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75 YEARS AGO
From the Greensboro Daily News, Sept. 6-12, 1934

Militant textile strikers elsewhere in North Carolina and the South have caused riots, shut down plants and intimidated nonstriking workers, but Sheriff L. M. Sheffield doesn’t intend for any such events to occur at the 14 textile plants in Rockingham County.

No trouble has occurred yet, and to head off any future trouble, Sheriff Sheffield deputized about 200 men to patrol around the plants and to be available in case something does occur.

In a telegram to Gov. Ehringhaus, the sheriff said he was complying with the governor’s request that local authorities swear in enough deputies to protect property and to act in emergencies.

He said he particularly is watching after the communities of Reidsville, Leaksville, Spray, Draper and Mayodan where textile plants are.

At a mass meeting, representatives of the employers and employees, city officials and interested citizens expressed agreement that mills should continue to operate and rely on the deputies and about 300 National Guardsmen in the county to protect against a rumored visit by the strikers’ “flying squadron.”

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Farmers in Rockingham County should be about $2.1 million richer when they have sold their tobacco this season, according to figures compiled by County Farm Agent Fred S. Walker. There are 2,200 farmers under contract in the county.

Based on Walker’s estimate, the farmers will receive about $913 each for their crops.

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Five passengers from Leaksville, returning home on a chartered bus after a visit to the World’s Fair in Chicago, were slightly injured when the bus was sideswiped by a truck in Indiana.

There were 23 people aboard the bus. The injured were Mrs. S.A. Stack, Mrs. J. Treadway, Mrs. Susie Swift, Mrs. S.M. Hampton and Miss May Newman. They resumed their journey after treatment by a physician.

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A family reunion and double birthday dinner were observed at the home of Mrs. W.D. Barber. The birthday observers were Mrs. Barber and a sister-in-law, Mrs. H.C. Doss of Virginia. All of Mrs. Barber’s brothers,  with one exception,  and all her sisters were present for the reunion, as well as special friends.

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State of North Carolina general fund bonds pay 3.9 percent.

50 YEARS AGO
From the Greensboro Daily News, Sept. 6-12, 1959

Sixty years ago in 1889, a group of High Point and Madison men, headed by E.M. Armfield of High Point, joined  to open a small bank in Madison.

Today, the  Bank of Madison is still going and ranks as one of the strongest small community banks in the state. It marked its 60th year this week with a surplus and undivided profits of $337,560.

Col. J.M. Galloway was the bank’s first president, and J.O. Ragsdale came to Madison from Jamestown to be its first cashier.

Succeeding presidents were B.F. McGehee, J.H. Moore, J.O. Ragsdale and current president, Victor H. Idol, who also is chairman of the board of directors.

The bank has grown from one employee in 1889 to 14 today. With the exception of two or three depression years in the ’30s, it has paid dividends every year, with a total of $315,900 paid out since its founding.

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The Federal Trade Commission ordered Fieldcrest Mills’ Karastan Rug Mills to make its rug labels conform to the actual size of the rug. The commission ruled that the company’s size listed on the label was, in most instances, larger than  the rugs’ actual dimensions.

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Ensign Raymond W. Wrenn, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Wrenn Sr. of Route 4, Reidsville, has made his first solo flight at Pensacola, Fla., where he is undergoing flight training for the Navy at the Naval Air Station.

Meanwhile, Sp. 6 Phillip D. Blackwell of Ruffin, whose wife, Betty, lives in Reidsville, is now in Korea as a member of the 4th U.S. Army Missile Command.

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Reidsville High scored with 30 seconds remaining to defeat High Point High at Reidsville 18-12, with Reggie Manley going the final two yards to conclude a 53-yard march. Meanwhile, the Madison-Mayodan Falcons rolled to a 26-6 triumph over Bessemer High’s Whippets in Greensboro, but Morehead High’s 14-game winning streak over two years was brought to an end by Martinsville High, a 6-0 winner when it took advantage of a Morehead fumble at the Morehead 23 and then scored on a 16-yard pass.

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Savings and loan association pays 3.5 percent on savings accounts.

25 YEARS AGO
From the Greensboro News & Record, Sept. 6-12, 1984

City police and fire investigators have confirmed that the body found in a burning car is that of James Willard Galloway, 59, of Tipton Street in Reidsville.

They found Galloway’s remains on the front seat of a burning 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass about a quarter mile from his Tipton Street home, but the body was so badly burned they had to wait for an autopsy to confirm his identity.

They said the car apparently ran off Tipton Street, crossed a yard and plunged down an embankment into a stand of thick underbrush.

A fire, probably started by spinning tires or overheated engine, ignited the car.

Police Chief James Festerman said no foul play is suspected.

He said Galloway died of smoke inhalation and burns.

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Rockingham residents made pledges and donations of $21,741 to the Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. Betty Matthews, chairwoman for the county, said $7,715 was pledged during the telethon, and $14,026 was received from  donations and special events.

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The Stoneville commissioners tabled action on a proposal to provide Stoneville Furniture Co. with water for a planned expansion until further study. The furniture company says it will need 20 to 40 gallons of water a minute for a proposed electroplating operation.

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Madison police are seeking information about the suspected arson of the Robert and Lola Grogan residence on West Academy Street in Madison.

They particularly are interested in any information about suspicious persons or automobiles in that area between 8 p.m. Aug. 22 and the discovery of the fire at 1:32 a.m. Aug. 23.

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In high school football action, Morehead High rolled to a 27-7 victory over Madison-Mayodan at Madison-Mayodan’s home field, while Reidsville High recovered four fumbles and intercepted three passes in beating Eastern Alamance at Mebane.

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Savings and loan association offers 12-month $1,000 certificate of deposit paying 11.5 percent.

10 YEARS AGO
From the Greensboro News & Record, Sept. 6-12, 1999

Mayodan, nestled at the confluence of Mayo and Dan rivers, actually became a town in February 1899, but it will mark its centennial this week with a parade and exhibits.

Among features of the parade will be cars from throughout the century and the town’s first firetruck, a 1934 Dodge.

The exhibits will include a living history museum in a former service station at the corner of Main Street and Second Avenue. Furniture and other items from 1899 will be displayed.

Just outside the museum, Oak Ridge Iron Works will set up a blacksmith shop and will make and sell iron products.

A key part of the town is a red brick building that now houses part of the Tultex plant in Mayodan. The plant was started in 1897 by Mayo Mills and became Washington Mills in 1921.

The mill provided low-cost housing and built Mayo Park. It also sponsored a YMCA that today is the Madison-Mayodan Recreation Center.

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Fleecewear maker Pluma in Eden will shut down and lay off its work force of about 500 in the coming week after company officials unsuccessfully sought to find investors to buy the business.

It blamed its failure on foreign competition and poor business decisions.

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The Rockingham County United Way has set a $1.3 million goal, the largest since three smaller United Ways in the county combined to become Rockingham United Way.

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Although many in Madison would like to see the U.S Post Office stay where it is, a convenient gathering place for  townspeople, postal officials said the present post office will be too small for the town in 10 years.

The Postal Service is looking for an existing building with a minimum 6,000 square feet and parking space for 50. Based on growth projections, within 10 years, the post office will grow to 1,200 boxes and more than 8,000 deliveries a day, up from the present 500 boxes and 4,800 deliveries.

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Rockingham County beat McMichael of western Rockingham 24-6, with the winners’ offense being led by Robert Blackwell’s 205 yards on 23 carries and Jason Gagne’s six receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns.