Wade Jenkins

Cone Mills Employee, By-Products Division

“I was a member of the Cone Mills Quartet, performing once on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour!”

Born in the mill village in 1918, delivered by Cone Mills physician Dr. WP Knight. Worked under 5 different Cone presidents. Started at age 16 in the finishing department at Proximity, worked his way to Sales Manager in the By-Products Sales Dept. By-products which were thread waste were bought and used in mattresses, mops, insulation for car doors, and the lining of caskets.

Growing up he remembered every employee’s family was given a ham at Christmas, and every child was given a present up to the 9th grade.  His parents paid 97 cents per week rent for their rented company house in the mill village. An extra 25 cents paid for a garage. There was one light in each room and no receptacles, no indoor plumbing, no paved streets.

Served during WWII as a Buck Sargent. Cone Mills saved his job for him on his return.