IN THIS ISSUES FULL-PAGE LAYOUTS OF CENTENNIAL PICTURES, PLUS STORIES Net Paid CIRCULATION Last Week 3924 itMin gob IjigblanV Haamian PRICE 10 Cents 70th Year ? No. 25 Franklin, N. C., Thursday, June 23, 1955 Fourteen Pages Storf fhoto bv J. t. tiraay THIS WHITE HORSE and buggy started off Franklin's three-day Centennial celebration last Thursday morning. In the back "courtin* " seat are Got. and Mrs. Luther H. Hodges. Mayor W. C. Burrell is up front with Bill Fuller, the driver. The horse and buggy picked up the dignitaries at the west city limits and carried them to a reviewing stand at the courthouse. Building Dedication Hottest Item On Celebration Agenda A blazing sun and summer temperatures turned Thursday afternoon's dedication of the town's new municipal building into the hottest item on the three-day Centennial agenda. While spectators took to the shade in the vicinity of the building site, Gov. Hodges and other dignitaries sitting on the reviewing stand toughed it out. The state's chief executive started out his stint on the platform bareheaded, but before long sought refuge under a large black hat handed him on his arrival in the county. Mrs. Hodges joined the hundreds in the shade in nearby yards. And because of the heat, this event failed to draw the crowd others did as the celebration picked up steam. Highlight of the dedication was a speech by Gov. Hodges. In his brief talk he placed spe cial emphasis on North Caro lina developing and marketing Its own products. The governor gave an expanded version of this theme when addressing a joint meeting of Rotary Clubs of the area the night before in the Franklin cafeteria. He was Introduced by Frank lin's own Judge George B. Pat ton. Holland McSwain, Centennial co-chairman, presided. A statement of purpose was presented by Weimar Jones, ed itor-publisher of The Franklin Press. A brief history ? serious, yet humorous in spots ? was of fered by Rep. G. L. Houk. He traced the town's governmental set-up from the early days when there were only 16 tax payers, the fine for selling "ardent spirits" was a stiff $5. and the tax levy was 2 '/2 cents per $100 evaluation. That year (1855) taxtes brought in a total of $65.22, he noted. Plans for burying a time cap sule containing all documents, articles, and pictures connected with the Centennial celebration were announced. The capsule marker ? which sets 2055 as the date for opening the cap sule ? were revealed by Mayor W. C. Burrell and Aldermen A. G. Cagle, J. C. Jacobs, and J. Frank Martin. The actual seal ing of the capsule and burial is to take place in a very short time when all material is as sembled. A plaque for the municipal building ? scheduled for com pletion in the fall ? was pre sented the town by J. P. Brady, Centennial co-chairman. The invocation was given by the Rev. A. Rufus Morgan and the benediction by the Rev. W. N. Cook. Midway in the pro gram, a prayer was offered by the Rev. S. B. Moss. 'Who, Me!' Says Contest Winner "Who, me!" exclaimed Miss Mildred Childers. "Yes, you!" a spectator answer ed. And Gov. Hodges, ably assisted by his wife and Holland McSwain, crowned the breathless and near speechless lass as "Miss Centen nial". while several thousand cele brants witnessed the opening of the Centennial last Thurssday morning. Serving in the "Miss Centen nial" court were Misses Shirley Cloer, Margaret Crawford, Joann Hopkins. Julia Moody. Freda Siler, Kathleen Younce, Carolyn Bry son, and Betty Sue Huggins. As a prelude to the p.ctual contest to pick "Miss Centennial" and her court from amon? 37 young ladies nominated by firms and individuals, the beauties were SEE NO. 3, PAGE 4 'Work Together Governor Suggests In Speech Here "Working tqgether, you can make this a veritable paradise". Governor Luther H. Hodges said here last week. "I cannot think of a place in the world that has so much to offer." The governor was addressing a Rotary-Lions dinner meeting at the Franklin School cafeteria Wednesday night. The occasion was the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club, but approximately 130 civic leaders of Western North Carolina were present. The Franklin Lions Club met jointly with the Rotarians, and delegations were present from the Rotary clubs at Highlands, Bryson City, Sylva, and An drews. "The one thing we need in North Carolina above all else is the energy and the ingenuity to make money out of the things that are around us", the North Carolina chief executive declar ed. "I'd rather have a hundred" small plants "where we do It all ourselves than one big Indus try" from outside. Both are needed, of course, he said. The governor's comments were in line with his recently announced program to encour age the development of small, local industries to process the raw materials of the state. He cited North Carolina's low per capita Income, the fact that many of the state's brightest and best trained young people go to other states to earn their livings, and then pointed out that 10 North Carolina coun ties ? eight of theni In the Piedmont ? furnish more than 50 per cent of all the industries, of all the Industrial payrolls in the state. Then he remarked: "We have got to take our raw materials and process them here, and make the profit out of it; and we have got to pro vide enough jobs and pay high enough wages to keep our young people at home, and to raise the per capita Income." Speaking to the Rotarlans ? SEE NO. 2, PAGE 4 PRESS WINS EDIT AWARD Newspaper Second In Nation-Wide Contest; Gets Herrick Plaque The Franklin Press last week was listed as second place win ner in a nation-wide editor ial competition. Awards of the National Edi torial Association, an organiza tion of weekly, semi-weekly, and small daily newspapers of the United States, were announ ced June 16 at the organiza tion's annual convention at Banff, Alberta, Canada. The Press, second in the Her rick editorial contest, was a warded a plaque "to recognize the best editorials published" during 1954, showing "out standing and unusual efforts to explain . . . the every-day application of the principles of democracy". In this particular contest, each newspaper was required to submit three editorials. The winning editorials from The Press were "Freedom Is Risky", published March 4, coihments on a letter to The Press from the Rev. J. A. Vinson, of Rabun Gap, Ga.; "We Call It Free dom", March 18, excerpts from a talk made by the editor to the Ahoskie, N. C., Rotary Club; and "The Court Decision", May 27, the first of a series of three editorials on the Supreme Court's decision outlawing seg regation in the public schools. More than 1400 newspapers in 45 states competed in the vari ous contests sponsored by the N. E. A. North Carolina winners, in addition to The Press, were The Elkin Tribune, second place for "best news pictures", and The Tribune and the Rocky Mount Telegram, both given honorable mention for community service. Horse-Drawn Bugg] Opens Big Franklin Superlatives Heaped High On 'Parade Of Progress' Just about every superlative in the \ dictionary has been heaped on Friday afternoon's "Parade of Progress", which stands far and away as the most outstanding feature of the entire three-day celebration. For sheer imagination and ingenuity ? and this is the concensus of visitors also ? the "Parade of Progress" was un beatable. its homespun charm was intriguing, the untiring and conscientious efforts and hours Chief Says Incidents 'Average' "Just like an average week end", is the way Police Chief C. D. Baird describes after ef fects of the three-day Centen nial celebration. No accidents were reported. The chief said five arrests were made Saturday night, but he added, "that is about aver age" for any week-end. "I've never seen anything to beat the way people behaved . . . I think they all were here just to have a gof 4 time," Chief Baird decided. behind it were obvious, and the parade committee's success in avoiding a professional glaze brought forth imaginative floats ancf thousands of flattering comments from thousands of spectators. Possibly the most flattering of all came from a tourist, who was just passing through and decided to join in the fun: "I've seen even the Parade of Roses' in California . . . and. for imagination and variety, what I've seen here today ranks along with it." Otto community's clever page from 1855 (complete even to a still in operation on a trailer hooked to the back of the wag on* copped top honors and $100 in the Civic and Community division. Higdonvllle's contrast of clothes washing techniques of today and yesteryear (flail ing the red handles with a stick i clicked for second place and $50. A service underway in a rustic country church won third and $25 for Bethel com munity. In the Business and Institu tions Division, 100 years of SEE NO. 5, PAGE 4 Fleet-Footed, But Not Enough A fleet-footed escapee, who just wasn't fleet enough, is back in the Macon County Prison Camp after giving of ficers a 12-15 mile chase through the Burningtown sec tion Monday. Ignoring two shots fired at him by guard Johnny Mc Dowell, 37-year-old Joseph J. Ellis hit the heavy under brush on the Burningtown Road about 9:30 and for the rest of the day waged a los ing battle with men. blood hounds, ?jid walkie-talkies. He was recaptured about 5:30 in a wooded area near Fout's Store, aocordin ; to Supt. John E. Cutshall. F.llis is serving 30 years for second degree murder. He was sen tenced in Johnston County. The acting division superin tendent, Capt. Dan Lyda, of Hendersonville, brought his bloodhound and walkie-talkies here for the search. But, according to Supt. Cut shall, Capt. Lyda out-tracked even (he bloodhound and was responsible for the quick cap ture of Ellis. He's a real master at that kind of thing," the superin tendent declared. CONTESTS ARE HELD Variety Of Events Mark Celebration; Winners Listed A whole "passul" of homespun contests-tried and tested trough the years-reeled off at intervals during the three-day celebration under the guiding hand of the Rev. Bryan Hatchett, head of the contests , committee. They ranged from husband and hog calling (there's a difference? one lady asked' to the biggest feet, prettiest dress and hound dogs, and one to corn shucking and the best quilt top. All drew thousands of spec tators. Staged from a reviewing stand on the west side ' of the court house, the variety of events were for young and old. Special Cen tennial certificates printed on carchment were awarded the win ners. Probably the most competitive was the churning contest. In this event, .the preacherly intent of the Rev. W. N. Cook ? a cold cigar clutched tightly between his teeth ?put magic into his rhythmic dapper. The 77-year-old retired Baptist minister produced butter in a matter of minutes to beat four others "up and downing dap pers" ' ? Mrs. Cook i f. tiroay THESE SPRITELY 'youngsters', Mrs. Lee Crawford and Ernest Rankin, reigned Saturday night as "King and Queen of Centennial", after a tally in penny-a-vote contest between 19 elderly couples. The monarchs both are 90. During *. special dance In their honor (they sat in the center of the dance ring), the king remarked, "I feel like a gold fish in a bowl!" j From City Limits Centennial Event "Gaddap!" demanded Bill Fuller of the white horse. The animal strained, the creaking wheels of the buggy turned, the m^n in the buggy laughed, and the lone lady straightened her bonnet. This was just last Thursday morning at the city limits near Chapel School, but it was the unassuming beginning of the biggest and most successful -hindig iu Franklin's history. It was the opening of Franklin's homespun three day ltXJth birthday celebration. Uptown, thousands were on hand to help lick the REVIVAL WILL OPEN Bishop Henry Guest Minister For Annual Event In Franklin The annual county-wide series of evangelistic services at the Friendship Tabernacle will start -Monday night, with the Rt. Rev. M. George Henry, bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Western North Carolina, as the guest speaker. Services will be held each even ing at 7:30, Monday through Sat urday. It will be the second time Bis hop Henry, of Asheville, has preached at these summer ser A.SKED TO MEET All persons planning to sins in the joint choir for the evangelistic series are request ed to meet Sunday at 2 p. m. at the Franklin .Methodist Church for rehearsal. vices. The denominations here ro tate in providing the speaker, and Bishop Henry preached the series of sermons the last time it was the turn of the Episcopal ians. Music will be provided by a Bishop Henry combined choir, under the direc tion of the Rev. David Barkley, pastor of the Macon Methodist Circuit. Members of choirs from churches throughout the county are invited to help with the sing ing. Committe chairmen arranging for the tabernacle meetings ire Mr. Bark'ey. music: Norman Blaine, entertainment: Elbert An gel. building and grounds, the Rev. A Rufus Morgan, publicity: Henrv W Cabe, finance: the Rev. M. W. Chapman, program: Hor ace Nolen. ushers: and the Rev. .William Shields, special arange ments. Mr. Morgan announced this week that Bishop Henry will preach at St. Agnes Episcopal Church Sunday evening at 7:30. Free Barbecue Dinner Served To Over 3,000 More than 3.000 persons were served free plates of barbecue Saturday afternoon at Franklin High School, compliments of the Centennial committee. In fact, there was food left, according to the committee In charge. Members of the Franklin Home Demonstration Club, und er the supervision of Mrs. Flor ence S. Sherrlll, county home agent, served the meal The barbecue committee was composed of Bill Horsley, Ed Coates. Oscar Ledford, Bill Bry ant, Wiley Brown, Woodrow Dowdle, and Larry Welch. Icing off the progressive little mountain town's birthday cake. The white horse pulled the buggy toward town. "This seat's for courting," Gov. Luther H. Hodges laughed. Mrs. Hodges smiled and straightened her bonnet again. In the front seat, Mayor W. C. Burrell chuckled under his heavy beard. "Gaddap!" said Bill Fuller. The governor's sleek black limosene, incongruous in this setting of yesteryear, purred at a respectful distance behind the buggy. On the east side of town, near the Little Tennessee River bridge, convertibles loaded with "Miss Centennial" contestants waited for the word to flash that the governor and his lady had reached the reviewing stand so the parade camld start. And the throng uptown peer ed for sight of either. 'Governor's Day' This was "Governor's Day" and the chief executive and his wife "did it up brown". After leaving the buggy, they climbed to their seats on the reviewing stand on the west side of courthouse while the "Miss Centennial" parade un folded. Gov. Hodges crowned and kissed the winner, Miss Mildred Childers, while Mrs. Hodges helped secure her ribbon. "You mean I really have time to eat lunch," the governor said In mock disbelief, following the opening feature, about noon. At 1 o'clock, he and a hand ful of dignitaries were seated on the reviewing stand at the site of the new municipal build ing. one of the governor's of ficial chores here was the dedi cation of the $51,000 structure. A sweltering sun cut atten dance at the dedication and shortened considerably the speech Gov. Hodges had pre pared. Mrs. Hodges joined spectators in the shade in a r.earby yard. The governor found welcome relief in a black wide-brimmed hat and sun glasses. A reception for the chief exe cutive and his wife followed in late afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Higdon. IS IN THE BLACK Financially, the Centennial is in the black, it has been announced. Sale of badges and other souvenir items financed ail phases of the celebration, in cluding the free barbecue Sat urday afternoon. The amount cleared has not been totaled as yet, according to C. O. Ramsey, treasurer. Proceeds are earmarked for the Macon County Band und er the incorporation of the Centennial. They left soon after to keep another appointment the gover nor had in another county. 'Parade Day' Held Friday was "Parade Day'' and Franklin staggered, but held up nobly, under the pressure of an estimated 15.000 spectators. The entire downtown area was blocked off to accommodate the heavy influx and to give SEE NO 6. PAGE 4 The Weather 1 ) r ? ff k'j temp*- at u res and rainfall, a* r?*cor !e?l in I'ranktin by Ma * n Stiles, > weathri ? 'M tvrt . m II iliJinl* by is. n ii, \V i W a t < ??? . TV A !>-? r x ? ? ,ri l at ;lif 0?*ecta H>ilrol?>g?c I.af>i?i ' .'rv FRANKLIN Temperatures High Low Rain Wed., June 15 77 42 Monday 86 59 .IS Tuesday 84 SB .04 Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 81 45 81 47 78 47 79 57 ,0?