w,
THE DEMOCRAT
la tout bwt ud moat econo
mical medium or udmUrtm
With mora than LSOO paid-up.
?aah subscriptions. your mea
VOL. LX, NO. 32.
v * . /
An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year 1888
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1948.
FIVE CENTS A COPY
KING STREET
King Street the end At the week
. . . The shopping district, the
best in the mountain area, fail*
to draw the big Saturday crowds,
which are so much a part and
parcel of our existence . . A
layer of ice produced by the
freezing rain, covered with about
four inches of powdery snow,
conspired against the meandering
of the gasoline buggy, so moat of
the folks stayed at home . . . we
missed them.
? ? ?
THE GROUND HOG. ancient
and honored sage of the high
lands. whom the folks say has
an uncanny genius when it
oomes to predicting the weather
following February 2, certainly
had a perfect squint at his
shadow. if he ventured forth
Monday . . . folk tradition has
it that the wily subterranean
d*ni*en. retreated forthwith
into the innermost rn of
his underground castle .
rince the sunshine foretold six
"xw* weeks of wild and wooly
winter weather . . . and it might
' be added that in this particular
locality the elements don't too
often let the ground hog down.
? ? ?
ALWAYS had a sort of off
hand admiration for the ground
hog, the ugly duckling of the up
land animal kingdom ... His
tribe continues to hold forth in
the hills . . . He continues to
multiply and replenish the moun
tain sides, much to the dislike of
the farmer . . . the one animal
which has successfully withstood
the onslaughts of Winchesters,
steel traps, dynamite, gas and
poison . . . He's genuinely tough,
"tolable" lazy, hangs -it his
shingle plumb close to the judder
patch, often winds up with a bul
let in his tough hide . . . but
.another always comes along to
take his place next spring, and
nibble the tender grass while the
gets something better
?tettfd . . would be cloae to
to belittle His Hogship's
capi*y for predicting the kind
ft;; J?***1** its 1 ?oin* to be.
*n?nt do that at all . . . but
thie best of them make mistakes
->.? ? so wouldn't mind if the
whistle pig would prove himself
?wrong . . ..just this one time.
* ? ?
f' THE PRESIDENT'S BALL
eame through la fine style, and
the merrymakers contributed a
siseable amount to the March
Dimes . . . T wasn't however
the sort of affair experienced
in the early days of its exist
ence. when at an appointed
boor, dancing ceased, while
about all the people in the
town. Republicans. Democrats
and afraid-to-says. gathered
round to hear the rich resonant
Z!*0* ? greeting from 1(00
Pennsylvania Avenue ? won't
be again . . . but the faithful
came, all those who may be de
pended upon, rami what may.
to attend every birthday ball,
and try to dance a hit. sa that
others may have a bettor
chance in their efforts to walk
ence more . . . Sitting on the
sidelines watching the younger
generation glide over the
Polished hardwood, not
a bit . . . never offered Vernon
Castle too much competition
. . . talking with old friends . . .
Lady, gracefully approaching
middle age. but admitting her
capacity for dancing hadn't in
creased. omits sigh of relief '
with "there comes another
"antiquish couple" . . . quick
ening tempo of the orchestra
causes younger couples to go
into jitterlbg . . . older ones
stop staid dance steps and form
an enchanted circle about llirni
whose youthful vigor and
boundlees enthusiasm. ax
^ wehviolent gyra
nwi ... Fanny thing abont
. - Bat still we recall wit^a
bit of chagrin, that the wlJk
business is illegal in the town
ef Boone.
? ? ?
CHARLIE JOHNSON and his
collegians, put over some bang
up good music, for the joy of
helping a worthy cause . . . made
no charges . . . and perhaps made
the largest contribution locally
to the March of Dimes . . . The
fee of such an organization this
(Continued on page 4)
BY
ROB RIVERS
to be born of
happiness . . . has been a kind
of ritual of joy for centuries
11 POINTS
3ernard M. Baruch* noted finan
ier and pwddwWI consultant,
testifies before the gwilto toriga
| relations committee . He laid down
ia bold. 1 1-point plan for world
recovery. based on a onion of Eu
rope under the United Nations.
HAGAMAN NOT
TO RUN AGAIN
Wataugan, on Forsyth Kdu_
cation Board Many Years.
Will End Tenure.
Winston-Salem, N. C. Feb. 2, ?
Smith Hagaman of 221 Eden
Terrace, long-time member of
the Forsyth County Board of
Education, last night announced
that he would not seek re-elc
tion.
Mr. Hagaman said he wanted
to make his announcement early
so there would be adequate time
for potential candidates to get in
the race.
Explaining why he would
not run again, Mr. Hagaman
pointed out that he had served
for 10 years on the board. He also
said that his business required
that he be out of Forsyth county
much of the time, and he thought
it would be better to elect men
who could be in iMr county all
the time and keep in constant
touch with school affairs.
"It's quite a responsibility, and
I believe I've had it long enough,"
Mr. Hagaman said,. But he ex
pressed appreciation to the pub
lic for electing him and making
it possible for him to serve in the
school system here.
Mr. Hagaman praised the new
superintendent, Mr. Brimley, who
took the Forsyth position at the
beginning of this school year. He
?aid he is "making a fine start,
and we will find in him a very
valuable man. I am sure any
board elected will re-appoint
him."
Mr. Hagaman was county
superintendent of schools in Wa
tauga county for 19 years before
coming to Winston-Salem in 1934
to become superintendent of the
North Carolina Baptist Hospital.
He retired as hospital superinten
dent in 1945 after 11 years of
service.
Deputies to Assist
Federal Taxpayers
Deputies Paul G. Knight and
James R. Kenerly of the internal
revenue service will be at the
postoffice in Boone, N. C., from
February 16, 1948 through Feb
ruary 20, 1948, assisting taxpayers
with their 1947 Federal income
tax returns. The services of the
collectors will be available frqm
8:30 a. m. to 5:15 p. m.
PARKWAY TOLL
PLAN KILLEt)
Washington ? There will be no
toll charged on. the Blue Ridge
parkway in North Carolina this
year, Secretary of the Interior
Krug advised Senator* Hoey and
Umitead and Congressman
Dough ton last week.
The two senators, along with
Depresentathre Robert L. Dough
ton of the Ninth district, per
sonally protested to Secretary
Krug last week and aaked that
the toll order which would have
gone into effect this spring be
canceled.
Senator Hoey eaid there was no
decision as to whether tells will
be charged after 1MB.
App Wrestlers Meet
W. Carolina Today
The Appalachian wrestlers will
meet Western Carolina Teachers
College in the local gym at 4 o'
clock Wednesday. The Demon
stration and High School* have
been Invited to this meet as the
special guests of the Athletic De
partment.
OLD SOL BRINGS!
RELIEF FROM
FRIGID BUSTS
Sunshine Brings End to Se- I
vere Weather of End of j
Week as Travel Approach
es Normal; Eastern CaroU-[
na Fares Worse in Storm. |
Watauga county, besieged by
rain,' ice, sleet, snow, and target
of about every trick in the wea
therman's kit the end of the
week, is having at least a brief
resDite from from the rigors of
on# of the worst winters in yeart,
as this week brought clearing
skies and sub-freezing tempera
tures, to melt some of the snow
piled in abundance about the
countryside.
Freezing rains last Friday cov
ered the ground with a thick
coating of ice, followed Saturday
by six inches of snow, which fell
before the previous week's depos
it had vanished, brought a cessa
tion of highway travel for a time,
except where travel was prompt
ed by necessity. However com
munications are back to normal
in the hill country, while in Eas
tern Carolina, while primary
roads were opened again, wire
communication lines hadn't yet
been restored. Below the moun
tains, airline schedules were can
celled, trains were coming in far
behind time, bus service was dis
continued in many localities and
schools were closed. It was the
worst winter storm in 15 years in
Eastern and Piedmont Carolina ?
far worse than in the mountains.
The "down the country" sec
tion is trying to recover from
broken telephone and telephone
lines, fallen roofs, big snowdrifts
and streets littered with broken
limbs. One man froze to death
near Durham and roofs fell be
neath the weight of the snow in
Goldsboro, Henderson and Ral
eigh. There was 10% inches of
snow at Goldsboro and 18 inches
At Henderson.
Funeral b Held For
Mr#. I. W. Gross, 88
Funeral services for Mrs. I. W.
Gross, age 88 years, were con
ducted from the Oak Grove Bap
tist Church near Boone, last
Thursday afternoon, by Rev. C.
O. Vance, the pastor, and inter
ment was in the Hines cemetery.
Mrs. Gross died last Wednes
day at Watauga hospital where
she had been a patient for sever
al weeks.
The flower girls were: Mrs.
Ruth Winebarger, Mrs. Bulah
Ragan, Mrs. Dare Carlton, Mrs.
Delia Combs, Mrs. Opal Castle,
Mrs. Faye Miller, Mrs. Hattie Ar
ney, Mrs. Annie Blackburn, Mrs.
Josephine Williams, Nancy Lee
Hodges, Nell Gross, Mary Joe
Gross, Peggy Gross, Elizabeth
Gross. Billie Miller. Billy Ruth
Blackburn, Melba Ragan, Mrs.
Maxie Geer.
Active pallbearers: Dale Gros?,
George Aroey, Howard Winebar
ger, Justin Ragan, James Geer,
Honorary Pall bearers: J. C.
Hodges, Gordon Hodges, Joe Mi
chael. Clyde Williame, Thomas
Miller, Jr., Marvin Combs, M. N.
Blackburn, Alton Carlton, ^Spen
cer Miller, Arley Brown, ? Pink
Hodges, P. C. Wyke, Hard Hender
son, Wilson Norris, Ralph Be
shears, W. D. Farthing, C. J.
Farthing, W. C. Walker, John
Farthing, L. M. Hodges, Vernon
Castle, Harold Ragan. Lionel
Ward, Lee Teague. C. G. Brown,
Clifford Diet*.
Mrs. Gross is survived by the
following sons and daughters:
Bynum, Lee and Cleve of Boone;
Mrs. F. M. Maltha, Mrs. Hettie
Hodges of Boone, and Mrs. C. G.
Lewis of Mabel, 20 grandchildren
and 20 great grandchildren.
Funeral Today For
Simon P. Townsend
Simon Peter Townsend, of
Boone, died at the local hospital
Monday and funeral service# are
to be held at 2 o'clock Thursday
U the Oak Grove Baptist Church.
Interment will be In the Adam*
cemetery at Vila*
Six sons and six (laughers sur
vive: R. H. Townsend, Zionville;
A. N. Townsend, Boone; O. L
Townsend, Tie ton, Wash.; F. O.
Townsend, Scotsville, Vu.; E. A.
Townsend, West Prendship, Md.;
A. L. Townsend, Boone; Mrs. M.
D. Coffey, Linville; Mrs. Charlie
Hartley, Charlotte; Mrs. Henry
Calvert, Gastonia; Herbert Wood
ruff, Lenoir; Mrs. Verne Arriiig
ton, Boone; Miss Olene Town
send, Black Mountain.
BUSINESS MEN CONVERGE ON CAPITOL
Fir* hundred delegates. representing the National Small Businessmen's Association converge on
Capitol Hill to pledge congressmen their support - of free enterprise and offer assurances that the
Troup Is interested primarily in national welfare and not special privilege. The business men.
In Washington from all parts of the country, are shown on the steps of the capitol building.
Father, Child Die in Blaze
ROAD URGED
TO ABINGDON
Tri-State Trganization Meets
at Mountain City To
Boost New Highway
Civic minded citizens of South
west Virginia, East Tennessee and
Northwestern North Carolina are
anxious to have an improved
highway connection from Boone,
N. C. to the Lee Highway at Ab
ingdon, Va., by way of Mountain
City, Tenn., and are out to g$t
it with the organization known
as the Tri-State Better Roads
Committee.
At a meeting held in Boone
late in December, plans were for
mulated as to how to effectively
present the needs to the proper
authorities for this endeavor. Fur
ther plans were announced today
by Raleigh Cottrell of Boone, the
Secretary of the committee, who
attended a meeting of the group
in Mountain City Monday night,
where more complete plans were
devised, looking to the Hunching
of the movement in full force.
The meting, presided over by
Hugh Russell, received copies of
reports and requests submitted to
the Highway Commissions of the
three states, along with a public
ity campaign that will bring the
cause before all those interested
in this most important road. The
prospect of the success of the
effort is considered good as the
state of Virginia has already ap
propriated the sum of $150,000,000
for the improvement of bridges
on the route and it is thought fur
( Continued on page 8)
World Day of Prayer
Service Is Arranged
The World Day of Prayer Ser
vice for Boone will be held at
7 :30 Friday, February 13, in Grace
Lutheran Church. Members of all
the churches are invited to take
part in this service.
Red Cross Accident
Course Being Held
?Mr. Ellis Fysal, special field
representative of the American
Red Croas is conducting an acci
dent prevention course at the col
lege under the supervision of the
physical education department.
Mr. Fysal is stressing the pen
vention of accidents, in the h?M,
on the farm, and particularly en
the highways, q
Ira M. Wagner
Dies in Baker, Ore.
Ira Monroe Wagner, 87, of Ba
ker, Oregon, died at the home
in December, according to belat
ed information reaching the
Democrat.
Mr. Wagner was a native of
Watauga county, and a aon at
Mr. and Mrs. McD. Wagner of
Brown wood. He had resided in
Oregon for 38 yean.
He is survived by the widow,
the parents, one brother and tour
sister*.
HEADS FLEET
Vic* ? Admiral Forrest P. Sher
man. shown above. a "top Urol
strategist" of th? wry depart
ment. has been aamt. to taka
orar command of the U. 3. Medi
terranean fleet He will relieve
?ice-admiral B. H. Biari during
the first week of February.
CHURCH FUND
AID TO NEEDY
Many Helped By Welfare
Activity of Churches of
This Community.
Nineteen families have thus
'ar been given aid when misfor
tune struck, through the agency
of the local inter-church service
organized in March of last year,
according to Russell D. Hodges,
treasurer of the fund.
The contributions made to the
welfare of the families weren't
large, it is explained, but were
large enough to make the differ
ence between life and death in
the Case of some infants to whom
aid was brought.
The welfare fund has been
contributed by the different
churches and individuals of the
town. No campaign for funds is
being made but in case someone
desire* to donate he may do so
through his own church or to
Russell D. Hodges, treasure!. The
disbursing committee is compos
ed of Dr. O. K. Moose, Guy Hunt
Dr. W. O. Bond and Rev. Sam
Among the activities of the
fund are: aid when homes are
bunted, cash advance* to meet
ooats of Ulneas, operations, etc.
Aged Mabel Citizen
Claimed By Dsadi
William T Oliver, 81. resident
of Mabel, died at the home Jan.
28th following a long illness.
Funeral services were held on
January 30 at the Union Baptist
Church ai Mabel by Rev. R. J.
Starting and burial was in the
neighborhood cemetery.
Surviving are two sons. K. M.
ad Charlie Oliver of Mabel, and
Mn. Lon Recce of Mabel.
i
-vr-ftrU. : "? "
Ira Dean Ward and Year-Old
Daughter Meet Tnuric
Deaths at Tennessee Home;
Mrs. Ward Critically Hurt
As Building Burns; Former
Watauga Residents. ?
Ira Dean Ward, 22 native of
Watauga county, was instantly
killed, his one-year-old daughter
Gloria Endene was fatally injur
ed while the widow, Mrs. Ruth
Ward, also a Wataugan is critical
ly ill in an Abingdon, Va., hospi
tal as a result of the explosion of
a heating stove at their home in
Laurel Bloomery, Tenn. last Fri
day.
Information is that Mr. Ward
used oil in an attempt to start
a fine in a heater, the inflamma
ble liquid caused the stove to ex
plode and he died instantly. Mrs.
Ward, rushed to the aid of the
baby, threw it from the window
into the snow, rushed out and
moved the child farther from the
burning structure, and went to
the aid of her husband. Mr. Ward
had died, the child died from the
burns and exposure in a short
time, while Mrs. Ward's condi
tion is described as critical.
The house( with is entire con
tents, was said to have been de
stroyed.
Funeral services for Mr. Ward
and the baby were Sunday by
Rev. Abe Aldridge and burial was
at Laurel Bloomery.
Mr. Ward's parents, Mr. and
Mrs W. C. Ward of Laurel Bloom
ery, formery of Valle Crucis, sur
vive, with a number of brothers
and sisters. His widow, the form
er Miss Ruth Ward, was well
known in Boone, where she h%d
resided for a number of years.
M. H. Norris Lose*
Home By Fire Jan. 6
Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Norris of
Route 2, Boone, lost their home
and practically the entire con
tent* on January 6, it was learn
ed from Mr. Norris Monday.
The fire originated in the upper
section of the house in daylight,
and had gained such headway be
fore its occupants discovered it,
that there was no hope of sav
ing the building. A few items of
personal property were salvaged
Mr. Norris believes that the fix*
might have been caused by some
defect in the electric wiring.
The ten-room house was the
ancestral home of Mrs. Norris,
and known as the Harve Davis
place. No insurance was in force
at the time of the fire.
Mr. and Mrs. Norris will make
their home with a son, Mr. Earl
Norris, and plan to rebuild their
home when spring comes.
Mrs. Betty Wilson
Succumbs Saturday
Mrs. Betty Phillips-Wilson, 72,
of Reese, died at Watauga Hospi
tal last Friday and funeral rites
were conducted from the home
by Rev. R. C. Eggers, burial be
ing in the Reme cemetery.
Survivors include one son, Bert
Wilson of Zionvill#, pd two
daughters, Miss Nell Wllaon, Ral
eigh; Mrs. Martha tambour of
Ziouvllie.
WATAUGA TOPS
STATE IN POLIO
FUND EFFORT
County is First to Report
Beaching Quota in Polio
Campaign; Cherry Extends
Campaign Period to Satur
day; Other Contributors.
Watauga has the distinction of
being the first county in the
State of North Carolina to reach
its assigned monetary quota in
the March of Dimes c&Mpaign, it
was announced late yesterday by
Mr. Bob Agle, campaign chair
man. To add further to the lau
rels of Mr. Agle's organization
is the news that the county not
only raised its quota of $1075 but
$425 more, before gaining the
State-wide recognition, total re
ceipts now standing at $2,100.
Reports coming to Mr. Agle in
dicate that many counties are lag
ging far behind in their efforts
tor the March of Dimes, due in
a large measure to the terrific
weather of the past few days.
Accordingly Governor Cherry has
extended the campaign, which of
ficially ended last Saturday to
Saturday Pebraury 7th. In a tele
gram to Mr. Agle, the Governor
says:
"Due to severe weather con
ditions in the State during pest
tea days progress of the March
of Dimes campaign has been
serioqaly hampered. TheceSoce,
campaign period in North Caro
lina will continue through Sat
urday February seventh, so that
every county organisation may
have the opportunity to bring
drive to successful conclusion
God speed you in your efforts
for (his good cause."
The success of Mr* Agle and
his organization is all the won
spectacular because the campaign
was oonducted to an outstanding
ly successful conclusion in the
face of the handicaps? presented
by the weather man. However the
campaign period is still on, and
all those who haven't had the pri
vilege of contributing to the
March of Dimes are asked to do
so at oncet so that the records
may be completed. Outstanding
reports should be made as quick
ly as possible following the close
of the drive.
Following are the names of
other March of Dimes contribu
tors:
Jack Mock 2 00. Blf Dipper 3.00, Mrs.
E. H. Moore 1M, Mrs. Grant Greene
5 00. Appalachian State 47.16 Cursor
Greer 100. Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Mil
ler 800. W. M Wlnebarger 1.00. 1W
day Night Club 10 00. Howards Creek
School 6.00. Bobby Cook 2 00. O. O.
Wlnebarger 1J?. Bares Fair Store IM
Tommy Hollaway 100. Lunda Law
rence 1.00, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Graff
240. Green Valley School 1140, Mr.
and Mrs. Jim Winkler 540. Mabel
School 41 00. Marvin Russell 3 AO. Leon
Coffey 3.00. W. W Shu 11 1M, Carolina
Hotel 5.00, Coin Collectors MM, Mrs
A. E. Hamby Sr. 1M. Roy Adams UK,
Walter McGuire 1 00. Neil Wilson 340.
J. F. MoreU 100. Mrs Clifton Ooins
1 00. Maule Moretz 1.00. CMs Ktlby
1M, Earleen O Pritchett lA Mr. and
Mrs. R. M. Greene 1.00. C. L. sad Attee
MoreU 240. G. D. Matheeen ?1M,
Popular Grove Church 2.00, A and P
Store Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Greene
IM, BUI Hodges Jr. 340. Don Swift
1-00. Dean Reese 340. Potter tuwu
School 140, Mrs. Council Cooke 540.
Ira Harmon too. Clsy Reese 140, Dr.
W. M. Msth?nci 440, W A Hswkln (
son 240. 4-H Club 5.00. Mrs. C. C.
Oates 540. Mr. and Mrs. Don Morion
540. Hollars Grocery 340. Western
Auto 540. Dr. J. C. Fsrthlng 140.
Walker Jewelry 140. Green Valley
Club 540. Craven. Furniture 10.00, Vilas
Service Station 5.00. WlUte SwUt 440.
Mr. and Mrs. Dean ShullWoOv Mr. and
Mrs. Roby Shull 1.00. Clyde Moretz
240. Varaell Lyons 140. Clarence
Lyons 140. Mr. and Mrs Maule
Crlteher 140, J. W. Clawson 140, L. H.
Smith 5 00. Howard Cullers 1.00. WU- 1
11am Poplin 1 00. Rutherwood School
1040, Cove Creek High School *040.
Lou Taylor 340, Dance. Howard Cot
trail 14040, Rett Cottrell 340, Ronda
Hot-ton 040, Appalachian Elementary
School 14140. C. H Mock 10.00. Appa
lachian High School 7440, Vivian Rey
nolds 2 00. Dr. H. B. Perry 340. Mrs
Walter Shujl 1.00, Greene's Service
Station 10.00. J. J. Mast 240. V. D
Ward 540. B. W. Farthing 340, Deep
Gap School 34 00. Delete Welch Moretz
240. Gordon Nash 140. R. W. Clawson
2 00. Mrs. B. Trivette 190, Mrs. Melba
Tuaw? 340. Wlneberger School 040.
Cool Springs School 340, Wksdy Gap
H. B. Parry Jr. 1040, noise Stoger
1 on Seine hay 140, A. C. Swift 140.
A Friend 140, Mrs. L. S. Trivette 140.
Mr. and Mrs. Rotry Hayee 140. Sam
tytes Held Thursday
For Arery D. Aldridge
Avery Dain Aldridge, twenty
six, of Shulls Mill*, died January
27 at State Hospital, Morgan too,
and funeral" services were con
ducted Sunday by Rev. S. E.
Gra gg, burial being at the ceme
tery at Foecoe.
Surviving are the parents, Mr.
and Mrs. H. O. Aldridge, two
brothers, Blan and Herbert Al
dridge, and two sisters, Mrs. Da
vid McLean, and Mrs. Ethel Nan
cy Chamberlain of Norfolk, Va.
finish Job in
. . . . ? - a *4 ?