C.A. Cannon loyalty ran deep here

By Norris Dearmon
For the Kannapolis Citizen
C.A. Cannon was always loyal to various groups whom he had dealings with. One of his favorites was the Kannapolis Volunteer Fire Department.
He loved to show the new equipment, which the company had bought for the department. Of course, the primary function of the department was to protect all of the properties of the company. They also protected other properties with the help of other local fire departments. Most of the volunteers were employees of the company and were allowed to leave their jobs in case of fires. The company also furnished facilities for the trucks and equipment to be housed. If they needed something, the company would most always approved what they asked for.
The gate guard would always be the one to drive the main truck. Another employee, usually from the shop area, would come out to watch the gate while the truck was on a call. Should another truck be required, one of the other volunteers who had been trained would drive the other truck. Regular training meetings were held and Cannon treated them to a luncheon once a year.
In earlier years, the volunteer fire department consisted of reel teams, which participated in many competitions and set records. J.C. Taylor was a longtime fire chief for the volunteer fire department.
As the company and town grew, better equipment was needed. The first truck purchased was a used 1934 La France truck, which was later traded for a new La France truck. That truck is now in the possession of Atlantic American Properties.
We have a hanging on the wall of the History Room at the library, a large color picture of C.A. Cannon and his grandson, Joe, proudly sitting in the seat of the new truck. Recently, two other pictures of the fire department were donated to the History Room. One shows the personnel of the department standing in front of the fire station with the trucks, and Cannon with Don Holt and Fred Wilson on the front row. The second picture shows the new Ford pumper truck with Cannon, Roy Deaton and Holt standing in front of the truck. These pictures accompany this article.
The YMCA and school system were uppermost in the favorite groups the Cannons were involved in. The YMCA buildings were built and maintained by Cannon Mills Co. They received all of the profits from the “dope wagons” pushed by men through the plants, which sold Cokes and other goodies to the workers. The school system also could expect help from the company.
The Cabarrus Memorial Hospital was a very favorite part of Cannon’s life. It was originally set up as a county endeavor, but no taxes were used to fund the operation. Cannon directed and funded the needs of the hospital not paid for by the patients, through his endowment.
Another of his favorite groups was the local National Guard, which he also treated once a year around Christmas time. In the 1930s, when the strikers were trying to organize the textile industry, the guard helped to protect the mill from any violence. Since the company owned everything in town, they were able to station the guard and police at all streets leading off Main Street, which was a federal highway, to keep the marchers from going anywhere in town.
They came up the highway all the way to North Kannapolis, turned around and came back down through town, never leaving the highway. They saw the National Guard men on the rooftops of the mill with machine guns and rifles, as well as at some of the intersections of Main Street and Lake Drive. There was no violence as there was in some other locations where the strikers were active. There was also no strike.
The employees had recollections of an earlier strike in 1921. At that time, the employees had decided, because of a slight recession caused by World War I, to join the union and strike for higher wages. The mill was shut down. The union was supposed to furnish food for the strikers, since there was no income coming from the mill. The supply was soon exhausted. Instead of the union buying more food from the dues they had collected, they closed the Union Store, took all of the money and left town.
The employees had to negotiate on their own and actually went back to work for less money than they had been making when they went on strike. Those memories lasted for a long time. The union could not organize them again. When the older members and their children were no longer working for the company, the union finally organized the company in the late 1990s, after several tries.
Needless to say, the very favorite group was the employees. J.W. Cannon had brought in workers for his new plants from as far away as Georgia. Many were tenant farmers with no money and experience. Some even had no shoes. They were hired and trained to work in the mill and after getting their first paycheck, were able to buy some shoes.
It was better than being slaves to the tenant farm owners with no prospects of ever being really independent. From that point on, all of their needs were fulfilled. They had parades, were able to buy cars and had some leisure time. When times were hard, such as during the Great Depression, the mill ran part time in order to give the workers enough money to put food on the table. The company warehoused a lot of the production, awaiting a better time.
Beginning in 1936, C.A. Cannon began recognizing loyal employees with a loyalty banquet each year. He gave out pins in increments of five years after 15 years of service. Many workers received 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 year pins. The banquets, held during the Christmas season, became huge events.
Eventually, the company began giving a Christmas bonus and paid vacation when the mill closed for the Fourth of July vacation week. Medical and retirement benefits were also added to all employees of its many plants. Unfortunately, the retirement benefits did not start soon enough for some of the older workers, causing their checks to be small when they retired. The company over-funded the retirement plan so there would always be enough to pay out upon retirement.
Many people faulted the company for the paternal policy practiced during the years the Cannons had control. The idea began when the textile industry was just beginning. The workers had nothing and the company promised to take care of them if they would work for them. They were helping build and industry and in most cases, were proud to be a part of it.
I, for one, never cease to be amazed at all the Cannon’s were able to accomplish in their lifetime.

Norris Dearmon is a local historian and member of the Kannapolis History Associates.
He is also a volunteer in the Hinson History Room at the Kannapolis Branch Library.