Lynchburg Letter: J. William Gayner to W. H. Loyd
June 21, 1927
In this letter, Mr Gayner talks about a general slowdown in the glass industry but is still optimistic about getting the plant restarted at a future date as a branch factory for a large glass company. Of course, he could not foresee the stock market crash of October, 1929 that threw American industry into turmoil. There is also a poignant postscript concerning the personal cost to Mr. Gayner of the Lynchburg failure.
Text was transcribed by Dennis Bratcher. A scan of the original letter is below [parts of the scan are distorted; original is bound in a book].
[handwritten]
Salem N J. June 21 - 1927
My Dear Mr. Loyd
Your favor of the 7th received[.] Regarding Mr Ellingwood, I found that He had no money & was unable to interest capital, He wanted $15000. a year salary.
My thoughts are about the same; Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce are the ones to sell Lynchburg and its opportunities as a Glass center to some established Glass Company that wish to established [sic] a branch factory in the South
This can be done; Weston Chamber of Commerce W.Va. last week secured the Brilliant Glass Product Co to start a plant in their city, Mr. Frolking is president of the Glass Co.
I was talking to a large company a short time ago about taking over Lynchburg as a branch factory - General business in the Glass industry is quiet & will be for some little time then it will boom again, now is the time to sow the propaganda that Lynchburg is an ideal city for a Southern Glass Factory which is true, then when the industry starts up a company can be secured
I am glad to hear you have a good prospect I will appreciate if you will settle send me my belongings before you leave
Yours truly
[signed] J William Gayner
P.S Two years ago, June 24th, I left Lynchburg 7:15 a.m. with a sad heart returning home with my money gone, my reputation as a factory superintendent discredited, facing my family, Brother and his family as a prodigal runaway. I now feel I am beginning to climb again.
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