- February 27th, 2007, 3:35 pm
#19876
First of all I'd like to say that I have enjoyed reading this and other Forums about Carowinds and would like to personaly thank Ken Rutherford for his wonderful Site that pays respect to and preserves the early days of the Park.
Now for the Story.
In late 1972 I was a Junior at East Mecklenburg High School. I had quite a bit of work experience since I had my first job at 14 and had always worked part time at least since then. I had heard about Carowinds being built and drove out there to see about putting in an application for summer work. I expected to apply and my application to go into a stack with a standard "We'll be in touch" send off. This didn't happen. I was taken into an office in the back and a gentleman named Witherspoon, I believe, read over my application. He asked me a few questions about when I could start work etc and then left the room. Returning a few minutes later with another gentleman, whose name I can't remember, I was asked if I had any problem with working long hours, being authoritive, etc etc etc. In my mind I was getting excited about being a manager at one of the Burger Stands or something big like that! We all shook hands and I left with high expectations, being told that they would be in touch. I recieved a call a day or two later asking me to come back in. I did so and met with the same gentlemen. They started explaining the personel structure within the parks food service. There were to be 2 Supervisors, each having control of half of the park. A Forman for each section of the Park. A manager and Assistant Manager for each of the restaurants. I understood all of this. The next thing that was said was followed by a silence that seemed like it went on forever because my mouth fell open so far you could have dropped a softball in it and not touched my teeth. "Scott we want you to be a Supervisor in Food Service and start ASAP coming in after school so you can help prepare the Park for opening in March" .............................................................
After a while I reached down, picked up my lower jaw and said, "I'd like to see the Park" We toured the park and talked a while about what was going to be what and where all the restaurants etc would be. I started working soon after that and somehow, we got everything ready to open. It's all quite a blurr to me now and details have slipped away over the years. I do remember being at the front entrance when the ribbon was cut thinking, "This is an Epic Day, One to be Remembered". I remember Pat Hall well, his office was in a Restored Train Car out by the main offices. Mr Hall used to sleep in that train and was known to partake of a few spirits and do some midnight target shooting with his pistol. You could tell if he had a target shooting night by the bullet holes in various things around the office areas. They had an employee night that first year where all the employees had free reign of the park and it was quite a party. Pat Hall came cruising through the park in an old Model T Ford having a blast. I think he kept quite a few Antique Cars in one of the warehouses there. I worked the summer there and everything went pretty well. I remember in the heat of August I used to go hide in what was then the Magic Theater until my beeper would go off and I would have to go put out a fire somewhere.(Not Literally) Anyway. It was a memorable summer and many fond memories are still buried deep un my head somewhere. Maybe they will come rattling out one day!
Later!
Scott
Now for the Story.
In late 1972 I was a Junior at East Mecklenburg High School. I had quite a bit of work experience since I had my first job at 14 and had always worked part time at least since then. I had heard about Carowinds being built and drove out there to see about putting in an application for summer work. I expected to apply and my application to go into a stack with a standard "We'll be in touch" send off. This didn't happen. I was taken into an office in the back and a gentleman named Witherspoon, I believe, read over my application. He asked me a few questions about when I could start work etc and then left the room. Returning a few minutes later with another gentleman, whose name I can't remember, I was asked if I had any problem with working long hours, being authoritive, etc etc etc. In my mind I was getting excited about being a manager at one of the Burger Stands or something big like that! We all shook hands and I left with high expectations, being told that they would be in touch. I recieved a call a day or two later asking me to come back in. I did so and met with the same gentlemen. They started explaining the personel structure within the parks food service. There were to be 2 Supervisors, each having control of half of the park. A Forman for each section of the Park. A manager and Assistant Manager for each of the restaurants. I understood all of this. The next thing that was said was followed by a silence that seemed like it went on forever because my mouth fell open so far you could have dropped a softball in it and not touched my teeth. "Scott we want you to be a Supervisor in Food Service and start ASAP coming in after school so you can help prepare the Park for opening in March" .............................................................
After a while I reached down, picked up my lower jaw and said, "I'd like to see the Park" We toured the park and talked a while about what was going to be what and where all the restaurants etc would be. I started working soon after that and somehow, we got everything ready to open. It's all quite a blurr to me now and details have slipped away over the years. I do remember being at the front entrance when the ribbon was cut thinking, "This is an Epic Day, One to be Remembered". I remember Pat Hall well, his office was in a Restored Train Car out by the main offices. Mr Hall used to sleep in that train and was known to partake of a few spirits and do some midnight target shooting with his pistol. You could tell if he had a target shooting night by the bullet holes in various things around the office areas. They had an employee night that first year where all the employees had free reign of the park and it was quite a party. Pat Hall came cruising through the park in an old Model T Ford having a blast. I think he kept quite a few Antique Cars in one of the warehouses there. I worked the summer there and everything went pretty well. I remember in the heat of August I used to go hide in what was then the Magic Theater until my beeper would go off and I would have to go put out a fire somewhere.(Not Literally) Anyway. It was a memorable summer and many fond memories are still buried deep un my head somewhere. Maybe they will come rattling out one day!
Later!
Scott
<a href='http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2424823750054618143dFFFbD' target='_blank'>
</a> (at least I'm old enough to have been alive then, unlike some of these younguns).
