Full text of "High Shoals, Gaston county, N.C., a Southern cotton mill town"

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BELOW THE DAM

Tfigl) Skoals

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FROM THE BRIDGE. LOOKING UP THE RIVER

(Bastott Count?. M. <L

1908

OBSERVER PRINTING HOUSE
CHARLOTTE. NORTH CAROLINA

HIGH SHOALS

GASTON COUNTY, N. C.

A Southern Cotton Mill Town

Published and Copyright by

OBSERVER PRINTING HOUSE, Inc., CHARLOTTE, N. C.

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THE COTTON COMES FROM THE NEARBY FARM TO THE MILL

ESTLING down among the stately pines, oaks, and
hickories of North Carolina, in the heart of the Pied-
mont Region, lies the cotton mill town of High Shoals.
At an altitude of a thousand feet, with its ever-cool
mornings and evenings, its golden sunshine at all seasons,
its pure mountain air, added to the cleanliness of the
town itself, High Shoals may be called a natural health resort, and an
appropriate location for a working population to live.

The village is about thirty miles from Charlotte, on the Carolina and
North -Western Railway. The town is situated on the banks of the
picturesque South Fork of the Catawba River, whose waters, as they rush
over dam and foaming shoals, from which the name High Shoals is derived,
resemble the roar of the ocean, and at night lull one to peaceful slumber.

OST of the working pop-
ulation of High Shoals
are carolers, spinners, and
weavers. The manufacture of cot-
ton cloth requires f he work of
other trades, but almost all are
comprised in the above enumera-
tion. The cloths made are plain
white sheetings, of about the weight
and quality of ordinary bed sheets.

STREET SCENE-EVENING

HILE High Shoals is
essentially a mill town, it
is an ideal one. The ac-
companying pictures show two of
its streets, well kept and free from
rubbish as they always are, with
the simple but well-built houses
on either side — the comfortable
homes of the mill employees.

MORNING STREET SCENE

A COTTAGE HOME AT HIGH SHOALS

LMOST every yard has
its sweet blooming mass of
shrubs and flowers, while
luxuriant vines of the lovely old
fashioned roses or sweet smelling
honeysuckle cover the piazzas.
Here on a summer afternoon the
babies may play safe from the
heat of the sun, while their mothers
sit contented at their sewing.
The people take great pride in
their gardens, and the competition
among them is keen.

SPRINGTIME-1N THE PARK

S an extra incentive, five
prizes are given annually
for the best gardens, as
follows: 1, for flowers, $10.00;
2, for flowers, $5.00; I, for vege-
table garden, $10.00; 2, for vege-
table garden, $5.00; and for best
kept general premises, $ 1 0.00.
These prizes have been given for
the past six years. A committee
chosen by the residents awards
these, after carefully inspecting
each garden.

COMFORT IN THE SHADE OF THE FLOWERS

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ANOTHER HIGH SHOALS COTTAGE HOME

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THE MILL AND FALLS BELOW THE DAM

METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL

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BAPTIST CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL

BARACA CLASS-BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL

GIRLS' CLASS- BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL

BAPTISMAL SCENE-THE BENEDICTION

ITUATED at the end of the long village street on which
the others stand, is the Baptist Church, with a large and
active congregation. The regular services are twice a month,

with extra services frequently. The Sunday School, large and

still growing, is held every Sunday.

HE children of the Episcopal Church take a great interest
in the already large Sunday School, which is growing
rapidly. Those of the Sunday School who have unusually

good voices are trained by the Deaconesses, and a very pretty choir

of sweet little children sing during church services.

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BAPTIZING A YOUNG LADY

NE of the large congregations in High Shoals is the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church. Services are held regularly twice
a month, the pastor having several other churches else-
where of which he takes charge. The Methodist Sunday School is
large and flourishing.

N THE above picture, showing the baptism of a young lady,
the man on the right at the top of the steps will lead the
new convert to the Baptist faith out of the water, and the

one on the left holds a cloak to throw over her as she goes to the

tent dressing-room near by.

'W / N THE village there are two
V, M^ splendid schools — one
-%=. — I the regular public school, and
the other the Parochial School
of the Episcopal Church. The
Public Graded School is always
well filled, and is taught by a
competent force of teachers. The
building is a modern wooden struc-
ture, with large, light rooms. It has
a seating capacity of about 200
pupils. The course is the same as
may be found in any graded public
school of high standing.

GIRLS' SENIOR CLASS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL

I^-w " \|IHE Episcopal School
\«^ and Kindergarten,
■■fr* s I which are under the
supervision of the Church, are
taught by the Deaconesses
Eva and Mary. These gen-
tle Deaconesses divide their
work — one teaches, the other
nurses the sick of the village.
And both are loved by every-
body for the good they do.

THE KINDERCARTNERS

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THE FRESHET

THE HIGH SHOALS BAND

FOURTH OF JULY PICNICKERS

JOYOUS celebration of the Fourth of July is always had at
High Shoals. In the old days before the Revolutionary War,
the rifle makers of the Piedmont went to the Shoals to gel
the fine iron which
they used for their
rifle barrels. In those
old days, there was
one of the best iron
works in America at
High Shoals. The
rifles made from
High Shoals iron
were an important
factor, on the Ken-
tucky frontier against
hostile Indians, and
at Cowpens, King s
Mountain, and other

AN IDLE HOUR BY THK PAVILION IN THL PARK

battlefields against the British forces, during the War of the
Revolution. From the hills about High Shoals, one may obtain
a distant glimpse of King's Mountain, where the historic battle
was fought.

N THE last "Fourth," there were addresses, picnic dinners,
more addresses, and multitudinous games. Perhaps the
most interesting was what was called the "Egg Race, with eight

young lady entries.
Each one was re-
quired to hold a tea-
spoon by the han-
dle, bowl up. An
egg was placed in
each spoon. They
ran, at the word
"Go," from one
end of the river
bridge to the other.
When an egg was
dropped, that girl
was out of the
race. Only two or
three got to the goal end of the bridge wilh their eggs still
safe in the spoon. Many other sports were indulged in — in-
ning, jumping, etc. — prizes being awarded to the winners of
the different events.

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UNTING is excellent in the surrounding country. The
boys hunt rabbits in the daytime, and opossums by night.
The best hunting is for quail, and this particular hunting is very
excellent. There are
foxes, not much hunt-
ed, and some few
golden - winged
pheasants. The boys
catch many turtles in
the river, so that real
turtle soup is no un-
common thing at the
Shoals.

[pJJIGH Shoals is
■M-y-l-l in a mineral
country. Near the
place is a sulphur
spring, an arsenic
spring, and a 1 i t h 1 a

N THE smaller streams in the country about High Shoals
are a number of old-fashioned waterpower gristmills.
From these the Shoals people get supplies of real old-fashioned,

water-ground cornmeal
and hommy, and whole
wheat. A little higher
up the mountains, the
real water-ground
buckwheat flour can be
had, and also maple
syrup. The cream
and the butter are the
real homemade article.

IGH Shoals
was settled,
about 1 760, by John
Fullenwider. He built
an iron works, having
a number of Catlan

HUNTERS AND THEIR BIG GAME-THE BOYS HAVE KILLED A CRANE

forges, several trip hammers, and a number of trains of rolls

spring. The hthia spring is owned by the Lincoln Lithia Country
Club, but is available to visitors from High Shoals if accompanied
by a member of the Club.

to make round, flat, and square bars. These works were of great
service to the patriots during the Revolutionary War.

IS[

EAR High Shoals is the Lincoln Lithia Country Club.
Visitors can reach the Club via the Carolina and North-

l^jTpMJHE Club has nearly three hundred
j ((EMS i of which is laid off in building lots

acres of land, a portion
Many of the owners

Veste

n Railway (leaving the train at High Shoals, and going

of these contemplate erecting cottages on their property.

thence to the Club

Bowling alleys,

in a surry), or via

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golf links, good

the Seaboard Air

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livery, and excellent

Line Railway,

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quail shooting

getting off at

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constitute some of

Lincolnlon Station,
and again via surry

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the principal
attractions.

to the Club.

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There is a good

The membership

system of water

of the Club is near

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works, and the club

200, and is com-

house is equipped

posed almost en-

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with all modern

tirely of ladies and

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convenience s

gentlemen from

throughout. The

various southern

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Club keeps a herd

cities and localities.

\T THE LINCOLN LITHIA COUNTRY CLU

of cattle on its own

The location of the Club, being on the foothills of the moun-

pastures, from which its milk and butter supply comes.

tains, and possessing an ideal climate, makes it an all-the-year-round

There is a "Sulphur Mine * (iron pyrites) within a couple of

resort for health and recreation.

miles of the town, and the Sulphur Branch comes from this mine.

HIGH SHOALS IN 1750

HE above cut shows the High Shoals waterpower as it appeared in I 750, when the surrounding country was largely inhabited
by Indians, and the white population was very scant.

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HIGH SHOALS IN 1800

ERE is shown ihe waterpower as it appeared in 1800. Inside the fifty years preceding, there had been developed in the neighborhood
a very considerable manufacturing interest. Amongst other industries, there were numerous blast furnaces, making charcoal pig iron. At
High Shoals there was an extensive iron works, making bars, nails, plowshares, and other products in wrought iron. The waterpower
operated the rolling mills. This was before the institution of slavery became of dominant influence in the South. These iron works and most of
the other industries were operated by intelligent free white labor, which was then abundant.

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HIGH SHOALS IN 1 850

i HE. appearance of this High Shoals iron works in 1850 is represented in the above picture. As the influence of slavery grew,
* v I the manufacturing interests of the Piedmont region not only made no progress, but actually retrograded. The illustration
shows the wreck of the former prosperous iron works at a time when agriculture and slave labor had become dominant.

HIGH SHOALS IN 1900

N THE early part of the preceding half-century, slavery was abolished, and after the restoration of civil order and good government
there was immediately a revival of the manufacturing interest. The illustration shows a new development of the waterpower, and a
cotton mill which has been constructed over the site of the old iron works. As in the first fifty years of the nineteenth century the
adverse influence of slavery is made apparent, so in the last fifty years of the same century the wholesome influence of free institutions is equally
illustrated by the new development at High Shoals.

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