Enka families had access to numerous forms of entertainment, whether that meant a Christmas party for the kids, sports teams, or an educational field trip for employees. These things built a sense of community and specific experiences that became unique to the Enka mill village.
The Enka Lake Club was one of many ways people could entertain themselves outside of work.1 The Club, a building situated on the shore of Enka Lake, provided a place for families to enjoy themselves and swim in the lake. Dr. Beaver said, “it was a nice facility, and it must have been a big open room and then a patio out back.”2 According to her, there was a gym on the village property where people could do various activities. “The other services that the company provided was a gym or some kind of big facility where there were dances, or square dances and I remember going down there on the weekend and being in a great big circle dance and really learning how to square dance…” 3 Dr. Beaver also spoke about a dance floor at the Enka Lake Club where they would hold occasional square dance sessions. According to the Enka Voice, the Hominy Valley Square Dance team, from Enka, would compete in local competitions, such as the Cherokee and Western North Carolina Fair Festivals.4
Photograph from the Enka Voice displaying the people from the Village on the Hominy Valley Square Dance Team.5
Usually the Enka Lake Club would hold parties as well, such as the Halloween Party, like one in the fall of 1930.6 They also had various events for other holidays. Christmas, for example, was a major holiday for the mill village. A page in the January 1934 edition mentioned a big Christmas tree for the children of Enka and over 500 kids attended the celebration held November 23rd.7 The Enka Voice told of one of these parties in a story-like format: “The large ballroom wasn’t there any longer. Instead the timid observer found himself in the bar room of ‘La Lune Rousse,’ in a company so awe inspiring and so sinister as to send cold shivers in abundance down anybody’s spine.”8 This story references a Parisian Night party once held at the Enka Lake Club for members.
Image with a view of the Enka Lake Clubhouse on the shores of Enka Lake where families spent their summers.9
Picture displaying the Christmas tree from the 1933 Christmas Celebration held by the American Enka Corporation.10
The American Enka Corporation also promoted lots of outdoor trips and activities. Many editions of the Enka Voice noted trips to Mount Mitchell, and even a picnic at Frying Pan Gap.11 The company took employees to places like the hydroelectric power plant for Carolina Power and Light.12 The Enka Voice reported, “thru the courtesy of Mr. J. B. Stepp, Power Sales Manager of the Asheville Office and Mr. MacDonald, Superintendent of the plant, the members of the class had the opportunity of view a modern and comparatively new hydro-electric development, one of the units in the extensive network of interconnected power systems which distributes energy to the entire eastern half of the United States.”13 Enka also offered classes on electricity. Something else the American Enka Corporation participated in at one point was the harvest celebration hosted by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.14 “During the four days the 3,000 or more Indians will present the Green Corn harvest dances, the Eagle dances, the barbaric Indian Ball Games and will indulge in many primordial and picturesque contests.”15These experiences allowed workers and their families the opportunity to learn more about local activities.
Photo from a May 1938 edition of the newsletter of a lady and several other people enjoying a lunch at Frying Pan Gap.16
Athletics were another popular form of recreation at Enka. The company had several different teams, with basketball being the most popular sport. One article from the Enka Voice was headlined, “Basketball News.”17 The article mentioned the latest games played by their basketball teams, cleverly named Sorting and Twisting. Sorting and Twisting were the names of two departments mainly run by women.
Hunting and fishing were two ways workers and their families could pass time. The Enka Voice noted when fishing season began on April 15. The editors recommended trout fishing specifically, explaining one could only fish for trout until May 10 when the season for other types of fish opened.18 The Enka Voice also announced the availability of combination hunting and fishing licenses and provided safety tips for handling guns.19
Something many members of Enka Village participated in was gardening. There was a section about gardening in at least one monthly edition of the Enka Voice and then a page in another month about “prize winning yards.”20 Families of workers certainly seemed to put a lot of effort into maintaining their homes. One funny anecdote was in the July 1930 edition and a tiny section stating, “everyone on Orchard Avenue has been taking a great deal of pride in making their yards beautiful, especially Jim Eplee, who has lost seven pounds working in his yard.”21 The Enka Voice also recommended growing strawberries because the conditions in Western North Carolina allowed them to grow well.22
Enka Voice article clipping showing how dedicated workers and their families were when it came to gardening and keeping up the appearance of their home.23
Unfortunately, in the middle of American Enka’s operations, World War II began. Despite occasional issues with wages that formed during this time, Enka continued to have a very strong, unique sense of caring toward its employees.
- “New Wing Added to Club House,” Enka Voice, August 1932, 9, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- Pat Beaver, interview by author, October 1, 2021, interview 1, transcript, Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC.
- Pat Beaver, interview by author, October 1, 2021, interview 1, transcript, Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC.
- “Hominy Valley Dance Team Wins Top Honors at Cherokee and W.N.C Fair Festivals,” Enka Voice, November 1946, 6, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Hominy Valley Dance Team Wins Top Honors at Cherokee and W.N.C. Fair Festivals,” Enka Voice, November 1946, 6, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Enka Lake Summer Activities,” Enka Voice, November 1930, 2, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Christmas Tree for Enka Children,” Enka Voice, January 1934, 24, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Enka Club Transformed Into Parisian Night Cafe,” Enka Voice, April 1933, 21, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “New Wing Added to Clubhouse,” Enka Voice, August 1932, 9, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Christmas Tree for Enka Children,” Enka Voice, January 1934, 24, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Picnic At Frying Pan Gap,” Enka Voice, May 1938, 11, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Industrial Electricity Class Visits Waterville,” Enka Voice, August 1932, 4, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Industrial Electricity Class Visits Waterville,” Enka Voice, August 1932, 4, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “3,000 Indians to Take Part in Fair,” Enka Voice, October 1932, 23, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “3,000 Indians to Take Part in Fair,” Enka Voice, October 1932, 23, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Picnic At Frying Pan Gap,” Enka Voice, May 1938, 11, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Basketball News,” Enka Voice, October 1931, 7, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Trout Fishing Season Opened April 15,” Enka Voice, May 1938, 11, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Hunting and Fishing,” Enka Voice, February 1935, 5, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Prize Winning Yards,” Enka Voice, October 1932, 11, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Prize Winning Yards in Enka Village,” Enka Voice, July 1930, 4, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Strawberries Grow Well at Enka,” Enka Voice, April 1933, 7, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
- “Prize Winning Yards in Enka Village,” Enka Voice, July 1930, 4, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
