Henderson daily dispatch., December 08, 1933, Page PAGE FOUR, Image 10

About Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995

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PAGE FOUR
Watkins Hardware Began
Operations Back In 1875
Concern Has Been in Same Family and in Business
Continuously for 58 Years ; Samuel M. Watkins Is
Secretary Treasurer, General Manager
For a business to be in continuous
operation in virtually the same lo
cation for nearly two-thirds of a cen
tufy, and at the same time enjoy a
steady growth and expansion, is a
rnost unusual occurrence, yet that is
the record that has been made by
the Watkins Hardware Company of
iHehderson. Tt was established in
1875, or 58 years ago, and has been
» going concern ever since that time.
All through the years the same
high business ethics that permeated
the minds and constituted the ideals
of the founders have been maintain
ed through the successive generation
—always with the tug purpose of ser
ving hy giving customers full value
for their money as well as to make
a profit for the owners. A generous
and appreciative public has sensed
this policy and liked it, and in con
stantly Increasing numbers patrons
give their trade to the Watkins Hard
Wafe Company from a territory miles
around in almost every direction from
Henderson.
The late Samuel Watkins was the
founder of the hardware company, at
first as a part of the general mer
cantile business he set up in Hender
son, only to he separated because o f
Its growth and the necessity for more
room. Tfo was its guiding genius un
til his death 10 years ago on Decem
ber 4. 191-t although his son, Wil
liam T. Watkins, was the manager
and directly in charge. The latter
conducted the business, attaining new
sales peaks and attracting increased
number of customers, until his death
April 3, 1926. Both father and son
were among the city’s leading citi
zens and business men in their day.
Samuel M. Wntldns, grandson of
the founder, took over full manage
ment of the hardware store and all
of its activities in the spring of 1038
when he was only 22 years old. To
day, six years later, he has amply
demonstrated his abilitv to carry on
in the name of and under the policies
enunciated hy bis grandfather and
father before him. He had worked
in the store prior to that time, and
HENDERSON IF
COLORED SCHOOL
Accredited by Southern As
sociation; Has Large
Plant Here
The Henderson Institute, formerly
the Henderson Normal Institute, was
established in Henderson in 1891 by
the Freedmen’s board of the United
Presbyterian Church of North Ame
rica. Educational opportunities for
Negroes at that time were very poor
in this section of the country. In
Vance County, Negro schools were
open for two or three months in the
year as a maximum. The purpose of
the Institute was to give an oppor
tunity for those Negroes who Were
desiring an education to obtain that,
as well as spiritual development. At
that time, no Negro church in Vance
conrtty had its doors open for services
every Sunday in the year. The es
tablishment of a nine-months school,
with the object of training teachers
and spiritual leaders, would, it was
hoped, help to alter these facts for
the better.
White teachers were in charge for
the first nine years of the Institute’s
life. Colored faculties were put in
charge in 1900 under the Rev. J. L.
-Cook, of Athens, Tennessee. Upon
his death in 1903, J. A. Cotton was
sent to take up the work.
There was a carpenter shop and
a broom factory maintained for the
young men, and sewing and cooking
were given to the young women in
addition to the usual school work. A
disastrous fire destroyed the shop,
fthd in place of carpentry some agri
culture was given the boys.
Although attendance at church has
always been compulsory, it is not and
has never been .the purpose of the
United Presbyterian Church to build
up churches of any special denomi
nation through the Institute, but to
train Christian workers, Y. M. and
T. W. secretaries, Sunday School
Teachers, missionaries, and the like.
A large percentage of the Negro
teachers in Vance County, for years,
have received their training here, as
wen as many leading professional
men in the state.
A aeries or fires, and one cyclone,
have altered the general aspect of
the campus considerably since the es
tablishment of the institution. The
Women’s Board of the church has
erected, and maintains, a hospital
which was at one time the only Ne
gro hospital within a radius of forty
miles.
New buildings have been erected,
end two dormitories, lost by life,
have been replaced. The Institute is
not run for profit, being purely a
was more or less familiar with its
activities.
Sam Watkins, as the present man
ager is known to his friends is a
graduate of the Henderson high school
Hater he attended Fishbonrne Military
Academy artd then Davidsoh College.
Mrs. Nannie T. Watkins is presi
dent; Mrs. J. A. McTver, of New York
City, vice-presideht, and Samuel M.
Watkins, manager and secretary
treasurer of the Watkins Hardware
Company.
The company has a general line of
hardware and building supplies, suf
ficient to meet the needs and re
quirements of customers at all times.
Everything that is usually found in a
hardware store, and countless other
commodities, is stocked and offered
for sale. Tn addition, the company spe
cializes in tobacco flues in season.
The store is noted for its complete
stocks and quality hardware and ma
terials throughout.
The store is located at the corner
of Breckenridge and Wyche streets,
just a block off the city’s main busi
ness thoroughfare. It is conveniently
located to the farmers, many of whom
have always looked up the Watkins
store as a source of supply for their
cropping implements.
W. E. Moss, oldest employee of the
company, has been affiliated with it
off and on for 44 years. He is one of
the “old guard” of the hardware busi
ness in this section, and one of tlie
oldest citizens of Henderson in period
of his residence here. He is a highly
valued associate in the conduct of the
business, and is one of the best
known and most highly respected ci
tizens of Henderson and Vance coun
ty. He is a member of the First Meth
odist church, and through the years
has served that church in many of
ficial capacities.
Next in service is N. J. Stainback,
“Nick” as he is known hy his friends,
has been with the firm for seven
years and has developed into a com
petent hardware man. Mr. Stainback
is a native of Vance County and is
well known throughout the county.
Others who are employed at the
present time are W. C. Stainback,
Jr., Miss Kathleen Fogleman, and
Miss Nannie Guy Watkins.
The personnel of the company gen
erally is of a high class and composed
of men of energy, familiar with their
duties and always loyal to the store
and its interests.
missionary enterprise which costs its
Board from $20,000 to $25,000 a year.
The plant is worth approximately
$175,000, consisting of six brick
buildings besides the teacherage and
several smaller frame houses. For
years, it has stood for Christian edu
cation—missionaries coming to work
here with the view of evangelizing as
well as teaching the three R’s.
A disastrous fire in the spring of
1932 destroyed the Administration
Building, containing the classrooms,
music rooms, and offices. Because
of the depression, the church was fi
nancially unable to rebuild. The In
stitute has been doing high school
work in the city and county for col
ored children for many years; there
was no high school operated by the
eity and county for Negroes. The
city did not feel able to build such a
school, and a cooperative agreement
was reached between the city and
county and the Freedmen’s Board in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whereby
the church furnished part of -the
money and the site for a building,
and the city and county the rest of
the money. The school is now ope
rating under this agreement. The
church owns the plant with the ex
ception of the school building; the
city and county own that building.
The Henderson Institute is an A
grade high school and a member of
the Southern Asociation of High
schools aftd colleges with an A grade
in that association.
A boarding department has been
maintained for boys and girls at a
nominal cost to the pupils. The
charges for board has never been
more than $12.00 per month. During
the last few years this department
has been small. The “depression”
accounts for part of this falling off
in this department and also the fact
that many counties and towns which
had no high schools years ago have
them now. So parents do not find it
necessary to send their children
away from home to high school.
In order that hoys might be given
i an opportunity to observe farm work,
the Institute maintains a small farm
of about eight acres. On this farm
are grown vegetables and feed for
farm stock and cows.
The campus comprises about six
acres. Funds are needed for keeping
up and beautifying the campus. Since
the state is opefating the school, we
are not allowed to charge tuition;
so we find it difficult to keep the
campus up to standard.
In the athletic field, the school has
stood high, taktng the State cham
pionship in basketball two years, in
football one year, and last year .cap
turing second place in the National
Tournament in basketball. Funds
are needed to maintain this depart
ment. We have an all-time Librarian
for whose salary the state makes no
provision. Funds are needed for a
salary for the Librarian.
The school nas to Its credit about
2000 graduates who for the most part
are contributing to the welfare Os the
race and community.
HENDERSON, (N. C.) DAILY DISPATCH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1&33
OXFORD MILLING CO.
BIG MANUFACTURERS
liberty and Bonny Bose Popular
Brands of Flour Sold
To Trade
The Oxford Milling Company, lo
cated at Oxford, does one of the
largest volumes of business in its
line of any concern anywhere in this
section of North Carolina and Vir
gihia. It was established in 1897
under the firm name of J. F. White
(Company, and during its more than
a third of a eehtiiry of active serv
ice to thousands of patrons has es
tablished a most enviable reputation
for the production of quality flour,
meal and feed.
The daily capacity of the company
is 150 barrels of flour, the leading
brands are Snow Flake, plain; Lib
erty, self-rising; Bonnie Rose, plain
and self-rising. These brands have
become a household word in a wide
territory, and especially in the four
counties of Granville, Vance, Frank
lin and WJarren. The company also
enjoyed a large sale of these products
in other parts of North Carolina and
in other states as well. The story
that lies behind this success is one of
quality and service.
For many years the Oxford Milling
Company has aided the farmers in
the way of furnishing a market for
their grain, and has also furnished
them much information on how prop
erly to plant their grain crops, and
thus get the maximum production per
acre: For years !the company has
conducted an exchange for farmers.
J. F. White, who founded the bus*
iness 35 years ago, is one of the most
highly regarded Citizens of Oxford.
While no longer actively engaged in
the management of the business, Mr.
White wields an influence in the In
dustrial, financial, moral and material
life of his community and section,
and commands the respect and es
teem of every one who knows him.
The reputation for integrity and high
standards in business ethich which he
imparted to his company from the
outset still constitute the guiding
motive in its operations, and stand as
a monument to his wisdom and fore
sight in charting its course on the
path to success.
J. F. White, Jr., is the present own
er of the business. He has come up
in his father’s ways in the conduct
of the business. He has demonstrat
ed his ability to carry on the acti
vities of the mill and has been its
guiding spirit for a number of years.
■ i
BILLER’S IS LARGE
DEPARTMENT STORE
Has Full Line of Men’s, Ladies’ and
Children’s Wear; Located Near
Post Office
Biller’s Department Store is located
two doors south of the post office on
Garnett street to which location the
company moved several years ago for
the double purpose of obtaining larger
quarters for an expanding business
and to get closer to the center of the
city’s shopping district. The estab
lishment carries a stock of goods that
includes everything to wear for every
member of the family.
J. R. Biller came to Henderson from
Norfolk 12 years ago and opened an
“Army and Navy Store.” disposing of
quantities of surplus stocks of gov
ernment materials left over after the
World War. As that was exhausted,
other lines were added, until today,
as for many years past, the business
has developed into a department store
Mr. Biller is an experienced mer
chant and is ably assisted in the con
duct of the business by his wife, who
knows every garment of the estab
lishment about as well as her husband
does.
Mr. Biller is a World War veteran
and a member of Henderson Post, No.
60 ,of the American Legion and for
merly held a commission in the re
serve officers, training corps of the
army. Mrs. Biller is prominent in the
American Legion Auxiliary hefe and
has several times been honored yFith
responsible offices in the organization.
Both are loyal and enthusiastic cit
izens of Henderson doing their part
in promoting the welfare and ad
vancement of the community.
VIRGINIA DARE IS
POPULAR HOSTELRY
Operated by Mr. and Mrs. Vance
Fleming and Located Near Bns
iness District
The Virginia Dare Hotel is to many
patrons a “home away from home,”
in addition to being living quarters for
many Henderson people. It is con
veniently located at the corner of
North William and Mitchell streets,
a block from the business section of
the city, and easy of access to any
place in town.
The hotel is operated by Mr. and
Mrs. Vance Fleming, who have been
in charge since they purchased the
property some years ago. Their fine
management has brought them busi
ness from local and visiting people,
who have found there a warmth of
hospitality that has been attractive
and pleasant.
The hotel has all modern conven
iences, is well kept, is moderately
priced and conducted in an atmos
phere that makes guests feel at ease
and among friends. Usually it is pat
ronized practically to capacity. It is
furnished in a manner making for
the comfort and satisfaction of pat
rons.
Mr. Fleming is a Vance county man,
and, while some years of his life have
been spent away from here, the home
fires tugged at his heart strings until
he returned and found a business for
himself in the old community. In ad
dition to the hotel, he owns a large
. farm in Middleburg township, where
he operates a dairy and furnishes
numerous satisfied customers in the
city.
BONDED WAREHOUSE
Storage Coifipany In West
Henderson Operated by
F. L. Toepleman
COTTON
Has 56,000 Square Feet, of Floor
Space and Is Licensed for Bus
iness hy State and Fede
ral Government
The Henderson Bonded Storage
Warehouse Is one of Henderson’s lar
gest enterprises, and the largest of
its kind anywhere in this section of
North Carolina and Virginia. It was
established in 1926 by F. L. Toeple
man, who Is the principal owner and
is manager and director of its af
fairs.
Its principal storage products are
cotton and tobacco, but other com
modities are also handled and the fa
cilities are the best and most modern.
When the business was established
seven years ago it bought a building
60 by 300 feet, with two floors. Its
growth was so rapid, however, that in
1928 it became necessary to enlarge
and an additional warehouse 80 by
120 feet was provided. Today it has
56,000 square feet of floor space, and
virtually all of it is occupied and in
use.
For the safety and protection of cus
tomers, the warehouses are connect
ed with water tanks having a capacity
of 60,000 gallons, with recourse to a
reservoir with an additional 250,000
capacity. Both warehouses are equip
ped with the most modern sprinkler
systems in use.
The company is the agent and buy
er in this section for Holmes and
Dawson of Norfolk, Va., large cotton
dealers and exporters, and is an im
portant source of supply for that
company’s requirements of cotton.
Many thousands of bales are also
bought in this section for shipment to
Carolina mills. The warehouses here
have storage capacity for 13.500 bales
of cotton. The company has an ar
rangement whereby it will lend cus
tomers 75 percent of the market value
of cotton on storage, at an interest
rate of six percent. It loaned over a
quarter of a million dollars on cot
ton last year.
The company’s location in Hender
son serves it to great advantage by
reason of the fact that Henderson is
known far and wide as one of the
best cotton markets in North Carolina.
Thousands of bales are handled into
and out of the city each year, and
best prices are obtainable by the far
mers and others, who have cotton to
sell.
The warehouses here furnish em
ployment for about 25 Negro laborers
in addition to the management and
office personnel.
F. L. Toepleman, the manager and
chief owner of the business, is a Hen
derson man. He was reared here and
has resided in the city nearly all of
his life except when away at school.
In addition to the Henderson city
schools, he received his education at
Bingham Military Academy in this
State and George School, Pennsyl
vania. and N. C. State College at Ra
leigh. He is a director of the Indus
trial Bank of Henderson and the Cor
bitt Motor Truck Company. Mr.
Toepleman is a veteran of the World
War. He was trained at Camp Jack
son, Columbia, S. C., after volunteer
ing his services when the United
States entered the World War in 1917.
He became a first lieutenant and went
overseas as one of the commanders of
the 371st Infantry, and was in the ser
vice for a total of two years and four
months. He was one of the organizers
and became the first post commander
of Henderson Post, No. 60, of the Am
erican Legion. Mr. Toepieman is al
ways found lined up on the side ot
every movement for the progress and
development of his native city.
In addition to the storing of large
quantises of government-owned cot
ton in his warehouses here. Mr.
Toepleman is a government classer of
eo + ton.
The plant is located in West Hen
derson directly on the Southern Rail
way tracks, and covers five acres of
land, with every moderi facility for
carrying on the business o* a bonded
storage warehouse. It ’s recognized as
one of the best equipped to be found
anywhere
H. M. Rowland, native of this com
munity, is cotton buyer anl one of
the best both as to grade and quality.
John M. Church is assistant manager
of the warehouse, and H. M. Polston
is also an assistant in the manage
ment of the large business.
A. S. WATKINS SELLS
BUILDING SUPPLIES
“Where Quality Tells and Prices
Sell” Is Slogan of Popular
Young Business Man
Under his own name Alex S. Wat
kins owns and operates the lumber
supply business that has, been carried
on for some years on East Mont
gomery street. Known as The Place
ot Values,” where quality merchandise
and fair dealings are the guiding
spirit of the enterprise, the estab
lishment has attracted a large volume
of trade from year to year.
Lumber, paints and oils, nails and
a general line of builders hardware
is carried by Mr. Watkins. He main
tains a delivery service and offers
prompt and courteous treatment to
customers.
Mr. Watkins is a native Henderson
man, having been born and reared in
this city, the son of the late Mr. and
Mrs. Samuel Watkins. He was edu
cated in the Henderson public schools
and is a graduate of Washington and
Lee University at Lexington, Va. He
is a past post commander of the
American Legion, and is prominent
in the First Presbyterian church. He
is one of Henderson s livest young
business men, known and trusted by
thdse Whoi have had dealings with him
especially and by the community in
general.
MAY.SMITH COMPANY
FAVORITE CLEANERS
Owned hy Enterprising Local Busi
ness Men and Gives Prompt,
Satisfactory Service
The May (Smith Cleaning, Company
is one of the oldest concerns of its
kind in Henderson, having been in
business continuously over a. long
period of years, and much of that time
in the location, on South Garnett
street, a few doors below the post
office. The cofnpany’s slogan, “A
Mother’s Care for All Your Wear.” a
standard which the management, al
ways strives to live up to.
The company is owned and operated
by by two brothers, D. O. and W. H.
May both of whom are experienced in
the cleaning business. They have been
active with the company sinee its be
ginning and are well known to the
trade in Henderson. Through the
years a reputation has been establish
ed for conscientious service to a grow
ing list of patrons and customers,
who have come to recognize the es
tablishment as a place where the
highest class work can be had with
earnest efforts at all times to please
and satisfy.
A general cleaning, pressing and
dyeing work is done on men’s and
boys’ suits, and overcoats,; and wo
men’s and children’s dresses and
coats in general. A department is also
maintained for the cleaning and block
ing of hats, with the same measure
of satisfaction and quality work
turned out as in the other parts of the
establishment.
| Christmas Gifts §
| TOYS l
i, I
| Wagons, Tricycles, f
| Rifles and |
| Shotguns |
Shells (new white powder) 35
& £
69c box, special
<£ p
Super X cartridges, 15c box (of 50 cart) 35
5? 3?
H Special single barrel gun, 410 gauge jjg
I $6.95 each §
« n
jg Shop At jp
A? 35
| Watkins Hardware Co. g
Henderson, N. C. M
OS*
« as
Standing in His Own Light!
a"*
1E A . \
m i
Vourtosy Washington Dally N eii *
Jenkins Distributor Os
Gulf Products, U. S. Tires
Large Gasoline and Oil Business Spreads A
Counties of Vance, Frainklin, Warren „„j r- ’ l ' ou >
Built From Bottom By U,
The growth and expansion of the
enterprises owned and controlled by
Colonel James W. Jenkins has been
one of the outstanding successes of
recent years in Henderson. He is
the distributor of the products of the
Gulf defining ompany in the four
counties of Vance, Granvilie, War
re* and Franklin, including gasoline,
lubricating oils and greases and fuel
oil. Colonel Jenkins also has the
same territory for the distribution of
United States tires and tubes.
Many service stations in the cities
and towns of the territory are owned
outright by Colonel Jenkins, most of
them being leased to the operators,
While many privately-owned stations
are served by him with Gulf pro
ducts and United States tires.
The large plant for the storage of
these products is located on the ex
tension of South Wiiliam street, in
South Henderson, and adjoining the
main line tracks of the Seaboard Air
Uine railroad, afford m.,
facilities for the
freight cars. Colonel Jenkinl K
tarns an office there but ™
cently has opened a imt ore
The business in the eowL
runs into large figures ami i«
the largest of its klnd J ;
anywhere In this part of North o
llna. ''"'art.
Colonel Jenkins is a "home grM> ,
business man. He was horn ami
ed rn this community, has ~
«fe, escept a, „„„ J
he was away in school or i„ th
itary service of hi, count* j ‘
younger dav S he was y ‘ In h,s
the Seaboard Air Line raUwayl?
freight office here. With th h ‘
ganization of Company C
North Carolina National r,, a he
1915, Colonel Jenkins was made
tain. It was not so long after u
until trouble broke out in Mexico
Nations, Guard unit, wc“ I*'
to the border. Colonel Jenkins ,
his company to that frontier a
managed its affairs with distinctio
and efficiency to the point that l
attracted the commendation and re
cognition of his superiors. Hardlv
had the Guardmen been brought hack
home and mustered out of the servic
until war was declared against c,e/
many, and the call to the colors can*
again. Colonel Jenkins again led in,
men into camp, where intenskv
training was given for nearly a year
In the spring of 1918, he went with
his organization to FraiJce, and w a ,.
with them in the immortal charge of
the 119th and 120th Infantries of
North Carolina National Guardsmen
against the supposedly impregrable
Hindenburg line, which resulted in
one of the greatest victories of the
war for any outfit.
It was not long after that until
Colonel Jenkins was commissioned a
major, which he retained in the re
organization of military units in this
State after the war. Several years!
ago he received & new and higher pro
motion in military service to the rank
of lieutenant-colonel, wiih assign
ment to the staff of the Thirtieth
Division.
In addition to his business and his
military connections, Colonel Jenkins
is otherwise prominently connected
in the community. He is a member
of the Rotary club, a past commander
of the local post of the American I.<-
gion, and active in the Stat«- organi
zation. He led the movement for the
reorganization of the First National
tßank a year ago, and succeeded in
piloting the undertaking through its
first stages.
Colonel Jenkins has for years been
prominent in the affairs of the First
Methodist church, having been a
member of the board of stewards
for a long while, and for four years
chairman of that important body,
which is responsible for the opera
tion of the church organization.
Colonel Jenkins is married and has
three children. He is known to
every one in the community and held
in the highest esteem and respect
everywhere as an outstanding citizen
of Henderson and Vance county