Fred Norman a prominent Elkin businessman told me that Chatham 's had many men employed with engineering degrees but none could compare to my grandfather. He said that Bob came to Chatham's and standardized all of the many different kinds of looms that they had so that all the loom fixers could work on them. My grandfather was in charge of the Weave Room and over the loom fixers. He also schooled and gave classes for the fixers. He just had a great mechanical mind for machinery. I remember him more in his retired life being able to create many things. He didn't go to the hardware store for things he just made his own. He could also take apart a lawnmower and put it back together. In his retired life he loved to hunt and fish. The Chatham's gave him special privileges to hunt and fish on their many properties. Many times he took me along. Before coming to Chatham's in 1934 he in his early years was a farmer from Patrick County Virginia and then moved to Draper Mills in Rockingham County in North Carolina. His father in law John Hopper (1859-1930) was a well known Draper Pioneer in textiles. When the Great Depression came he and his family relocated to Swannanoa North Carolina in Buncombe County just outside of Asheville and worked at Beacon Manufacturing Company until 1934. His brother in law George Hopper was working at Chatham's and was going to move back to Draper and he recommended my grandfather to Chatham's to take his place. When you go to the Beacon Manufacturing plant now it is just a big empty field. My grandfather worked for Chatham's until he retired. He also patented several of the shuttle type looms for Chatham's.
George Robert Hall at head of table with the Chatham's at Luncheon
1 comment:
Superior court I would like to say that this blog really convinced me to do it! Thanks, very good post.
Post a Comment