MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:E.W. Godwin & Sons

Celebrating our 100th Anniversary

The earliest days of the Godwin family in eastern North Carolina began around 1906 or so, when Eddie Walter Godwin traveled down from Delaware on the train, bringing his bicycle. He would stop off at various train stops and he would ride the countryside looking for timberland. Finding a great amount of suitable land, he brought his family to settle this area. They first settled in Duplin County, near Ryan’s Crossroads (now the Penderlea area) and set up their first sawmill. The family later moved to Point Caswell and used Lanes Ferry to raft logs down the Cape Fear River to Wilmington. It was only a matter of time before they grew their logging and sawmill lumber business. By 1909, E. W. Godwin & Sons lumber business was actively providing building materials to the local Wilmington and Cape Fear market. There was also a mill location in Teachey- just behind where the current E.W. Godwin location is today, and the company maintained a store location in this market until 1999. E. W. Godwin’s 3 sons actively shared responsibility in the family business as the second generation. William (Uncle Earl) oversaw the ground mills on various timberland projects. Grandfather Edward managed the office and paid the bills. The company is now in the hands of the 5th generation of the family.
The company is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year, and the location on N. Norwood St. will celebrate its second anniversary of re-opening this Labor Day. Buddy Boone and his staff have the expertise to help you get exactly what you need for your building or home improvement projects- and if they don’t have something in stock, it is merely a matter of calling Wilmington for it. They offer a free delivery service, which is a definite plus these days!

New Member Spotlight- Divine Fashions

Mae Tuggle has been sewing since she doesn’t know when. She learned much of her trade working for a designer outside of Washington D.C. She moved back to Wallace several years ago and opened Divine Fashions doing custom sewing and alterations at 117 E. Main St. Mae’s work is beautiful! Her drapes and curtains are inspired, and her cushions have all the professional detailing needed to make them top of the line. Her services include design and installation. Mae has taken on sewing jobs for organizations doing tote bags for conferences, and offers monogram services. She has a number of vendor samples and a large selection of quality upholstery fabrics that can be ordered, and fringes and beaded edgings as well. If you can imagine it, Mae can make it! Mae also accepts furniture and small household items for consignment sale. This past spring, she expanded to the adjacent store front and has opened a quality resale clothing shop. The merchandise mix includes separates, dresses, shoes, formal and bridal wear, as well as some menswear items. Stop in and see all that Mae and Divine Fashions has to offer.
Apart from the shops, Mae is an ordained minister, and pastor of the Harvest Time congregation. The congregation met at the Billy O. Rivenbark building that recently burned. Watching the fire, Mae thought perhaps it would end her ministry, until one of the firemen told her he had found her ordination paper and it was unburned. The congregation is so grateful to the Wallace American Legion Post for offering the use of their building until they can find another permanent place to worship!

Super Walmart going green- opening August 19

Leigh Anne Fletcher, grocery co-manager and Jeff Neil, manager of Walmart, are excited about the new store that will be opening August 19. The new and improved Walmart will have 24 checkouts and offer more services than ever before. There will be a full-service bank, salon, and Subway restaurant plus a full line of groceries.

by Sheila Young
Chamber of Commerce President
People are more conscious than ever of their pocketbooks and the environment. Walmart Supercenter in Wallace is addressing both of those issues. The new store on N.C. Hwy. 41 plans to open August 19. Jeff Neil, manager of the Wallace Walmart Supercenter, and member of the Wallace Chamber of Commerce, took time out of his busy schedule to discuss some of the exciting changes. Neil began with providing some statistics. Wallace’s supercenter will be the 108th store in North Carolina. The new store size is 150,000 square feet with approximately 142,000 items of merchandise. This store will employ 250-plus associates, which includes the 100 additional employees that will be hired to run the new store. It will be Wallace’s largest employer. “This is a real boost for the local economy,” said Neil. “The complex will not only add to Wallace’s tax base but also play a direct role in sales tax revenue the town receives and other costs such as utility revenues for the town.”
Energy Conservation
Walmart is building a better store and has gone “green and energy efficient” with many of their designs and energy-conversation techniques for a more sustainable environment. Some of the ways this is being achieved is through a daylight harvesting system, energy management system and heat reclamation. Restrooms are even energy efficient, reducing water consumption by 78 percent. Many recycled products went into use at the store with reclaimed byproducts going into the cement and cabinetry.
New layout for better customer experience
Neil said the customers can enjoy a great selection of merchandise, groceries, fresh produce, gardening supplies and pharmacy — all at great prices. Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandise and customer experience. The grocery section will offer meal solutions including fresh produce, meats, deli items and other take home meals. The new layout creates an open shopping environment with wider aisles that contain no product displays.
Walmart has extended their enormous arms to embrace small-town Wallace. They are reaching out into the community and especially to the Wallace Chamber of Commerce. The corporation is striving hard to make the grade as a good corporate citizen. The chamber welcomes Walmart and all the people it will bring to the community. It is hoped these employees and consumers will shop at other stores before leaving town.