On April 7, 1944, the Unrivaled Hosiery Mill of Williamstown, Dauphin County, advertised in the Lykens Standard for “experienced loopers for home work.” offering a full time or part time schedule and offering the regular factory rate of pay plus an allowance for power costs.
Over the years of its operation, articles and ads appeared in the local and area newspapers. A selection of those items follows here.
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From the Plain Speaker, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, July 27, 1936:
HOSIERY FIRMS TO DROP WORD “SILK”
Misuse of This Term To Be Discontinued in Advertising Announces Commission
WASHINGTON, July 27 [1936] — The Federal Trade Commission announced today three hosiery concerns, two in Pennsylvania and one in New York, had agreed to discontinue misuse of the word “silk” in branding and advertising their products.
The companies involved are the Unrivaled Hosiery Mill of Williamstown, Pennsylvania; the D. S. & W. Hosiery Company of Reading, Pennsylvania; and M. L. Victorious and Company, Inc. of New York City.
The commission said the three companies signed stipulations agreeing to desist from using the word “silk” alone or with the words “pure thread” or with any other words so as to imply their hosiery is composed wholly of silk when such is not the fact.
A similar article also appeared in the Harrisburg Telegraph, July 27, 1936.
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The West Schuylkill Herald of August 25, 1922, reported that there were two fires related to the Unrivaled Hosiery Mill.
WILLIAMSTOWN HAS TWO FIRES
Fire which broke out early Sunday morning in Lesher’s Hosiery Mill at Williamstown, destroyed five cases of hosiery, and caused slight damage to the building. The origin is unknown.
A fire, which started from a pile of cotton waste, in a narrow alley, on Monday night for a time endangered the large garage owned by John Snyder. The fire which was discovered about 11:30 was gotten under control before it gained much headway. The Tower City fire truck made a hurried run in response to a call for help, but the local company had the fire well in hand when they arrived on the scene.
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On September 20, 1957, the West Schuylkill Herald reported that J. Lee Lesher was stricken at his summer home near Williamsport:
J. LEE LESHER STRICKEN AT SUMMER HOME
J. Lee Lesher, of East Market Street, Williamstown, was taken suddenly ill at his summer home at Eagles Mere on Saturday and was taken to the Divine Providence Hospital at Williamsport, where he is now a patient. His condition is reported as much improved.
Mr. Lesher is the managing head of the Bestok mill at Tower City, and the Unrivaled Hosiery Mill at Williamstown.
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On February 14, 1959, there was attempt made to break into a wall safe at the Unrivaled Hosiery Mill. As reported in the Pottsville Republican of that date:
ATTEMPT TO ROB FACTORY SAFE
Burglars were thwarted in an attempt to crack a wall safe at Unrivaled Hosiery Mill, Williamstown this morning.
Trooper Joseph Maturder, Lykens State Police, said the attempt occurred between 10 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. today. Entry was gained by breaking a cellar window and then forcing an office door. The entry was discovered by William Feaster, plant fireman, of 205 North Street, Williamstown, while making his rounds.
Matruder said the burglars evidently used a sledge hammer in an unsuccessful attempt to smash the safe hinges. An office inventory will be taken Monday to determine if anything was stolen.
Similar articles appeared in the Lykens Standard, February 20, 1959, and the West Schuylkill Herald, February 29, 1959.
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The “girls” of the Unrivaled Hosiery Mill regularly held parties for co-workers. The one reported in the Harrisburg Telegraph of August 23, 1944, was for the birthdays of two women.
WILLIAMSTOWN GIRLS HONORED AT PARTY
Williamstown, August 23 [1944] — A birthday party was held by the workers of the Unrivaled Hosiery Mill here in honor of the birthdays of Misses Betty Umholtz and Ethel Saltzer.
Those attending were: Kathryn Reho; Thelma Wenrich; Katherine Evans; Maude Williams; Dorothy Bowman; Eva Bast; Betty McCready; Ethel Saltzer; Betty Umholtz; and Hattie Kissinger.
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Another event was held at the Lykens Glen Park and was reported in the Lykens Standard of September 12, 1947:
HOSIERY WORKERS ENJOY OUTING AT GLEN PARK
A group of Unrivaled Hosiery Mill workers, Williamstown, enjoyed an outing in Glen Memorial Park, Lykens, in honor of their forelady’s birthday. A delicious picnic supper was enjoyed by the following: Mrs. Thoms Challenger; Mrs. Joe Bast; Mrs. William Warlow; Miss Ellen Campbell; Miss Anna Harman; Miss Betty McCready; Miss Betty Umholtz; Miss Mae Shiley; and honored guest, Mrs. Olin Saltzer, Lykens.
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Finally, when a fire occurred another hosiery plant, most of the employees of that plant were hired by the Unrivaled Hosiery Mill. From the Lykens Standard, November 21, 1952.
BRIEF NEWS ITEMS
Nearly all the employees of Fisher’s Hosiery Mills which was destroyed by fire last week have secured employment at Lesher’s Hosiery Mill in Williamstown.
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News articles are from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.