Delano Apple

Historical Preservationist

Delano Roosevelt Apple began working in 1952 at the age of 18. He retired in October 1995 with 43 years of service with Cone Mill.

Delano started in the cloth room doing a variety of jobs including pushing carts of material throughout the building. He became a mechanic working on machines and became a supervisor in the machine shop. During his 43 years, Delano worked all three shifts at Revolution.

Delano told stories of leading firemen through the buildings to extinguish fires. He also remembered spending time pumping water out of flooded buildings after heavy rains. He had a few scars from accidents at Cone including a cart running over his toes and having his ear reattached in the ER after a fall.

He had a quiet manner but a keen since of humor that would show itself that the most unexpected times. Delano is remembered by his family, friends and coworkers as a hard worker and a jack-of-all-trades of all trades.