? WATAUGA COUNTY
CENTENNIAL
1849 - 1949
100 YEARS OF PROGRESS
VOL. LXI. NO 37;
*
i
WATAtJGA
An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year 1888 * ioo
?BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1949. ? ? FIVE CENTS A COPY
KING STREET
BY
ROB RIVERS
Ho that hath a board is man
than a youth.
he that hath no board la
lata than a man."
? ? ?
PARAPHRASING Billy Shake
speare by organizing under the
slogan, "A beprd makes a man;
a razor makes a mouse," the
?Watauga whisker club has start
ed out in dead earnest to place
a ban on razors until after the
centennial; tonsorially the coun
ty is to look back over its
shoulder to the days of grand
father when the rugged men of
the hills sported mighty mus
taches, including the luxurious
whisk-broom brush as well as
the more rakish handlebar job
with the upturned ends pin
pointed with the aid of a bit of
bear grease . . . and the idea,
hatched to highlight the county's
centennial, is catching on like
wildfire along the street, and the
erstwhile handsome business
men of the city are beginning to
look about as bad as some of the
characters in the radio crime
thrillers, sound ... to drag back
an expression used by the color
ed folks a few years ago . .
they are "boogers". sho' 'nuf . . .
Comparisons of the progress of
mustaches, side burns, chin
whiskers, and side beards are the
order of the day, as the embryo
pioneers never miss a chance to
glance in a mirror, and the bar
bers complain, and the women
yell bloody murder, and the kids
laugh. The abstainers, dub
the movement childish, and we
are inclined to agree that its a
trifle elementary as we fondly
gaze into a mirror, and contem
plate our upper Up, with its salt
and pepper coloring, and wonder
whether or not the thing is going
to clash with any of our favorite
neckties, as the first born de
clares we can't be her pop and
wear that thing, and we don't
much blame her, for the growth
looks for all the world like a
spoonful of soot splashed with a
sprinklin 'of snow . Anyway it s
fun . . ? but an informal poll of a
few of the more discerning wo
men of the nighborhood indi
cates they are quite willing for
the men folks to play little
childish games if they want to,
but they just hate beard .and
shall be looking forward to July
4, as a little kid anticipates
Christmas and "the razors
had better be wielded then . . ?
"I've heard," quoth one, "that
beards gave way in the proces
sion of progress for sanitary as
well as esthetic reasons, and
since we seem to be turning the
clock back for a spell, think we
should throw away the tooth
brushes, shun the bath tub, and
just be plain eighteen forty
niners" . . but this view is ex
treme and won't damper the
ardor of we Whisker-sprouters,
as we scratch our faces and
secretly long for the hot towel
and the keen blade, the biting
lotion and the soothing talcum
. and wonder just what's down
next the skin ... ...
"ThtT# vti an old man wiih
? b**rd , .
Who ? It is just as I <?**
fd}
Two owls and a ban.
Tmm r tasks and a ***n
Hit* all built thai* U*
my board.' "
DOWN AT JOE'S Barber Shop,
wbere's there's a lot of talk, and
where funny little things take
place, a college professor was
getting his shoes shined, . . . the
dingy shine boy had evidently
had good luck that day, the tips
perhaps had been a bit more
generous than usual, anyway as
the strip of flannel oscillated
over the brightening leather, he
just had to break forth into song
. . . couldn't stand it any longer
. The song with the mournful
intonations which might have
originated during the servitude
of his forefathers, caught on . . .
the Doctor of Philosophy
couldn't think of anything to be
down-hearted about either, and
jddad his mellow basso profun
do to provide a uniquely beauti
ful barber shop ballad, which
slowed >down the shaving and
the clipping juat a trifle, but
elevetod the spirits of both the
patrons and the tellers of the tall
tales . . . and they grew happy
. . . a snatch of song, like a win
some smile, is contagious
*t rolls,
(Continued on page 4)
Vilas Man is Killed
In Motor Accident
Marshal Johnson, resident of
Vitas, was instantly killed, al
8:50 Tuesday trwing whw the
truck in which he was riding,
driven by Jam? F. Millar, col
lided with a Chevrolet coupe,
driven by Butler Perry, of SU
erstone. on highway 4X1. east of
Vilas.
Indications were that John
son had Jumped tram the oab
of the truck, and was pinned
underneath the vehicle as Lx ov
erturned. He suffered a crushed
head and chest. Neither Mill
er nor Parry were thought to
have suffered any injuries of
consequence.
State highway Patrolmen
Parker and Roberts were near
when the accident - occulted
and stated that they had Just
given Miller a citation for faul
ty lights, but had agreed to let
him drive on in. One light on
the truck was burning, but
couldn't be dimmed. and young
Perry stated that he was blind
ed by the glaze. No charges
were brought by the officers in
connection with the crash.
Miller and Johnson, it was
italed. were returning from
Winston-Salem with a load of
saw mill equipment when the
Hon. J. Malrille Brouohlcm. Car
olina's junior Senator who died
in Washington Sunday morning,
from a tudden Wnas ?
accident occurred.
Mr. Johnson was a farmer.
25 years old. and was said to
har* been unmarried. No fun
eral details had been arranged
this morning at press time.
County Health Problem
Topic Of Farm Bureau
Ladies' Night Held
By Rotary Club
The weekly meeting of the
Boone Rotary club was held Fri
day night at the Skyline Restau
rant. The Rotary Anns had
charge of the program. Mrs.
Prise ilia Mast gave a humorous
detailed report on the activities
of the Rotarians who attended
the Rotary Convention in Ashe
ville.
Mrs. Mayo Cooke, local ven
triloquist, with her "Charlie Mc
Carthy doll' gave a very enter
taining performance. Betty El
lis sang two solos. "Slow Boat to
China," and "Somebody Stole My
Gal." She was accompanied at
the piano by Mrs. Dot Casey, who
also played "Carolina Moon" on
the piano.
Johnny Bamett, son of Ro
tarian DeWitt Barnett, was ap
pointed Junior Rotarian. He will
issist the Rotarians in planning
a youth program and promoting
.ocal interest.
At the close of the regular!
meeting the Rotary Anns elected!
the following officers: President.!
Mrs. Priscilla Mast; vice presi-j
dent. Mrs. Grace Mast; and sec
retary, Mrs. Clara Brown.
Coker Triplett Has
Batting Average .256
I Coaker Triplett, Boone's gift to
major league baseball and the
Philadelphia Athletics in particu
lar, heads into the 1949 cam
paign with a lifetime major lea
gue batting average of .296, the
April issue of "Baseball Digest"
|reveals.
Lifetime averages of all big
league players, as well as' vital
statistics and 1948 records of all
the players, comprise a special
section in the April "Baseball Di
gest."
"Safety" Is Topic
Of Boone Lions I
The Boone Lions club met
Tuesday night, March 1, at the
Daniel Boone Hotel dining room
and were shown two films on
rsighway safety by Roger Parker,
State Highway patrolman. The
program, of which S. M Ayers
had charge, was on "Safety."
Coach E. C. Duggins, of Ap
palachian State Teachers college,
spoke on the "Safety Idea" in
school and pointed out the re
sponsibilty of parents in helping
carry oyt the safety program.
Lion Ayers gave figures on
various accidents that have hap
pened in the United States re
cently.
Frank Coffey, a scout and Safe
ty Patrol member, gave a talk on
the local Safety Patrol, pointing
out some of the duties of the var
ious poets at school The patrol
is sponsored by the Boone Lions
club.
Chief of Police Veme Greene
gave a report on fireworks and
commented on the decrease of
accidents attributed to fireworks
in this state since a baa was im
posed against their use, sale and
manufacture.
I B
At a called meeting of t he Fv
ecutive Committee of toe Wa^"
fkv^ Fairo Bureau, m ^he*
SkyUne Restaurant, March 7 the
township representatives started
the ball rolling for an X?t
l movement tn ?u-oui
health Thi ,m prove county!
suit of ??V" rame as a re
Health Committee' 0?/ S ??
FWHsjr ?- ^
Some months ago Wata.ioa
.county was selected as an a^a
to demonstrate what rural oeT
Pie can do for themselves to^
Prove living conditions ^ ?j
jiieaith department representa
tives had indicated their interest
est ha?OP|^t,0n Further inter
Horn tv," created through
Home Demonstration clubs, civic
club^ and the public schools
r?rst on the Monday nieht
SE"i ^
A?h? 11 Bureau meeting in
Green As''"6"1 by Mr aydel
s. . n a member of the
Green committee, Mr.
,retn stressed the emohasis
Place d on rural health in the res
Jlutio ns unanimously adopted by
out ,hUreaU Mr Green brought
[Out the importance of other reso
lufons regarding roads, electrici
tj. and telephone lines in im
proving the health of rur*
of^he r B . uerry> Jr > chairman
of the Rural Health committee nf
he local Medical Society b^t
ral health "P 10 date on 0,6 TU'
ral health movement in Northl
an^M^ rnd announc*d that he
and Mr. Green would attend the
Second Annual Rural Health
Conference to be held in Chapel
Hill on Friday. Doctor Perrv in
flS?"5*1 Miss Charlotte Rickman
Hei1tifeSre#eiltative of the Good
m!S Association and the State
iy^n??h y' who sP?ke brief
thei?PorUnce of commun
^thWOprSn!rther in "H
gave'" E san'tarian,'
gave the group the benefit ofl
in ^veUnKi
through the entire county brine-i
ZoVX? g00d and
d c in h* w?rk
thL tm?\ Mo?se. chairman of
r!? -i ga Cou"ty Hospital
(^?thf' cmphasized the interest
of the hospital in a rural health
Which the hos
A Sm?th, county sud
S ?f Home Admin, P
tration in Watauga county m
pressed interest in the Droersm
and pledged his support^?
=jj? afiTTa
Mwb Madeleine McCain. h?alt>i
^"cator, reported
Sh! h Promoting rural health
asDrAr
(Continued
LAST RITES ffl
RALEIGH FOR J.
M. BROUGHTOH
U. S. SENATOR
Carolina Statesman Dies in
Washington from Sudden
Illness; Legislators, Con
gressional Leaders Pay Last
Respects.'
I
Washington, March 6 ? Senator j
J. Melville Broughton, of Raleigh
died thia morning about 8:48
o'clock of a heart attack at the
Naval Medical Center. Bethseda, (
Md., after showing on the eve of
his death the same courage, the t
jame faith, that characterised
his great career in public life, j
He was 60 years old.
Sudden death snuffed out the
life of the State's new junior
Senator on his 66th day as a
Senator, with his wife and part- ,
ner, at home and in public life,
Alice Wilson Broughton, at his
bedside. ?
Born in North Carolina,
Broughton was graduated from
Wake Forest College in 1910 and
studied at Harvard Law School.'
He formerly taught school and
was a reporter on the Winston
Salem Journal.
In addition to his three sons,
Broughton is survived by a
daughter, Alice.
Broughton a devout man who
for more than a quarter of a cen
tury taught a Bible class at
Tabernacle Baptist Church in
Raleigh, turned to his wife on
his deathbed and told her, Tm
not afraid to die. You must carry
on for the children "
Hours later. Mrs Broughton
was carrying on for their child
ren as she proceeded to get in
touch with their children and to
make funeral arrangements and
other decisions.
The death of Broughton came ,
as a distinct shock to official
Washington, only J a
having known that since h
campaign to win the senatorahip
last year and since an attack ot
vmis flu in January, he had been
in a weakened condition and had
experienced some heart trouble^
This morning, early m their
apartment at the Warding
Brouahton was stricken An
ambulance from B^thesda Naval,
Medical Center was called, and it ,
left the hotel for the hospiUl ,
with Broughton on a ^tche
and Mrs. Broughton at his side, ,
at about 7 35 o'clock The run to ,
Bethesda required 2? ?wn w ,
and Broughton was rushed inside
for emergency treatment ,
The junior Senator had a .
veloped a rheumatic heart condi^
tion since January when he had
a virus attack, and it soon be- (
came apparent that death was at
. q_?h It was then that he smiled
at his wtfe and told her. *Tm not!
afraid to die." In a of
minutes, he had
In the office of the naval
medical center, Mrs Broughton
carried on courageously ** f*"5
signed the necessary
(Continued on page ok
A. P. Wilder Diet
At Santa Anna Home
A. P. Wilder, 81, died at the
home in Santa Anna, Calif, ac
cording to belated information
reaching the Democrat, and the
body was brought to the old
home of the deceased in Mem
phis, Tenn., where funeral ser
vices were held and interment
made.
Mr. Wilder is survived by the
widow, the former Miss Mary
Greene of Stony Fork township,
and one son, Albert Wilder of
the home. Deceased had frequent
ly visited in Watauga and was
known to many local people.
WATAUGAN WINS
IN EGG CONTEST
Joe J. Wellborn, of Stony Fork
won the five-county egg show
held in Lenoir Tuesday afternoon
and received for a prise 90 baby
chicks. There were 10 entries
from Wilkes, Catawba, Caldwell,
Watauga and Burke counties
Mr*. Minnie Triplett
Dies on Wednesday
Mrs Minnie E. Triplett, 48,
resident of Deep Gap, died last
Wednesday at Watauga Hospital,
and funeral rites were held Sun
day afternoon at the Stony fork
Baptist Church. Rev. Grady
Hamby and Rev. J. Younceware
in charge of the servicus and in
terment was by Hi Hnnl 1 ? niif.
The husband. Ben Triplett,
presentlyO employed at Dell,
Moot survives.
Official Vote Gives
? Drys 12 to 1 Lead
Final official returns from the
beer and wine election of last
week indicate that the drys won
more than a twelve to one vic
tory over the relatively few who
endorsed the legal sale of the
malt and fermented beverages.
The figures indicate that 4,317
voted against the legal sale of
wine and 357 for. On the beer i
issue the results varied little: for;
beer 377, against 4,304. Boone
and Blowing Rock were the only i
townships casting an appreciable i
vote few the legal sale of the al
coholic drinks, and in both these i
precincts the drys won handsome i
majorities.
The official results of the vot
ing by townships, follow: I
Bald Mountain ? for wine 1,
against wine 92; for beer 1,
against beer 92. I
Beaver Dam ? for wine 9,
against wine 385; for beer 9? ;
against beer 385.
Blowing Rock ? for wine 77,
against wine 132; for beer
78, against beer 130.
Blue Ridge ? for wine 2, against
wine 191 ; for beer 2, against beer
191.
Boone ? tor wine 122, against
wine 429; for beer 131, against
beer 419.
Brushy Fork ? for wine 16,1
against wine 314; for beer 17,|
against beer 314.
Cove Creek ? for wine >, against
wine 704; for beer 8, against beer
704.
Elk ? for wine 16, against wine
129; for beer 16, against beer 129.
Laurel Creek ? ? for wine 2,
against wine 229; for beer 2,
against beer 229.
Meat Camp No. 1 ? for wine 12,
against wine 359; for beer 13,
against beer 358
Meat Camp No. 2 ? for wine 1
against wine 52; for beer 1,
against beer 52.
New River ? for wine 42, against
wine 408; for beer 42, against
beer 407.
North Fork ? for wine 7, against
wine 67; for beer 7, against beer
87.
Shawneehaw ? for wine 7,
against wine 150; for beer 7,
against beer 150.
Stony Fork ? for wine 18,
against wine 325; for beer 27,
against beer 352.
Watauga ? for wine 16, against
wine 325; for beer 16, against
beer 325.
Totals ? for wine 357, against
wine 4.317; for beer 377, against
beer 4,304.
Hospital Goal Reached;
Neiv Project Launched
At a .meeting of the Board ofj
Trustees of Watauga hospital,
field last Friday, a number of
matters pertaining to the opera
tion of the hospital were dis
cussed. Representatives of the
State Board of Health recently
inspected the hospital and re
ported everything in good condi
tion except the kitchen, which
they report to be totally inade
quate even for present needs. It
will be necessary, they say, to!
enlarge and re-equip the kitchen;
throughout in order that it mayi
meet the requirements of the'
health department.
Plans and specifications arej
now being prepared by the health1
department to meet these require
ments. It is estimated that the1
cost will be about ten thousandj
dollars.
It was reported that slightlyl
jver twenty thousand dollars, the
amount originally set as a goal,!
-i as been subscribed and most oft
it paid in. This was for surgi-j
:al equipment, beds, mattresses'
jnd supplies for the surgical serv-'
ice which is now being rendered
by the hospital In view of this
added expenditure which it is
necessary to make to meet the
requirements of the health de
partment, the trustees decided to
continue the campaign for fujids
with the hope that a great many
of our citizens of the county who
have not subscribed to the fund
might now see fit to do so.
A registered dietician has been
employed and has supervision
over the preparation and serving
of all food. Many favorable com
ments have been heard from pa
tients over this improved kitchen
service.
According to a report by Mr.
Moore, the business manager, an
average of thrity-one patients per
day were in the hospital during
the month of February.
The trustees expressed their
appreciation to the Woman's
Club, the Hospital Guild and all
others who are cooperating so
9plendidlv in the work of the
hospital.
Centennial Celebration
Dates May Be Changed
Dry Forces Call ;
Mass Melting
Sunday afternoon, March 20th
the dry forces of Watauga Coun
ty will meet at the tabernacle in
Boone for the purpose of formu
lating tome plans that may furth
er the best interests of the citi
zens of Watauga County. Among
the speakers who have been In
vited to address the mass meet
ing will be Judge Webb of Shel
by and Judge ' Hayes of North
Wilkesboro.
Bookmobile Stops
For Week Givei
The Watauga County Library
Bookmobile will make the fol
lowing stops next week, weather
and roads permitting: .
Wednesday, March 16: Shulls
Mills, Shore's Filling Station, 1
9:30 a- m.; Shulls Mills, post-1
office. 10:00 a. m.; Foscoe, N. F. 1
Church'* Store, 10:30 a. m.;1
Grandfather School, 11:00 a. m.;
Valle Cruris, Howard Mast's
Store. 1:00 p. m.; Matney, Gil
bert Edmisten's Store, 2:00 p. m.;
Dutch Creek, home of Mrs.
Lester Welch, 3:00 p. m.; home of
Mrs. Agnes Welch, 3:15 p. m.
Clark's Creek, home of Mrs. Ro
bert Greene, 3:30 p. m.
Thursday, March 17: Ok
school, 10:00 *l m.; Trtplett pbst
offloe, 11.00 a. m.
People are invited to come to
the bookmobile at any of the
scheduled stops and borrow
books. Books may also be re
quested and reserved far bor
lowmi if they are not on the
bookmobile on a particular trip.
The Ubrary service is free to all
residents of Watauga county.
Plans for the centennial of
Watauga county 'are gradually
taking shape, and it now appear*
that the celebration featuring the
100th anniversary of the county
will be held at least one week
later than had been originally
planned ? either immediately fol
lowing the fourth of July or
starting July 18th.
Negotiations with the Rogers
Producing Company are now un
der way toward tthe direction of
the big event The committee on
committees has recommended
chairmen for the different com
mittees which will be needed to
carry out the cdpfennial week
program, most Important of
which are the finance committee,
the cast committee, responsible
for getting some 400 people to
participate, and the publicity
committee. ?
Tentative arrangements have
been made toward a large choir,
representatives of all the church
choirs in all the county if pos
sible to furnish music for the
centennial and plans are under
way to have one of the outstand
ing clergyman of America to
i peek at a joint church service
to be held on the athletic field at
the college Sunday following the
centennial
Gordon Nash Quits j
Post at Appalachian'
Mr. Gordon Nash who recently
resigned his post at Appalachian
College, is now educational field
representative #for the Bradt
Separk Music Co., Whwton-!
Sfisn.
Mr. Nash and family have
established residence at UM
Jefferson Avenue, Wtnston
SsVem
FARTHING AID
GRAGG AGAIN
HEAD LOCAL
BLDG. & LOAN
Annual Stockholders Mntia|
Bears Story of Profnw mi
Building and Loan Ai^tda
tion; Directors, Other Off
icers Named.
At the annual meeting the
stockholders of the Watauga
Building and Loan Aawkttan.
the secretary made a full xaport
of the activities of the organisa
tion during the year 1MB, wMch
indicated that the institution had
enjoyed one of its moat propser
ous years, had built 100 homes,
made modernization loans on S3
and made a number of business
property and purchasers' loans
The stockholders were
pleased with the report and
there was a general prediction of
continued good business for the
association during the pNasnt
year. A tentative group insurance
plan for the employees of the as
sociation was approved and rou
tine business matters disposed o C
The board of directors re
elected H. G. Farthing, president
of the Association, A. W. Smith,
vice-president; W. H. Gragg.
secretary-treasurer and Mrs.
Mable Bingham Brown, book
keeper.
The Board of Directors is com
posed of the following: A. W.
Smith, C. M. Critcher, R. L. Bin -
gham. H. G. Farthing, W. H.
Gragg, Walter H. Greene, Howard
Holshouser. Howard Blast, Sob
Rivers and Dr. W. M Msthsnm
Jerry M. Cooke k
Dead at Age of 88
Jerry M. Cooke, pionner resi
dent of the Beaver Dam section,
died at the home at Sugar Grove,
last Friday, from a lingering Ill
ness.
Funeral services were conduc
ted at the Bethel Baptist Chun*
Sunday at 2 o'clock. Rev. Ro
bert Shore and Dr. Wiley Smith
conducted the services, and in
terment was in the church ceme
tery, Reins-Sturdivant taking
care of the details.
Mr. Cooke is survived by two
sons and three daughters: C G.
Cooke, W. L. Cooke, Elizabeth too,
Tenn.; Mrs. Renro Ward, Ufa!
Oscar Ward, and Mrs. Uriah
Farthing, Sugar Grove. Oh
brother. Jacob Cooke, Somerset,
Ky? and one sister, Mrs. Rebecca
Tester of Sugar Grove, also sur
vive.
Agnus G. Dowiing
Dies in Washington
Angus Gabriel Dowiing for
mer resident of Winston-Salem,
died suddenly Monday morning,
[March 2nd at his home at 1615
Kenyon Street, Northwest, Wash
ington. He was 39.
I He was bom in Ozark, Ala.
June 1, 1909. He moved to Wash
ington eight years ago. where he
was a salesman.
Mr. Dowiing is survived by his'
step-mother, Mrs. H. O. Dowiing
of Washington; his wife, Mrs
Alma Goff Dowiing; four sisters.
Mrs. Gertrude D. Kelly, Mrs
Helen D. McChesney and
Jeanette Dowiing, all of Wash
ington^ and Mrs. Carolyn Hile of
New York City, and a brother,
Horace O. Dowiing of Boone
*Wral services w5r* beld
r 3 * 1 P ?- ?
s. H. Hi net Funeral Home in
Washington.
Red Cross Starts
Annua] Fund Drive
The American Red Cross An
nual Roll call began Mwrh 2
Mr. C. H. Kirk man, locaiasaist
ant County Agent is county
chairman of this drive. Re?. Mr.
J. K. Parker, Jr., is chairman for
Boone.
The quota is ?1,271.S0. Qf this
amount 37.4% or $47840 will be
retained by the Chapter; the re
maining 82.?* will be used ft*
national Red Crow.
total reoeived is
$81.00 from the few who have re
ported
ResMlent of County
Home Dies at Age 77
John Coulter, native of Tar
booo, who had been residing at
county home. at tk<
i
TJ* body of Coulter, who had
no -known raUtrira. wm taken to
Taabcso Friday for iatamwl