"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
--Ecclesiastes III:1

"Time and tide wait for no man." --English proverb

"Do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." --Benjamin Franklin

*****

Time is the enemy of man; time is the friend of man.

From the day we are born into this world of joy and sorrow, we are both thrilled and perplexed by the universal sense of movement that is all around us and the continual and mounting evidence that each of us and indeed all things are traveling from a beginning to an ending.

We mark days and years with milestones, benchmarks, and red letters. We anticipate ages at which we can do things and then, in what seems to be the wink of an eye, ages after which we are relieved from doing things.

Life is sweet, but, as the years fly past and change and decay ravage dear people, places, and things, bitterness can take hold of us. How do we, then, step boldly into the future without losing our way and ourselves?

As the years pass, we are threatened more and more with the possibility of personal irrelevancy and ineffectiveness as we wrestle with the conflict between past and present. How do we remain useful to the world and to our fellow man?

Much depends upon our ability to become masters and mistresses (Forgive the gender-specific nouns. That is part of the solution.) of time.

Time travel has been perfected. It has been so for a long, long time. It consists of developing a mindset that allows us to transcend a deadening and destructive popular culture by embracing the wonderful things of the past that strengthen, encourage, and give joy and legitimate meaning to life as we we march boldly forward into the eternity that awaits us both here and out there.

Here at this place we will share with you many resources to get you started on your personal journey of time travel. We cannot tell you exactly what to do or how to do it, but we can give you the tools to begin this wonderful adventure.

Good luck, bon voyage, and Godspeed! TCE

"Make yourselves nests of pleasant thoughts, bright fancies, faithful sayings; treasure-houses of precious and restful thoughts, which care cannot disturb nor poverty take away from you--houses built without hands for your souls to live in." --John Ruskin

"To discover and share treasure begotten in the past and forgotten by time is to breathe new life into that creation so old souls might remember and the future might know." --Jeff Parker, "Jazz Joint Jump," KFSR, Fresno, California.

"Memory. Strange that the mind will forget so much of what only this moment has passed, and yet hold clear and bright the memory of what happened years ago – of men and women long since dead. Yet who shall say what is real and what is not? … There is no fence nor hedge around time that is gone. You can go back and have what you like of it, if you can remember."--Film: How Green Was My Valley, 1941, 20th Century Fox, Author: Philip Dunne, Role: Huw Morgan, Actor: Roddy McDowall, from the 1939 novel by Richard Lewellyn.

MUSIC

Whether it was the soothing and reassuring tones of your parents' nightstand clock radio as you drifted off to sleep each night, the driving beat issuing forth from an automobile dashboard AM, the mellow tones of a big band ballad just before that special person shipped off to military service in the early 40's, or the tune that became "our song," music has framed the days of our lives.

Although vinyl has given way to digital and broadcast radio is largely a wasteland, we can still find the music that was the backdrop of happy and memorable times past. WGNC ("AM and FM, Gastonia"), WLTC, Big WAYS, WBT, WIST, WNOX (Knoxville, Tennessee), WABC (New York City), WLS and WCFL (Chicago) no longer exist as Top 40 and Standards stations, but, if we look hard enough, we can still find remnants of our musical past, such as:

www.wkhr.org (A wonderful array of big band arrangements, standards, and "The Great American Songbook." It broadcasts on the air at 91.7, Cleveland Ohio--real, legitimate radio straight from the old days! Its streaming webcast makes great background music in the early morning hours.)

www.swingmusic.net (This site is a veritable encyclopedia of jazz and swing. It is also the home of Jeff Parker's "Jazz Joint Jump," a live weekly program that airs Tuesdays 4-6PM Pacific Time--that's 7-9PM Gastonia Time--from "90.7 KFSR, Fresno, Ca., USA, World, Milky Way, Universe." Listen once, and it will be, as it is ours, an anticipated highlight of your Tuesday evenings.)

Build your personal compact disc collection, and surround yourself with the music you love. Request a free subscription to the following catalogues and enjoy almost endless choices:

www.heartlandmusic.com,

Collectors' Choice Music.

Stay tuned. More to come.

1942 RCA Victor tabletop radio

CLOTHING

(Classic Fashion for Any Time)

Once upon a time not so long ago, men and women dressed for the activities, events, and occasions of each day. There existed appropriate attire for these, and few were the adults who were not aware of the written and unwritten codes that were rigidly followed regardless of the socioeconomic class in which one happened to reside.

Today most are quick to respond that they are free to dress any way they wish, and that way is usually as casually as the decency laws will allow. True, we are no longer bound by the strict rules of the past, but one who makes at least a half-serious study of why parts of our society once functioned well where they do not today must consider the role that proper dress and the self-discipline required to wear it once played. Space does not allow a discussion of this subject here, but we have included several publications that will get the interested reader started.

Dressing the Man by Alan Flusser

A Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed On All Occasions by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux

Gentleman: A Timeless Fashion by Bernhard Roetzel

Classic clothing is timeless. A well-dressed man or woman in 2024 looks amazingly similar to a well-dressed man or woman in the 1940's. It takes a certain degree of courage to dress well, especially when your social circle does not. But to be a true time-traveler, one must be a daring adventurer, a pathfinder. You might be surprised to find that a few other hearty souls will follow you.

Buy and wear the best quality clothing you can afford. It is an investment, and it proves the oft-quoted adage, "You get what you pay for."

Request the following catalogues, and you will at least get some ideas for your own classic wardrobe:

www.BrooksBrothers.com

www.BENSILVER.com

MEN'S HATS

("It's gotta be old. Look, the men are wearing hats!")

Nothing imparts the look of vintage Gastonia (or vintage anywhere, for that matter) than men wearing hats. Not just any old hat, mind you. Definitely not a baseball cap (even worn with brim forward), a safari hat from an upscale outdoor clothing catalogue or Wal Mart, or a straw golf hat, but a snap brim, c-crown (also known as a teardrop crown) fedora. That is the classic hat of the movies and of the black and white photographs of street scenes that capture our imaginations.
Like any other time travel exercises (making the past the present and even the future), wearing a classic fur felt fedora (or a similar panama straw in warm weather) requires a bit of courage and a good measure of self-confidence. You will draw attention to yourself. Prepare for a few giggles and an occasional smirk, but, for the most part, you will draw respect and admiration. People will come up to you and say, "I like your hat," or "Where did you get your hat?" Many men secretly want to wear sharp looking hats, and many women would like to see their men attired in a more dapper manner. A proper hat sets off well-chosen clothing and gives the wearer a more complete and finished look. Step out into your world with your "lid" in place. Neither you nor it will ever be the same!

Good hats are difficult but not impossible to find. Here are three of the best purveyors of fine headgear we have discovered:

Charleston Hat Man
188 Meeting Street
The City Market
Charleston, S.C. 29401
843-723-9819
Ask to see the "Downs" or
a similarly-styled panama by Stetson.

The Village Hat Shop
This San Diego, California company has one of the best selection of fedoras to be found anywhere. See the "Chatham" by Stetson and many excellent panama hats for warm weather wear.

www.millerhats.com.
Fedoras and panama hats galore!

FOOD

There are few things more pleasant in life than a good meal or a special sweet treat. When that food is partaken at an establishment that is successful in the present and, at the same time, strongly reminiscent of the past, the diner receives an added bonus.

In the restaurant business, atmosphere is a must. If that ambiance reminds a customer of a shared past, the customer often becomes a regular. Whether you are a native Gastonian or a newcomer, here are some places you can remember pleasant experiences of the past or at least feel as if you could:

Tony's Ice Cream (It is as "Gastonia" as you can get!);

R.O.'s Barbecue (Working class chic--the essence of Gastonia.);

Dairy Queen ("The cone with the curl on top!" A timeless celebration of memory!);

Firestone Grill. (Everyone is family here. "The Grill" sits on hallowed ground: Curt's Radiator Shop was located here and, even earlier, the site was home to Sammy's Pizza.);

Some of the best chicken and fish plates anywhere come from the Shrimp Boat, which occupies the former location of the Piedmont and Northern Railway station at the southeast corner of Broad Street and East Main Avenue.

Send us your favorites.

SHOPPING

(Old time "legitimate" stores)

It has been 48 years since Uptown/Downtown Gastonia was discarded for the asphalt acres of Eastside shopping centers.
Sprawl, gridlock, and a growing desire for human-scaled public interaction are causing a new generation to rethink the disdainful attitudes of the majority of Gastonians who grew, over these more than four decades, to sneer at anything that was not new and shiny.
The onslaught of the years has driven most of the old businesses either out of Downtown or out of existence. Old photographs reveal the remarkable number of small establishments that once flourished up and down Main Avenue and its adjoining network of connecting thoroughfares.
A few businesses remained through the dark years when most critics said the area would never return to prominence.
They will now bask in the glory of Downtown as it prepares to go "Up" again. Please patronize these heroic business institutions:

TRUIST (Originally Citizens National Bank, Independence National Bank, and BB&T)
265 West Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, North Carolina, 28052
704-866-6500

Duren's Jewel Shop
194 South South Street
Gastonia, North Carolina, 28052
704-865-1651

Ford's Seed and Plants
221 East Main Avenue
Gastonia, North Carolina, 28052
704-866-7058

One Hour Martinizing
143 East Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, North Carolina, 28052
704-864-9625

Rainbow Paint & Wallpaper Co.
215 East Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, North Carolina 28052
704-865-2371

Roosevelt Tire Service
191 East Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, North Carolina, 28052
704-864-5464

Spindle Center Barber Shop
192 South South Street
Gastonia, North Carolina 28052
704-867-9541

The Sports Center
212 East Main Avenue
Gastonia, North Carolina, 28052
704-865-2642

Tony's Ice Cream Company
604 East Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, North Carolina, 28054
704-867-7085

Wells Fargo Bank
(Originally First National Bank, then National Bank of Commerce, First Union National Bank of North Carolina, First Union National Bank, and Wachovia Bank and Trust.)
110 East Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, North Carolina, 28052

(Please let us know of any we have omitted.)

For an armchair shopping experience that will transport you to the past as effectively as H.G. Wells' famed invention, we would like to recommend The Vermont Country Store. The Orton Family has operated this establishment since 1946, when it became the first restored rural country store in the nation. Their goal is still, "What we sell must be useful, work, and make sense." Request a free catalogue, and you will be thrilled. From "Evening in Paris" parfum to chenille bedspreads to foods, labor-saving devices, soaps, accessories, furnishings, clothing with labels you thought had vanished years ago, and many, many other hard-to-find items, you will be overwhelmed by more than one wave of nostalgia. Browse and you will buy for yourself and for those special people in your life who would appreciate gifts from memorable times in their past. Every item sold by The Vermont Country Store is guaranteed 100%

READING

Here you will find books, magazines, pamphlets, and other publications that will increase your understanding of and appreciation for the past. With that heightened knowledge, your view of the present and possible courses of the future will become clearer. Don't be afraid. It's fun!

Let's start with the basics. The freedom we have to make personal choices as citizens was bequeathed to us by God and recorded by the Founding Fathers in the central document of our republic, The Constitution of the United States of America. Widespread ignorance of the Constitution's contents places us at risk of losing liberties that are our birthright as Americans. Read it and become as familiar with it as with an old friend before you do anything else! You don't have a copy? You can get one here for a $3.00 shipping charge.

Regardless of one's faith (or choice to exercise none), it is next to impossible to fully understand and immerse oneself in the richness of our country's past without including frequent reference to The Holy Bible (the guidebook for individual liberty and civilization). There are translations no more beautifully poetic and quotable than the Authorized King James Version.

Second only to the Bible in numbers of copies printed, the Boy Scout Handbook is about the best guide to good citizenship ever written. We recommend any edition published prior to 1990.

An Essential Reading List

[The basics that every Gastonian or Gastonian-at-heart should be familiar with. Most of these books are available for on-site reference in the North Carolina Collection of the Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library main branch at 1555 East Garrison Boulevard, Gastonia, N.C. 28054 (http://gastonlibrary.org). (You will have to step around the genealogists who constantly inhabit the space. Don't worry. They are friendly, though somewhat self-absorbed.) Some of these resources are available at used book stores and online. Make your personal list and be alert at yard sales and flea markets.]

Begin with Robert Allison Ragan's articles on the Gastonia History page of this website. A better primer of Gastonia's origins cannot be found.

Atkins,Jim, ed. Gastonia Centennial Commemorative Book. Gastonia, NC: Gastonia Centennial Celebration, Inc., 1977.

Black, C. J. A History of Loray Baptist Church. Gastonia, NC: Gaston Times Job Print, 1923.

Bolick, R. L. A History of First Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C. Gastonia, NC: History Committee, 1976.

Brengle, Kim Withers. The Architectural Heritage of Gastonia county, North Carolina. Gastonia: Gaston County, NC, 1982.

Cash, W. J. The Mind of the South. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1941.

Cope, Robert F. and Wellman, Manly Wade. The County of Gaston: Two Centuries of a North Carolina Region. Gastonia, NC: Gaston County Historical Society, 1961.

Covington, Howard E., Jr. Belk: A Century of Retail Leadership. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1988.

Daniel, Charles F. The First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia, N. C.—A History. Gastonia, NC: Memorials Committee, October 1961.

Earle, John R., Knudsen, Dean R., and Shriver, Donald W., Jr. Spindles and Spires: A Re-Study of Religion and Social Change in Gastonia. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1976.

Ellis, Timothy Craig. A Glimpse As It Passed: Scenes from a Vanished Gastonia, North Carolina, 1972-1992. Spartanburg, SC: Trenton Creative Enterprises, 2004.

Fetters, Thomas T. and Swanson, Peter W., Jr. Piedmont and Northern: The Great Electric System of the South. San Marino, CA: Golden West Books, 1974.

Gastonia, North Carolina City Directory, 1910-1911. Gastonia, NC: Piedmont Directory Co., Inc., 1910.

Gelernter, David. 1939: The Lost World of the Fair. New York:Avon Books, 1995.

Griffin, Sally. Gaston Remembers: Weaving a Tapestry in Time. Montgomery AL: Community Communications, 1994.

Hill’s Gastonia City Directory. Richmond, VA: Hill Directory Co., Inc. Various editions.

Hine, Thomas. Populuxe. New York: MJF Books, 1986.

History of First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Gastonia, North Carolina:

75th Anniversary Year, 1887-1962. Gastonia NC: Committee on History of Church, 1962.

Lefler, Hugh Talmage and Newsome, Albert Ray. North Carolina: The History of a Southern State. 3rd. ed., Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1973.

Lief, Alfred. The Firestone Story: A History of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1951.

New, Mrs. May T. “ St. Mark’s, Gastonia—In Retrospect.” Gastonia, NC: Communications Committee, 1975.

Pope, Liston. Millhands and Preachers: A Study
of Gastonia. New Haven CT: Yale UniversityPress,1942.

Population and Economy: Gastonia, North Carolina. Centralina Council of Governments, 1974.

Ragan, Robert Allison. The History of Gastonia and Gaston County, North Carolina: A Vision of America at its Best. Charlotte, NC: Loftin & Company, 2010.

Ragan, Robert Allison. The Pioneer Cotton Mills of Gaston County, North Carolina: The First Thirty and Gaston County Textile Pioneers. Charlotte, NC: By the Author,

n. d.

Ragan, Robert Allison. The Textile Heritage of Gaston County, North Carolina, 1848-2000. Charlotte, NC: R. A. Ragan & Company, 2001

Rhyne, Jennings J. Some Cotton Mill Workers and Their Villages. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1930.

Separk, Joseph H. Gastonia and Gaston County, North Carolina: Past, Present, Future, February 1936. Kingsport, TN: Kingsport Press, 1936.

Separk, Joseph H., ed. Gastonia, North Carolina: Its Present and Its Future. Gastonia, NC: Gastonia Commercial Club, 1906.

Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Gastonia, North Carolina, 1899-1974. Gastonia, NC: Historical Sketch Committee, 1974.

Williams, Dameron H., ed. Shiloh and Beyond: A History of the First United Methodist Church, Gastonia, North Carolina, 1870-1970. Gastonia, NC: History Committee, 1970.

Williams, Robert L. Gaston County, A Pictorial History. Norfolk, VA: The Donning Company/Publishers, 1981.

(Much more coming!)

FOUNTAIN PENS

Although old ones are enjoyable to collect, avoid using advertising ballpoint pens and other similar cheap writing instruments. Words we place on paper form a permanent record of our thoughts and provide insight into who we are. Writing often outlives us and makes statements about the time we spent in our earthly travels.

Using a well-made fountain pen is a true joy (even for left-handers), and it will last a lifetime. It does require care and attention that many claim they have not time to give. A fountain pen, then, will enjoyably apply just a tap on the brakes of lives that are possibly moving a bit too fast.

Following are three of many websites that will teach you about these wonderful writing instruments and provide opportunities for you to purchase one for your very own.

www.Levenger.com
This Delray Beach, Florida company offers, among many other items for serious readers and writers, very affordable fountain pens. This is a good place to start. Be sure to request a catalogue.

www.nibs.com
The website of Classic Fountain Pens, Inc.

www.richardspens.com
The website of Richard Binder Fountain Pens.
There is an extensive list of other fountain pen-related links on this site.

TOP OF PAGE

48-STAR FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Fly a 48-star United States Flag.

This flag flew over the United States of America from 1912 until 1959, a total of 47 years, longer than any other flag except the present one. It witnessed World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and remained the Nation's standard until the addition of Alaska as the 49th state in 1959. Hawaii was added in 1960 to produce our current flag. The 48-star version served through eight presidencies, from William H.Taft to Dwight D. Eisenhower. As with all previous National Flags, it is still official and may be flown as a proper representation of the nation and its ideals. Make a statement for decency, common sense, traditional American values, love of country, and a united national purpose! To learn more about the history of The Flag of the United States of America, visit www.usflag.org.

You may purchase a 48-star United States Flag through many sources. Any store that sells flags can probably obtain one for you. Because they are not mass-produced yet, they generally run around $100.00 for a US Flag with sewn or embroidered stars and sewn stripes. Be careful if the price is significantly lower. It is probably for a foreign-made flag. No one wants that!

Your first stop should be Conder Flags in Charlotte, N.C. They are a proven and reliable supplier of flags, banners, custom work, and accessories for decades!

We discovered a top-quality item manufactured in the US and sold by American Flag and Gift in Grover Beach, California. It measures a full 3X5 feet, features sewn stripes and appliqued stars, and is a beautiful product. It is made of nylon and is constructed to hold up under daily service. It sells for $99.00. Contact them at www.anyflag.com or at American Flag and Gift, 1101 Highland way, Grover Beach, CA 93433.)

48-star United States flags are also available at www.flagdom.com. This is a full-service flag source (since 1982) that offers indoor and outdoor American flags and decorations, military & POW-MIA flags, flag cases, state flags, world flags, and more!
All their products are Made In The USA!
Tell them you saw them at VintageGastonia.com.

Read a related article from City Journal.

SHAVING

The last remaining domain of man!

Throw away the plastic disposable razors and the cans of aerosol gel. Buy a Gillette safety razor at almost any antique show or flea market, where one may be had for a song. Get a pack of Wilkinson Sword or Personna double-edged blades, a genuine badger brush, a good shaving mug, a cake of Williams Mug Shaving Soap ("Since 1840"), and a sink full of hot water. Get acquainted with your face again!

Traditional wet shaving is growing in popularity, not only because of its superior results, but also for its personally ritualistic nature and its power to connect the shaver to the past (time travel)!

There is a growing number of resources related to wet-shaving and traditional manhood available in print and online. Four interesting websites follow that allow one to purchase all that he might need to begin enjoying a new way of starting each day.

www.nashvilleknifeshop.com/merkur-safety-razor,

www.vintagebladesllc.com,

www.amazingshaving.com,

www.fendrihan.com.

PUT A SHINE ON YOUR SHOES

(AND A MELODY IN YOUR HEART)

It is a wonderful way to start your day (as the words to the old song say).

Once upon a time (and still in some places today), a man's character and his financial condition could be determined by the state of his shoes. The first part of one's attire to show inattention or pecuniary hardship is his footwear. Like a "dead fish" handshake, a pair of scuffed, dirty, or worn-out shoes is a signal to an attentive person to proceed with caution.

Shine your shoes with real paste wax, a good bristle brush, a soft polishing cloth, and some elbow grease. Keep the leather in shape with saddle soap.

You might find yourself whistling as you step smartly down the street!

Civilization is maintained by attention to small personal rituals that bring satisfaction and a sense of order to life even in the midst of chaos.

Copyright 2025 Trenton Creative Enterprises. All rights reserved.
Note: This is a commercial website. It is the creation of Timothy Craig Ellis, DBA Trenton Creative Enterprises, who holds registered copyright protection over his photographs and reserves copyright over design, layout, and content of this website. Intellectual property rights are reserved under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and other pertinent laws and regulations.
We may seek legal remedies against any who reproduce or repost material contained in this website without first obtaining permission in writing. We monitor websites and social media pages regularly.
Please contact us for information regarding linking to www.vintagegastonia.com Help us keep the site open for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation.

VINTAGEGASTONIA.COM

WHERE OLD GASTONIA LIVES!