Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-06-03
CHEROKEE FALLS.

The account of the dedication Of the
Union church at Cherokee Falls in the
last issue of The Enquirer was cal
culated to give the impression that the
handsome building was erected at the
Joint expense of the different denomi-
nations participating. 1t was not SO
stated; but such an inference was
warranted and it Is proper to correct
it, The building was erected at the
sole expense of the manufacturing
company, and the assistance Of the de-
nominations interested consisted main
ly in hearty cooperation without
which the work would not have been
worth while.
1t has been stated more than once
in The Enquirer that the Cherokee
Falls Manufacturing company Is a
model cotton mill corporation, and this
fact is generally conceded by all who
know anything about the company's
history, progress and condition. 1t
was one of the pioneer Piedmont mills,
the first to be established in York
county (since cut off in Cherokee), and
although it had long, hard pull be-
fore it was finally able to hold it's own,
for a number of years past it has been
reckoned as one Of the most prosper
Gus manufacturing establishments of
South Carolina.
This mill was built originally. during
1880 and 1881. and commenced opera
tions during the year last mentioned
with only $4,000 capital. The man
ager, the late Augustus Deal had every
disadvantage to contend with; but
nevertheless he made the enterprise a
go and steadily increased the capital
to 100000 out of the hard earned prof
it's. On the death Of Mr.. Deal the work
was intelligently carried on by others
with fine success until 1894 when the
plant was destroyed by fire. At that
time there were only $500 producing
spindles. The insurance was not near
ly sufficient to restore the property;
but the stockholders raised the balance
of the necessary money by assessing
themselves and rebuilt. making the
main building 100 by 100 feet, and
three stories high. Since then devel-
opment has been steady and rapid.
The main building is now 100 feet
wide by 312 feet long, three stories
high and contains 29,960 spindles and
COS looms. The par value of the cap
ital stock is $200,00O; but there is none
for SALE The entire property Is COM
monty reckoned to be worth about
$3.50, 900.
The population of the factory VII
lage is estimated at close to 700 people,
and although it has long been regard
ed as a model community, the i'm
provement during the past few years
has been especially noticeable. For
obvious reasons, little could be done
during the early years Of the compa-
ny's operations in the way of village
Improvement. The management did
what they could for the social welfare
of the people; but that was not great
deal. OF late years, however, the
matter has been receiving much atten-
ton at the hands Of both President
Plonk and Secretary Treasurer Rob-
erts. There is a good hall for the W..
o. W., K. of p. and other secret or
ganizations, and now comes the hand
some church building, school house and
library. A considerable amount or
money has been spent in terracing the
hillsides on which the village is To-
Gated, and there has been adopted a
settled policy of village improvement.
The sanitary conditions are perfect,
and the health of the community Is all
that could be desired. There have
been two or three resident physicians;
but they have been unable to stay.
There is not enough sickness. Such
little medical attention as IS absolute
ly necessary, Is rendered by DR.. W..
Anderson of Blacksburg.
But all the progress that is being
made at Cherokee Falls, does not go to
the credit of Messrs. Plonk and Rob
erts and nobody is better aware OF
this fact than these gentlemen them
selves. The operatives-thc people
who are turning out the product-are
high class men and women, who have
a pride i'm their work and in their VII
lage, and who are demanding that the
standard be raised higher and higher
No drunkards are allowed to make
their headquarters about the place and
no idlers will he tolerated. Everybody
must not only have visible means Of
support; but everybody must work
and work steadily. 1t has gotten to be
so that several years residence in the
village is a certificate of worth, and
all are proud of the fact.