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UNITED STATES W M
WAR 1/1
BONDS W "
AMD W
STAMPS
1||l' AnL
VOL. 55, NO. 4
WATAUGA FAIRIS
NOT TO BE HELD
ON ACCOUNT WAR
Directors in Unanimous Agreement
to Abandon Plans for
This Year's Agricultural Exhibition
in Interest of Nation's
War Program
The board o? directors of the Blue
Ridge Fair Association met late last
Wednesday afternoon and by unanimous
consent abandoned plans for
holding the annual Watauga county
agricultural fair in Boone this autumn.
The action was taken, it was said
by the officials, as an effort to aid
in the war program of the nation,
and is in line with recommendations
of the federal transportation authority,
in regard to public gatherings.
A large number of Carolina counties
have taken similar action, and Oov
ernor Broughton has recommended
the temporary abandonment of the
state fair to aid in relief cf transportation
emergency.
The local fair association had already
set the fair dates for this year,
the secretary was making rapid
progress toward assembling the material
for the premium list, and the
officials regret that it is inadvisable
at this time to proceed further.
With the gasoline and tire situation
growing more serious, it was the
unanimous opinion that the fair
should be called off as a patriotic
move.
The action taken only affects this
year's exhibition, and was not for
the duration of the war.
Eight Months School
Term To Be Continued
There has been some discussion
as to whether or not, in the face of
he war emergency, the schools
would continue to operate for eight
inomns, ana rroi. w. l>. winKier
has furnished The Democrat the following
letter front Clyde A. Erwin,
state superintendent of instruction,
which clarifies the situation:
"There has been absolutely no discussion
here in official circles of the
possibility of operating the schools
for less than eight months. It is
my candid opinion that there will
be no letup in our educational program.
We have some difficulty
about transportation but the schools
will certainly be kept open as fatas
I can see now.
"It will be the duly of every
school to make their transportation
equipment last just as long as possible
because under presen t conditions
when this equipment is worn
out there will be no possibility of
replacement until the war is over.
In other words, every county and
every school will have to conserve
the transportation equipment which
they have to the utmost limits possible
because no county will be able
to secure additional buses. Upoh
every principal and every superintendent
a serious responsibility to
take care of this important item of
equipment in order that there be
no hind'ance to the maintenance of
our educational program from this
noint of vipw "
Refreshments To Be
Served to Selectees
Fifty men, whose names were published
last week, are to report for induction
into the army next Friday
morning, and the local Red Cross
canteen corps has arranged to serve
them refreshments in the home
agent's office immediately after they
report to the office of the selective
service board.
Golf Committee Makes
Red Cross Donation
Mrs. E. E. Garbee, president of the
"Watauga chapter, American Red
Cross, thanks the committee of the
Green Park-Norwood golf course,
Blowing Rock, for a contribution of
$31.00, tha proceeds of a golf tourney
held the week-end of July 4.
The much-appreciated contribution
has already been sent .-to national
headquarters for war production
work.
U. S. CASUALTIES PLACED
AT 44,143 SINCE WAR BEGAN
Washington, July 21?The office of
war information announced tonight
that the United States armed forces
have suffered 44,143 casualties?
' dead, wounded and missing?since
the start of the war.
The total includes 4,801 dead, 3,218
wounded and 36,124 missing.
/ATA
ndependent Weekly I
BOONE, W,
'Down to the Sea'
Slipping down ihe ways inio the
water sideways, the U. S. S. Doyen,
new naval transport, is shown
as she was launched at the yards
of the Consolidated Steel Corporation
at Long Beach, Calif. The
vessel is said to be the largest naval
ship ever constructed here.
SIX ARE TAKEN
INTO U. S. NAVY
Naval Recruiting Station to B<
Established in Boone Every
Three Weeks
Mr. Charles C. Smart, chief ina
chinists mate, and U. S. navy re
cruitcr, conducted a recruiting of
fice in the postoffice here Frida;
! and Saturday and accepted six mei
I for enlistment in the naval forces
;as follows:
James Ray Fox, Bosne.
McCoy Hodges, Vilas.
John Henry Harmon, Vilas.
Walter Lee Brewer. Boone.
Willie Fyrming Ferguson (color
ed), Boone.
Dell Anderson (colored), Boone.
A sub-station for the examinatioi
of prospective naval recruits will bi
established at the Boone postoffici
every three weeks, on Friday ani
Saturday. The next naval recruite
will come to Boone on August '
and 8.
i An unlimited number of appliea
I lions between the ages of 17 ant
149 are being accepted. There art
I vacancies for both white and color
; ed.
i .?
I Oxford Singing Class
| To Appear at Deep Gaf
The Oxford Orphanage singinf
class will appear the the Deep Gav
school Friday evening, August 7, a
7:30 o'clock, in a musical program
under the sponsorship of Ashler Ma
sonic Lodge.
The 14 children in the compan;
are accompanied by the assistan
manager, S. F. Paul, and the direc
tress and matron, Miss DeRothi
Hughes. The proceeds from a smal
admission charge will go to th<
benefit of the Oxford Orphanage.
! Dr. Len Hagaman
To Enter U. S. Arm>
Dr. Len D. Hagaman, forme:
Boone physician and for the pas
year director of the Caldwell-Burki
health department, has been grant
ed a leave of absence in order tha
he may stand examination prepara
tory to entering the U. S. ariny as ;
first lieutenant in the medical corps
Dr. Hagaman explained that hi
thought his services would be o
greater value to the army at thi
time, and asked that a leave of ab
sence be granted him.
Deep Gap Family
Loses Home in Fir*
Mr. and Mrs. Linville Greene o
Deep Gap, lost their home last Wed
nesday in a fire which,' it was be
lieved, started from burning soot ii
a chimney.
The seven-room house was com
pletely razed, together with furni
ture, clothing, etc., there be in
scarcely nothing salvaged. Ther
was no insurance.
MRS. GEORGE FRITTS DIES
Mrs. George Fritts, 37 years olc
a resident of the Mabel communitj
died at the home Sunday morning
July 5, after a few hours illness.
Funeral services were conducte
from the home of Oscar Moretz a
Mabel by Rev. Dallas Hodges an
Millard Romlnger on July 6, an
burial was in the Moretz cemeter;
there. Mrs. Fritts was an industri
ous woman, a good and generou
neighbor. She is survived by th
husband, four sons and four daugh
ters.
UGA
Newspaper-Establish^
ATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAI
I COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT IS
REINSTATED HERE
Action Abolishing Work of District
Health Department is
Rescinded; Many Offer Protest
to Board of County Commissioners
At a meeting of the board ot
county commissioners held Wednesday
evening, many citizens offered
unanimous objection to the action ol
the board taken on July 0. in abolishing
the participation of Watauga
county in the operation of the district
health department.
I A number of taxpayers offered
i thf*ir nhinpfiruic ^
J ?w;vvvivih) w Uic UISLUUUIIU<ance
of the public health program,
and cited reports of the department,
indicating the work that is being
done in the prevention and cure of
diseases in the area. Following the
public hearing the commissioners
went into executive session, their
- former action rescinded, and the
health program was reinstated for
the coming year.
Following is the official notification
to Director Robert R. King, as
transmitted by Miss Helen Underdown,
clerk to the board of commissioners:
! "The l.oard of county commissioners
has asked that you be notified
as follows, relative to the action
taken in regard to the Watauga
health department.
" 'That the order regarding the
" health office made in the meeting
" held at the courthouse on July 6,
f 1942, be, and is hereby rescinded.
1 and that the health program is rein
stated.' "
BUS CHANGES AID
. BLOWING ROCK
Five Buses Now Operate Each
? Way Daily Between Boone
and Blowing Rock
^ Information from the Queen City
Coach Company is to the effect that
effective last Monday, a new and
j improved bus service is available to
; the people of Blowing Hock and
\ Boone.
Five buses are being operated daily
between these points, enabling
visitors to Blowing Rock to transact
business in Boone at any time durI
ing the day, and return by bus, thus
conserving their dwindling supply of
tires and gasoline.
' Buses leave Boone for Blowing
' Rock at 9:00 a. m., 10:15 a. m., 1:00
1 p. m., 6:25 p. m. and 8:30 p. m.
Leave Blowing Rock for Boone
9:40 a. m., 12:00 m., 6:00 p. m., 7:50
p. nt.. and 10:00 p. m.
f The trip requires 20 minutes and
t the one-way fare is 20 cents; 35
- cents being the charge for a roundi
trip ticket.
1
- Republicans Attend
Wilkes County Meeting
A number of Watauga county Rer
publicans were in North Wilkesboro
Monday, attending a five-county
ry LI: -e - . - ' 1
l- ivcijuuuuciii tumerence, presiaea over
t by State Chairman Sid DeLapp, who
? stated that the organization has
- plans under way for an active camt
paign this fall, which will carry the
- party's appeal directly to the peoa
pie of the state. Party leaders were
- present from Watauga, Wilkes, Alexc
ander and Caldwell.
f The state chairman called on the
s Republicans for full support in the
~ war against the Axis. Leaders from
each of the counties expressed confidence
that the Republicans would
make large gains in the fall election
^ and that their counties would re"
turn to the Republican column.
[ Community Cannery
Is Open This Week
a
The community cannery at Vilas
is open for canning every day this
" week, except Saturday, it has beer
6 announced.
e It is stated that plenty of No. 2 and
3 cans are available for home canning.
1, NO DEFERMENT POSSIBLE
r, AFTER INDUCTION ORDERS
. .
Mrs. W. R. Lovill, secretary to the
d selective service board, states thai
it it is impossible to defer draftee^
d after the orders to report for inducd
tion have been issued, and regrets
y that requests along this line have
i- had to be refused,
s However, selectees are usually ale
lowed to return home for a briei
i- period following induction to take
care of business matters, etc.
DEM<
d in the Year Eighteen
MOLINA, THURSDAY, JULY 23,
AEF in New Caledi
The American forces on the 1
Caledonia augment their regular
kill themselves. Deer are so plentii
This party of hunters has just bag<
and are about to return to camp \
RECORDNUMBER |
AT BLOWING ROCK
I !
Past Week-end Sets Record for
Visitors to Resort; Most All
Hotels Filled
Blowing Rock, July 21.?One of,
the largest week-end crowds ever to;
assemble in Blowing Rock during!
the month of July was on the mouninintop
from July 16 to 20.
Practically all the hotels and
rooming houses were filled to ca- j
pacity, and many prospective guests j
had to be turned away. Green Park!
hotel had every room filled Satur-|
day night. At May view Manor I
there were nearly 300 guests for the j
week-end. The Green Park-Nor-j
wood golf course was thronged with
players. The turnstile at the Rock
vecorded people ir. great numbers. I
For the first time ever in July it.
was necessary to provide additional
seating facilities to cave for the1
large throngs at the morning worship
services of the Blowing Rock,
churches.
All social events, such as the j
square u.uu e in uie nign scnooi |
gymnasium, the Saturday evening
dance at Mayvicw Manor, the bridge I
teas and bingo parties aL Green j
Park hotel and the Country Club,
drew large atendanee.
In spite of the fact that the weather
has been a bit warm even for
Blowing Rock, there was evident
satisfaction and relief written on the
faces of all visitors because of their
escape from the exceedingly hot
weather which has wrapped the
country in its folds for the past
week.
Many Large Bass Are
Caught by Local Anglers
Bass fishing is reported as being
exceptionally good this year and a
number of large catches have been
reported. However, Dr. Richardson
of the Boone Drug Company, retains
the championship honors, having
landed a ISM:-inch bass from the
waters of New River, which weighed
three and a quarter pounds.
B. W. Stallings checks in with a 17i
inch bass, tipping the scales at 2Vt
pounds, while Lee Stout exhibits a
1 fish the same length and weighing
ftlTA AAiinrle m onr} ???
I ?>?u yuuuuo, n? v auu unc~4uai lei
. ounces. Dr. J. T. C. Wright landed
a 16-inch bass.
These fish are only some of the
larger ones reported to the Parkway
Company, which at the close of the
; season will give prizes for the largest
and heaviest bass, caught by
. either of the 15 anglers entered in
; the big fish contest of the local con|
cern.
1 U. S. SUBMARINE SINKS
3 JAPANESE DESTROYERS
Washington, July 21.?U. S. submarines,
attacking relentlessly
1 through the fog and rain of the
North Pacific, have sunk three more
i Japanese destroyers in the vicinity
t of Kiska in the Aleutian islands, the
, navy announced tonight.
The latest successes?raising to 18
: the number of Jap ships sunk or
> damaged by U. S. forces in the
Aleutians?were made public in a
communique which emphasized that
: army and navy bombers are continu(
ing to hammer away at the enemy
whenever the weather permits.
3PRA
Hunq cd and Eighty
1942 |
S
oni? n Venison Diet
French South Pacific isle of New
rations with venison, which they
:ul here as to be almost a nuisance,
god and dressed a 225-pound deer,
vith the "bacon" in their jeep car.
WOOL POOL SELLS
OVER 17 TONS HERE
I
Fleece Nets Farmers 52 Cents
Per Pound; Chatham Mfg.
Co. Is Buyer
Four hundred farmers and merchants
sold 35.178 pounds of wool
through the Watauga wool pool on
Thursday and Friday of last week.
The clear wool netted the sheepmen
52 cents per pound or a total
of $18,165.91 for the entire pool.
This was the most wool ever pooled
in Watauga county and was an increase
of 8,000 pounds over last
year's pool.
The Chatham Manufacturing Co.
of Elkin, bought the wool and took
it up at different points throughout
the county.
The wool and lamb pool has enabled
the sheepmen of this county to
receive more profit from their sheep.
and as a result of better marketing,
the sheep population has been on
the increase in this county for the
last few years.
Fishing and Hunting
i?r?nr\
I UUJJ LW 1T4W^I A liuaj*
The Watauga Fishing and Hunting
Club held a well-attended meeting
last Friday evening, and a large
number of new members were added
to the list. The name of the organization
was changed to the Watauga
County Wildlife Club, and annual
dues were fixed at $2.00. Those
interested in the conservation and
propagation of wildlife in this county
may apply for membership at the
office of the secretary, Paul A. Coffey.
at the Parkway Company.
President Lee H. Stout has called
another meeting of the club to be
held at the Parkway Company Friday
evening of this week at 8:00
o'clock. All members and others interested
in the organization and its
' purposes are urged to attend.
??
i Lambs Bring Good
Price on Local Mart
Farmers received 12 to 13'2 cents
per pound for lambs, depending on
quality, at the Watauga Livestock
Market last week, it is said by L. H.
Hollar, manager. Cattle also
brought a splendid price, he said.
Mr. Hollar urges farmers to patronize
the local market, and states
that there are always plenty of buyers
and that the prices have been
running uniformly high.
GAS BUFFER ZONE IS
SET UP BY O. P. A.
Washington, July 20.?A 25 per
cent cut in gasoline deliveries to
filling stations in 162 counties bordering
the rationed eastern seaboard
area was ordered by the war production
board today, effective Wednesday,
when the new coupon
rationing system will begin.
The purpose, WPB explained, was
to establish a "buffer zone" so that
motorists living in the rationed area
but near the border could not drive
across it and fill their tanks. With
their supplies limited, filling stations
will have to restrict their sales.
TWIN CALVES
Mr. Ed Henson of Sherwood, who
has fourteen cows, reports that the
unusual has happened in that two
sets of twins have been born, to
make fourteen calves with the herd.
-Eight
$1.50 A YEAR
BOND, STAMP SALE
FOR HEROES DAY
TOT A LS__ $2,726.75 .
Celebration is Largely Attended:
Band Concert. Patriotic
Addresses and Historical Presentations
Feature I.ocal Gathering
The celebration held in Boone last
Friday honoring the nation's heroes,
and launching on accelerated campaign
for the sale of war bonds ar.d
stamps, resulted in the disposal of
$2,726.75 worth of the securities, a
checkup of local sales revealed. The
various business places of the city
joined wholeheartedly in the initial
effort to coax additional funds into
the war coffers of the nation.
Mayor W. H Gragg was master of
ceremonies at the celebration which
was held on the postoffice lawn, and
Dr. Amos Abrams of Appalachian
College, delivered a rousing and inspiring
patriotic address, calling
upon the people to become aroused
irom their complacent attitude, and
enthusiastically and unitedly join in
the fight against the totalitarian nations.
A large crowd gathered for the
exercises including many veterans
of the World war, Spanish war, and
an occasional member of the present
army. Clyde R. Greene traced the
history of Watauga's participation in
past and present wars and the information
he compiled along this
line is reproduced here, as a contribution
to the history of this region:
We have gathered here this afternoon
to honor the war heroes of
Watauga county. We have many
heroes of peace no less renowned
than those of war; but we are now
engaged in the world's first all-out
war; so therefore, it is fitting that
this afternoon be dedicated to the
honor of only the war heroes of
past and present.
In the war that gave our nation
its independence Watauga had a
part, although the county itself was
not formed until 1849- At that time
very few people lived in what is
now Watauga county. A careful
study of available records reveal the
names of several of our early settlers
who had served in the Revolutionary
war. We give you the following
and there certainly are others
whose names we do not have:
Col. Nathan Horton. He was
buried at old Three Forks church.
He helped to guard the famous
British spy. Major Andre, who negotiated
with the American traitor,
Benedict Arnold.
John Greene (called John Moccasin
to distinguish him from others
jot" the same name). He later moved
to what is now Mitchell county.
William Miller loved on Meat
| Camp and was one of the charter
j members of Three Forks church.
James Todd, died in 1814.
Benjamin Bingham, who was at
Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown.
John Younee. He was a blacksmith
and shod horses in Washington's
army.
Benjamin Blackburn settled on
New River.
John Holtzclaw, who settled at
Valle Crucis.
Benjamin Greer, who rescued CoL
Ben Cleveland from Capt. Riddle on
what is now Riddles Knob. Greer
is referred to in Draper's History of
the Battle of King's Mountain as
being one of Cleveland's heroes and
is said to have killed Col. Ferguson,
i the British commander in that
j memorable battle which is now referred
to as the turning point in the
American Revolution.
Edward Moody, who is buried on
Watauga River.
Wm. Braswell, who was buried in
what is now Avery county.
Jones, who is buried in the
same cemetery with Benjamin
Blackburn on New River.
| Wm. Davis.
I John Adams, who was born in
j France and came to America with
I Lafayette.
George, Absolom and Wm. Smith
were three brothers who served in
the army in Virginia and later moved
to this section.
Wm. Gragg, who settled in John's
River i? Caldwell county and probably
later liv^d in this county.
War of 1812
We have found the name of only
one soldier ft i Watauga county
in the war of 1812?Moses Yarber,
who served in McNeill's company
and was buried on Watauga River
in the same cemetery with Edw.
Moody.
In the Mexican War
In the Mexican war of 1848, Col.
Joe Todd was an officer. Others
who were soldiers: George Wright,
Benj. Pritchard and Nehemiah Oaks.
There were certainly others, but we
(Continued on page four)