The Fr^MMh Times
Published Every Tuesday & Thursday Serving All Of Franklin County
Telephone Gy6-3283
Ten Cents
Louisburg. N. C.. Thursday, December 4, 1969
(Fourteen Pages Today)
100th Year-Number 84
FINCH
CHAMPION
Third Highest Award Given
Holder Of Silver Star
Jim Finch Is Reluctant Hero
Franklin County jailer James T.
Finch, Sr. is the holder of the nation's
third highest award but says he never
said anything about it. "1 thought it
would sound like I was bragging", he
told reporters here Wednesday after
noon.
Mr. Finch, who will be 75-years-old
on Christmas Day, declines to talk
ai}out the award he earned on Novem
ber 7, 1918-four days before the end
of World War I.
He says simply that he stood his
post while "three others left". It was
learned, however, that he stood his
post during a heavy bombardment by
German forces. "That's all you're
going to get from me", he says. "It's
on file here in the courthouse some
where and I'd rather Washington
would ay."
' He adds that he feels that it "was
my duty" and "I wont working for no
silver star. I didn't think they ought to
give it to me."
Asked if anyone else knew about it
before it came to light this week, he
replied. "One or two World War I
veterans knew I had it".
The award came to light this week
when George Champion, Veteran Ser
vice Officer here, reported that Mr.
Finch had received a replacement for
the medal and certificate misplaced a
long time ago. The replacement was
issued on October 14, 1969 by Major
General Kenneth G. Wickham, The
Adjutant General and Stanley R.
Resor, Secretary of the Army.
It cites "Private James T. Finch"
for "Gallantry in Action" on Novem
ber 7, 1918 "near Vilcey, France".
The medal was authorized by the
Congress on July 9, 1918 and is
surpassed only by the Congressional
Medal of Honor and the Distinquished
Service Medal. Champion says to his
knowledge it is the highest award ever
presented a Franklin County native.
He said he has one report of a Silver
Star being awarded posthumously to
one other Franklin man.
At the tTme of the award, Mr. Finch
was a cannoneer "with Company C,
21st Field Artillery.
Mr. Finch has 13 living children and
29 grandchildren and he serves as one
of the county's two jailers. No record
has thus far been found in courthouse
files of the original citation to which
Mr. Finch refers all questions. He
contends that he did nothing to merit
the honor. He contends he was only
doing his duty. Politely, but firmly, he
declines to talk about it even to
day -51 years later.
Weather
Partly cloudy and cold today.
Clearing and warmer Friday. High*.
45-49; lows, 26-30.
Youngsville
Council Talks
Improvements
By Lib Cheatham
Youngsville ? Mr. Newcomb of
Boney and Newcomb, Engineering and
Surveying of Raleigh, was at the
Youngsville Town Board of Commis
sioners meeting held Monday night,
December second, with Mayor Marvin
Roberts presiding.
Mr. Newcomb was there to discuss
updating the town water and sewage
facilities. Outlining preliminary pro
cedures for such a project, he suggest
ed ways and means for getting plans
underway. Being a project which takes
considerable time for required proce
dures. Mr. Newcomb explained each
step and what is involved.
He talked about a site for the
facility, surveys needed, studies to be
made in order to make best recom
mendations, various requirements
which have to be met, applications,
loans, and possible grants, as well as
other details.
Regarding other business, the Com
missioners adopted an ordinance pro
viding for the creation of a Town of
Youngsville Planning Board, which will
work on a town zoning project. The
Planning Board consists of five mem
bers meeting required qualincations,
to serve for one, two and three year
terms; thereafter to be appointed for a
term of three years. Appointed to the
Planning Board by the Commissioners
are Leeian Woodlief. Rudy Evans, J.
W Weathers, Jr., Earl Hart and Jones
H. Winston.
Mr. Sherman Pickard, Field Con
sultant on the Staff of the League of
Municipalities, will meet with the Ave
members of the Planning Board Wed
nesday evening, December seven
teenth.
The Fireman's Roster as presented
annually to the Town Board by the
Fire Department was approved. The
department includes 29 volunteer fife
men
Tax Listers Named
Faulkner Named Board Chairman
Notwootf E. Faulkner, veteran
member of the Board of County Com
missioners. was named Board Chair
man here Monday in the annual reor
ganization meeting and E. M. Sykes
was elected Vice Chairman. Faulkner,
who was first . elected to the Board in
1954, has served several terms as
Board Chairman. He succeeds Brooks .
W. Young, who remains a member of
the Board.
Taking office after the old Board
adjourned "Sine Die". Faulkner
named the following Committees:
Courthouse. Finance and Mental
Health. Commissioner Sykes; Agricul
tural Building. Commissioner John H.
House; Jail and Fire, Commissioner
Robert L. Burnette and Department of
Social Services, Commissioner Young.
Prior to the adjournment of the old
Board, a motion was passed transfer
ring $17,244.00 from the General
Fund into a special account for Medi
cal Assistance. County Accountant
Kenneth Braswell was authorized to
sign drafts on the account for the
Department of Social Services and
Chairman Faulkner was named as an
alternate signer.
Following the reorganization the
Board appointed Tax Listers for the
county as follows: Dunn Township, M.
C. Pearce, Route 2, Zebu Ion, Harris
Township. Charles H. Richardson,
Route 1, Louisburg; Youngsville. Ro
bert Allen. Route 1, Youngsville;
Franklinton, Mrs. Margaret Hardy and
B. C. Abbott, assistant. Franklinton;
Hayesville, Mrs. C. N. Woodard, Route
3, Henderson; Sandy Creek, Carey C.
Perry, Route 2, Louisburg; Gold Mine,
Mrs. Rea A. Manning, Route 2, Louis
burg; Cedar Rock, W. S. Boone. Route
I, Castalia; Cypress Creek, Mrs. A. C.
Stalling!, Route 2, Spring Hope; Louis
burg, Mrs. C. T. Dean, Jr. and Linda
Woodlief, assistant
A meeting with the Tax Listen by
the Board was set for Wednesday,
December 17, at 2 p.m.
As in the past, the Board set holi
days for county employees for the
coming year. Beginning on January 1,
1970, the following holidays will be
observed: New Year's Day; March 30,
Easter Monday; July 4 will be obser
ved on Friday, July 3, by county
employees with offices being closed;
September 7, Labor Day; November
II, Veteran's Day; November 26,
Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays
will start on Thursday, December 24
(1970) and continue through Monday,
December 28.
Regular monthly reports were re
ceived and approved by the old Board
prior to th* adjournment.
Notice Given
On Allotments
Franklin County cotton 'produce?
who with to sell or lease their cotton
allotment to other producer! within or
outside of Franklin Gyunty may do ao
through December 31, 1969 by ming
an application tigned by all parties
with the County ASCS Office, accord
ing to an announcement made today.
This program Is designed to permit
cotton producers to increase or de
crease their cotton allotment.
A producer Is now permitted to
purchase cotton allotment and transfer
to a farm that does not have an
allotment. This feature Is new for
1970.
There are a number of producers
who have not returned their tobacco
marketing cards to the county office.
Failure to return these cards could
result In loss of tobacco allotment for
1970. 1970 allotment and quotavcan
not be computed until all cards for a
farm have been returned.
Government cost sharing for lime
on eligible land is svailable on farms
not signed up in the 1969 AC pro
gram. Requests should be filed at the
County ASCS office.
TOMMY TWrTTY
Coach of the Year
ROBBY EVANS
NCSmtt Wotfpmck
All Conference Banquet Principals
(Sn> Story Port 8 1
ERIC MORGAN
Qmfertnce Pfeitdrfil
Participate In Lodge Dedication
Participants in Wednesday night's dedication ceremonies of the Masonic Temple here are pictured above. Front row, left to'
right: George H. Finch, Jr., Junior Grand Deacon; W. llermin Spencer. Deputy Grand Master. William A. llook*, Grand Master
of Masons of North Carolina, Douglas F. Gupton, Master of I/iulshurj; I^odge 413; A. DeLeon Gray. Asst. Grand Chaplain of the
Grand Lodge; Charlie R. Smith, Junior Grand Warden; James A. Johnson, Grand Secretary. Second row. left to right: W. Wade
Moore, Architect; George M. West, Past Master, solist; Max T. Brown, Grand Treasurer; John A. Godrey, Bearer of Burning
Taper; R. A. Bartholomew, Jr. of John H. Mills Lodge 624, solost; H. Qindler Strickland. Senior Grand Warden; Willard T.
Winborne, Grand Steward. Third row, left to right: Samuel E. Beasley, Grand Steward; T. Sidney Johnson. Master Franklinton
Lodge 123, Grand Steward; Dean G. Holton, Senior Grand Deacon; Robert P. Dudley. Asst. to Grand Secretary of Grand Lodge.
Grand Marshal; Perry B. Beasley, Bearer of the Constitution; George W. Perry, Bearer of Three Great Lights.
Louisburg Masonic Temple Dedicated
The Masonic Temple, home of
Louisburg Lodge No. 413, A. P. &
A.M., located at the corner of Jolly
Street and Bickett Blvd. was dedicated
In ceremonies here Wednesday night.
William A. Hooks. Grand Master of
Masons in North Carolina, presided
over the dedication.
Masonic officials wen feted to a
supper at a local restaurant prior to
the sUrt of services at the Lodge at
7:30 P.M. Friends and guests of the
Lodge were admitted to the Lodge
Room at 8 P.M. for the dedication
services.
Lodge Master Douglas F. Gupton
gave a brief history of the Lodge,
stating that it was originally the Koyal
Lodge, started April 3, 1888. The unit
was moved to Louisburg in 1898 and
named Lodge No. 413. It was located
in the old opera house on Market
Street, Gupton said.
The new white briek structure was
completed enough for the local Lodge
to move into the new quarters in
1960. Gupton stated that there is still
work to be done on the building.
Saying "This Temple is significant
of a living* temple," Grand Master
Hooks praised the work of local
Masons In erecting the building and
performed the ritualistic dedication
ceremonies.
Past District Deputy Grand Master
James Johnson recognized special
guests, which included Masters of
neighboring Lodges, local
governmental officials and others. R.
A. Bartholomew, Jr. of the John H.
Mills Lodge 624, Kpsom sang "Bless
This Houae" and Past Master George
M. West sang "How Great Thou Art".
Both were accompanied at the piano
by Mrs. Edward F. Yarborough.
Wade Moore, a member of the
Lodge, presented the architect's tools
to the State Grand Master and Assis
tant Grand Chaplain A. D. U-on Gray
and Robert P. Dudley. Assistant lo the
Grand Secretary joined in the cere
monies from the Grand Lodge.
Following the dedication cere
monies the Masons, wives and friends
were served refreshments, which were
prepared by William B. Barrow Chap
ter No. 39, O.E.S.
Lions Hear Mrs. deHart
By Special Correspondent
Mrs. Flora dellart, English faculty
member at Louisburg College, address
ed the local Lions last Tuesday even
ing. Her purpose was to introduce a
new instructional English program
with which she is experimenting this
semester.
This program is designed strictly to
allow each student to progress at his
own rate. The student must acquire a
certain mark on each unit of work
before attempting another. Because of
this approach, the material to be mas
tered is self-instructional. However,
the approach, according to Mrs.
dellart. seems to create more incentive
to learn. For example, if he should not
make a creditable score on one unit,
he has only himself, not his instructor,
to blame. Thus, student hostility to
ward the instructor is greatly lessened.
PERSON
FREEMAN
JOHNSON
Louisburg Fire Dept. Officials
Local Firemen Elect Officers
Assoc. To Get Emergency Unit
The Louiaburg Volunteer Fire Department, meeting here Monday night,
reelected R. O. Person, Jr. ai Fire Chief and renamed Wyatt Freeman and James
Johnson aa Assistant Chief and Secretary, respectively. AD three men have held
their posts for several years and all three are veteran members of the local
department.
Wednesday night, officials of the County Firemen's Association met here and
voted to purchase an emergency tranareceiver for the central fire headquarters here
at the Louiaburg Fire Station. A recent fire near the station . burned out the
count ywide alarm system and rural units had to be alerted personally by local
firemen.
The new unit, expected to coat around (800, will automatically supply needed
power and maintain communications In the event the regular system Is ever again
knocked out of service. One report says the new unit will not be aa powerful as the
regular one, but that It will be used only in cases of emergency.