Newspapers / The Pilot (Southern Pines, … / Aug. 11, 1960, edition 1 / Page 14
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Page FOURTEEN THE PILOT—Southern Pines, North Carolina THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1960 Over Half Century of Progress Noted at West End in Business, Education, Churches By SALLIE AUMAN The opening of the branch of the Carolina Bank of Pinehurst at West End last week marked an other step in the progress of the community. It was around 1890 that the Page family of Aberdeen built a railroad to extend into the virgin long leaf timber and to haul the logs. The turpentine industry was on the decline and, at that time, there was scarcely a residence from Pinehurst to the Eagle Springs section. Oldtimers have been heard to tell how the entire country was covered with pine and the ground was matted with pine needles. The story has been passed down through the years that the late Frank Page of Aberdeen brought a crew of workmen here on a flat car with tools and built a depot about 30 feet by 40 feet, complet ing the building in one day. It was then that the west end of the rail road became the nucleus for West End, the town. It was in this building that the late M. C. Mc Donald, assisted for many years by the late Charles Ritter and Miss Janie Clark, operated a store, a depot, and the Post Office. Lively Town This must have been a rather lively little town because when the great fire of ’98 swept through, there were 13 stores lo cated between the present site of the Presbyterian Church and Me Donald Brothers’ Store. They were all burned except the drug store (operated by the late M. L. Morris and the late Dr. David Currie, father of Mrs. Victoria McKenzie and the Rev. Grover Currie) and the depot. The .drug store is still standing and is now the residence of Mrs. Z. B. Conrad. The depot was tom down in recent years to allow for expansion of the Sandhill Fur niture Corporation. In case the older citizens become a little smug toward the younger generation, those “stores” were chiefly bar rooms, patronized by the turpen tine and timber employees. Two men who influenced the growth of the town more than ty finding their land. The man with NEW IDEAS FOR " ’ /I NEW ERA I BRADY H. BROOKS N. .C. Agent 124 S. W. Broad Si. Phone OX S-S401 Southern Pines, N. C, I lFlATIONWIDiE R MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY | MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY I LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY I I Home Olfici: OlumlHii, Ohio I lots. A bargain house in Charlotte (from the tree. As he had raked [stable and was always alluded to used the plan to give a deed for a tract of land with the sEile of merchandise. The map is still in the courthouse in Carthage, but the gullible customers were said to have^had quite a bit of difficul- and tied them in a sheet one as “Squire.” any others were the late J. B. VonCanon and M. C. McDonald. The VonCanons moved here from Randolph County in 1903 and with them were the Monroe Lewis family, Mrs. A. M. Oglesby, the Forest VonCanons, all the in laws, with the Richardson nieces and nephews spending much time here. The family operated a shingle and cross arm mill and did extensive farming, including .a peach orchard. In 1927 Mr. VonCanon was re ported to have sold 50 cars of peaches for $1,000 per car. He paid his current debts, pulled up the orchard, and used $10,000 to start a miU which was the nucleus for the present plant of the Sandhill Furniture Co., which is now the largest manufacturers of beds in the world. However, it Wcis no luck that made the VonCanons successful in the furniture busi ness, but rather the natural talent which they have. It was a neph ew, the late Farley Lewis, father of Mrs. Clarence Patterson of Carthage, who built the beautiful pews in the Presbyterian Church. The exquisite baby cradle which Paul VonCanon made for his two-year-old son, Thomas, should be placed in a museum for its rare beauty and expert craftsmanship. Year of Abundance In 1911, the crops were more abundant than ever before or since as related by some of the oldtimers. J. Bl VonCanon had corn which produced 126 bushels per acre. The news spread, and a real estate broker, J. B. Frix, of Charlotte, was believed to have been instrumental in causing many well-to-do families of the Mecklenburg County area to set tle here. There were the three families of Cochrans, the Wilsons, Donaldsons, Barnettes, Coxes, Jacksons, Junkers, and others. Broughton Mims recalls the ex- citment that was caused when a special train came from Char lotte loaded with W. P. Cochran’s livestock, farm machinery, and household furniture. They built the present Hawley Poole home. J. B. Frix bought about 1,000 acres of Ismd in the vicinity of Vineland School and divided it into small The highway crossed the rail road nesir the D. A. Patterson res idence in those early years and again at the crossing at the Furni ture plant. Center of Activity The center of activity was the depot where people gathered to meet the train as it went to Ashe- boro in the morning and returned in the afternoon. A hack or car riage from the Jackson Springs Hotel would meet their guests each day who arrived by train. Later, when the Pages purchased the hotel, they extended the rail road to Jackson Springs. The train would “back in” the five miles from the main track at West End. In those days the mineral water was proclaimed far and wide as a cure for all ones ail ments. Mrs. Archie Johnson (Mary VonCanon) and Mrs. A. G. Mc Duffie (Callie Lewis) would ride the train to ind from Biscoe each day to attend high school. It was one of the few in the State and the teachers would plan their schedule in order for them to meet the train. Many recEill the excitement when , young and attractive Erma Cheek (Mrs. Quinton Smith) of Goldston step ped off the train to assume her duties Eis agent for the railroad. Following World War I, Archie Johnson operated a store across from the depot, with the post of fice upstairs in the building with the late Mrs. B. W. Pulliam (Erse- ly Lewis) serving as postmaster. The McDonalds did a large ‘“time” business for farmers over a big area in the ir persent build ing. A beautiful sycamore tree grew in front of the Johnson store. A former proprietor of the store. Nelson Jones, father of Mrs. Thad Frye of Carthage, loved the tree so much that should one of his customers use the tree as a hitch ing post, he immediately untied the reins. Of course this made them unhappy and plenty of times they would trade elsewhere. Ran Into Tree Archie Johnson recalls that each morning leaves would fall morning Hawley Poole, then the superintendent of the Maness orchard, drove by in his car, one of the few in this section, and for fun scattered the leaves. As he turned the car to leave, he glanc ed back over his shoulder to see Archie’s reaction and ran into a tree. Archie lay down on the leaves and laughed while Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, Charles Ritter, and Miss Janie Clark rushed out to sympathize with Hawley. And what amazed them most was Archie’s reaction! Hawley’s Chev rolet was damaged $27 worth. The Methodist and Presbyteri an congregations held worship services in the school building prior to the building of the Meth odist Church in 1912 with J. B. VonCanon instrumental in its building. The Rev. W. H. Brown of Jackson Springs was one of the earliest preachers. It was in 1920 that the Presbyterian Church was built. That year enthusiasm was running high for baseball and M. C. McDonald had difficulty in re ceiving co-operation with the building. The Rev. Mr. Arrowood of Robbins, grandfather of Dr. R. M. McMillan of Southern Pines, conducted services during those years. Both churches are well equipped with homes for their full-time pastor^ and with educa tional facilities. The Baptists have also organized in recent years and have a full-time pastor and parsonage. Colorful Figure One of the most colorful figures during the early days was M. L. Morris, who was “the Law.” He served as magistrate and con- Byron Richardson, now Pine hurst postmaster, was one of the first people to buy a radio. He or dered it from Sears, Roebuck. Archie Johnson recalls that the first thing he remembers hearing, with the plugs in his ears, was that Warren G. Harding had been' elected President of the United States. In 1955 the first district was laid out and the citizens con tributed toward the purchase of a firetruck. At the time, the Rev. Hogan Yancey, now of St. Peters burg, Fla.—who made the initial contribution for the truck—said the community not oply needed fire protection, but it needed some property to hold co-opera tively to tie the people in closer love for one another. Paul Van- Canon, Hobson Tucker and Clyde Auman have served as members of the fire commission since its origin. Leading Citizens Youth is a community’s great est asset. For 31 years, J. F. Sin clair directed the youth as high school principal. Last year there were 40 young people from this school district who were enrolled in some field of higher education. Some of the local people who have served their fellow man out standingly are David McLean who recently remained as a mis sionary in the Congo regardless of the danger. His family is on the way home. David was elected moderator of the new Presbyteri an Synod in the Congo. M. C. McDonald and J. B. Von Canon both served as County Commissioners. Hawley Poole has represented the county for sever al terms in the General Assem bly. He has served as a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and a director of the Carolina Bsmk. Allan McDonald is a director of Moore Memorial Hospital. In the field of business, Fred Von Canon established the Sanford Furniture Company and also keeps an interest in the Sandhill Furniture Corporation. In medicine. Dr. Clement Mon roe is one of the founders of the Pinehurst Surgical Clinic and the Slclnnis brothers—John Thur man, and Blue—have a clinic in Oklahoma City, Okla. In the field of education. Miss Mary Jo Davis is an ipstructor in Glenn Auman hsis been cited for his excellency in coaching; num erous activities he has conducted in Hillsboro have been televised. James Gordon is superintendent of th e consolidated county high school near Winchester, Va. Among those who are serving the community today are: the Lions Club president, the Rev. George Houck; the Woman’s Club president, Mrs. G. A. Munn; the Samdspur Club president, Mrs. Sammy McNeill; Fire Chief J. B. Batnette; P. T. A. President John Bost; the commander of the American Legion post, Woodrow Conrad; president Of the Presby terian Women, Miss Bert Mc- Crummen; president of the Meth odist ‘Women, Mrs. M. J. Davis; School Board Chairman Paul piano at Hanover College in Indi- . , . „ „ ana. Loyd Auman is district su- VonCanon; and the Summer Rec perintendent of t^he 71st School chairman, Mrs. Eob District in Cumberland County. [Youngblood. t9 GOOD LIVING ie/!S! SCHLITZ and HAMBURGERS POP CORN PEANUTS CHEESES PRETZELS PICKLES CRACKERS SAUSAGES STEAKS OLIVES HOT DOGS SEA FOODS RICHMOND DISTRIBUTING CO. HAMLET Now...New IM \ OtO CROW * KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY, Rome# »Y ///- /<i!E HOUSE HEATING ^J^itinjuutg tcy bu/£cCy (yo Then CP&L’s new, low rate makes safe, flameless, electric house heating more practical and economical than ever before! This rate is available only when elec tricity is the exclusive source of heat for the entire home and for the hot water supply. For you who prefer the modern way to - “climatize” your home the year ’round, the electric heat pump is the ideal solu- FREE FOLDERS Of me <k& emrn qiatalCRv iiiiil THE OLD CROW DISTILLERY COMPANY, FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY on the Electric Heat Pump, Electric Heating and The Medallion Home are avail able at your CP&L Office— or Just fill out the / coupon shown here. r CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY An inveator-otened, tax paying, public utility company tion. The same, compact unit which cools your home in summer, will heat it in winter. Or if modem heating is your prime interest, you can select from a variety of electric heating installations the one which best suits your plans. Whichever you choose, your family will enjoy the safe, flameless clean heat which only electricity can provide. Just call or write yotir nearest CP&L representative for the facts on this modern way to heat by wire instead of fire. Or mail the coupon below—no obligation of course. TO : Carolina Power & Light Company □ Please telephone me for an appointment to discuss electric house heating. I understand this does NOT obligate me in any way. □ Please send me your FREE folder(s) on: □ Electric Heat, □ Electric Heat Pump, □ The Medallion Home. n NAME- TEL, (please print) ADDRESS- CITY -STATE-
The Pilot (Southern Pines, N.C.)
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Aug. 11, 1960, edition 1
14
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