Founding the Town of Altavista

Founding the Town of Altavista. . , The Lane Brothers Construction Company planned Altavista on 2,000 acres purchased in 1905 at the crossing of their newly completed section of the Virginian Railway and the existing Southern Railway (now Norfolk Southern Railway). Tradition holds that several members of Lane Brothers voted on the town name by casting ballots in a hat. The resulting vote favored Altavista, meaning “high view.” , The Lane Brothers organized the new community with businesses along Main Street and to the southwest, residences to the north, and industry to the east. By 1909, the Altavista Land and Improvement Company developed as a branch of Lane Brothers to continue construction, including improving roads. The rapidly growing town was incorporated in 1912 and featured depots for each railroad that brought passengers and goods each day. , While the railroads were critical to the area's growth, lumber companies grew rapidly to meet the demand for materials to continue that development. Local industries included Frazier Lumber Company and English Construction Company. W. S. Frazier founded the Frazier Lumber Company in 1905 that expanded to include a construction company as well. W.B. English, a builder, opened a lumber company in 1909 that became English Construction Company. Both companies were responsible for building projects throughout Altavista and the surrounding counties. , The Lane family, who owned Lane Brothers Construction Company, continued to be involved in the town and purchased the Old Dominion Box Company in 1912 for Edward H. Lane. The business became The Lane Company, Inc. and produced furniture, along with the famous cedar chests. The business employed 2,000 residents as cedar chests became increasingly popular after World War II. , Altavista Cotton Mills and Burlington Industries , The Altavista Cotton Mills opened in 1911 after South Carolina investors, who constructed the original building, sold the building to local investors. A village for the mill workers grew along 4th and 5th Streets as the mill rapidly expanded throughout the early 20th century. , As the textile industry began to slow in the 1920s, J. Spencer Love of Burlington Mills began producing rayon fabrics in North Carolina. Burlington Mills purchased Altavista Cotton Mills in 1933, and continued to produce rayon until glass fiber fabrics went into production in 1956 under the name Altavista Weaving. The company expanded operations to Hurt in 1949, opening the Burlington Industries Finishing Division. (Blackwell Press)