High Point in Guilford County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Perley Albert "P.A." Thomas

September 17, 1874 - April 28, 1959

— A High Point Hero —

Perley Albert "P.A." Thomas Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Buckner, February 17, 2023

1. Perley Albert "P.A." Thomas Marker

Inscription. Self-educated, visionary engineer. Founded Thomas Car Works in 1917 to build street cars. Big demand in the '20s included orders from New Orleans, Detroit. Originals still in operation. Switched to school buses 1936, renaming company Thomas Built Buses and becoming world's largest manufacturer. Innovative all-steel construction and outward-swinging safety door secured future. US Army Citation WWII.

Erected by City of High Point.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.

Location. 35° 57.343′ N, 80° 0.323′ W. Marker is in High Point, North Carolina, in Guilford County. Marker is at the intersection of South Main Street and West Commerce Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 164 S Main St, High Point NC 27260, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. High Point Market (within shouting distance of this marker); Myrtle Furr Hayworth Barthmaier (within shouting distance of this marker); Southern Furniture Exposition Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sewell Farlow Store (about 300 feet away); The Ragan and Mills Building

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(about 400 feet away); Woolworth Students' Sit-in (about 400 feet away); February 11, 1960 (about 500 feet away); Willis Howard "Willis" Slane (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in High Point.

Also see . . . Perley Albert Thomas.

Perley Albert Thomas, High Point industrialist, was born in the London area of Ontario, Canada, the son of Margaret Cunningham and John Andrew Thomas. His father was a carpenter and farmer. Young Thomas received an elementary school education, which he supplemented with correspondence courses. Always an imaginative, practical draftsman-engineer, he learned the manufacture of streetcars in Detroit and later became chief engineer of the Kuhlman Car Company of Cleveland, Ohio. In 1909 he moved to High Point as chief engineer of the Southern Car Company.

(Submitted on February 21, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina.)

Radio Building - Location of Perley Albert Thomas Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Buckner, February 17, 2023

2. Radio Building - Location of Perley Albert Thomas Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 21, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.