paul Stophel’s collection of Tri-City Triplets and Wayne Gang softball teams.
· Disaster Display with photographs of many of the area natural disasters through the years as well as the 2004 Matrimony Creek Flood.
Many thanks go to the late Mr. Harold Francis, for donating several photographs from his collection. Thanks also to former Mayor, Mr. Jones Norman, Mr. George Atkins, who retired from Fieldcrest and Mr. Ron Hooker, retired Eden Police. Mr. Norman donated his scrapbook which his sister lovingly made for him, a collection of newspaper clippings of his many years of public service. Mr. Atkins generously provided 1926 insurance plan prints for five of the mills owned by Fieldcrest and also some wooden pattern relics from Karastan looms. Mr. Hooker provided photos and history he has collected on the early police force in Leaksville, Spray and Draper.
In July of 2006, Ms. Debbie Shea Lewis donated her late husband, Barry Shea's collection of old photographs to the city for use in the History Room.
Additional Historical Information
Consolidation
Leaksville
History
Rockingham County
Historical Society
Rockingham
County - USGenWeb