The Courier
Only $1.50
Per Year
VOL. VIII—NO. 33
FIRE DAMAGESHORN BUILDING
ENTAILING ESTIMATED LOSS OF $12,000
Flames Originate in Picture Show Room on Sec
ond Floor Monday Night, Completely Gutting
1 Upper Part of Building.
Fire, breaking out on the second
floor of the Horn garage on East
Main street, at 8:15 Monday night,
burned fiercely for over an hour
and for a while threatened other
buildings near, causing an estimated
damage of $12,0t)0 to $14,000. By
prompt and hard work the city fire
department had the flames under
complete control in less than an hour
and by 9 o'clock the fire was practi
cally extinguished.
The origin of the fire is undeter
mined, three theories being advanced
by Mr. W. L. Horn. It broke out
in the second story of the building,
used as a colored picture show room.
Mr. Horn says the fire either origin
ated in some waste rags used for
cleaning the electric piano, some
one threw a lighted cigarette into
some music rolls near by or the
blaze *ras caused from the ignition
of a film. Worth Bland, operator of
the motion picture machine, sprang
from the operating room with the
first flare of the blaze, and accord
ing to Mr. Horn, advances no direct
theory as to the origin of the blaze,
which spread quickly. There were
about 25 or 30 colored people in the
audience, according story of
one present, and they sprang pell
mell for the exit, all escaping with
fout injury. He advances the theory
that the fire originated from a film
becoming ignited.
The Horn garage is in two sec
tions, with a frontage of 90 feet on
East Main street. The east section,
34 feet, used as a display room, was
only damaged on the second floor.
The west section, used as a filling
station, stock room, repair depart
mnt, etc., over which the picture
theatre was located, is completely
gutted on the second floor. The fire
warped the front of this building to
such an extent that it has been con
demned.
All of the automobiles were re
-9 moved from the east show room,
while the stock of supplies in the
west section was considerably
damaged from water. The loss on
the second floor consisted of the pic
ture show outfit, seats, piano, fans,
etc.
The loss on the building is esti
mated at from $6,000 to SB,OOO, ful
ly covered by insurance. There was
uo insurance on any of the stocks
▼r fixtures, and Mr. Horn estimates
his loss at from $3,000 to $4,U00 on
these lines.
Hundreds of people thronged the
streets while the fire raged and the
firemen fought the flames. At one
time it seemed that the flames might
t-ross to the north side of the street
and many feared an explosion should
the flames reach the filling station
tanks just beneath the roaring fur
nace. Firemen working in front and
rear confined the flames to the sec
ond floor.
There has been but little inter
ruption in business, Mr. Horn being
open since the fire, as there was but
little damage on the first floor of
the building, with the exception that
the front wall over the filling station
has been condemned and will be
speedily repaired. .
Mr. Horn, prior to the fire, had
1 contemplated the erection of an ad
ditional building to front 60 feet on
Main street, but of course this will
not be attempted until after the
damaged building has been re
paired.
Notes of the Fire.
The people of Forest City appre
ciate the promptness with which the
Rutherffordton fire department re-
sponded to our call for help. After
the call, put in by city manager,
Webb, when the flames seemed to
be in danger of spreading to other
buildings, the Rutherfordton boys
• reached this city in just six minutes
after leaving their home six miles
iway. While our boys had the flames
under complete subjection, it was
»juite comforting to have the neigh
. boring fire fighters on the grounds
ready for any emergency,
Among our fire fighters, who did
such galant work, were Chief John
FOREST CIT Y COURIER
REPUBLICANS NAME
COUNTY OFFICERS
The Republican Executive Com
mittee and representatives from the
various precincts of Rutherford
county met at Rutherfordton, Wed
nesday, May 19, and named the fol
lowing: ticket for the fall election:
For County Commissioners: D. W.
Crawford, Guilford Nanney, Sidney
F. Wall.
For County Board of Education:
L. Purgason, R. K. Hollifield, J. P.
Carpenter.
For House of Representatives:
J. 'S. Dockery.
For Sheriff: A. A. McFarland.
Clerk of Superior Court: H. R.
Camnitz.
Register of Deeds: L. M. Carroll.
County Treasurer: L. Gordon
Scoggins.
Recorder: R. S. Eaves.
Solicitor of Recorder's Office: Mc-
Kinley HarrilL
Coroner: Ira Phillips.
DOKKIES HOLD BIG
CELEBRATION IN THIS CITY
Nearly 300 Asheville Dokies, or
members of the Dramatic Order of
Knights of Khorassan journed to
Forest City, Tuesday to attend the
Spring Ceremonial of the Order.
The Asheville delegation was led
by Dion A. Roberts, grand Vizier,
and George H. Bramlett, secretary,
backed by the Bagdad Band. A class
of 60 candidates from cities all over
the western part of North Carolina
were led across the hot sands of the
desert to become members.
This is the most important cere
monial held by the organization dur
ing each year. There were about
1,000 Dokeys attending from the
lodges west of Greensboro.
Of the large class initiated, the
greater number were residents of
Forest City.
CHICKEN WIIH rOUR LEGS
Mr. J. M. Smart, of route 2, El
lenboro, was exhibiting a young
chicken at this oliice Monday which
had four legs anci three feet. The
chick was hatched last Saturday and
is quite lively and seems to show
every evidence of living to ma
turity.
The Camnitz Realty Co has some
good offerings in a large ad in this
issue. Read the ad and act now, if
you are interested in real estate or
want a home of your own.
Farmers Hardware Co., is doing a
nice plumbing job for Chimney Rock
Mountains, this week.
Poole, Assistant Chief Broad Green,
Colan Lowrance, Quinn Kendrick,
Martin Greene, Thurman Toney and
many other valiant volunteers. Chief
of Police McGraw was also active
and efficient at the fire.
The first man to reach the fire
truck was F. F. Black, who drove
to the fire in short order.
Forest City'has been fortunate in
the matter of fires. According to
older residents, this is the first fire
of any consequence to occur here
since the burning' of the old Mabray
Hotel on September 22, 1918.
Thanks are due to Mr. F. C. Dor
sey, superintendent of the water
plant, who, immediately upon hear
ing the fire alarm, in company with
Mr. Fay Webb, hurried to the
pumping station where they turned
on the direct pressure pump which
has a capacity of 1,000 gallons per
minute.
The first section of the Horn ga
rage was erected about 18 months
ago. Some few months later the ad
dition was built, giving them a front
fotage of 90 feet.
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF FOREST CITY AND RUTHERFORD COUNTY
FOREST CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1926
RUTHFRFORDTON
MINISTER'S SON
IS DROWNED
James O. Ervin, Aged 12,
Meets Death While Swim
ming in . 'Broad River.
James Osborne Ervin, Jr., the 12
year old son of Rev. and Mrs. J. O.
Ervin, pastor of the Methodist
chureh, of Rutherfordton was drown
ed Friday afternoon in Broad River,
six miles west of that place.
He had gone out with two other
young companions to camp for the
night and to fish with some Boy
Scouts. They decided to go in swim
ming and wading when young Er
vin stepped in water over his head
and went under. His companions
brought him up and it is supposed
that he took cramp, due to the cold
water and fell back into the water
and disappeared. HLs body was
found at 7:30 o'clock, about one
and one-quarter miles below where
he went under, after staying under
water for three hours and fifteen
minutes.
A large party of men formed a
line and searched the rivor until
they found his body.
Young Ervin is survived by his
parents, five brothers, and two sis
ters. Two brothers, Messrs. Paul
and Lamonte Ervin are students at
Duke University, while the eldest
brother, Rev. Clifton Ervin, is a stu
dent at Vanderbilt University, Nash
ville, Tenn. All were home for the
funeral which was conducted at the
Methodist church, Rutherfordton,
Sunday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock
and interment was in the Ruther
fordton cemetery. Rev. J. Frank
Armstrong, of Charlotte, was in
charge of the funeral services, as
sisted by a number of other minis
ters, among whom were Rev. E. O.
Cole, Marion; Rev. J. P. Hornbuckle,
Henrietta; Dr. W. R. Ware, Forest
City; Rev. Jordon, Asheville. Other
ministers present were, Rev. M. A.
Adams, Rutherfordton; Rev. O. L.
Simpson, Spindale; Rev. J. B. Tabor,
Gilkey; Rev. M. W. Heckard, Cliff
side; and Rev. Coggans, of Ruther
fordton.
CHAUTAUQUA OPENS
HERE SATURDAY
The big ehautauqua tent will ar
rive in Forest City, Thursday and
will be located .on King street.
Mr. Burt Preston, advance man
ager, tells us they have one of the
best programs they have ever had,
and also seats for every one this
year.
Buy your season tickets and see
all of the programs for 18 cents
each. By buying a season ticket you
help the guarantors out and when
you buy single admission at the tent
that money goes to the Redpath
Chautauqua. So ■ be sure and buy
your season tickets and not single
admissions.
OLD FIDDLERS CONTEST
PROVED VERY INTERESTING
Quite a large crowd gathered at
the high school auditorium last Fri
day evening, being brought together
to enjoy the old fiddler's convention
staged there that evening. The con
test proved most enjoyable through
out and the crowd went away well
pleased with the evening's entertain
ment.
The prize winners were:
McKinney's orchestra. first;
Brooks orchestra, second.
Jack McCurry, dancing.
M. M. Brooks, first; Mr. Ross, sec
ond, violin.
Smith Hammitt, first; Rex Brooks
second, banjo.
Mr. Fite, first; Mr. McKinney,
second, guitar.
It is hoped that the two orchestras
will get together and visit this city
again some time in the future. With
the same talent exhibited here Fri
day night, and with the addition of
a vaudeville skit or two, the com
bination would draw a large crowd.
Don't forget that Farmer's Hard
ware Co. will save you money on
your cultivator and plow. parts.
HIGH SCHOOL
COMMENCEMENT
BEGINS FRIDAY
Interesting Three Day Program
—Closing Succesful
Term.
It is regretted that the Chautau
qua and High School Commencement
will come at the same time this year.
However, plans have been worked
out by the superintendent of schools
and the advance man of the Chautau
qua whereby there will not. be any
conflicts with the various perfor—
mancess of the chautauqua ond com
mencement.
The schools have given way for all
the performances of the ehautauqua
with the exception of Monday night,
May 31. The ehautauqua people
were kind enough to move up the
evening performance to the after
noon. This will make it possible
for the Chautauqua to give all their
numbers and will leave the way clear
for all the patrons of the schools to
attend the graduating exercises.
The following is a program of com
mencement:
Cool Spring* High School Commence
ment Program May 28, 30, 31
Friday Evening, 8 P. M.
Class Day Exercises.
Awarding Bible Study Cup—Mr.
J. T. Fesperman.
Sunday Evening 8 P. M.
Music Glee Club and Church Choirs
—-Mr. J. W. Webb, Director.
Scripture Reading—Rev. Geo. R.
Gillespie.
Prayer—Dr. W. R. Ware.
Introduction of Speaker—Supt. J.
W. Eaks.
Commencement Sermon —Dr. Zeno
Wall..
Benediction —Dr. W. A. Ayers.
Monday Morning, 11 A. M
Recitation and Declamation Con
test.
Monday Evening, 8 P. M.
Graduating Exercises.
Introduction of Speaker—Clyde
Ervin.
Address to Graduates —Hon. Clyde
R. Hoey.
Awarding of Medals —Supt. B. L.
Smith.
Awarding of Diplomas—Supt. J.
W. Eaks.
Monday Morning
Reading Contest
A lover of Music—Ena Mae
Lyd.a.
Aunt Elnora's Hero —Alice Wash
burn.
The Death Disc—Gladys Dalton.
Selection from "Seventeen'
Jane Stainbnck.
Declamation Contest
The Spirit of Abraham Lincoln-
Emerson Lynch.
Fear God and Take Your Own
Part—Yates Holland.
The Prince of Peace —William Ay
ers.
The Wandering Jew —Edward
Moody.
The following letter was sent to
the parents or guardians of pupils
living outside of the Cool Springs
district schools. The letter is self
explanatory :
"The school board of Cool Springs
township decided to charge tuition
for pupils who live outside the school
district. This is due to the fact that
citizens living in the township are
paying 45 to 60 cents on the SIOO
as a special school tax. It is nothing
but fair that people outside the dis
trict who do not have to pay this
tax pay tuition for the three extra
months which the county does not
pay. The tuition is eight dollars a
month for three months, making a
total of $24."
This year's seniors living outside
the district will have to pay the
tuition before diplomas will be
granted. Pupils in the other grades
who live outside the district will not
be admitted next year unless this
year's tuition is paid. Before this
year Forest City has been paying a
total cost of instruction for all pu
pils whether they resided within the
boundary of the district or not. It
is nothing but fair that patrons liv-'
ing outside the districtbear their
portion of cost for the fchools. Pu
pils living outside the district who
have attended the granfivmar grade
FARMERS BANK AND TRUST CO. AND
NATIONAL BANK TO CONSOLIDATE
Will Have Capital and Surplus of $500,000 and
Resources of Approximately $3,500,000.
ADVANCE SALE
RESIDENCE LOTS
B. B. Doggett Property to Be
Developed—Lots For
Sale.
Doggett and Champion and N. J.
James have purchased the B. B. Dog
gett home and 30 acres of land, ly
ing in one of the most beautiful lo
cations in Forest City. They have
spent considerable money in develop
ing this property, making 60 foot
streets through it, and have cut it
into residential tots with frontage
of . 100 feet by 150 to 200 feet
deep.
They are now ready to offer these
lots for sale, giving attractive
terms. Buyers will be eager to pur
chase home sites in this beautiful
residential section.
They have contracted with city
aldermen to install water and sewer
systems, while the electric lighting
and paving will be in keeping with a
modern development. Work is to
start at once.
Early buyers will get choice of the
most desirable residential lots in this
entire section. See N. J. James or
Dogget and Champion at once and
buy a lot now for that new home.
STRUCK BY CAR
CHILD DIES LATER
Charles Lloyd, Jr., Suffers Fa
tal Injuries at Henrietta.
Henrietta, May 25.- —A most dis
tressing accident occurred here Sat
urday night about 8 o'clock when
little Charles Lloyd, Jr., the six year
old son of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Mc-
Mahan, of Shelby, was struck by a
car driven by Mr. Robert Neal. The
child was rushed to the Rutherford
Hospital, where he died Monday
morning at 10 o'clock without hav
ing regained consciousness.
Little Charles: was walking down
the street with his mother and his
aunt, Mrs. W. S. Moore, when obey
ing some sudden childish impulse, he
started to cross the street directly in
front of the approaching car. Eye
witnesses say the accident was un
avoidable- and no blame is attached
to Mr. Neal, although he is heart
broken over the sad occurrence.
Nothing that has happened here
in recent months has so stirred the
sympathy of the people as has the
tragic death of this little child. His
parents formerly lived here and
Charles was a favorite with old and
young alike.
The body was brought from the
hospital to the home of Mr. and Mrs.
W. S. Moore, where the funeral ser
vices were held Tuesday afternoon
at 3 o'clock and the burial was in
the Henrietta-Caroleen cemetery.
The flowqr bearers, 30 boys and
girls from the Sunbeams and Ju
nior missionary society, made a lane
through which the little casket was
borne from the house to the wait
ing hearse. The services were con
ducted by Revj R. N. Childress, Rev.
J. P. Hombuckle and the pastor of
the South Shelby Baptist church.
Ralph Covington, Lewis Doggett,
Cy Bradley and Howard West were
active pall bearers. The honorary
pall bearers were J. B. Jones, G. O.
Wall, W. S. Moss, J. D. Mauney,
Robert Neal, J. F. Daniel.
A large crowd attended the fun
neral and the grave was covered
with a profusion of beautiful
flowers.
Keep your lawn wet with our gar
den hose. The lonji" life kind.
Weathers.
school will have to pay tuition next
year provided their property is not
transferred to this district by the
beginning of next session.
12 PAGES
72 COLUMNS
sl-50 Per Year In Advance
At a meeting- of the directors of
the Farmers Bank and Trust Co.,
and the National Bank of Forest City
held May 24 the directors of both
banks voted unanimously on a reso
lution to consolidate, which resolu
tion will be voted on by the stock
holders of both banks at a meeting
to be held June 25. If the stock
holders of the two banks approve
of the merger the consolidated bank
will occupy the handsome new build
ing now owned by the National
Bank, and the merger will go into
effect on or about June 30.
The bank will have a capital and
surplus of $500,000; deposits of $2,-
500,000 and resources of approxi
mately $3,500,000. It will be the
strongest country bank in the tenth
congressional district. The two
banks today have approximately 250
stockholders which represent the best
citizens of this section of the state.
The consolidated bank will be in
position to extend its patrons a larg
er and better service and will mean
a closer co-operation of the business
men of the county. The merger will
mean practically no change in per
sonnel of the two institutions. Mr. A.
B. Price, who is vice president of the
National Bank, and Mr. M. W. Har
ris, cashier, will be vice presideents
of the consolidated bank, and Mr. P.
B. Price and Mr. J. E. Furr will also
be retained. The entire board of
of the consolidated bank,
directors of the consolidate bank.
The National Bank of Forest City
was organized by Mr. J. D. Ledbetter
and Mr. M. W. Harriss, and was
opened for business on November 15,
1923. Mr. Ledbetter was president
and Mr. Harriss was cashier, in which
positions they both served with re
markable ability. They opened with
a capital of $65,000, which was in
creased on December Ist, 1925, to
SIOO,OOO, and they have resources
of over $400,000. About the first of
August 1925, the National Bank
started work on a handsome new
home, moving into it March of this
year. The new building is one of
the handsomest in the state and a
credit to Forest" City and the coun
ty. It is a three story fire proof
building with electric elevator ser
vice and handsomely and adequately
equipped throughout. The present di
rectors are, A. B. Price, M. W. Har
ris. W. L. Horn, J>. C. Horn, P. T.
R' inhardt, F. E. Webb.
The Farmers Bank and Trust
Company w. opened for business
on February 3rd, 1 15 with a paid
in capital of SIO,OOO, which was in
creased to $75,000 in the same year,
at which time it was consolidated
with the First National Bank. In Jan
uary 1919, the capital was increased
to SIOO,OOO, and at that time the
surplus had reached SIOO,OOO. On
October first, 1925, the capital was
increased to $200,000 and the sur
plus to $200,000 and today has re
sources of $3,000,000. The present
officers of the Farmers Bank and
Trust Co., are, B. B. Doggett, chair
man of the board of directors; J. H.
Thomas, president; K. S. Tanner, L.
V. Lee, G. P. Reid, T. B. Lovelace
and R. W. Minish, vice presidents;
J. A. Dennis, cashier; R. E. Bigger
staff, assistant cashier, and W. L.
Hicks is cashier of the Caroleen
branch. The directors are B. B.
Doggett, T. R. Padgett, G. P. Reid,
J. R. Moore, W. R. Harrill, C. C.
Moore, J H. Thomas, G. F. Bradley,
J. W. Smith, A. V. Hamrick, T. B.
Lovelace, K. S. Tanner, Hugh F.
Little, L. V. Lee, C. M. Young, H.
M. Johnson, J. H. Steedman.
MAREE BOSTIC DEAD
Maree Bostic, aged 1G years,
daughter of Mr. Milson Bostic, died
at the home of her sister, Mrs. Inez
Lawson, May 19, of a complication
of diseases. .She had been ill about
four months. Her death is deeply
deplored by a large circle. Funeral
services were conducted by Rev.
Harrill at Bethany church, the fol
lowing day.
Large stock fresh lime and cement
at Farmer's Hardware Co.