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May 8, 2016
Vol. 38 No. 20
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Old bell from cotton mill to ring again By CAROL BROOKS Staff Writer It was a sad day for many people in Jamestown when the Oakdale Cotton Mill closed its doors several years ago after over 150 years of operation. A large part of Jamestown’s population either worked there or knew someone who did. It’s fitting, therefore, that memorabilia from the mill make its way to the Historic Jamestown Society (HJS) and Mendenhall Homeplace. “I was sitting in my office the other day and this big truck pulled into the parking lot, followed by Billy Ragsdale,” said Mendenhall Homeplace Director Shawn Rogers. After unloading the contents, the truck left, only to return with more items. On the truck were a late19th or early 20th century fire hose reel cart and tool box, supervisor’s ledger desk, embossing seals for the Jamestown Box Company (now Highland Container) and Ragsdale Masonic Council Junior Order United American Mechan-
ics #169, a master clock to operate bells – and the bell from Oakdale Cotton Mill. “The bell was in the tower,” Ragsdale said, “and they used to ring it at the shift change. The rope came down through the floor to the bottom where they would ring it. “It had to go into the tower when the (current) mill was built, probably the 1880s. When the mill closed, we took it down and put it in storage. “Employees used to be in a little nucleus around the mill, but then they spread out and (the mill) had a steam whistle.” Ragsdale said there weren’t fire departments in the earlier days. Each plant had its own hoses. “They had fire plugs in the mill and would roll that thing around when they had a fire and take care of it,” Ragsdale said. “Textile fires are common, especially in the old days.” The ledger desk is one of several that were around the mill so supervisors could stand to do their work. Rogers noted that the bottom is worn where the supervisor would rest his
foot. The Ragsdale family is known for its desire to preserve history. Billy’s father, Bill Ragsdale, often purchased old buildings, bringing pieces for storage at the Mendenhall Homeplace prior to HJS taking over. He saved the Potter House, Quaker Meeting House in City Lake Park, McCulloch Gold Mine property and, among others, the Mendenhall Homeplace. “Everything that was going to the ax, he bought and saved,” Billy said. Mary Elizabeth Perry Ragsdale, Billy’s mother, began the Historic Jamestown Society and was recognized with the Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit from the Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina in 1986. “Mother kept everything,” Ragsdale said. “Everything.” Ragsdale didn’t want these items to remain in storage. “I just want people to see it and know where it came from,” Ragsdale said. “I didn’t want to keep them at my house,” he added with a laugh. “I wanted
Mendenhall Homeplace Director Shawn Rogers kneels beside the old bell from Oakdale Cotton Mill donated by Billy Ragsdale, right.
(Photos/Carol Brooks)
Rogers points to the master time clock used to ring bells and alarms on a set schedule. The dial could be set for different times of days. See BELL, page A7
Jamestown is a good place for retirees By CAROL BROOKS Staff Writer
(Photo/Carolyn Lewis)
Runaway returned to nature
A big snapping turtle visited the Jamestown News last Thursday. A passerby spotted the reptile on the road in front of the News office as he drove by on his way to take his daughter to school. He decided he would stop on his return trip and make sure the turtle was out of harm’s way. Being sure to work from the backside of the creature so his fingers didn’t get “snapped,” this gentleman picked up the big guy (approximately 16 inches long) and deposited him on the lawn behind the office. The turtle didn’t hang around very long, just long enough for office manager Carolyn Lewis to “snap” his picture.
See review of Haynes-Inman Education Center Broadway musical page A8
It’s official. Jamestown has been named a North Carolina Certified Retirement Community. Jamestown Mayor Keith Volz joined other dignitaries in accepting an oversized certificate of the designation on April 26. In September, High Point attorney Jim Morgan and Jamestown councilmember Georgia Nixon-Roney proposed that High Point and Jamestown partner to become a Certified Retirement Community. Morgan believed that since many industries were located in the area, bringing in outside executives and workers, those people should want to retire in the area. Additionally, the area was ripe for other See RETIREES, page A7
(Photo/Carol Brooks)
Left to right: Jeff Golden, Wit Tuttell, Mayor Keith Volz, Georgia NixonRoney, Lynn Montgomery, Lawrence Straughn and Andre Nabors pose with the certificate awarded to Jamestown/High Point at the Jamestown Town Hall highlighting their new designation as a North Carolina Certified Retirement Community.
Out with the old and in with the new Although no building construction has actually started at Jamestown’s Public Works Facility, there has been a lot of destruction of old buildings, digester tank and wastewater treatment tanks as well as grading and trenching going on. The old facility off Harvey Road was in need of major repairs, inadequate for current and future needs, and the site was congested for town staff. Also, since the town’s sewage is now treated at High Point’s Eastside Wastewater Treatment Plant, the old tanks are no longer needed. Building construc(Photo/Carol Brooks) tion should begin within the Last week, workers installed new gas and diesel tanks as well as a tank for next few weeks. recycled oil (on crane). A vehicle wash will be constructed behind the tanks.