World War II

Enka continued to be a unique company because of the way they cared about their employees, which carried well into World War II. The American Enka Corporation also played several roles in the war effort, which was a major event for the United States throughout the early 1940s. It took place from 1939-1945 but the U.S. participated from 1941-1945. Many companies throughout the country made supplies for the war, including Enka. Several Asheville landmarks were converted for use during the war.1 For example, the Grove Arcade held the Postal Accounts Division for the General Accounting Office and the Grove Park Inn became a rehab center for U.S. Navy soldiers. Enka’s role in the plant included making tire yarn for bomber tires and military vehicles.

Also, many Enka employees went off to serve in the war. One way Enka acknowledged those fighting was through the Enka Voice. The Enka Voice paid homage to the ones that went off and served.2 In the November 1943 issue seen below, they listed the names and photos of everyone enlisted in the US Military that participated in the war. That entire monthly issue was all about the war effort. One of the first pages is a piece of classic war propaganda as the entire page is just an ad stating, “Your War Bonds Are A Stake In The Future.”3 It made sense to promote the war effort because Enka was producing equipment for the United States in the war. War bonds were popular during this time because they helped finance the war so Enka, of course, advertised this. These bonds, typically solicited through posters seen by the American public, allowed for the maximum amount of public debt to be gained.4

War Bonds ad from the Enka Voice issue in November 1943.5

Example of one of the multiple war propaganda posters that was advertised in the Enka Voice.6

Some ladies at a war bonds drive conducted in 1943 for World War II.7

The company often tried to make their workers overseas feel special with various packages and the letters sent back to Asheville from the soldiers published in the Enka Voice. One of the many letters that the Enka Voice received and published stated, “please accept my sincere thanks for sending me the Enka Voice. It is more than a thrill to receive the news and look over the familiar faces of my friends, and know the good job they are doing at home.”8 Another letter said, “I would like for you to get my address in the Voice so if any of the boys whom I used to work with could write me.”9 The Enka Voice had a note in the November 1943 issue headlined, “Enka Service Men and Women Receive Company’s Christmas Packages.” The company sent little care packages which included cards, toiletries, and playing cards to some of their own fighting in the war.10

Page from the Enka Voice honoring the men serving in World War II that also worked for Enka.11

Section regularly included in the Enka Voice where the editors shared short letters from different troops overseas.12

The American Enka Corporation was heavily involved in the war effort, from the items they made for the military, to the men that served in the war, to the propaganda and coverage of it in the Enka Voice. “We made rayon that was used in bomber tires, military vehicles and Jeeps, uniforms, parachutes, bandages, and things of that sort,” stated J. Wilson Ayers during the interview.13

With the onslaught of World War II continuing to worsen, and the company’s role in the war effort, Enka chose to add a section to the plant during the war as requested by the United States Government to allow more materials to be made at a faster rate.14 This increase in production came to a halt in 1945. Issues between workers and the heads of the corporation actually led to a lawsuit that was brought before federal court. Soon after, the army took control of the American Enka plant because of strikes that took place. Things were resolved a few months later in June and led to workers getting a four cent pay raise.15

Page from the November 1943 issue with photos of the American Enka Corporation beginning their extension to the plant.16

Then, conditions worsened in 1945 when the Knoxville News-Sentinel reported on February 19, 1945 that President Roosevelt allowed the War Department to seize the American Enka Plant to be operated by the army. “The strike involves contract grievances. Both the company and the United Textile Workers have defied War Labor Board efforts to mediate the company to arbitrate and instructed the union to return to work. Both orders were ignored.”17 It also stated that over half of their 3,600 employees were part of the walkout that occurred on February 7. The 11 day strike led to the loss of 570,000 pounds of rayon yarn for the war effort. 18 For more information on the company’s seizure and the strikes that led to it, visit the Labor Relations page.

Striking became more prevalent due to ongoing wage disagreements. People were unhappy with the amount of money they made at Enka so workers began to fight back in the form of strikes. Labor relations started becoming a much bigger deal, especially when a former employee sued the company for damages. Overall, World War II stirred a lot of things up at Enka Village but the overall community and way Enka cared about their employees kept many people there.

Labor Relations
  1. Nan Chase, Asheville: A History (Contributions to Southern Appalachia Studies) (North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2007), 91.
  2. “In The Armed Services,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 10, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  3. “Your War Bonds are a Stake in the Future,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 1, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  4. Hunter Hollins, “The War Bond Poster: State Fundraising and National Cohesion Through Mass Media During the World Wars,” Journal of the Society for History in the Federal Government, no. 7 (2015): 50, http://www.shfg.org/resources/Documents/FH%207%20(2015)%20Hollins.pdf.
  5. “Your War Bonds are a Stake in the Future,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 1, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  6. “Give Us This Day,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 13, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  7. “Selling With a Smile,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 4, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  8. “Mail From Our Boys,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 4, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  9. “Mail From Our Boys,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 4, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  10. “Enka Service Men and Women Receive Company’s Christmas Packages,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 21, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  11. “In The Armed Services,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 10, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  12. “Mail From Our Boys,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 4, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  13. J. Wilson Ayers, interviewed by Louis Silveri, July 10, 1975, transcript, Southern Highlands Research Center Oral History Collection, D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC.
  14. J. Wilson Ayers, interviewed by Louis Silveri, July 10, 1975, transcript, Southern Highlands Research Center Oral History Collection, D. H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC.
  15. “Accord Reached to End Strike at Enka Firm,” Daily Times-News (Burlington, N.C.), June 2, 1945.
  16. “Plant Extension Started,” Enka Voice, November 1943, 25, in private collection held by Becca Norris.
  17. “N.C. Textile Plant Seizure Authorized: Enka Officials, Labor Refuse to Mediate,” Knoxville-News Sentinel, February 19, 1945.
  18. “Enka Strikers Return to Work: Actions of U.S. Army Ends Asheville Strike,” Rocky Mount Telegram, February 19, 1945.
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