THOSE “ROARING” TWENTIES

If Selma was concerned with bathtub gin, the Charleston, and the exploits of Charles Lindbergh, evidence in newspapers of the period does not show it. Instead, this period featured organization of clubs, churches and new manufacturing plants.
Early in 1920, Selma Cotton Mill was bought by a New York Corporation, Standard Coated Products Company, which spent some $500,000 in enlargement of the facility. They began the weaving of carded yarn used as backing for oilcloth.
In February, a report in the Smithfield Herald listed prospective or assumed enterprises and improvements for Selma during 1920: Cotton mill corporation, one million dollars; $100,000 brickyard; $40,000 bond issue for sewerage; $60,000 bond issue for streets and sidewalks; $50,000 hotel and new depot. “These are but a few of Selma’s new enterprises. With Selma’s unexcelled railroad facilities and financial advantages she is bound to grow,” the report concluded.
From the History of Selma - Centennial Program.

MILLS VIE FOR WORKERS

During the late summer of 1920 Eastern Manufacturing ,Company and Selma Cotton Mill vied for new workers through advertisements in the newspapers. Eastern stated: “We are about to complete overhauling of the former Lizzie Cotton Mill and village at Selma. This now makes a completely ‘new plant and village. We have new overseers and will strive to maintain the best of working conditions, maintaining a high moral standard. We will use the best of cotton, keep things in proper shape and pay the best of wages. Rent and electric lights free to those working with us. We are very anxious to secure several good families of help in starting up. We will be glad to hear from anyone interested by letter, over the phone or in person. We have a fine truck ready to come for you.” A week later Selma Cotton Mill had an advertisement which stated: “Our new addition to our mill is almost ready to start. We will have the first weaving in Johnston County. We can now use several families with spinners and winders. We pride ourselves on having and keeping a nice, clean village. We have humidifiers in the mill. This adds to working conditions and makes work run better.
We provide free house rent, with electric lights. If interested, write, phone or come to see us.” A week after this Selma Cotton Mill had a picnic outing for its employees at Pullen Park; then on November 2 the same mill presented a Community Fair with exhibits of canned goods, quilts, bed linens, fancy needle work, all made by “the thrifty ladies of the community after the day’s work in the mill has been done.”
Roberts, Corbett and Woodard was robbed in August of four to five hundred dollars worth of clothing with no clues available. “Selma has no night watchman,” the story of the robbery declared. I n October the Honorable Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, spoke in Selma. Business houses were closed from 3 to 5 o’clock for the speaking. Also in that month Selma’s oldest citizen, Needham D. Foster, died. And four Selma boys, Marvin Blackman, Albert Eason, Tom Fulghum, and Harrie Stancill, attended an Older Boy’s Conference to the Y.M.C.A. in Wilmingtori. . ‘
By 1920 Selma’s population stood at 1,601 and C.A. Corbett was the mayor.

RAILROADS ADD TO LIFE

By 1917 the railroad shops and coal shute were in east Selma, which served as a servicing area for trains of the Southern and ACL. Railroad men serving on both lines found Selma a good central location for their families to reside and several moved in to the town, adding to the economic and social life of the community. Among those becoming involved in the community were: Jim Edens, Fred Holt, Joe Crooks, Dick Carrington, W. H. Fields, Harvey Blankenship, C. Y. Joyner, Bob Ashworth, Charlie Rains, Bill Smith, W. I-L Call, Walter Pridgen, John and George Hopkins, George and Oscar Jackson, Charlie Wright, Ira Batten, Troy Batten, Tom and Ballard Creech, Arther Oliver and others.

MELON, TOMATO, BETTER BABY FAIR

During this decade the Selma Melon, Tomato and Better Baby Fair became a drawing card for citizens from miles around. This fair was held several times during the period including 1912, 1914, 1915, and 1917 as old pictures and handbills prove. A program for the 1917 fair called Monday, July 23rd, “Housekeepers Day” and the 24th “Wyatt Day.”
On the first day the meeting was held in the Municipal Building with J. A. Mitchener, first president of the fair, presiding. Mayor J. P. Temple welcomed the crowd and Messrs. Massey, Creech and others presented music. Miss Nell Pickens, County Demonstrator, explained the use of a Fireless Cooker and an Iceless Refrigerator. Exhibits for the fair were on display at the Rough and Ready, which was a renovated warehouse on the corner of Waddell and Raiford Streets where Mac’s Sundries is now located.
Wyatt Day featured a parade from Union Station along all the major downtown streets and to the Exhibition Hall. The Kenly Band headed this. Others taking part in the day’s activities were Mitchener, the Rev. C. K. Proctor, Temple. H. L. Skinner, J. H. Parker, who welcomed old soldiers; C. S. Powell, who responded for the soldiers; Mrs. W. H. Etheredge, Mrs. W. M. Sander, Mrs. D. H. McCullers, and the Honorable R. H. Sykes, assistant Attorney General of North Carolina.
The final events were a report from the committee on babies, the awarding of premiums and an auction sale of prize winning articles.
According to Mitchener’s history, at the first Fair little E. C. Deans, grandson of the originator of the Fair, and great great grandson of Mr. John A. Waddell, won first prize. Other winners during the years of the Fair were Hazel Irene Waddell, daughter of ex-Mayor John B Waddell; Ruth Hood, daughter of Alderman Fred Hood and the great great granddaughter of. Mr. S. H. Hood. From 30 to 50 babies were entered from the county only and no baby over 12 months of age was allowed to compete. Cash prizes were offered first, second and third babies.
From the History of Selma - Centennial Program.