OLD FORT NEWS
VOLUME IV
OLD FORT, N. C., THURSDAY, jANUARY 8, 1931 NUMBER 15
THE OLD FORT NEWS
The Old Fort News is pub
lished each week in connection
with the Marion Progress.
MISS GERTRUDE DULA,
Editor and Business Manager.
YULETIDE GAIT1ES COME
TO END AT OLD FORT
The yuletide gaities among the
younger set have come to an end,
and with it the return of many
young people to the various schools
and colleges at which they are in at
tendance this year. The holiday sea
son was marked by a series of social
affairs, honoring the young ladies
and young men who have been at
home for the Christmas vacation the
past two weeks, and altogether the
holidays have been pronounced very
enjoyable in every respect by the
younger set especially.
Those who have left to resume
their studies in the various educa
tional institutions include Miss Nan
cy Miller, Salem College; Miss Caro
lyn Mcintosh, Duke University; Miss
Elizabeth Hansel, Flora Macdonald
College; Miss Janie McSwain, N. C.
C. W.; Miss Eunice Wilkinson, Mit
chel College; Miss Edith LeFevre, N.
C. C. W.; Mis9 Betty Crawford,
Mitchel College; Misses Dorothy
Spencer and Margaret Rock, Cecil's
Business College, Spartanburg, S.C.;
Mary Margaret Johnson, Salem
Academy; Misses Arwyn Steppe and
Nell Allison, Asheville Normal; Miss
Frances Grant, Montreat Normal;
Crawford Fortune, Earl Nesbitt and
Lesley Mauney, State College, Ral
eigh; Donal Mcintosh, University of
Pennsylvania; Ashby Robinson,
University of North Carolina.
WATCH PARTY GIVEN IN
HONOR OF SENIOR CLASS
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Sandlin enter
tained on Wednesday evening with
a watch party in honor of the Senior
class of the Old Fort High School,
the guest list including all teachers,
the members 'of the town school
board and their wives together with
other school officials. Decorations
suggestive of the season were used
consisting of growing poinsettas,
burning tapers and evergreens. The
holiday spirit pervaded the atmos
phere as merrymaking started imme
diately upon the arrival of the guests
and kept up on after the midnight
hour. A program of amusing games
and contests had been arranged and
were participated in with an eager
ness and zest that is characteristic
of the Senior class. Jessica Silver
won four prizes outright, tieing with
Principal S. B. Smithey for a fourth.
Jean Hansel was also a prize-winner
and Selma Finch tied with P. H.
Mashburn in another contest. Chas.
Lytle upheld the record of the boys
by capturing a prize.
Assisting the host and hostess in
receiving and entertaining were
their two young daughters, Nannie
Sue and Caroline. At a late hour re
freshments were served. Assisting
the hostess in serving were Mesdam
es P. H. Mashburn, S. B. Smithey,
Wade Davis and Charles Steppe and
Miss Mary Burgin.
MISS HELEN NESBITT
WATCH PARTY HOSTESS
Miss Helen Nesbitt entertained a
number of her friends Wednesday
evening at her home in New Fort
■frith a delightful watch party. The
house was decorated with holly and
potted flowers. Cards were the main
feature of the entertainment. Mrs.
Nesbitt assisted the hostess in serv
ing delightful refreshments consist
ing of fruit punch, cake and nuts.
HOUSE NEAR OLD FORT
DESTROYED BY FIRE
Fire destroyed the residence of
George Thomasson, located half a
mile south of Old Fort, Friday morn
ing about 2 o'clock. The house was
of frame construction, and had six
rooms. All the furnishings and cloth
ing of the occupants were consumed
by the flames. No one was injured.
FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS
ANNUAL NEW YEAR BALL
A large crowd attended the annu
al dance given by the Old Fort Fire
Department on New Year's eve in
the Sandlin building. This dance,
which was a very enjoyable social af
fair, was pronounced as one of the
most successful dances given by the
boys of the fire department in sever
al years. The old year was danced
out and the new year welcomed
to the strains of merry music.
MRS. JOHNSON GIVES
PARTY FOR DAUGHTER
Mrs. J. B. Johnson assembled a
group of nineteen boys and girls on
Friday afternoon for a farewell par
ty for her young daughter, Mary
Margaret, who has been spending
the Christmas holidays at her home,
and who returned on Monday to
Winston-Salem to resume her studies
at Salem Academy. A festive note
was carried out in the decorations,
suggesting the happy Christmas time
which soon would be but a memory.
Festoons of red flowers and greenery
gave a cheerful setting for the inter
esting program of games and con
tests for the merry group.
Nannie Sue Sandlin was declared
a prize winner in the first contest,
the second being won by Alice
Laughridge, Lourene LeFevre, Julia
Bistline and Pauline Gosorn.
A delicious salad course with tea
and other accessories were served by
the hostess, assisted by Mrs. Reid
and Miss Mary Burgin.
WOMAN'S CLUB MEETS
The Old Fort Woman's Club met
on Friday afternoon in the Sandlin
building. Mrs. G. W. Sandlin, the
president, called the meeting to or
der, and after a -brief business ses
sion in which letters from various
state club women were read a report
on the sales of Christmas seals was
given.
The president then asked for a dis
cussion of ways to aid the unemploy
ed in this community. Among the
plans suggested and approved by
the club was the placing of barrels
in the grocery stores; this plan,
which is being tried by the city of
Asheville, has proven a great help.
Several members of the club were
appointed to place the barrels in the
stores.
A committee was appointed by the
president to call on the mayor and
request an investigation of a number
of requests for help that have been
called to the attention of the club.
The need of food for a number of
undernourished children was discus
sed, and it was decided to serve a
warm lunch in the Sandlin building
for the benefit of these children.
Mrs. P. H. Mashburn will have
| charge during the coming week of
this community kitchen. The super
j intendent of the tannery has donated
coal, vegetables have been donated
; by G. W. Sandlin and there is no
i doubt that this undertaking will re
j ceive the enthusiastic support of the
citizens of the entire community.
NEW YEAR'S PARTY
The college boys and girls celebra
ted the arrival of the New Year with
a watch party at the home of Miss
Gertrude Dula on Wednesday even
ing. Dancing and bridge added to the
evening's entertainment. Refresh
ments were served at a late hour.
Those present were: Misses Carolyn
Mcintosh, Dorothy Spencer, Marga
ret Rock, Emma Allison, Catherine
Finch, Elizabeth Hansel, Nancy Mil
ler, Maxine Wilson, Betty Crawford,
and Hazel Parker; Messrs. Kimball
Miller, Robert Wilkinson, Frank
Moore, Donald Mcintosh, Francis
Mauney, CClyde Miller, William
Treverton, Ward Treverton and
Nelson Parker of Marion.
JESSIE OLA DAVIS HOSTESS
Miss Jessie Ola Davis entertained
a number of friends with a delight
ful holiday party Monday evening.
Christmas decorations were used and
a lovely lighted tree added much to
the living room. A delicious salad
course was served to the following:
Edna Tate, Evelyn Gilliam, Selma
Finch, Jessie Ola Davi9, Norris Hen
sley, Robert Crawford, Carl Rock,
Carlyle Nesbitt, and Lester Jordan.
EPWORTH LEAGUE SOCIAL
Thirty-five members of the Ep
worth League of the Methodist
j Church, South, enjoyed a party at
! the home of Miss Annie Bell Noblitt
Thursday evening. The house was
attractively decorated with potted
flowers. Many interesting games
were enjoyed after which hot choco
late, sandwiches, cake and candy
were served. Invited guests were
Rev. and Mrs. J. L. Rayle.
BRIDGE PARTY
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Moore enter
tained with two tables of bridge on
Friday evening at their home on
Main street. Those enjoying Mr. and
Mrs. Moore's hospitality were Mr.
and Mrs. Moore's hospitality were
Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Bistline, Mr. and
j Mrs. C. W. Graybeal, Mrs. Hart Tay
lor and Miss Maude Crawford.
DR. ALFRED W. DULA ILL
! News has been received in Old
Fort of the serious illness of Dr.
i Alfred W. Dula, of Lenoir, N. C.
| LOCAL AND PERSONAL
ITEMS OF INTEREST
Misses Martha Hyams and Stella
Sherrill spent Saturday in Asheville.
Miss Elizabeth Young of Connelly
Springs spent last week-end with rel
atives here.
Fred H. LeFevre of Los Angeles,
California, is spending the holidays
with Mr. and Mrs. Walter W- Le
Fevre.
P. M. Moore of Spartanburg, S. C.,
was a business visitor in Old Fort
last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Powelses, of
Baltimore, Md., spent the week-end
with Mrs. Walter W. LeFevre.
Mr. and Mrs. P. P. Ball and Ola E.
Jones, of Asheville, and Mrs. Gar
land Franklin, of Hickory, were visi
tors in Old Fort last Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. George Sandlin and
their daughters, Nannie Sue and
Caroline, were guests of Mr. and
Mrs. A. S. Pharmer for new year's
dinner at their home on St. Dus
stan's Road in Asheville.
Mr. and Mrs. I. L. Caplan and
family were visitors in Lenoir during
the holidays.
Dr. and Mrs. Charles Jenkins and
small daughter, Jean, who have been
visiting in Mullens, S. C., have re
turned to their home.
Thadius Bradley visited friends in
Asheville and Hendersonville during
the week.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Burgin, who
have been visiting Mr. and Mrs. Hen
ry Burgin, have returned to their
home in Iowa.
Miss Emma Allison, instructor in
Home Economics in the high school
at Jenkinsville, S/ C., has returned
to her work after spending the holi
days with her parents in Old Fort.
1 Mrs. Grady Nichols and two daugh
ters spent several days last week on
Curtis Creek, the guest of Mrs.
Carver.
Misses Beulah Ross and sister of
; Marion were the guests of their
i cousin, Miss Catherine Finch, on
Thursday.
Mrs. P. H. Mashburn and Mrs.
Geo. Sandlin were visitors in Ashe
ville on Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Nichols were
guests of Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Silvers
on Sunday.
i Mrs. W. H. Hawkins and son Rob
1 ert, of Marion, were in Old Fort on
Sunday enroute to Lenoir, to visit
Dr. A. W. Dula, who was reported
quite ill.
S Mrs. Cecil C. Wyche, who was a
guest of her mother, Mrs. J. R.
Crawford, last week, returned to her
home in Spartanburg, S. C., accom
panied by Misses Dorothy Spencer
and Margaret Rock, who will resume
their studies at that place.
j Miss Evelyn Snyder has returned
; to her home here after spending sev
eral days in Canton with relatives.
Misses Millie and Bula Kanipe and
Robert Hughes were visitors in Char
lotte Monday.
Mr. Gordon Berry and daughter,
Thelma, of Atlanta, Ga., visited Mr.
and Mrs. Fred Allison during Christ
mas.
Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Raeder and
small son, Raymond, Jr., of Colum
bus, Tenn., spent the Christmas hol
idays with the latter's mother, Mrs.
Etta Kelly|
Miss Eula Grant is spending sever
al days in Bakersville.
Miss Bertha Bradley of Morgan
j ton visited relatives in Old Fort last
week.
Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Silver visited
relatives in Marion Saturday.
Mrs. Davis Bright of Marion visi
ted Mr. and Mrs. H. Early last Sun
day.
Misses Freddie and Elluise Lytle
Lytle of Asheville were the guests
of Miss Frances Miller this week.
Miss Frances McCurry visited rel
atives here over the week-end.
Misses Thelma, Mae, and Bulah
Ross of Marion were visitors in Old
Fort Thursday.
Mrs. G. H. Ross of Marion is spen
ding several days with her sister,
Mrs. M. J. Finch.
Professor and Mrs. Howard and
small daughter, of Mars Hill, were
the week-end guests of Rev. and
Mrs. J. L. Rayle.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Swan of Ashe
ville are visiting Mr. and Mrs. J. A.
Swann.
Mrs. Carl Kelly has returned to
her home here after spending the
Christmas holidays with her parents
in Troutman, N. C.
Joe Lee Burgin and Donald Tur
ner captured a chicken hawk last
week that measured 44 inches from
tip to tip.
Mrs. E. L. Stirewalt, Mr. and Mrs.
K. M. Marston and children spent
Friday in Connelly Springs visiting
Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Cornwell.
Henry C. Fisher made a trip to
Charlotte on Friday.
Miss Ruth Stirewalt left Wednes
j day for Hickory where she has ac
j cepted a position as stenographer
j for the Havaener Glove Factory.
K. M. Marston, who has been
spending the holidays with his fam
ily, left Saturday for Middleboro,
Pa., where he has accepted a position
with the Armour Tannery.
Mr. and Mrs. I. H. Green, who
have moved from Dendron to Old
Fort, occupy a house on Church
street.
Miss Carolyn Mcintosh entertain
ed a group of friends at her home on
Thursday evening. Dancing and
cards were enjoyed. Miss Mcintosh
returned to Duke University on Fri
day to continue her studies at that
place.
Ashby Robinson has returned to
the University of North Carolina to
resume his studies.
Mrs. Hart Taylor was a visitor in
Asheville on Friday.
Teachers returning to Old Fort
this week to resume their work in
the Old Fort school are Miss Gladys
| Warren, Miss Una Plott, Miss Mar
| garet Maness, Miss Nan Brasington,
1 Miss Margaret Lytle, Miss Grace
Gilbrith, Mrs. McDade, Miss Kather
i ine McCall and Mr. Rhodes.
Mrs. Georgia Grant is the guest of
Miss Audray Gosorn this week.
The grist mill operating in the
new building adjoining the store
room of J. B. Haynes is doing a good
business.
N. P. Anderson of Marion was a
visitor in Old Fort last week.
Robert Wilkinson is spending a
few days in Johnson City on business
Mr. and Mrs. D. T. Roughton and
two children, Frances and John
Turner, of Columbia, S. C., have re
turned home after a visit to Mrs.
George MooYe.
Mrs. Clifford Nesbitt was a visitor
in Asheville on Friday.
The Old
and the
New Year
by
Florence Harris Wells
O CROWD to watch the old
year out and spring some
surprise on, I suppose, now
that we live In the country."
Ned Halliday was polishing
his skis which had been his
steady companion since his
return to college.
• Motner is concocting someunng,
don't worry," Ruth, his sister, an
swered, as she finished the waxing of
her own skis. "Are you getting tired
of the outdoor sports we were looking
forward to so keenly? I'm not, if you
ask me."
"No, I'm not, either. But ever since
1 can remember I've looked forward to
company Near Year's eve, and the sur
prise stunt ushering out the old and
welcoming the New Year."
"Well, ease your mind. The whole
countryside has been invited. Moth
er's ingenuity may be sorely taxed
but she has never failed yet, and she
won't this time."
The piano, phonograph and radio
furnished the music for the various
dances and games. All was gayety,
song and laughter as the m-dnight
hour approached. Suddenly they were
in total darkness. Above the laughter
and ejaculations a sepulchral voice
announced:
"Behold the light of your forefa
thers!" and borne through the great
rooms by a decrepit old man, dimly
flickered a light.
"This passes!" the voice announced.
Now through the rooms a procession
of pioneers marched bearing genuine
old-fashioned tallow dips.
The voice spoke again . This time
less weirdly:
"This, too, shall pass!"
At the corners of each room kero
sene lamps were lighted and hanging
lamps hitherto unnoticed.
Over the radio came the ringing of
bells and blowing of whistles and
again the rooms were ablaze with
light; for the old had passed. The
New Year was born!
EXECUTOR'S NOTICE
Having qualified as executor of
the Last Will and Testament of A.
B. Halford, deceased, late of Mc
Dowell County, N. C., this is to noti
fy all persons having any claim
against the said estate to present the
same to the undersigned executor
within twelve months from the date
hereof, or this notice will be plead in
bar of their recovery. All persons in
debted to the said estate are required
to make immediate settlement.
This 26th day of December, 1930.
J. W. HALFORD, Executor of
A. B. Halford, deceased.
Marion, N. C., Rt. No. 1.
Disciple of St. Francis
Had the Christmas Spirit
HAT in the world are you
doing, Tommy?" asked
Mrs. Rowland, hearing her little son
on the cellar stairs, the day before
Christmas.
"Oh, sump'n," answered the lad, as
he hurried up into the kitchen.
As it was a time of Christmas se
crets, Mrs. Rowland refrained from
pressing the point and soon forgot it.
When the Christmas tree had been
denuded of its fruit next morning.
Tommy's older brother, Rupert, ran
outdoors excitedly, returning soon,
all aglow, and shouting:
"What do you think? You know I
scattered those crumbs In the back
yard, the way St. Francis of Assissi
told folks to do for the birds' Christ
mas feast? Well, there were about a
dozen sparrows there when I peeked
around the corner of the house. I
called 'Merry Christmas' softly so's
not to disturb them, and they chirped
back."
"Mine worked, too, I guess," said
Tommy. "I went and looked on the
cellar stairs first thing this morning,
and every bit of cheese was gone
that I'd put there for the poor little
; mice!"—Myrtle Koon Clierryman.
Subscribe for the Marion Progress
—the home town paper.
BRIEF NEWS ITEMS
According to the last census there*
are 1,485,063 Swedes in the United
States of America.
There are approximately 3,000
different machines in operation in
the Plymouth Motor Corporation's
plant in Detroit and each machine Is
operated by its own individual elec
tric motor.
MASON
RED ASH COAL
$6.50 Per Ton
Delivered,
We Sell for Cash Only,
Old Fort Coal Co.
W, W, LeFevre
When You Want
A Good Book
Go To
Your Public library
You Will Be Welcome
Not More Money
But More Wisdom
WHAT this country needs
is not more money, but
more people who know how
to use it wisely. Banking a
goodly portion every day
is wise.
THE BANK OF OLD FORT
OLD FORT, N. C.
STRONG COURTEOUS HELPFUL
Winter Hats
at Half Price.
Marcel and Finger Waving very reasonable.
Dula Hat Shop
OLD FORT, N. C.