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Published In The County Seat of Haywood County At The Eastern Entrance of The Great Smoky Mountains xsauonai ram
y3g5t5YEAR NO. 52 16 Pages"
1 . v 4t
WAYNESVILLE, N. C, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 24, 1942 (One Day Nearer Victory) 11.75 la Advance In lUywooa ana jac
Business
'Sets New
Record
Christmas Season Here
Opened WithReligious
Programs At Churches
Easiness Best In 40-Year
Hfetory, Bank Officials
State, As Sales Soar.
Rnines8 this Christmas season
lu exceeded all previous records,
The Mountaineer learned Tuesday
noming after making a general
Amy of a11 lines of busiess.
The First National Bank report
td large increase in deposits from
i0 lines of business.
There is more than at any
toe in our 40 years in business,"
j. H. Way, vice president, an-Monced.
"Last Thursday we had over
K2.000 in out-of-town checks, and
m Friday we had $53,000. Most
rf this was for tobacco," the bank
official said.
Almost without exception, every
business firm in the community re
ported good business. Several
thought the peak had been reached
on the 12th, but business on the
19th broke all records for many
Inns,
Some managers felt the last four
ivs before Christmas would see
i general let-down in sales, but
buying was 'bfLk: Mof.iay jsiorn
ing, and until noon Tuesday show-
id no signs of a let-up.
Stocks of toys Were fast being
depleted, while many gift items
were no longer available, ,
Customers for the most part,
were easy to deal with, and rapid
ly substituted other items for sold-
Mt goods, and without complaint,
Stocks of candy were getting
low in some firms, with only a small
wection to choose from.
Fruit stocks seemed to be hold'
iag up good Tuesday, and there
as every indication there would
enough to supply the demand.
While merchants enjoyed
jood business, there were many
People who boue-ht stamna and
bonds for gifts during the last-
mraute rush.
Sale Of 1943 Tabs
Still Going Slow
Motorists were paying more at-
wiuon to gasoline rationing cards
- mey were to new 1943 li
""se tabs during th naat week
fording to the record for the sale
tabs. "
People are buying mighty slow,
flu Unless thpra is a nVionrm oa
m not be able to operate their
fs after January first, as we have
m received a letter from the
"aw saying there would be no
mston of time this year," Mrs.
Wnsha said. The tabs are on
- at western Auto Store here,
jome motorists frankly admit
"? they were not buying new tabs
Zl fsired they could get gas
Zl t0 operate their cars. Others
we waiting until after Christ
Just in order to have enough
"ey for the holidays, while
fc m0ther gronP ust ut off
" matter.
Stores To Remain Closed
Saturday; Business In
General Suspends For
Three Days.
Christmas week was inaugurated
in the community on last Sunday
evening with special service and
pageants presented at the churches.
At the First Baptist church "The
Nativity", an impressive Christmas
pageant, was given to a packed au
ditorium. The pageant was in
four scenes, with colorful costumes
and well directed music.
"Little Stars in a Dark World"
was presented at the Presbyterian
church, portraying the Christmas
story in an impressive manner to
a larsre consrreeation.
At the First Methodist church
a White Christmas service was ob
served. Mrs. J. M. Kellett read
the story, "The Other Wise Men,"
and the Manger scene was present
ed in tableau as the members of
the congregation placed their gifts
on the altar for distribution among
the needy of the community.
At Long's Chapel a special
Christmas service with a cantata
by the church choir "Night of Holy
Memories was observed.
Community Tre
To Be Held At 3
On Christmas Day
The community Christmas tree
which is sponsored annually by the
welfare department of the Woman's
Club will be held at 3:00 o'clock
on the afternoon of 25th at the
court house.
Rev. S. R. Crockett, pastor of
the Hazelwood Presbyterian church
will be in charge of the brief de
votional period prior to the pre
sentation -of the gifts from the
tree.';; . -,. :'
Mrs. J. C. Brown, chairman of
welfare in the club, is in charge of
the arrangements. Serving with
Mrs. Brown on Christmas Day in
the distribution of the gifts will be:
Mrs. Leo Martell, Mrs. James W.
Killian, Mrs. C. F. Kirkpatrick,
Mrs. T. L. Bramlett, and others.
Among the firms, organizations
and indivduals who have made con
trbutions to the gifts, fruits and
candies for the tree are: Town of
Waynesville, Lions Club, Rotarians,
Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Barber, Mr. and
Mrs. E. N. Wood, Park Theatre,
and Robert Boone.
To All
Our
Friends
to You Have The
Qirislmas
Spirit?
Tthen turn to page two,
a read Hilda Way Gwyn's
Wumn'Here and There."
too lacked the spirit,
bct found it. ; r
what is Christmas
outthe spirit of the day?
re&d her column.
Methodist Church
Will Be Open To
Public Christmas
The First Methodist church will
be heated on Christmas and open to
the public for the entire day, it
has been announced by the pastor
of the church.
All those Who wish to drop in for
a period of meditation and prayer
during the day are cordially in
vited to do so by the pastor and
the board of stewards.
Midnight Service
Christmas Eve At
Grace Church
The annual Christmas Eve mid
night service will be held at Grace
Episcopal church starting at 11:30
o'clock Thursday evening. The
rector, the Rev. William Baker, will
deliver the sermon.
The Halv Communion will be a
part of the service conducted by
the rector, me pudhc io
dially invited to attend the services,
Milk Producers Get
Semi-Monthly Checks
Milk producers who sell to Pet
Dairy Products Company got their
checks Tuesday instead of having
to wait until the Z5th ana alter,
according to R. B. Davenport, man
agge, who announced that the semi
monthly checks were paia neiu
of time.
Fifty-Four Men
Leave This Week
For Active Duty
Fifty-four selectives of the De
cember quota under the selective
serve system are scheduled to
leave this area during the week.
Sixty-nine men left last week for
physical examinations at Camp
Croft. Official notice of accep
tance of only 64 of the number has
been received by the draft board.
In the first group were forty
four men, who left here at 6:30
o'clock Tuesday morning to take
up active duty at Fort Jackson.
James Paul Phillips served as
acting corporal.
In the first groun weie: Ed Sam.
uel Brisrht. Reeves Ledford, Rubin
Jay Kirkpatrick, Robert Gudger
Palmer, William Edward Jonnson,
Lawrence B. Leatherwood, Theo.
dore R. Grant, George A. Dockery,
Joseph Houston Leatherwood.
Ralph Hannah, Charlie ttreson,
Charles D. Ketner, Lawrence Ed
ward McElyroy, Harry Fain Mc-
Cracken, John Lewis Moody, James
E. Howell, George F. Scates, Wil
liam Clyfle Owens, Wilburn A.
Campbell. Carl J). Mooney, David
D. Green,"!VTctor Nooeck.
Rufus McGaha, Dewitt T. Rath-
bone, James T. Reeves, James ,d
ward Hendricks, Carl F. Messer,
Jack W. Arrngton, Woodrow C
Campbell, Hardy C. Sanford,
Charles Lee Pressley, Hobert E
Hance, Walter H. Plemmons, Gil
mer J. Setzer, Jerry P. Price,
Charles D. Lance, Troy J. Steven
son, Newman Ray Milner, J. Hugh
Caldwell, Claud E. Smathers, and
Wilburn Franklin Kirkpatrick.
The second group left at 6:30 on
Wednesday morning and will re
port to Fort Jackson. Homer Al
len will serve as acting corporal
of the following: Billie L. Potts,
Walker L. Chambers, Horace A
Messer, and Burlin Conner.
Scheduled to leave on the 26th
at 6:30 o'clock for Fort Jackson
with Glenn W. Cuthbertson as act
ing corporal are Elf or Sutton
Glenn Z. Clarke, and Robert E,
Plott
AH three groups will be the
guests of Chrest George and the
Waynesville Bakery at the W. W.
N. C. Cafe, just before taking the
bus. They will be served a hot
cud of coffee and doughnuts. Mr.
Georee owns the cafe and Mr,
Pearce of the Waynesville Bakery
have served every group of se
lectives leaving this area.
Rationing; Board Offices
To Be Closed Thursday
Noon Until Monday
Announcement has been made
that the offices of the rationing
board on the third floor of the
court house will be closed to the
public at 1:00 o'clock on Thursday,
They will remain closed until Mon
day morning at the usual opening
hour of 9:00 o'clock.
MM
0
Haywood To Suspend
Business For Three-
Day Christmas Holiday
People Behaving
Themselves; No
Arrests Made
Scarcity of gasoline has caused
a shortage of liquor in Waynes
ville, according to officers here.
What stocks remain are priced too
high for the average consumer,
they reported.
The lack of liquor was evidenced
over the week-end when the police
docket went all through Saturday
and Saturday night without an
entry. Early Sunday the police
arrested a woman who Was drunk.
Since there were no defendants
for mayor's court Monday, court
was suspended, which made the
first time in many years that some
one has not been hailed into the
weekly Monday court before Mayor
J. II. Way.
Rotarians Give
$60 To Spread
Christmas Cheer
Rev. . William Baker, pastor of
the jGrac Episcopal "church, "told
Rotarians Friday of the early cus
toms and dates of Christmas. He
traced the history of the day down
through the centuries.
The club voted to contribute $50
towards baskets for the needy and
$10 to the Community Christmas
tree, sponsored by the Woman's
Club.
Mercury Has Been
Down To Eight
Here This Year
Although winter did not officially
arrive until Tuesday, wintery
blasts reached here several days
ahead, as the mecury in the official
thermometer tumbled down to 8
oh the 14th, followed by two read
ings of 11 on the 15th and 17th.
The coldest day of the past week
was on Monday, with a reading of
14. Monday was also the short
est day of the year.
Robert Hugh Clark
Named County
Electrical Inspector
Robert Hugh Clark was appoint
ed electrical inspector for Haywood
county by the commissioners at
their regular third Monday of the
month meeting held this week.
The better part of the day was
spent by the board in reviewing
routine matters coming up at the
"first part of their term of office.
Number of Pageants Were
Given In Community Over
the Past Week-End.
. . : V''-"V
Waynesville community and Hay
wood county will start a long week
end Christmas vacation on Thurs
day which will extend until Mon
day morning, due to the fact that
Christmas Day falls so near the
end of the week this year.
The majority of the business
firms will close sometime Thurs-
Jam bamA tntnM fllAa fiO 11 1 at
all in accordance with the type of
their business. '
"We appreciate the co-operation
of the business men of the com
munity in their response regarding
closing for the extended week-end,7'
said Charlie Ray, chairman of the
merchants division of the Cham
ber of Commerce.
AH places that usually open on
Sunday will observe Sunday hours
on Saturday, and stay open dur
ing the same periods, but other
business firms will be closed from
Thursday until Monday morning.
The employes of the First Na
tional Bank will be given a holi
day starting on Thursday through
Monday.
All officers in the court house
with the exception of the sheriffs
departmenWwUl close at noon on
Tliursday ..d remain closed until
Monday mornlg,
In some of the plants where war
production orders are being filled
it will be another story. Work will
continue with one shift after an
other taking their places in the
mighty war effort to rush produc
tion. Christmas Day will be ob
served, however.
The Mountaineer office will join
the other business firms on Main
street and v ,lowTjrday
evening . ' . '. -:yr' -
Daytoiraubber Co.
Gives Christmas
Party for Employes
The Dayton Rubber plant officials
were hosts on Saturday evening of
a party given at the Waynesville
Armory to their employes. The
armory had been elaborately dec
orated in Chrstmas greens and pat
riotic colors for the occasion.
Chas. G. Miller, local factory
superintendent, was master of
ceremonies the first part of the
evening, later turning the micro
phone over to Clyde Fisher, as
sistant production manager.
Mr. Miller introduced the follow.
ing officials from the main plant
in Ohio, under which the local fac
tory is operated: A. L. Freedander,
(Continued on page 8)
Postoffice
Has Good
Business
Late Mailing Causing Un
due Delay; Shortage Of
Help Is Big Ilandlcap To
Office.
"We are having the largest
Christmas rush we have ever ex
perienced, and I don't see how w
are going to make it this year,"
said Major J. Harden Howell, post
master, Tuesday morning.
"Everything is against us. Two
of our dispatchers have been taken:
into the army during the past
month. While we have two girls
to take their places and they arc
doing excellent jobs, it is impossible
for them to learn in less than four
weeks what the men learned in
five years," he continued.
"Another thing the public has
not cooperated with the request
of the post office department. They
have waited until the last minute
to mail packages and cards," h
said. .,-- ; - ' ;, ,
"All the trains are from three
to four hours late which runs us
so far behind each day that it
would be impossible to catch up,
tinder ordinary conditions, much
less with bigger load than ever
carried before," he pointed out. .
"The total receipts for the quar
ter of last year was $9,061.31 and
this year it is now over $10,396.10
and we still hive a week to go,"
sighed Major Howell in recounting
the trials of the local post office
this Christmas season.
Mr. and Mrs. Phillips
Return From Virginia
Mr. and Mrs. P. V. Phillips and
family have returned from Morris-
town, Va., where Mr. Philips has
been on a war construction pro
ject for some months.
Mr. Phillips plans to return in
the spring as soon as weather con
ditions are more favorable for out
door work.
Hazelwood Baptists To
Have Pageant Thursday
A Christmas papeant will be
given at tne Hazeiwooa Baptist
church on Thursday evening, De
cember 24, at 7:30 o'clock by the
junior and intermediate children of
the church. The pageant is being
directed by Miss Edith Queen.
' The primaries and beginners will
give a program of songs and poems,
with Miss Elaine Queen in charge.
I Immediately after the pro
gram a treat will be given to mem
bers of the Sunday school.
$200 Oil Dime
Board l or Lions
Club Cheer Fund
At noon Tuesday, about $200
had been placed on the dime board,
sponsored by the Lions Club for
their Christmas cheer fund, and
work among the blind in the com
munity.
The board was set ud near The
Toggery Friday, and in the three
and a half days had had S20O
placed on it. Officials of the elnb
felt that by Christmas Eve the total
would reach $350.
Members of the dub are takinsr
turns in keeping the board.
i 1 . . .
Funeral Services
Held Friday Afternoon
For Frances Lee Potts
t unerai services were neid on
last Friday afternoon at the Bal
sam Baptist Church at 2 o'clock for
Frances Lee Potts, who died at
2:15 a. m. on Thursday at his home
in the Balsam section. The Rev.
Nando Stevens officiated. Burial
was in the Conner cemetery near
Balsam.
Mr. Potts was a native of Swain
County, and was born on May 29,
1863. He had been engaged in
farming all his life. He was active
in the Balsam Baptist Church, hav
ing been a member for the past
forty years.
Surviving are his widow, four
sons, Thurman, of Hendersonville,
Roy and Lee of Balsam, and George
Potts, U. S. Army, three daughters,
Mrs. John Blanton, of Balsam, and
Mrs. Louie Upsome and Mrs. John
Upsome, of Daytona Beach; 25
grandchildren and seven great
grandchildren. '
Last Rites Are Held
For Mrs. W. W. Pressley
Tuesday Afternoon
Funeral services were held at
the Dix Creek Baptist church at
11 o'clock Tuesday morning for
Mrs. Mary Lou Pressley, 48, who
died at her home in East Fork
Township at 2:30 o'clock Monday
morning.
The Rev. Thomas Erwin offi
ciated. Burial was in the church
cemetery.
Mrs. Pressley is a native of
Haywood county and the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. James Warren,
or the Sunburst section.
Surviving are her husband, W.
W. Pressley; her parents; five
daughters, Mrs. Anne Mae Creas
man, Mrs. Ida Leatherwood, Mrs.
Betty Trull, Miss Bessie Pressley,
and Miss Daisy Bell Pressley, all
of Pigeon; three sons, Clayton,
Owens and Glenn Pressley, of Pig
eon; three sisters, Mrs. Mamie
Pressley, Mrs. Zonie Inman, and
Mrs. Delia Trull, of Pigeon; five
brothers, Lee, James, Haynes,
Andy, and Dock Warren, all of
Pigeon; and seven grandchildren.
The Massie Funeral Home was
in charge of the arrangements.
WEATHER
Rotary Club Will Not
Meet This Friday
The Rotary Club will not meet
this week, since their regular meet
ing day falls on Christmas. The
regular schedule will be resumed
next Friday, at 12:45 at The Maples.:,
The following is the official
weather report for Waynesville, aa
recorded by The Mountaineer:
Date Max Min Predp
17
18
19
20
21
22
42
49
52
68
36
46
11
85
81
21
14
23
J00
JO0
.00
St
.00
.OS