w
VOL. LL NO. 26
BUILDING & LOAN
HAS SUCCESSFUL
YEAR IN COUNTY
Thirty-sixth Series of Installment
Stock Opened January
1; Secretary Gragg Predicts
Sale of Shares; Reports Activi
(ics of Institution tor 193$
The- Watauga Building raid!
Loan Association, the county's
oldest corporation, came to the
close of 1938 with a year's record
of service to the home-builders
of the area, perhaps unsurpassed
during its eighteen vears of existence,
and Secretary W. H.
Gragg looks to the new year
with a spirit of optimism and
confidence, predicting the sale
of no less than S00 shares of installment
stock in the current
series.
During: 1938. it is revealed, the association
paid out to shareholders
more than nine thousand dollars ui
dividends and maturities, and loaned
103,000 on town and county property,
valued at more than one hundred
thousand dollars. This constituted
ahout forty loans, most of which were
small, and many of .vhich were negotiated
for the purpose of repairing,
remodeling and repainting homes and
business places. About u score of
families are occupying their own
homes as a result of loans made by
the association duriug the pas' twelve
En months.
The Watauga Building and Loan
Association, which was incorporated
in 1921. has helped in the building
irOrv, vo uivasloS~Mr^Sa>?JLlogeu^j
or with the other officials and directors
of the association, talis juatifi-; '
srhlr nrWi> in ihia iwnvU a,\.l 1'
diet lor the association a hroaJered
sphere of usefulness during th - years .
U> come. i
POSTAL RECEIPTS P
IN GAIN FOR YEAR
v i
Last Quarter of 1938 Shows In- J
crease Over Same Period in i
Year 1237 t
Postal receipts at the Boone office 1
in 1938. show a substantial gain over I
those of the year 1937, according' to 1
figures made available Wednesday by *
T"ostmaster W. G. Hartzog. who ,
states that stamp sales for 1938 ]
amounted to $15,818.85, as compared ;
to $14,941.66 for 1937. o gain of (
$877.19, or 5.8 per centum.
Hie last three months of the year ^
indicated an increase of $575.32 over j
the same period of the preceding
year. j
Approximately 40.000 one ai '.onehalf
cent stamps were sold t the
public for the mailing of Christmas
cards, while a gain was also noted in
the movement of parcel post from
the local office.
Lions Club Meeting
Is Held On Tuesday;
A meeting of the Boone Lions Club
was held at the Appalachian cafateria
ruesaay evening: an<l was featured i
by a lecture by Miss Constance I
Shoun, of the Cove Creek high school'
faculty, who last year returned from
a visit to eleven European countries.
Dr. Robert R. King delivered the
Invocation, dinner was served, and
Miss Shoun exhibited moving pictures
of the different points of interest and
of historical significance she visited.
Miss Shoun referred to the personal
feelings of Europe toward this country
and toward American visitors and
referred to conversations with Germans
who live in America.
Speaking of Italy, Miss Shoun referred
to a remarkable improvement
in the condition of the country under
the leadership of Dictator Mussolini.
The inability of the Italians to cooperate
and act in unison, makes a
one-man government imperative, in
the opinion of the speaker.
Bill Baird. county youth, added to
* the program with his whistling ai.d
his ac irate imitation of the songs of
birds and the calls of wild creatures.
WINS PRIZE
Mr. Edgar Cooke was the winner
of a $24.50 lounge chair in a holi-1
day contest conducted by the Boone I
Furniture store. I
ATM
An Independent
booneTv
Confederate Dead
,
I I i
Mr. I^emuel Greene, who died at
his home at Anmntlia last week at
the ago of 93. Only one Confederate
veteran now remains In the
county.
Jackson dinner
here saturday
Tickets Now On Sale For Annual
Democratic Banquet to Be
Held at Local Hotel
Democrats of Watauga county. :H
TacRson I ?-ty dinner, tickets for which
J re now on sale {, J different sections
if the county.
Details at the nanquet Session liave
not lieer, definitely an-Jnged. hut a
speaker or considers hie note is exnected
to be 'resent, and it is exktit'ti
iiittt a1 ^p'dCu}" gTviij; vfill
take all available space around the
idiujiivt table.
Mr. Roger McGuxrc, who has been
iesignated chairman of the commit
uii ai laugciiK'HUi, n;ui ntUYltXl tilt?
blowing as a committee on ticket
ales, ami each member of the comnittee
will be supplied with cards of
idmiaskm:
Miss Jewe'l Hagaaian, Louise- Kirkriaii.
Mesdnmes Bill Casey. James
Council), Coy Billings, James Horton,
A'lll Payne, John Combs R. A. Olion.
Misses Wllroa Bairu. Gladys Tayor;
Walter Welch, Rssward Steelnan,
Tommy Thompson, Bill Lentz,
Hiss Helen Underdown, Tom .Jackion,
Miss rtuuy WH?on, Roy Wilson,
Jrville Hagaman, Mrs. (Sara Simion,
Troy hJorvLs, O. G. Winebarger.
The dinner is being held under the
tuspices of the county state and a:ional
organizations.
Enters His 51st
Renewal to Paper
Mr. J. M. Shull, 80 years old,
Valle Crucis citizen, dropped iu
last Saturday to renew his subscription
to the Watauga Deiuocrat.
Nothing strange about that
?but the circumstance edges on
ffspot news" when it develops that
this is the fifty-first tiiue Mr.
Shull has made his way to the office
of the county m >poper to
keep his subscription in current
condition.
Mr. Shull was married and
started housekeeping in August,
1888, one month after the establishment
of the Watauga Democrat,
and on his first visit to
?? *
uvuhc uurr iiu marriage cere- | |
mony, dropped by and became a I
subscriber to the paper, and for
more than half a century tbe journal
has been a welcome visitor to
the Shull fireside. For forty-four
years Mr. Shull gave his subscription
to tho late Robert C. Rivers,
but since his death in 1933, the
present publisher has looked for.
ward to the regular visits of this
good citizen and close friend of
the newspaper family.
There are others who have read
The Democrat for fifty years, but
In the absence of complete early[
day records, the publisher would
like to hear from all those whose
| names have never been stricken
from the subscription records of
I the newspaper. There are quite a
few of these old stand-bys, which
I the publisher holds in mighty high
regard, and he wants a list of
their names. Thank you.
JGA
Weekly Newspaper?Est;
WATAUGA-county. NUKT'H'T
LEMUEL GSET
CIVIL WAR VET,
TAKEN BY DEATH
Ninety-Three-Year-Old Citizen's
Death Leaves Only One Confederate
Veteran in County:
Funeral Conducted Thursday
at Forest Grove
Lemuel Greene, one of Watauga's
two remaining followers
of Lee and Jackson, died at'his
home at Amantha Wednesday
of last week at the age of 93
years. Mr. Greene had been in
failing health for several weeks
and his death was riot unex
peeled. His demise thins Wat-,
augtvs fading gray line of the
Confederacy down to one veteran.
Mr. J. E. Luther of Deep
Gap, who, despite his 95 years
of age. remains hale and hearty;
Funeral services for Mr. Greene
were, conducted from the Forest
Grove Baptist church in Beaver Bam
township Thursday, with Rev. J. W.
Parker and Rev. Ed Farthing taking
part in the rites and interment, was \
in the nearby cemetery.
The survivors include three sons
and one daughter: J. R. Greene, j
Grcshman, Oregon; W. P. Greene,
Sherwood; G. HI Greene, Gresham,
Oregon, and Mrs. J. L?. Snider of
Chariton, Iowa. A number of grandchildren
and great-grandchildren also
survive.
Mr. Greene was born in Watauga
county October 16. 1845, and when
the Civil War broke out lie was immediately
assigned to the home
later being transnMSfeh,"
" m itw
to Uic end of the conflict. He remained
with the. cavalry until 1865
. Vie.n ,General Leo surrendered. He
*x.y{>d in many engagements of the
v.-:w-j3ncl endured^ untold hardship* j
foiuhvirg the flap of the. embattled j
southland. He leturned in June follow
i-.g the surrender to his widowed |
mother and two small brothers, and i
at once took his place as one of the.
stalwart reclaimers of a devastated
country. He was married in April,
1866, to Miss Anna Dotson, who has
been dead many years, and they resided
in Darby, Iowa for a long period
of time, Mr. Greene returning to this
county several years ago.
The deceased was a fine citizen
and churchman. Early in life he
hiined the Reaver nam Rosvtisrt
church, later moving his membership
to Iowa, where he remained a member
until hLs death
Walter West Killed
In Auto Accident
Walter Miller West, 25, a student
of Aj" rlachian college from the
Mock /ille community, died Tuesday
of lrst week at a hospital in Elkin
of injures suffered in an automobile
accident near Brooks Cross Roads on
December 2tj.
West, a student employee of the
Appalachian college duiry, was on his
way back to Boone to resume ^is
work at the time the accident occurred.
He was driving alone and his
car skidded on the snow-covered road,
ran into a culvert and overturned,
landing on its top. West suffered a
fractured skuU.
A son of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. West
of the Mocksvlle section, West had
spent the holidays at his home with
his parents. He was interred in the
cemetery in his community
As a student here, West had a
wide circle of friends in Boone and
the college campus. He was a brother
of Miss Jesse Dee West, student
at the college during the oast fall
and winter terras.
West's vacancy at the dairy is being
filled by Earl Blackburn, former
employee of the New River Dairy.
County Library
In Marked Growth
The county library which has been
operated in the old Democrat building
for the past several months, continues
to grow, say3. Miss Jewell
Hagaman, librarian, who now has an
increased number of volumes for the
selection of visitors to the library.
Many town and county people are
calling at the library. Miss Hagaman
says, and are glad of the opportunity
of securing the books provided. Visitors
are always welcome.
For most efficient operation, automobile
motors should be tuned up at
'east after every 5,000 miles of driving.
DEM(
ablished in the Year Eighth!
!AKi M.INA TH'UASDAY, JA Jp
Washington, I>. C.?Vice Preside
rive in Washington For the opening o
in their ear as they left the Union ?
here.
"What!-No yiiii
Mayor In Startir
I i
I "Why go to Canada to see qiiin- !
tuplets, when they might be seen I
right here, in Watauga county?" !
I asks Mayor W. II. <?ragg iu an. ;
ltounciitg for the New Year a five
j thousand dollar M contest for |
I quints,"' at the end or which it will j
be determined if Papa and Mann*
Dionne have anything on mothers
i and fathers of the hill country of
I North Carolina.
The mayor states that the roa!
op'Mj to ah women of
same Umd prior to Oerember 35, |
! 1939, aiul la.ve medical proof
i thereof. The "five grand" will be j
! delivered to the successful con- '!
tVstuut at Mr. Gragg'n officii \i
j Boone, provided, however, that j
| said quints shall have survived far [
tt period of thirty days.
Mr. Gragg says otto group ui
i quintuplets would bring more peo- i
I?ic iv nauiufi'i uuuui'.t diiiii ?i j
Ml. FLOYD DIES I
IN NASHVILLE
Former Resident of Boone; Edi- f
tor. Judge, Business Man, Dies
at Home of Brother
A. C. Floyd. 81, who was a resii
dent of Boone for a number of years a
during bis boyhood and youth, and c
who was an editor, lawyer and busi- e
ness man of' Nfeshville, Tenn., died at G
the liome of his brother. John A. p
| Floyd, in that city on Christmas day. w
Funeral services were conducted
from the late residence Tues^* ay. De- 0
cember 27th, Dr. Prentice A. Pugh h
officiating-, and interment was in the ti
j family plot at Columbia. S
I In addition to his brother, Mr. t<
Floyd leaves a sister, Mrs. Leander
j Norris, Bentonyille, Ark. g
Mir. Floyd was born in Granville p
j county, X. C., in 1837. the 3on of the r
I Rev. John W. and Msargaret Campbell p
Floyd. After receiving a law degree 'i
at the University of North Carolina c
I in 1883, Mr. Floyd began practice at
| Columbia, Tenn., where in 1894 he a
i married Miss Florence Irvine. ft
From Columbia, Mr. Floyd went to g
Knoxville to edit a daily newspaper f
and later edited a newspaper in Chat- d
| tanooga. He moved to Memphis y
about 1900 to become editor of The.
| News, which was established at that
time. After several years he was ap- (
j pointed judge of the city court, and
then was elected for one term. His
I last years were spent in the real es
tate business.
Mr. Floyd took an active interest n
in civic activities and politics, al- e
though he never sought office him- Ii
self after his judgeship. United Slates t
Senator K. D. iMcKellar and E. H. -i
Crump of Memphis were among the
listed pallbearers. c
Mr. Floyd went to Nashville about t
six months ago and made his home t
with his brother. lie was a mem- c
ber of the Methodist Episcopal I
church,
LOSES MONEY TO ROBBER ^
Riley E. Greer of Deep Gap, was
robbed of $167 from the person at his
home Tuesday evening, according to
Mr. E. A. Russell, Justice of the li
neace. Mr Russell issued a warrant v
for one man who was known to have c
been in company with Greer, but no n
trace of the missing money could be
found. c
)CRA
jjjjti Eighty-Eight
?, 1939
rns to Washington
nt ami Mi's. John N. Garner ar
* vu..Sn,u. uie iu:re snown
(t.it ion shortly after their arrival
its?" Queries
i<2f Stork Derby
V* J
30-day divorce law. legal gambling
and a race track combined,
and thinks that it is the simplest
way known to attract the multitudes.
'4 What we need is more
citizens and more visitors,*' quoth
the mayor, "and the quintuplet j
route is the simplest and least expensive
method yet devised for
getting the desired results." When j
it was suggested that mathematically
, the chances of quints were |
practically nil, the enthusiasm of 1
the jo v ialmjtyv >rwas 11 i^^atpe. -d. j
ticlpation is suggested, However, !
all entries should be in uiy hands j
by April ?, after which time pfQK>
pects of winning t?n money will be
extremely &lim."
J<I urge all the folks In the eoun- I
ty to participate In this forwardiooh;i:g
movement," said ihv Truly-"
or as hi' chuckled and ambled off
down the street.
'RESIDENT'S BALL
AGAIN ANNOUNCED
'at McGuiru Again Heads Local
Committee for Benefit Dance
to Be Held 30th
The President's ball will be held
gain in Boone this year on xlie ocas
ion of the birthday of the chief
xecuiive, January 30, and Pat Mcluire,
local chairman . is making
reliminary plans for the event,
rhich has been so popular in the past.
Tentative plans call for the holding
f the ball Monday evening, the 30th,
owever, it is explained, the commitje
might decide on staging the dance
iaturday evening instead, according
a the wishes of the people.
Proceeds from the ball, as usual,
o to the national foundation for the
revention and cure of infantile paalysis,
and to the treatment of cripled
children in Watauga county,
his year 50 per cent of the net proeeds
will remain in the county.
"Dance that others may walk," is
fitting slogan for the ball, and Mr.
fcGuire expects the usual large
Tyup to gather on the ballroom
ioor. More complete details of the
ance program will he announced
.'hen completed.
2Kest Clinic Now
Being Conducted
A clinic for the purpose of determining
whether or not tuberculosis
xists among the students at A.npaichian
College is being conducted on
he campus this week toy Dr. Ft. T.
enkins of State Sanitorium.
The clinic began Tuesday and will
ontinue through Friday, examinaions
toeing limited to members of
he student body at the college. A
ounty-wide clinic was held here in
iecember.
I!ity Pays Interest
On Bonds January 1
The town of Boone paid out $3,500
iterest to bondholders January 1st,
rtiich, according to G. K. Moose, city
lerk. places the bonded debt of the
nunicipality in current condition.
Local bondholders may have their
oupons cashed at the local bank.
T
$1.50 A YEAR
80MILESOFREA
LINES COMPLETED;
I FINISH IN MARCH
Poles Being Delivered on Line
to Lenoir; All Lines in County
to Be Staked by End of Week;
Partial Energization of Lines
Expected Next Mont!)
Melvin F. Burgess, Ir;e, contractor
for the construction of
the REA lines in Watauga county
has completed 80 miles of the
contract, and expects, with fal
vorable weather conditions, to
| have the entire 176 miles ready
j for the current by the first of
i March. At the same time Harry
, DeWar, project engineer, states
i *-1 v -.11 ..f 4'-- * :
uiai an uie tL'ausmxxssum lines
are to be staked out ready for
the construction crews by the
j end of the current week, and
: that siime of the liner, will be enI
ergized during the month of
! February.
Engineering crews have almost flnUned
the staking of the main translO&sion
line from Lienoir and poles
I are being" delivered by the contracj
tor. Next week Mr. DeWar starts
! surveying possible short extensions of
lines, which would bring electric servj
ice to numy families not now included
| on the regular routings. Mr. DeWar
! asks that those living within reasonI
able distance of REA lines, contact
I him at his office in. the VV'atauga
! Democrat building, and give him InI
formation upon which he can base
I consideration of proposed extensions. j
| The plans and specifications for
| REA lines in Ashe and Alleghany
1 yOiiW '-JJU 1XV.
?teM
' the county Tuesday and Wednosdry
checking the enginecrills', conatruet(3K
and general .progress or the
i project In Watauga.'
TO ASK REPEAL
| WINE, BEER LAW
ftoby T. Greer Leaves fur Raleigh
With Purtwse to Return
Prohibition to County
Representative Roby T. Greer, as
he left for Raletgh Tuesday for the
opening sessions of the genera! asseirtbly,
told The Democrat that one
or his first alms in the legislature
will be to introduce u measure to exclude
wine and beer from Watauga
wuiny as a iegaj coinmouity. -Mr.
Greer referred to his campaign
pledge to return Watauga county to
its former prohibition status, and said
he would most certainly "keep faith
with the people."
Representative Greor believes that
| the absentee ballot agitation will occupy
a prominent place on the legislative
program, while proposed
changes in the state-wide local option
Uquoa0gw may step in for considerable
attention. Mr. Greer does not
believe that the solons will remain in
Raleigh for maoh longer than the
prescribed CO days.
WARD N'AHKD SPEAKER
Raleigh, Jan. 3.?Coming from behind
in a dramatic finish D. L.
(Libby) Ward of Craven, nosed out
Victor S. Hryant of Durham, on the
third ballot tonight to win the Democratic
nomination for speaker of the
' 193!) house of representatives. The
final vote was, Ward 54; Bryant 52.
Ward was nominated at a caucus
of house Democrats after William E.
Feruier of (Nash, who ran last on the
first two billots, withdrew in his favor.
Over on the other side without en
opposing vote, Democratic state senators
nominated W. Erskine Smith of
Stanly county, as their president protem
of the 1939 general assembly,
which opened at noon Wednesday.
Robbers Take Cash
f rom Uult Date
Sixty-eight dollars in cash and
cigarettes was taken from the
Gulf Cafe in Boone Monday evening,
and officers thus far have been unable
to find any tangible clues leading
to the identity of the thief or
thieves.
Entrance was made to the cafe toy
cutting a door screen and by using a
key. The place was closed at 12
o'olock, and it is believed the robbery
< occurred shortly after that time.
i