Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/highshoalsgastonOOchar 
 
BELOW THE DAM 
 
Tfigl) Skoals 
 
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 FROM THE BRIDGE. LOOKING UP THE RIVER 
 
 (Bastott Count?. M. <L 
 
1908 
 
 OBSERVER PRINTING HOUSE 
 CHARLOTTE. NORTH CAROLINA 
 

 HIGH SHOALS 
 
 GASTON COUNTY, N. C. 
 
 A Southern Cotton Mill Town 
 
 Published and Copyright by 
 
 OBSERVER PRINTING HOUSE, Inc., CHARLOTTE, N. C. 
 
 All Rights Reserved 
 

 
 
 
 
 
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 THE COTTON COMES FROM THE NEARBY FARM TO THE MILL 
 
 
 

 ESTLING down among the stately pines, oaks, and 
 hickories of North Carolina, in the heart of the Pied- 
 mont Region, lies the cotton mill town of High Shoals. 
 At an altitude of a thousand feet, with its ever-cool 
 mornings and evenings, its golden sunshine at all seasons, 
 its pure mountain air, added to the cleanliness of the 
 town itself, High Shoals may be called a natural health resort, and an 
 appropriate location for a working population to live. 
 
 The village is about thirty miles from Charlotte, on the Carolina and 
 North -Western Railway. The town is situated on the banks of the 
 picturesque South Fork of the Catawba River, whose waters, as they rush 
 over dam and foaming shoals, from which the name High Shoals is derived, 
 resemble the roar of the ocean, and at night lull one to peaceful slumber. 
 
OST of the working pop- 
 ulation of High Shoals 
 are carolers, spinners, and 
 weavers. The manufacture of cot- 
 ton cloth requires f he work of 
 other trades, but almost all are 
 comprised in the above enumera- 
 tion. The cloths made are plain 
 white sheetings, of about the weight 
 and quality of ordinary bed sheets. 
 
 STREET SCENE-EVENING 
 
 HILE High Shoals is 
 essentially a mill town, it 
 is an ideal one. The ac- 
 companying pictures show two of 
 its streets, well kept and free from 
 rubbish as they always are, with 
 the simple but well-built houses 
 on either side — the comfortable 
 homes of the mill employees. 
 
 PI 
 
 MORNING STREET SCENE 
 

 A COTTAGE HOME AT HIGH SHOALS 
 
LMOST every yard has 
 its sweet blooming mass of 
 shrubs and flowers, while 
 luxuriant vines of the lovely old 
 fashioned roses or sweet smelling 
 honeysuckle cover the piazzas. 
 Here on a summer afternoon the 
 babies may play safe from the 
 heat of the sun, while their mothers 
 sit contented at their sewing. 
 The people take great pride in 
 their gardens, and the competition 
 among them is keen. 
 
 SPRINGTIME-1N THE PARK 
 
 S an extra incentive, five 
 prizes are given annually 
 for the best gardens, as 
 follows: 1, for flowers, $10.00; 
 2, for flowers, $5.00; I, for vege- 
 table garden, $10.00; 2, for vege- 
 table garden, $5.00; and for best 
 kept general premises, $ 1 0.00. 
 These prizes have been given for 
 the past six years. A committee 
 chosen by the residents awards 
 these, after carefully inspecting 
 each garden. 
 
 COMFORT IN THE SHADE OF THE FLOWERS 
 
■ to • ., 
 
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 ANOTHER HIGH SHOALS COTTAGE HOME 
 
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THE MILL AND FALLS BELOW THE DAM 
 

 METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL 
 
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 BAPTIST CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 
 
BARACA CLASS-BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL 
 
GIRLS' CLASS- BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL 
 
BAPTISMAL SCENE-THE BENEDICTION 
 
ITUATED at the end of the long village street on which 
 the others stand, is the Baptist Church, with a large and 
 active congregation. The regular services are twice a month, 
 
 with extra services frequently. The Sunday School, large and 
 
 still growing, is held every Sunday. 
 
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 HE children of the Episcopal Church take a great interest 
 in the already large Sunday School, which is growing 
 rapidly. Those of the Sunday School who have unusually 
 
 good voices are trained by the Deaconesses, and a very pretty choir 
 
 of sweet little children sing during church services. 
 
 
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 BAPTIZING A YOUNG LADY 
 
 NE of the large congregations in High Shoals is the Metho- 
 dist Episcopal Church. Services are held regularly twice 
 a month, the pastor having several other churches else- 
 where of which he takes charge. The Methodist Sunday School is 
 large and flourishing. 
 
 « 
 
 N THE above picture, showing the baptism of a young lady, 
 the man on the right at the top of the steps will lead the 
 new convert to the Baptist faith out of the water, and the 
 
 one on the left holds a cloak to throw over her as she goes to the 
 
 tent dressing-room near by. 
 
'W / N THE village there are two 
 V, M^ splendid schools — one 
 -%=. — I the regular public school, and 
 the other the Parochial School 
 of the Episcopal Church. The 
 Public Graded School is always 
 well filled, and is taught by a 
 competent force of teachers. The 
 building is a modern wooden struc- 
 ture, with large, light rooms. It has 
 a seating capacity of about 200 
 pupils. The course is the same as 
 may be found in any graded public 
 school of high standing. 
 
 GIRLS' SENIOR CLASS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL 
 
 I^-w " \|IHE Episcopal School 
 \«^ and Kindergarten, 
 ■■fr* s I which are under the 
 supervision of the Church, are 
 taught by the Deaconesses 
 Eva and Mary. These gen- 
 tle Deaconesses divide their 
 work — one teaches, the other 
 nurses the sick of the village. 
 And both are loved by every- 
 body for the good they do. 
 
 THE KINDERCARTNERS 
 
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THE FRESHET 
 
THE HIGH SHOALS BAND 
 
FOURTH OF JULY PICNICKERS 
 
JOYOUS celebration of the Fourth of July is always had at 
 High Shoals. In the old days before the Revolutionary War, 
 the rifle makers of the Piedmont went to the Shoals to gel 
 the fine iron which 
 they used for their 
 rifle barrels. In those 
 old days, there was 
 one of the best iron 
 works in America at 
 High Shoals. The 
 rifles made from 
 High Shoals iron 
 were an important 
 factor, on the Ken- 
 tucky frontier against 
 hostile Indians, and 
 at Cowpens, King s 
 Mountain, and other 
 
 AN IDLE HOUR BY THK PAVILION IN THL PARK 
 
 battlefields against the British forces, during the War of the 
 Revolution. From the hills about High Shoals, one may obtain 
 a distant glimpse of King's Mountain, where the historic battle 
 was fought. 
 
 N THE last "Fourth," there were addresses, picnic dinners, 
 more addresses, and multitudinous games. Perhaps the 
 most interesting was what was called the "Egg Race, with eight 
 
 young lady entries. 
 Each one was re- 
 quired to hold a tea- 
 spoon by the han- 
 dle, bowl up. An 
 egg was placed in 
 each spoon. They 
 ran, at the word 
 "Go," from one 
 end of the river 
 bridge to the other. 
 When an egg was 
 dropped, that girl 
 was out of the 
 race. Only two or 
 three got to the goal end of the bridge wilh their eggs still 
 safe in the spoon. Many other sports were indulged in — in- 
 ning, jumping, etc. — prizes being awarded to the winners of 
 the different events. 
 
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 UNTING is excellent in the surrounding country. The 
 boys hunt rabbits in the daytime, and opossums by night. 
 The best hunting is for quail, and this particular hunting is very 
 excellent. There are 
 foxes, not much hunt- 
 ed, and some few 
 golden - winged 
 pheasants. The boys 
 catch many turtles in 
 the river, so that real 
 turtle soup is no un- 
 common thing at the 
 Shoals. 
 
 [pJJIGH Shoals is 
 ■M-y-l-l in a mineral 
 country. Near the 
 place is a sulphur 
 spring, an arsenic 
 spring, and a 1 i t h 1 a 
 
 N THE smaller streams in the country about High Shoals 
 are a number of old-fashioned waterpower gristmills. 
 From these the Shoals people get supplies of real old-fashioned, 
 
 water-ground cornmeal 
 and hommy, and whole 
 wheat. A little higher 
 up the mountains, the 
 real water-ground 
 buckwheat flour can be 
 had, and also maple 
 syrup. The cream 
 and the butter are the 
 real homemade article. 
 
 
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 IGH Shoals 
 was settled, 
 about 1 760, by John 
 Fullenwider. He built 
 an iron works, having 
 a number of Catlan 
 
 HUNTERS AND THEIR BIG GAME-THE BOYS HAVE KILLED A CRANE 
 
 forges, several trip hammers, and a number of trains of rolls 
 
 spring. The hthia spring is owned by the Lincoln Lithia Country 
 Club, but is available to visitors from High Shoals if accompanied 
 by a member of the Club. 
 
 to make round, flat, and square bars. These works were of great 
 service to the patriots during the Revolutionary War. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 IS[ 
 
 EAR High Shoals is the Lincoln Lithia Country Club. 
 Visitors can reach the Club via the Carolina and North- 
 
 l^jTpMJHE Club has nearly three hundred 
 j ((EMS i of which is laid off in building lots 
 
 acres of land, a portion 
 Many of the owners 
 
 N 
 
 Veste 
 
 n Railway (leaving the train at High Shoals, and going 
 
 of these contemplate erecting cottages on their property. 
 
 thence to the Club 
 
 
 
 Bowling alleys, 
 
 in a surry), or via 
 
 
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 golf links, good 
 
 the Seaboard Air 
 
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 11 
 
 livery, and excellent 
 
 Line Railway, 
 
 1 1 
 
 
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 quail shooting 
 
 getting off at 
 
 1 ■ II 
 
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 constitute some of 
 
 Lincolnlon Station, 
 and again via surry 
 
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 iki*^-^*. 
 
 the principal 
 attractions. 
 
 to the Club. 
 
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 There is a good 
 
 The membership 
 
 
 
 system of water 
 
 of the Club is near 
 
 I^l^l ^r^Vn S ^k Jn 
 
 
 works, and the club 
 
 200, and is com- 
 
 
 
 house is equipped 
 
 posed almost en- 
 
 [w9 
 
 ■/ If l^^^t 
 
 with all modern 
 
 tirely of ladies and 
 
 
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 convenience s 
 
 gentlemen from 
 
 
 
 throughout. The 
 
 various southern 
 
 
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 Club keeps a herd 
 
 cities and localities. 
 
 \T THE LINCOLN LITHIA COUNTRY CLU 
 
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 of cattle on its own 
 
 The location of the Club, being on the foothills of the moun- 
 
 pastures, from which its milk and butter supply comes. 
 
 tains, and possessing an ideal climate, makes it an all-the-year-round 
 
 There is a "Sulphur Mine * (iron pyrites) within a couple of 
 
 resort for health and recreation. 
 
 miles of the town, and the Sulphur Branch comes from this mine. 
 
HIGH SHOALS IN 1750 
 
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 HE above cut shows the High Shoals waterpower as it appeared in I 750, when the surrounding country was largely inhabited 
 by Indians, and the white population was very scant. 
 
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 HIGH SHOALS IN 1800 
 
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 ERE is shown ihe waterpower as it appeared in 1800. Inside the fifty years preceding, there had been developed in the neighborhood 
 a very considerable manufacturing interest. Amongst other industries, there were numerous blast furnaces, making charcoal pig iron. At 
 High Shoals there was an extensive iron works, making bars, nails, plowshares, and other products in wrought iron. The waterpower 
 operated the rolling mills. This was before the institution of slavery became of dominant influence in the South. These iron works and most of 
 the other industries were operated by intelligent free white labor, which was then abundant. 
 
. 
 
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 & - *^ m*hBB9KPEEL 
 
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 HIGH SHOALS IN 1 850 
 
 i HE. appearance of this High Shoals iron works in 1850 is represented in the above picture. As the influence of slavery grew, 
 * v I the manufacturing interests of the Piedmont region not only made no progress, but actually retrograded. The illustration 
 shows the wreck of the former prosperous iron works at a time when agriculture and slave labor had become dominant. 
 
HIGH SHOALS IN 1900 
 
 N THE early part of the preceding half-century, slavery was abolished, and after the restoration of civil order and good government 
 there was immediately a revival of the manufacturing interest. The illustration shows a new development of the waterpower, and a 
 cotton mill which has been constructed over the site of the old iron works. As in the first fifty years of the nineteenth century the 
 adverse influence of slavery is made apparent, so in the last fifty years of the same century the wholesome influence of free institutions is equally 
 illustrated by the new development at High Shoals. 
 
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