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Former NCR  worker recalls  special visitor

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By Dale Huffman, Staff Writer Updated 6:40 AM Monday, June 8, 2009

When the news that NCR is winding down in Dayton and will be moving its headquarters to Georgia broke last week, I went through my files and dug out a fascinating letter sent to me by Edward “Eddie” White in 2001.

Eddie, who was 89 at that time, and lived in Phillipsburg, explained that he was retired from NCR and had many memories of his years there.

He wrote to me in response to a column in which I had shared information about my years working for NCR’s commissary department in the summers while I was in high school and college.

White said his father, Leroy White, also worked at NCR before him, and that between the father and son, they worked 83 years for the company.

“My father started at NCR in 1911,” Eddie said. “It was a time when the company paid their employees in silver and gold coins. Everyone called the company ‘the cash’ and in the beginning they actually made payroll with cash.”

Eddie explained, “My father had a night security job and made hourly key runs. He told us that each Thursday evening, about 5:30 p.m., he could expect the same thing. He would meet two police officers who were doing security for the old Winters Bank of Dayton.”

He said, “The two policemen rode shotgun on a wagon pulled by two horses. As they came from town, they made a U-turn in front of Building 10 of the NCR complex. Then they carried a large wooden box with silver and gold coins inside to be used for Friday’s payday.”

Eddie said his father told him of one occasion when things didn’t go as planned.

“Dad met the officers at the door of Building 10 that one night,” he said. “All three went to the vault floor where they found that someone had accidentally locked the iron gate in front of the vault.”

He continued, “Dad said he took an iron bar and broke the lock so that the officers could then put the box of coins into the vault, which then was locked.”

Eddie said that his father told him that when the lock was broken on the outside gate it must have triggered an alarm system.

“After the two police officers left, my father continued on his rounds and did his other duties. While my father was checking things at the NCR lumber yard he was hunted down by the head foreman of the security staff. He had come from his home out beyond Oakwood on a horse and found Dad.”

Eddie said the foreman asked his father, “Who in the world set off the alarm?”

His father explained he had done so to protect the payroll cash.

“Dad explained, that if he had left the money box on the floor at the elevator unattended, well, he suspected that there would not have been a payday on Friday.”

According to Eddie, the foreman left without saying a word, and the subject was never mentioned again.

Eddie also recounted a visitor he entertained when he was working the night shift in 1943.

“I was on loan to the carburetor department,” he said. “One particular night at about 11:30 p.m.,  I drove through Building 8 and over a metal drawbridge into Building 9. As I hit the wooden doors and went through, I saw Orville Wright standing nearby. He whistled and called me over and asked what I had on the truck.

“I showed him a box with brass parts from the screw-making department. He picked up some parts and asked a lot of questions about the parts being brass.”

Eddie said he had a long talk with Wright. “I told him that all metal parts in the carburetor had to be plated. All aluminum parts had to be anodized and stainless steel had to be passivated. Some other steel, I told him, had to be chrome-plated.”

He said that he talked until midnight with Orville, then asked him if he could deliver him back to his meeting.

“He thanked me and said no, that he had slipped away from the meeting. That he wanted to see the carburetor department by himself. Then he laughed.”

Do you have any interesting anecdotes about experiences while working for NCR that you wish to share?

Dale Huffman wants your suggestions and story ideas. This column is for you. Send e-mail to dhuffman@DaytonDailyNews.com or write to Dale at 1611 S. Main St. Dayton, OH 45409. Fax: (937) 225-2489. Phone: (937) 225-2272.

DALE HUFFMAN

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Dale, wonderfuld human interest story! Ed White is a dear saint in the Lord and his son is my senior pastor at Basore Road Grace Brethren Church. Thanks for sharing. Gary

Gary Kite
11:16 PM, 6/8/2009

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A precious story, Dale. Thanks.

Ray
7:18 AM, 6/8/2009

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