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75 YEARS AGO
From the Greensboro Daily News, June 1936
While more than 1,000 workers at Washington Mills’ two Mayodan plants were organizing a union, management at the plants indicated they would be willing to meet with workers to search for a solution acceptable to all concerned.

The plants’ workers went on strike to protest against the installation of a new system of machinery which, they contend, will reduce their wages. They have been on strike since.

Since then, they have appointed a seven-member shop committee or arbitration board to meet with management in search for a solution to the problem. Meanwhile organization of a union proceeded, with representatives of the American Federation of Labor and the United Hosiery Workers being in town.

Company officials have declared their reason for installing the Norris-Elliot equipment was to meet competition but otherwise indicated they are willing to do everything within their power to bring about an amicable agreement on the differences between them and the workers.

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The Resettlement Administration has helped about 12,000 North Carolina families climb out of destitution by making low-interest loans to them and providing for them through practical supervision, the state rehabilitation director, Vance E. Swift, told the Reidsville Kiwanis Club. The rehabilitation program was started about a year ago when there were nearly 1 million farm families nationwide and about 12,000 North Carolinians falling within the program’s purview.

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Lawrence Taylor of the Sunset section of Reidsville was charged with the murder of Gordon Settle, about 30, after an all-night card game in which the two of them participated.

Taylor, 19, became involved in a dispute with Settle and was chased into a house on Sunset Avenue where he picked up a shotgun and fired it at his pursuer. Taylor then dropped the gun and fled into nearby woods.

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Terraplane, Deluxe model, $595.

50 YEARS AG0
From the Greensboro Daily News, June 1961
A Rockingham County man, his son and two of his grandsons were killed in a three-vehicle accident on U.S. 29, south of Reidsville.

The victims were identified as R.M. Hundley, about 75, of Draper; his son, James William Hundley, 30, also of Draper; and Robert M. Hundley Jr., 8, and James Bradley Hundley, 5, both of Wilmington.

The younger Hundleys are the children of Robert M. Hundley of Wilmington.

The Highway Patrol said a truck was heading south on U.S. 29 when it came upon a car stopped to make a left turn but waiting for a northbound tractor-trailer to pass.

The driver of the pickup carrying the Hundleys applied his brakes, causing the pickup to skid around the stopped car and into the path of the tractor-trailer. All four occupants of the truck were thrown from the vehicle. Also killed in the accident was a collie dog, which was riding in the rear.

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Miss Martha Stone Alley, 18, was crowned Miss Tri-City for 1961 after she was chosen for the honor from among 12 contestants. A graduate of Morehead High School, she will compete for the state title in Greensboro in July. She plans to attend Woman’s College in Greensboro this fall.

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Richard H. Robertson, editor of the Leaksville News, was installed as president of the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce, succeeding John R. Lewis.

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Elmer McBride has been named Spray’s assistant police chief effective July 1. He held the same position earlier for six and a half years before a previous town board ousted him and police Chief Lloyd Axsom.

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William F. Pierce will begin his duties as Madison’s city manager on July 1. A graduate of UNC, he has been assistant city manager of Fayetteville for the past six years.

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Full-sized Ford Fairlane, $1,933.

25 YEARS AGO
From the Greensboro News & Record, June 1986
Burlington Industries will close one plant but expand two others with Burlington-Madison Yarn Co. ties. The moves will result in the elimination of 55 to 125 jobs.

Burlington said it will close by mid-July its Madison yarn plant, where 125 people now work. The company said it expects to hire 60 to 70 of these people as it modernizes two nearby plants.

The Mayodan plant and the Twintex plant on Madison’s Piedmont Street will expand operations after investments of “several million dollars” in new equipment over the next 12 to 18 months. James Isley, executive vice president for manufacturing, said the restructuring has been anticipated for at least two years.

The Madison plant cannot accommodate modern texturing equipment, some of which is 14 feet tall. Employment at the plant has fallen from 200 to 125 over the past few years.

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The county commissioners voted 3-2 to raise the ad valorum tax rate to 79 cents per $100 valuation, up 6 cents and the first increase since 1981. Much of the increase will pay for a 40-hour work week and a 6 percent pay raise for workers.

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The Mayodan council adopted a $5.09 million budget without a tax hike or water and sewer rate increase. The budget includes $110,563 for Mayodan’s share of a water line that will provide water service to Stoneville. The budget also includes funding for construction of a new waste water treatment plant to be paid for primarily by state and federal grants.

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The Eden City Council opted for a private company’s plan offering the city $3 million in general and automobile liability insurance, plus coverage of property, computer, boiler and machinery insurance and bond insurance. The city will pay $162,700 for this, a figure that City Manager Chuck Hafter said was lower than it would be under a self-insured pool sponsored by the N.C. League of Municipalities.

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Reidsville residents will pay 26 percent more for water and sewer services this year under a $7.68 million budget adopted unanimously. The City Council approved the water and sewer rate hikes but raised no other taxes. A customer using 2,250 gallons per month will pay $11.75 per month, up from $9.36, while the rate for businesses using 15,000 gallons per month will be $26.74, versus $24.77 now.

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Toyota pickup: $5,898.

10 YEARS AG0
From the Greensboro News & Record, June 2001
The merger of Annie Penn Hospital of Reidsville into Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro became official on the last day of June.

The merger will allow Moses Cone to expand its health care role in Rockingham County and land more patient referrals for specialized care.

No layoffs will occur, and none of Annie Penn’s existing services will be cut or moved into Greensboro.

Annie Penn is a 152-bed community hospital. During the next few years, Rockingham residents likely will see expanded and new outpatient services at Annie Penn.

As part of the merger, the hospitals will establish a $28 million Annie Penn Community Trust to help serve the needs of Rockingham residents. This is similar to what happened in Greensboro when Wesley Long Hospital merged into the Cone Health System.

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Lori I. Ford, now finance director for Maggie Valley in western North Carolina, will take a similar position in Eden on July 2. She will be paid $53,000 a year. The first certified public accountant to hold the job, she will oversee six employees and handle the city’s payroll and spending.

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Because of a tight budget, the Stoneville Town Council delayed the purchase of a fire truck and machinery for the public works department in unanimously adopting a $1.05 million budget for the coming year.

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In a 6-1 vote, the Madison Board of Aldermen ordered the town hall and police department moved out of downtown and into the former Madison Yarns headquarters on Carter Street.

The ex-Madison Yarns building is 14,000 square feet and will accommodate both the police department and the town’s administrative, finance and planning departments after some renovations.

The present town hall will be converted to the public works department.

Alderman Monte McIntosh cast the dissenting vote, saying he could not concede moving town hall out of downtown.

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The Reidsville City Council held the property tax rate at 63 cents in adopting a $16.9 million budget. This was recommended to Council by City Manager Kelly Almond.

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The Eden City Council, in a 4-3 vote, OK’d an $18.9 million budget that leaves the property tax at 57 cents per $100 valuation. The budget reduces spending by almost
$3.6 million.