This is the fourth installment of a history of the Royall Cotton Mill, later the Royal Mill, based on a thesis written by Don P. Johnston Jr. in 1945 for a degree from Princeton University. His father, Don P. Johnston, was the president of Royall Mill before and during the Depression. (This week we also quote from “A Common Thread: Life at Royall Mill and its Village, 1899 to 1996” by R. James Cox Jr., then a planner with the Town of Wake Forest. It was printed in 1996 and reprinted in 2007 for the Town of Royall Mills Centennial Celebration.) Despite its effect on other industries, the Great War, World War I, was not financially good to Royall Cotton Mill when it began. In his treasurer’s report to stockholders on Sept. 8, 1914, Robert E. Royall wrote: “We have made only $3,524.51 during the year which closed Aug. 31,

Wake County plans to vaccinate all homeless people with the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine on Thursday, March 25. All homeless shelters, Oak City Cares, WakeMed and street outreach teams will be mobilized in this effort. The homeless can also use Oak City Cares and Triangle Family Services to provide proof of homelessness and mail registration to apply for the $1,400 checks provided in the $1.9 trillion relief package just passed by the Democrats in the U.S. Congress and signed by President Biden. Flyers and announcements will begin on Saturday, March 20, to spread the word about the mass vaccination on Thursday, March 25, using a white flag shelter open that day no matter the weather. Emoke Anderson with the Northern Wake Regional Center said, “As of right now, we understand that the homeless population does not need appointments if they go to the white flag event or Oak City

The American Public Power Association (APPA) has awarded its Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3®)[1] Diamond Award to Wake Forest Power (WFP) for providing customers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service. The RP3 award recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Criteria within each category are based on sound business practices and represent a utility-wide commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity. The highest of the three recognition levels, “Diamond Level” designation means WFP met 98-100 percent of the criteria for providing consumers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service. One of 274 of the nation’s more than 2,000 public power utilities to earn the designation, WFP has attained RP3 status continuously since 2007. The designation is active for three years, after which time a utility must reapply. Wake Forest Power earned an additional reliability recognition

Although COVID-19 has pushed many events online or even canceled them altogether, it won’t stop the Wake Forest Fire Department from frying fish this year. The firemen will host a “Drive By Fish Fry” on Friday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. – or until all the fish plates are sold. The drive-thru event will be offered along Elm Avenue in front of Fire Station #1, 420 Elm Ave. An illustrative map of the drive-thru system will be provided in the coming days. Dinners are $10 each and will include generous portions of fried flounder, boiled potatoes, coleslaw, and hush puppies. No beverages will be provided. Online orders will be accepted through Thursday, April 15, at www.wakeforestnc.gov/fire/fish-fry. Only available while supplies last, orders may also be accepted on the day of the event. Please note: Due to a limited number of meals, ordering ahead is strongly encouraged. Fish fry

Note: Real fish are involved The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources  Department will host a Virtual Bass Fishing Tournament for ages 13 and older and a Virtual Youth Fishing Tournament for ages 12 and under May 10-23. Over this two-week period, local anglers are encouraged to visit any public fishery in Wake or Franklin County to try and catch the biggest fish. Participants in the Youth Fishing Tournament may catch any species of fish, while anglers in the Bass Fishing Tournament will be limited to bass only. Online registration for both tournaments is available through Thursday, April 22, at  https://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/Community/Home. The cost to participate is $10 for the bass tournament and $5 for the youth tourney. Participants in the bass tourney will receive a fishing scale to be used in the competition, while contestants in the youth tournament will receive an “Early Fisherman” packet. Fishing scales and “Early Fisherman”