In its Dec. 7. 1933 issue, the Shelbyville Gazette devoted practically its entire news and advertising space to one firm in Shelbyville. That was when the official signing of an agreement between Shelbyville Mills U. S. Rubber Co. was announced to the public.

And there was every reason the Gazette and its subscribers rejoiced in the announcement. One of the nation’s largest and most prestigious industries had just bought the Sylvan Mills or Shelbyville Mills Cotton weaving plant and was getting ready to go into immediate production.

Update 4/15/18:  Gary provided a new, complete version of this photo: