Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Walt Martin and George Shope

  • wcu_picturing-5458.jpg
  • This 1941 image of Carolina Wood Turning Company employees (L to R) Theophelous Walton Martin (1904-1954) and George Nelson Shope (1889-1964) is part of the Stearns-Grueninger Collection. Irving Kip Stearns (1895-1942) was president of Carolina Wood Turning Company from 1928 until his death in 1942. Stearns’ grandfather, Jeremiah Shank, started the company in 1903 as Bryson City Pump Works and it grew to be a thriving industry for the community. In 1911, Stearns was in the first graduating class of Bryson City High School. He had one son, Joseph Pease Stearns (1917-1948). In 1935, I. K. married Betty Grueninger (1896-1971).