Which building is the old MaLeck building and why consider razing it?

The eyesore of a building on the right as you come into town from the west.

just somebody doesn't know Wingate's history! MaLeck was a woodcrafting business that Mr. Leck Helms, his wife Mary and brother Bernard started in about 1950. At first Mr. Helms envisioned using local craftsmen to build simple country furniture. His most successful product during the startup years was a child's round wooden swing seat. Building on that success Helms built a factory to manufacture wooden decorative items on US 74 just past the Western town limits of Wingate. Business flourished in the 1960's and the lines were expanded to include clocks, serving pieces, cookware, candles and brass. In the 1970's the factory was expanded to meet the increasing demand for MaLeck products. Seperate facilities were built in Wingate and Marshville to produce different items. MaLeck was one of the most profitable woodcraft manufacturing companies in the nation.

Competition from both domestic and foreign companies soon began to cause problems. Mr. Helms retired and his son became president. The son brought in professional management and paid them handsomely to try and right the ship but the damage was done. Management cut unprofitable lines, sold two divisions and consolidated warehousing and shipping. Still the bloodletting continued. MaLeck was forced to lay off it's long time loyal employees in a last ditch effort to save the company. Just before the bank took over MaLeck had a huge sale trying to pay the bills.

Today the remnants of the one prosperous main manufacturing plant lie at the western town limits of Wingate. The building's glass and wood front facade proved too fragile after Hurricane Hugo and was pulled down. Today a series of strange brick walls face US 74 across from the Valero Convenience Store. Part of the factory is occupied by a Fire Equipment, "junkque and antique" dealer. Another part is a tire and auto shop and another part is used as a warehouse. The employee parking lot holds a mixture of broken down automobiles, trucks and two old firetrucks.

The Candle division was a metal building that was located approximately where McDonald's is now located. It was sold to the man who now owns the Candle Shop in Marshville. Shortly after he purchased it burned to the ground. He wasn't discouraged however and managed to rent another former MaLeck building known as the Box Plant and began to produce candles. About a year later, one night the roof fell in crushing everything! He moved his business to Marshville!

MaLecks' Marshville facility was a long brick building located alongside the railroad tracks at Unarco Rd across from the Food Lion shopping Center. It also burned but the shell of the building still stands.

The bank owns the property and is successfully renting it. It is doubtful that it will be torn down unless it is unsafe.

The Bank also owns the former Thrifty Supermarket property, an even bigger eyesore. It is not occupied and probably deserves the wrecking ball more than the MaLeck property.

Kevin wrote:

just somebody doesn't know Wingate's history! MaLeck was a woodcrafting business that Mr. Leck Helms, his wife Mary and brother Bernard started in about 1950. At first Mr. Helms envisioned using local craftsmen to build simple country furniture. His most successful product during the startup years was a child's round wooden swing seat. Building on that success Helms built a factory to manufacture wooden decorative items on US 74 just past the Western town limits of Wingate. Business flourished in the 1960's and the lines were expanded to include clocks, serving pieces, cookware, candles and brass. In the 1970's the factory was expanded to meet the increasing demand for MaLeck products. Seperate facilities were built in Wingate and Marshville to produce different items. MaLeck was one of the most profitable woodcraft manufacturing companies in the nation.
Competition from both domestic and foreign companies soon began to cause problems. Mr. Helms retired and his son became president. The son brought in professional management and paid them handsomely to try and right the ship but the damage was done. Management cut unprofitable lines, sold two divisions and consolidated warehousing and shipping. Still the bloodletting continued. MaLeck was forced to lay off it's long time loyal employees in a last ditch effort to save the company. Just before the bank took over MaLeck had a huge sale trying to pay the bills.
Today the remnants of the one prosperous main manufacturing plant lie at the western town limits of Wingate. The building's glass and wood front facade proved too fragile after Hurricane Hugo and was pulled down. Today a series of strange brick walls face US 74 across from the Valero Convenience Store. Part of the factory is occupied by a Fire Equipment, "junkque and antique" dealer. Another part is a tire and auto shop and another part is used as a warehouse. The employee parking lot holds a mixture of broken down automobiles, trucks and two old firetrucks.
The Candle division was a metal building that was located approximately where McDonald's is now located. It was sold to the man who now owns the Candle Shop in Marshville. Shortly after he purchased it burned to the ground. He wasn't discouraged however and managed to rent another former MaLeck building known as the Box Plant and began to produce candles. About a year later, one night the roof fell in crushing everything! He moved his business to Marshville!
MaLecks' Marshville facility was a long brick building located alongside the railroad tracks at Unarco Rd across from the Food Lion shopping Center. It also burned but the shell of the building still stands.
The bank owns the property and is successfully renting it. It is doubtful that it will be torn down unless it is unsafe.
The Bank also owns the former Thrifty Supermarket property, an even bigger eyesore. It is not occupied and probably deserves the wrecking ball more than the MaLeck property.

Thank you Kevin! That is very helpful. I never knew the story behind the buildings. Where is the family now?

Mr Leck Helms and his wife Mary passed away. His brother Bernard who was the long time mayor of Wingate also passed away. Leck and Mary's children all moved away except the eldest daughter Joann who operated a craft store where Collectables and Moore was on 74 for many years until she passed away in the mid 1990's.

Mr Leck Helms was a strong supporter of Wingate Baptist Church and Wingate University. A large donation to the university allowed them to construct and name Helms Dormitory in his honor.

I have a round three legged barrel-like sewing box handcrafted at MaLeck Industries with the original "Crafted by" tag...
Would you know how might I find out the value?

Will someone please help Sally? I would like to know how to find this out also. Sally, I bet it is beautiful. Is it in good condition?

it is in great condition, very detailed, and feels special. If you send me your email i'll send you some pics.

I have several beautiful like new and even some new in the box MaLeck items that I have never opened or used. The color of the stain just gets better and better with age. The quality of the wrokmanship is consistantly good. These things will last forever!

The only way you can really find the value is to search on ebay. I have found values fluctuate quite a bit. I have been tempted to put some of my MaLeck things on there. I bought quite a few when the company had their big sale just before closing.

I asked Don Hall about the value of MaLeck stuff at his auction. He said that since there were so many people still living here who either worked at MaLeck or knew it's history there was a good market locally.

thanks for the feedback Kevin. Good to know.

BB&T ownes the old Maleck factory. It is ugly on the outside but structurally it is in good shape. It is very large. Over half of it is rented so they are making money from it. It is for sale for 1.2 million but they will talk. They aren't going to tear it down.