Book of the Day: How McAdenville, NC became Christmas Town USA

Here’s another prize from Henry Bemis Books’ collection of Piedmont mill town histories:

Billy Robert Miller, McAdenville: Spun From the Wilderness (Gastonia, North Carolina: The E. P. Press, Inc. 1982)

Stated 1st edition. Hardcover. Tall quarto. 189 pages, copiously illustrated in black & white period photos and documents. Blue cloth hardcover with gilt title and gilt town illustration on front cover. Gilt title on spine. Very good condition; owner’s name and address inscribe on inside cover board. Rare Price: $35 obo.

Mecklenburg County native Billy Miller (1926-2003) was commissioned to write this 100th-anniversary history of the mills and mill families of McAdenville, North Carolina by Stowe Mills/Pharr Yarns, which he served as chaplain from 1979 to 2003. He served dozens of Piedmont and upstate South Carolina churches as pastor, or interim pastor, and was mayor of McAdenville from 1991 to 1995.

Still the headquarters for Pharr Yarns, the town of 650 is famous as “Christmas Town USA” for the annual December 1-26 display of some 375 lighted trees, 200 wreaths on light poles, and residential holiday decorations. Some 300,000 visitors make the annual tour of the town; the event was launched by Pharr Yarns in 1956 (the company picks up the Duke Energy bill).

__________________________

Henry Bemis Books is one man’s attempt to bring more diversity and quality to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg market of devoted readers starved for choices. Our website is at www.henrybemisbookseller.blogspot.com.  Henry Bemis Books is also happy to entertain reasonable offers on items in inventory; for pricing on this or others items, kindly private message us. Shipping is always free; local buyers are welcome to drop by and pick up their purchases at our location off Peachtree Road in Northwest Charlotte if they like. #McAdenville #Textiles #Book of the Day #RareBooks #HenryBemisBooks #Charlotte

What’s your favorite social media outlet?

We’re blogging at www.henrybemisbookseller.blogspot.com. We tweet as Henry Bemis Books.  Have you liked us on Facebook yet? Henry Bemis Books there too. And Google+, too!