The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-05
7. WALTER WILLIAMSON


Editor, The Star News:
Will you permit me through your
columns to say a word about MIR.
J.. Walter Williamson on my own
part and in behalf of the Bellwil
community?
We are under the urge to pay
tribute to this man whom we loved
and we would not deny him an
honor that is due him. It was IN
his relations with his employees n
his tenants that his real self was
revealed. If a man shines in such
difficult economic situations. 1t Is
worthy of note and must be told.
When the Bellwill mill was run
ming there was not an employed
man or woman who was not known
personally to Mr.. Williamson.
There was not a man or woman
who did not have cordial relation
ships with him. There was no
problem, no crisis in their lives
that they did not discuss with him
sure of his warm sympathy. His
counsel was excellent and always
in their interest and they trusted
him implicitly. He had a way OF
talking to his employees about the
textile industry in general, and
prospects for Bellwil in particular.
If work was slack, if wages were
locked there was not a man or
woman who did not know exactly
why and who did not Loyalty de-
clare that the condition was be-
You'd Mr.. Walters control and if
he couldn't get orders, he couldn't
give them work. During the last
few years of the mills productive
period they often spoke with affec-
~tionate pride of the fact that al
though the mill was not earning
money, Mr.. Walter kept it open to
provide employment for them and
would, as long as possible. There
was in their attitude a sort of pro.
tectiveness towards him as though
they did not wish any one to mis-
understand any step he had to take
during the dwindling of business.
They were intelligently aware of
his position and whole heartedly
for him no matter what happened.
The Bellwill company, had, as
was usual, a visiting nurse for the
employees, but Mr.. Williamson new
er limited her ministrations. Mrs.
Bessie Powell was at liberty to at
tend to anyone in the immediate
community and it is safe to say
that it was due to the close co.
operation in policy between Mr..
Williamson and Mrs. Powell that a
high standard of personal and gen.
eral hygiene was set and main
tanned in that section Of town.
When the drift from the closed
mill began, many of those taught
by Mrs. Powell introduced better
living conditions wherever they
went. Thus, the policy of the Bell
will company was a great factor
in the impetus to city wide dis.
trict nursing.
During the depression when Mr..
Williamson might have easily sue.
cumbed to the national despair he
rose magnificently to the challenge
Of his people. No longer employed,
as the mill had closed, they were
still his friends and no one was
ever turned out of his home be.
cause unable to pay rent. Year
after year widows and parents
with small children who could not
get jobs anywhere, lived in Bell
will houses and used Bellwill wa
ter supply never pressed for the
rent or made to feel unwelcome.
It is quite impossible to meas
ure in a material way the value
to Wilmington of the friendliness
and discretion of Mr.. Williamson
in his dealings with his tenants
and employees. HIS patience was
Well-nigh boIndless and when it
was over-taxed he incurred no i'll
will in the community when the
blow fell on the offender. Strikes
were unknown at Bellwill for
the understanding between employ
ed and employer was complete.
When the news came Of his sud-
den death a deeply grieved people
sorrowed with a sense Of personal
loss and when they were deciding
what inscription to print on the
ribbon tied to the wreath h e
bought for him, there was only
one phrase that answered their
hearts cry and so they ordered the
words, OUR FRIEND which en-
braced all there is of appreciation
and wistful longing as they face a
future deprived of his help, his
friendliness and his strength.
JANE DALZIEI, WON