THE MARION PROGRESS
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE REST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896 MARION, N. C„ THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1949 VOLUME 53 No. 34
W. KM. Gilkey
Rites Held
Last Friday
W. K. M. (Bishop) Gilkey, 72,
member of a prominent Marion fa
mily, was found dead in bed in his
borne on Augusta Avenue early
Thursday morning. His death was
attributed to a heart ailment.
Funeral services were held Fri
day at the residence. The Rev. Ja
mes B. McLarty, pastor of the First
Methodist Church officiated. Bur
ial was in Oak Girove cemetery.
A son of the late Dr. and Mrs. J.
H. Gilkey, he was born in Marion,
February 21, 1877.
He was a member of the board
of stewards of the First Methodist
Church and a former city alderman.
He had engaged in various busi
ness activities, including the opera
tion of Marion Veneer Company,
Gilkey Hosiery Mill and a machine
shop. He held interests in several
mica mining projects.
Surviving are the widow, the for
mer Miss Harriett Kirby of Char
lotte; a daughter, Mrs. Virginia
Gilkey James; a son, John M. Gil
key; and two grandchildren, all of
Marion.
Pallbearers were: Eugene Cross
Jr., Oliver Cross, Albert Neal, Will
J. Young, J. E. Neal, Terry Moore,
H. T. Conley and W. C. Chambers.
COW OWNERS
TO DISCUSS
GRADE A MILK
S. L. Homewood, county farm ag
ent, wants every farmer in McDow
ell county who owns a cow to at
tend a meeting in the court house
at one o'clock, Tuesday, March 15.
F. R. Farnham and Jack Cobb,
county sanitarian, will be speakers.
Prices of Grade A milk and Grade
C milk will be discussed and farmers
will be told what steps are neces
sary to produce Grade A milk.
Cobb will explain sanitary rulings
relating to the production of Grade
A milk.
Following the meeting the group
will visit two Grade A dairies es
tablished here recently. The tour
will also include a visit to two pas
tures where ladino and orchard
grass have been seeded and farmers
are using it to produce cheaper
milk.
JOSEPHINE MILLS, INC.
r! - - • »
The new home of the Josephine Mills, above, was completed recently
on the Southern Railway facing Avenue A. The 13,300 square feet of floor
space contains 120 knitting machines. Mill officers are: C. F. Smith, presi
dent; W. Alec Smith, vice president, and Carter Hudgins, secretary-treas
11
Division Meeting
of American Legion
To Be Held here
Kiwanis Host
to Football Squad;
Ditt Speaker
The Marion Kiwanis club enter
tained members of the high school
football squad, cheer leaders, Coach
A.rt Ditt, and Principal Charles C.
Elledge at the regular weekly meet
ing of the club held Tuesday even
ing in the Marion community build
ing. S. R. (Dick) Perkins, vice-pre
sident, presided in the absence of
President Roy Davis, and James B.
Laughlin was in charge of the pro
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BERLIN PARCELS j
TO BE REFUSED j
{
The Post Office will not ac-j
cept packages for delivery in
Berlin, Germany, Postmaster
John Finley said this week. V
He said instructions had been!;
received from the Chief Inspec-\
tor's office to refuse parcels ad- ]>
dressed to Berlin because of i
transportation difficulties in Eu
rope. \
Marion Marauders
To Begin Training
Home Agents
And Officers
To Meet Here
The three County Council offi
cers of McDowell county, one state
officer, one district officer and home
demonstration agents from Swain,
Burke and Mitchell counties will
meet in the office of Miss Jean
Steele announced last week.
Mrs. Pauline Hotchkiss, district
agent, Mrs. J. H. L. Miller, member
of the board of directors of the
North Carolina Federation of Home
Demonstration clubs, Mrs. Watson
Wilson, district secretary and the
three local officers, Mrs. J. W. Mc
Corry, president, Mrs. Guy Lonon,
vice president, and Mrs. Marion Wil
kerson, secretary, will be included
in the group.
The group will make plans for a
meeting of District Four.
Baptist Men
To Meet Tonight
The Brotherhood of the First Bap
tist Church will hold their regular
monthly .business meeting at the
church this evening at 6:45. Dinner
will be served following the meet
in.
An announcement has just been
released by the management of the
Marion Baseball club that the date
for the training season for this
year's Marauder activities has been
moved up one week from the orig
inal date announced for the train
ing of Manager John Lanning's
protegees. The new date has been
set for March 28. The date has been
moved up one week in order to ar
range a two game exhibition series
with the Asheville Tourists.
The first scheduled exhibition
game for the 1949 season will be
with the Asheville Tourists in Ashe
ville on April 3. On April 5, the
Tourists will move to Marion for a
return exhibition.
Other pre-season exhibition gam
es are scheduled with Western Car
olina Teachers College in Marion on
April 12. The House of David will
meet the Marion Marauders on the
home field on April 22.
Contacts have been made with a
number of other clubs for exhibi
tion games. These clubs include Le
noir Rhyne College, North Wilkes
boro and Mooresvflle. Just as soon
as additional games are scheduled,
announcement will be made through
the press relative to dates and teams
to be played.
With the baseball season only
several weeks away, activities are
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The Fifth Division of the Ameri
can Legion will hold an Officers
Conference, Oratorical Contest and
Go-Getters banquet here Saturday,
March 12.
The program has been announced
as follows:
OFFICERS CONFERENCE
McDowell County Court Houie
1:00-1:30 Concert by Marion High
School band under direction Ber
nard Hirsch.
Advancement of colors.
Invocation, Rev. J. B. McLarty.
Address of welcome, Mayor J. W.
Streetman.
Response, Beaman L. Pinner.
Introduction of Speaker, Cecil B.
Dobspn, Commander 5th Division.
Address, James E. Green, Past
Commander largest legion post in
the world; Past Commander Dept.
of Nebraska; Chairman of Nationai
Americanism Commission.
Reports and Discussion,
National Defense, Reece Skull.
Americanism, Burgin Pennell.
Boys' State, Isham Henderson.
Oratorical Contest, C. M. Steppe.
Junior Baseball, Barron Caldwell.
Rehabilitation, Karl Muschette.
Retirement of Colors.
GO-GETTERS (FREE) OFFICERS
AND ORATORICAL CONTEST
BANQUET
(Community Building)
6:30-7:30
Formal Opening, Cecil B. Dobson.
Invocation, Chaplain James L.
McLarty.
Address of Welcome, Joe B. Mann.
Response, Felix Picklesimer.
Introduction of prominent guests.
■Address, Joseph Grier, N. C.
Dept. Commander.
ORATORICAL CONTEST
McDowell County Court Houte
Auditorium
8:00-10:00
Formal opening and advancement
of colors, Cecil B. Dobson.
Introduction of guest speakers.
Contest, Judges Decision.
Award of Prize, C. M. Steppe.
Retirement of Colors.
MARION CENTRAL
HIGH SCHOOL
WINS TOURNEY
The girls and boys of Marion Cen
tral capped both ends of the eighth
grade scholarship by defeating the
Cross-School girls 23-10; the boys
had it harder as they won a close
17-1(5 game over a fighting Clinch
field team.
The Central girls took the lead
and held it throughout the game.
Misses Black and Garland were high
scorers for the winners with 9 points
apiece. While Gauge was high for
Cross School. Barlowe, outstanding
Central player, turned in a good
game, aided by Smith and Haynes
who held the Cross forwards four
field goals.
The Clinchfield boys took the lead
and held it the first half but in the
second half, with Johnson and Dixon
scoring successive goals, Central
went out in the front to remain.
(Continued on last page)
Concert Drive
Is Launched
With Good Start
The annual membership drive of
the Marion Community Concert As
sociation got off to a good start
last week with emphasis on renewal
memberships, Paul Story, presi
dert, said today. The Association
hao approximately 500 memberships
last year. All indications are, ac
cording to Story, that at least 90
per cent of these will be members
again. In addition, it is hoped that
a large number of new members
will be added in the current drive.
The success of the three concerts
presented this past season was such
that many who did not have mem
berships were attracted.
The Membership Drive is under
the direction of Mrs. Walker Blan
ton and Mrs. Donald Mcintosh, Jr.
They are being assisted by a dozen
■or more teams of workers, each un
der the leadership of a team cap
tain. Here for the week to assist in
the drive is Abbot Lake, Jr., a re
presentative of Columbia Concerts,
booking agent for the artists. Lake
indicated that he was well pleased
with the way the drive has gone
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GEORGE KEESE
TO ADDRESS
WILDLIFE CLUB
The McDowell County Wildlife
club will meet at 7:30 p. m., Mon
day, March 14, in the court house.
Joe Blalock, president, announced
Tuesday.
George Keese, commissioner of
the eighth district, will be the prin
cipal speaker. He will explain laws
and regulations in regard to game.
He will also discuss recommenda
tion of sportsmen for regulations in
their communities.
Others expected to present their
views in regard to laws and regula
tions in the protected areas will be
E. A. Heers, U. S. district forester;
Tom Huffman, Mount Mitchell chief
forester and representatives from
the M't. Mitchell game preserve.
All interested persons are urged
to attend and express their views.
ITERS PRESENTED
IN CONCERT HERE
John Tyers, American baritone,
was presented in concert by the Ma
lion Community Association-, 011
Monday evening.
The program was a varied one.
There were operatic numbers ren
dered with beauty and ease, among
them the "Serenade" from Mazart's
"Don Giovanni", the "Drinking
Song" from Thomas' "Hamlet", and
["Valentine's Aria" from "Faust."
There were semi-classic numbers
such as "None But The Lonely
Heart" by Tschaikowsky, "The
Blind ' Ploughman" by Clarke. The
program ended with a R'roup of pop
lar and humorous ditties, among
them "A Mele's Tail" by Webb.
"The Deaf Old Woman" arranged
by Kathleen Davis, "I Got Plenty O'
Nuthin", "Water-Boy", "O What A
'Beautiful Morning" and "Sylvia".
Bond Sales Heavy
At Post Office
The Marion Post Office sold
$3,450 worth of U. S. Savings Bonds
last month.
Postal savings certificates were
issued for $62,693 and $50,620
paid, making an increase *>f $12,073
in the amount on deposit.
February postal receipts totaling
$3,742.78, showed a gain of $626.19
over the amount recorded in Feb
ruary, 1948.
Postal receipts for the past two
months were $7,793.60, an increase
of $1,022.76 over the corresponding
period in 1948.
Red Cross Appeals
To Rural Areas
PLEASANT GARDENS LEADING
IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION
Optometrist
Dr. James Johnson has opened of
fices for the practice of optometry
in the Eckenrod Building on East
Court street. He is the son of Mrs.
Johnson and the late Dr. J. H. John
son. He received his Doctor of Op
tometry degree from Northern Illi
nois College of Optometry.
County
Commissioners
Endorse Elliott
„ _ The County Commissioners in ses
sion here Monday recommended
that W. P. Elliott be appointed a
member of the State Highway and
Public Works Commission.
A road petition was approved re
questing the county to keep up the
road from the Sugar Hill road to a
section just beyond C. M. Pool's
home, about one-half mile in length.
Board Of Aldermen
Have Meeting Tuesday
The Board of Aldermen in session
Tuesday evening voted to purchase
an, enclosed garbage collector truck. 1
A motion was also passed to buy
100 street markers for the Town
of Marion. It was also moved that
a resolution be drawn up recom
mending W. P. Elliott as a member
of the State Highway Commission.
J. Y. Lonon was appointed tax
collector.
The strongest appeal in the cur
rent Red Cross campaign was made?
;o rural residents this week. The
:anvass of rural workers this year
A^as believed to have been the most
extensive ever made in this county,
ind was conducted by letters.
E. C. Carnes, fund campaign chair
man, said the only division nearing
completion of its work is the resi
dential division with a total of
$.369.40 which does not include two
colored section—the Airport road
section and Zion Hill.
The work of the schools, business,,
advanced gifts, industrial and Old
Fort divisions is well underway,
Carnes said, but no contributions
have been turned into headquarters
so far. He said Pleasant Gardens
is leading the schools division in do
(Continued or. last page)
Scout Masters
Of This County
To Have Classes
All Scout masters, assistant Scouts
masters and assistant Scout leaders
of McDowell county will meet for
the first of a series of six sessions*
of leadership training groups at 5:30
o'clock, Friday afternoon, March 11"
in the Hut of the First Methodist;
church, Rev. J. B. McLarty announ
ced yesterday.
R. M. Shi»Wr Seout executive for
the Piedmont Council, will teach;
the course. This course will b»
known as "Introduction to Scout
ing" or "Fundamentals of Scout
ing."
This meeting will precede the reg
ular Court of Honor at 7:30 p. m.
Other sessions will be held prior
to the Courts of Honor in March,
April, May, September, October and
November.
This project was set up by thei
County committee on Leadership*
Training. Rev. J. B. McLarty is
chairman of the McDowell County
Boy Scouts of America.
QUARTERLY CONFERENCE
Rev. J. B. Bowman, pastor of th»
Old Fort Circuit, is calling the se
cond quarterly conference for the>
charge to meet at the Ebenezer
church Thursday night, March 10,
at 7:30.
Farmers Federation
Has Annual Meeting
■
MARION MERCHANTS
TO MEET MARCH 10
G. Lloyd Langdon, agricultural
engineer, of Asheville, will address
the Marion Merchants association
at its meeting Thursday, March 10,
it is announced.
S. W. Blanton will explain the
proposed Fair Trade Law.
The meeting will be held at 7:30
p. m. in the city hall. The speaker
will discuss better agricultural con
ditions for Marion and McDowell
county.
During the business session mer
chants will discuss the closing hour
for the Wednesday half holiday.
S. L. Homewood will introduce the
speaker and progress made concern
ing the Dysartsville road will be fur
ther discusseed.
All merchants in this county are
invited to be present.
MARION PTA TO MEET
^ *
The Marion Parent-Teacher asso
ciation will meet at eight o'clock,.
Thursday night, March 17, in the
school auditorium, it was announc
ed yesterday.
I
The election of W. G. English of
Ashford as committeemen, and the
reelection of all other committee
men to serve for another year was
the gesture of the annual Stock
holders' meeting of the Farmers
Federation held here last Saturday.
James G. K. McClure, president
of the organization, served as mas
ter of ceremonies and introduced
Guy M. Sales, general manager,,
who made a short talk on the mar
keting facilities made possible by
the Farmers Federation. He told of.
the market for poultry, tobacco,
and vegetables which has been cre~
ated by the federation. He told how
the organization had helped the»
farmers in various ways since its
organization.
McClure made a report on activ
ities of the federation during the
past year and explained that the
many things brought about by the
organization were made possible by
the farmers cooperating in their
work. McClure invited all present
to attend the annual meeting and
election of officers to be held in the
Buncombe county court house on
March 26. He explained that lunch.
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