Buy Farms with Savings
In the years past between 75 and 100 families have moved away from Cliffside to buy farms with money they have saved at the mill.
Several years ago Mrs. Padgett, a widow, with six small girls, moved into Cliffside. All of the children were too small to aid in supporting the family. This courageous woman entered the mill as well as the girls when they were old enough, and began to save their earnings to invest them in brains. To finish briefly a tale of real heroism, it may be merely added that this good woman sent three of her girls through high school and one through college. One of these daughters is today employed in the mill where she has a responsible position which pays over $40 a month; another is matron and teacher in the Home Industrial School, Asheville; two are students in the Normal and Collegiate Institute, Asheville, and the youngest is in school at the Asheville Home Industrial School.
It is to this ambitious type of millworkers that R.R. Haynes offered a helping hand. By his aid and by the aid of his superintendent, many young boys have gone out from the mill to bigger things. You will find them today in the school room as instructors; in the pulpit as ministers of that gospel which the quiet little man back in Cliffside ever tried to practice in daily life.
No wonder Mr. Haynes was proud of “his people,” as he called them and it is not strange that every one of the 900 men and women, boys and girls, employed in the mill looked upon this kindly man as their benefactor, their counselor in trouble—their friend.
Schools facilities in Cliffside are ideal. A regular graded school, open six to eight months in the year, is accessible to the children of all employees. The mill gets a certain amount from the county for maintenance and supplements the balance of the cost. The company built the building, and the company as well as Mr. Haynes personally not only gave sites free but helped to construct the three churches in the village. Six teachers are employed in the school.
In the matter of church building, Mr. Haynes showed that fine common sense which had made him a success. He didn't build these churches outright but he informed his workers that if they wanted good church structures and would help to build them, he would do his part. He put up a third or more of the cost, and the congregations finished out the amounts needed.
Copyright © 2008 The Cliffside Historical Society
