BOONE
lMO POPULATION U?1
WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Newspaper? Established in the Year 1 888
WATAUGA COUNT*
lttt POPULATION 1LMI
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Pg>Y?>) iravcrm county.
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Summer raaarii oi
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VOL. LXV. ? NO. 3?.
. BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1953. ,
? 12 PAGES ? 2 SECTIONS
' KING
STREET
BY
ROB RIVERS
TRIVIALITIES
Once in a while a reader com
plains that this corner of the
Democrat deals too largely in
matters of small moment, in
small talk, and in the affairs and
hopes and fears of small people,
going about their business of do
ing small chores in a small neigh
borhood . . . And of course this
occasional complainant is right,
in that the coluQin does try, as a
general rule, to be on the light
er vein, and tries to shy away
from the tendency of some of the
nationally - syndicated products
which too often resolve'into daily
literary bellyaches . . . Nelson D.
Brown of the Ingham County
(Mich.) News, has his troubles
too, with the folks who don't
like the simple approach to. the
problems which the country edi
tor sees about the town, and
says:
SHOULD BE THATAWAY
"A column should b* trivial,
lilt* the sycamore, ihe com
mon little stream; like cross
roads such as Teaspoon Corn
ers, Laxton Corner. Aurelius
Center, Eden. White Dog. yes
? and Mason. Broadway. Fifth
Avenue. Chicago's Michigan
Avenue. Wiltshire boulvard in
Los Angeles. Market Street In
San Francisco, the road to
Damascus, all stem from the
trivial and probably the Street
paved with gold will have tri
vial people on it. and they will
discuss trivilalities."
THE GAY PAflADE
Shops and stores of the city
report increasing trade for the
past few days as Milady buys
her new bonnet and frock, and
dresses for the kiddies, and the
menfolks and the boys and the
girls get their new clothing for
the gay Easter parade ... At the
same time the bitzy ones lay In
Easter baskets, and look forward
to the colored eggs and the East
er bunnies, against the backdrop
of the empty tomb and the Risen
Lord ... It seems fitting that
while the churches of the land
celebrate Holy Week, and Easter
Sunday and sing hymns of praise,
the folks are joyous and happy
with the coming of springtime,
and with the recurring celebra
tion of the Resurrection.
WORE BEST ROBES
Roman Emperor Constantine,
during whose reign Easier is
said to have taken on its gay
ety and color, issued the edict
of Milan, tolerating Christian
ity throughout the Roman Em
pire in 313. convened the Coun
cil of Nicea. establishing the
date of the Easter celebration,
and commanded his entire
court to wear their most ele
gant robes at Eastertime . . .
This edict was very popular it
is recorded, and from it came
our own Easter Parade, when
the people and the flowers aad
the birds all Join together in
their best bibs and tuckers, to
be gay and happy and to sing
praise to the Prince of Peace.
HISTORICAL NOTES
After the ancient legal ob
structions were removed, Christ
ianity spread and Easter became
its chief festival . . . During the
Middle Ages, Mardi Gras carni
vals began ushering in the East
er season with pomp and pagean
try and Passion Plays began to
come into vogue, recreating
Biblical accounts of the Resur
rection . . . We are indebted to
the National Association of
Greeting Card Manufacturers for
the following interesting notes:
"Easter candles are blessed
with special prayers in Italy,
then used to light festive bon
fires before churchcs and later
to rekindle household fires ? as
a blessing on those within. Dutch
children for centuries have
paraded about the streets on
Easter Eve with lighted Chinese
lanterns bobbing on sticks.
"Easter gifts apparently began
in ISth century England. For on
Easter Sunday, young men were
expected to give their sweet
hearts a pair of gloves; noble
men rewarded their servants
with an extra shilling or two;
and village barbers gave free
shaves in churchyards.
"Sunrise Services originated in
Northern Europe, when pagan
sub-worshippers assembled be
fore dawn on hilltops to celebrate
ihe beginning of Spring on
March 21. This ceremony was
partly a tribute to Eostre. Anglo
(Continued on page lour)
LONG SPELL ? As a seemingly endless procession of contestants paraded across the stage of the Appa
lachian High School auditorium for nearly four hours in last Friday night's "old fashioned spelling
bee," the camera fortuitously caught the ultimate first prize winner, Dr. J. C. T. Wright, at the micro
phone as he passed an unnumbered milestone on the road to victory. Left to right, in photo: The
Rev. Joceph T. Shackford, the Rev. Edwin F. Troutman, Louis H. Smith, Dr. J. R. Shaffer, Dv Wright,
and pronouncer Cratis Williams, A. S. T. C. English instructor. ? Photo by Palmer's Photo Shop.
First Annual Spelling Bee Is
W ell Received; Dr. W right Wins
By ROY BLANTON
By 7:00 o'clock on Friday night
all the parking spaces near the
High School were taken. The
building was a '"beehive" of ac
tivity. Spellers were assembling
in the study hall to pick up their
placard and be checked off the
list. The band was performing on
the stage. The big concession ta
bles were doing a thriving busi
ness and everywhere people
were gathered in groups talking
about the "bee," or just plain
socializing.
A little past 7:30 Bob Agle,
president of the Band Parents
Association and Master of Cere
monies, welcomed all the con
testants and spectators and intro
duced Mr. Cratis Williams, the
pronouncer; Miss Helen Under
down, Mr. Fred Gragg, and Mr. H.
R. Eggers, the judges.
After some fanfare from the
band, the bee got underway. As
the words were given out the au
dience sighed or cheered depend
ing on how the contestant fared.
During the intermissions, the
band ? for whose benefit the bee
was held ? entertained the audi
ence with some well rendered se
lections. Many of the contestants
added to the fun and frolic. Rev.
Troutman made like a propeller
as he spelled the word. Alfred
Adams got words that attracted
much interest.
When the last word was given
Dr. Wright, spelling for Dixie
Home Store, was declared the
first place winner and was
awarded an RCA radio.
Richard Zuber won a pen and
pencil set and second place. Mr.
L. H. Smith, representing Home
Realty Co., won the third prize,
theatre tickets. Margaret Sheek
took fourth place for Andrews
Chevrolet, and Mrs. Daisy Eggers,
one of Trailway Laundry's en
trants. placed fifth.
Everyone agreed that the spell
ing bee was a big success in both
a social and financial -way.
The merchants represented re
ceived advertising for the en
trance fee they paid and the band
will profit from the net returns
amounting to almost $500.00. The
community came together and
shared in the planning and the
fun the bee afforded. Mrs. H. R.
Eggers. general chairman, and her
committee worked diligently,
contacting sponsors and spellers,
securing prizes and refreshments
and to them and everyone who
participated the Band Parents
Association is grateful. It is the
hope of the association that the
annual bee will supplement the
band funds and eliminate the
need for soliciting.
Dr. Wey Is Named Head
Of State School Group
The Division of Principals of
the North Carolina Education As
sociation has elected Herbert
Wey, principal of Appalachian
High School and director of
teacher training at Appalachian
State Teachers college, to the po
sition of state president of their
organization for the coming year.
The principals' organization is
composed of elementary, high
school, and district principals and
has a membership of nearly 1200
principals. Mr. Jack Scott of
Mooresville was elected vice-pres
ident and Miss Mildred Mooney
han of Chapel Hill was elected to
serve as secretary and treasurer.
Dr. Wey has been active in the
principals' organization for the
past fifteen years, having served
as a member of the board of di
rectors of the organization for
several years, president of the
Northwestern District, vice-pres
ident of the State Principals Or
ganization, chairman of the sal
ary committee, and chairman of
the summer conference for prin
cipals which is held each sum
mer at North Carolina University.
The new president has written
many articles for the state and
national journals concerning high
school adminiatration and teach
er education.
Dr. Wey has taken an active
part in the work of the Southern
Association of Secondary Schools
and Colleges and at the present
time is serving as a member of
the Evaluation Committee of the
Southern Association; as a mem
ber of the Commission on Re
search and Services of the South
ern Association of Secondary
Schools and Colleges; as a mem
ber of the Set idary School
Commission for the Southern As
sociation; as a member of the
North Carolina State Advisory
Committee on School Administra
tion; as a member of the North
Carolina .Advisory Committee on
Teacher Education; as a member
of the North Carolina state-wide
Committee on Curriculum and
Guidance; as a member of the
Board of Directors of the N. C.
State Athletic Association; and
a^a menfter of the North Caro
lina State Survey Panel for the
School Building Program.
The principals' organization hai
experienced rapid growth during
the past five years. The mem
bership has grown from #47 in
1M8 to 1107 in 1953. Practically
every principal in North Carolina
is now a member of the organiza
tion.
DR. HERBERT WEY
The officers are plannihg to
have a three-day professional con
ference during the fall months.
The meeting will be held in Char
lotte and principals from through
out the state will attend a dis
cussion of the problems pertinent
to the administration of the
schools of our state. State de
partment members and a repre
sentative from the United States
Office of Education .will be at
tending this meeting and will
serve as consultants in helping
solve the principals' problems.
Hugh Hagaman
Named President
Of Rotary Club
Hugh Hagaman, owner and
manager of the Trailway Clean
ers in Boone, was elected presi
dent of the Boone Rotary Club
at a meeting held Thursday
night. Alfred Adams, cashier of
the Northwestern Bank in Boone,
was named vice president and
Paul Winkler, owner of the Wa
tauga Insurance Agency, was
named treasurer.
Glenn Andrews, James Marsh,
Alfred Adams, Jack Lawrcncc,
Hugh Hagaman and Richard Al
len were named to the board of
directors.
Past presidents, Stanley Har
ris, W. H. Gragg, Ray Lawrence
and L. E. Tuckwiller, had charge
of the program and cited the ac
complishments of the Boone Ro
tary Club since its organization
five years ago. They resolved to
expand the calf project for crip
pled children during the coming
year and to enlarge the general
activities of the club.
Snow Halts Military
Operation Saturday
Simulated warfare between par
atroopers from Fort Bragg and
National Guardsmen on the slopes
of Grandfather Mountain were
cut short Saturday night when
opposing sides quit "fighting"
each other and gave their atten
tion to a rapidly falling snow,
which for a while looked like the
forerunner of a full scale blizzard.
The entire 112th battalion of
the National Guard went into the
area Saturday afternoon to 'de
fend ten miles of the Yonahlossee
Trail against the paratroopers in
maneuvers.
Mercury and snow started
dropping rapidly at 4 p. m. By
nightfall snow had reached a
depth of two inches.
Troop* used blank ammunition.
Machine gun, rifle and demolition
fire ?<:hoed from many points on
the southern slope of Grandfa
ther Mountain ?e paratroopers
carricd out guerrilla tactics.
But the battle continued ilntil
far after nightfall when a truce
wat declared until morning in the
hope that better weather would
arrive. Many of the guardsmen
were lacking in Arctic clothing
and equipment to cope with the
weather.
National Guardsmen making
up the batallion commanded by
Lt. Col. Roy W. Forehan of North
Wilkcsboro were Headquarter*
Battery of Lenoir, commanded by
First Lieut. Newland E. Walker,
Service Battery of Lenoir, com
munded by Lt. Durwin E. Beach.
Battery A of Forest City, com
manded by Capt. Grover M.
Bradley; Battery B of Spindale.
commanded by Capt. Herman E.
Greene, and Battery C of North
Wilkesboro commanded by Capt.
Ralph A. Boldin.
Blowing Rock
Boy is Seriously
Hurt In Accident
By MRS. LUCILE LETT
Blowing Bock ? The condition
of young Bill Moody, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Meryl Moody, remains
grave at this writing, although
s^ght improvement may be de
tected since he underwent sur
gery in a Charlotte hospital on
Saturday.
Moody was severely injured
in a jeep accident late Thursday
afternoon on the Linville road.
Also injured in the same acci
dent was young "Bud" Greene,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Berlin
Greene, who was less severely
injured and who is much im
proved.
Details of the accident are
lacking but it seems some part
of the jeep came loose letting
1 one wheel become loose so that
there was no control of the steer
ing. Patrolman George Baker of
the State Highway patrol and
local policeman Luther Greene
investigated the accident.
Winners Named
.
In District Music
Contest Held Here
Myra Adkins, high school sen
ior from Mooresville, and Nancy
Boyel, high school senior from
Lenoir, won first places in the
third District Music Contest of
the North Carolina Federated
Women's Clubs held in the Fine
Arts Building of Appalachian
State Teachers College Saturday.
Miss Adkins won first in voice,
singing "Vergin, Tutto Amor,"
by Adurante, and Miss Bozle
won fy-st in piano, playing "Hun
garian Rhapsody."
Eleven high school seniors en
tered the contest. They were:
voice, Myra Adkins. Mooresville;
Louise Maseey, Newland, Betty
Anne Dejarnette, Stony Point,
Ann Woodward, Statesville, Wil
liam Smithey, Lenoir, Guy Hunt,
Boone, Nancy Boye, Lenoir, Kate
Trivett, West Jefferson, Evelyn
Watts of Stony Point, Ala Hod
ges, Boone, and Jacqueline Har
mon of Statesville, piano.
Winners in the district con
test will go to Raleigh April 11
to participate in the N. C. Fed
erated Women's Club state con
test. The two winners there to
receive $100 each.
Judges Avere Mrs. Virginia
Wary Linncy, Hoyt Safrit, R.
Rooker and Miss Helen Winkler,
all of ASTC faculty.
%
Eastern Star
Installs New
Slate Officers
Snow Chapter No. 220, Order
of the Eastern Star, installed
new officers for the ensuing
year at a special meeting held in
Masonic Hall Monday evening.
Mrs. Nina Martin acted as in
stalling officer in charge with
Mrs. Lena Gecr installing Mar
shall; Mrs. Martha Watkirts in
stalling conductress, and Mrs.
China Lavender, installing chap
lain.
New officers installed were:
Mrs. Ruth W. Coc, Worthy Mat
ron; Thomas Milton Greer,
Worthy Patron; Mrs. Ruth B.
Redmond, Associate Matron; Ray
S. Luther, Associate Patron; Miss
Helen Underdown, Secretary;
Mrs. Kathleen W. Hodges, Trea
surer; Mrs. Mary F. Holland,
Conductress; and Mrs. Vera N.
Richardson. Associate Conduc
tress, all of whom were elected
at the annual election of officers.
Also installed were the follow
ing appointed officers; Mrs.
Pearl R. Luttrell, Chaplain; Miss
Mary Helen Neill, Marshal; Miss
Bernice Gragg, organist; Mrs.
Sally Smith, Adah; Miss Eugenia
R. Luttrell, Ruth; Mrs. Roberta
B. Farthing, Esther; Mrs. Ruth
Clarke Greene, Martha; Mrs.
Roberta B. Ray, Electa; Mrs.
Honor Dee Winkler, Warder;
and Mrs. Fayc G. Hodges, Sen
tinel. '
Paratroopers were in command
of Col. Francis O'Ellscu. Tlie
troopers had been in the area
since Tuesday and had been en
gaged in maneuvers between ag
gressor and defender teams be
fore the Guardsmen arrived Sat
urday.
Churches Unite In
Holy W eek Services
Boone churches and min
ister* will join in the two high
religious observances of Holy
Week ? Good Friday and Easter ?
in special union services sponsor
ed by the Boone Ministerial As
sociation.
The Good Friday service will
be held at the Boone Methodist
Church from 1:00-2:00 p. m.. com
memorating the period during
which Jesus Christ hung upon the
Cross of Calvary. The service
will be led by the Boone ministers
in a series of meditations upon
the seven utterances of Christ
spoken from the Cross, inter
spersed by hymns. Scripture
and prayer. Special music will
be provided by the Appalachian
High School Chorus under the di
rection of Miss Helen Cole and
Lawrence Phillips.
This is a traditional service in
the life of Christians and l^as
proved a high point of religious
devotion for those who have shar
ed it in former years.
The Merchants Association has
requestrd all business establish
ments to close during the service
and business personnel to join in
attendance. The meditations are
so arranged that persons may en
ter or leave the services at cer
tain times throughout without
disturbing the meeting.
The union observance of Holy
Week concludes on Easter Sun
day morning with a Sunrise Ser
vice at the Daniel Boone Theatre
Park.
Light breakfast for the band,
chorus, and ministers will be
served in the Methodist Church
at 5 a. m. Others are invited
to share this breakfast.
At 5:30 the band Will drivf
through the town playing Eastei
music, going to the theatre by
3:00 o'clock.
The main service will begin a
6:13 as the sun rises in the east.
Following music by the Appala
chian Band, directed by Mr. Koj
Blanton, the chorus of combined
church choirs, directed by Mr.-'
Virginia Wary Linney, will sina
"Low in the Grave He Lay,'
without the chorus. Then a brie
tomb scene of the Resurrection
will be enacted by the Rev. John
Davis and Mr. Marvin Culbreth.
The chorus will sing "Up from
the Grave He Arose," followed
by a congregational hymn,
"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,"
led by the Rev. C. A. Foss. Scrip
ture readings by the Revs. J. K.
Parker, Jr., and Cecil Glenn will
be given, and a responsive read
ing led by the Rev. L. H. Holl
ingsworth.
The Rev. E. F. Troutman will
lead the prayer and a meditation
will follow by the _ Rev. J. T.
Shackford.
The closing congregational
'.iymn, "All Hail the Power of
Jesus Name," will be followed
jy a benediction given by Rev.
Mr. Foss. The band will close the
ervice with special music.
The entire program will be car
ied over Radio Station WATA
"or persons unable to attend, but
?veryone is urged to attend in
person.
Blowing Rock Churches Will
Join In Easter Observance
Annual Lions Club
Talent Show To
Be Held April 10
The annual Lions Club talent
show, which wan to have been
held in the College Gymnasium,
will be staged at Appalachian
High School auditorium instead,
if was announced the first of the
week by Major J. H. Thomas, '
chairman of the committee in
charge of the entertainment.
Major Thomas states that most
of the schools of the county will
have participants in the program,
which will consist of a junior and
a senior queen contest and fun
program. There will be audience
participation in the fun, and
prizes will be awarded. Also for
the first time, there will be door
prizes this year.
Tickets may be secured from
any member of the Lions Club or
at the door oh the evening of the
performance. As usual the entire
proceeds from the show will go
for the benefit of the Lions Club
Blind Fund.
Calvin Hicks
Taken By Death
Calvin Hicks, 74, of Vilas,
Route 1, died March 25 in Grace
Hospital at Banner Elk, where
he had been a patient for six days.
Funeral services were held
March 27 at the Willow Dale
Baptist Church, conducted by the
Rev. Victor Trivctt and the Rev.
E. O. Gore. Burial was in St.
John's cemetery.
He is survived by two sons,
Andy- and William Hicks, both of
Vilas; three daughters, Mrs. Ed
ith Isaacs, Sugar Grove, Mrs. Ad
die Dyer, Banner Elk, and Mrs.
Margaret Arnet. Vilas; five bro
thers, Alfred, George, and Tho
mas Hicks, all of Vilas, Charlie
and Ben Hicks, Sugar Grove; and
a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Wood, of
Minnesota.
Japanese ship concern is sch
eduled to start world frei^it ser
vice.
WinklerActs ToName
'5'Mati School Board
? '
Representative W. L. Winkler
ha* introduced a measure in the
Legislature which would ap
point a fivfhncmbcr Board of
Education for Watauga county
and fix their terms of officc.
Under the measure the new
members of the board would be
Wiley G. Hartzog, W. C. Lenti,
Mrs. S. F. Horton, W. R. Vines
and Howard Mast. These mem
bers would serve for four year*
beginning at the expiration of
the terms of the present board
member*.
The present school board con
fist* of Colli* Greene. Clyde
Perry and Troy Norris. It li un
derstood that they have been
recommended (or reappointment
by Uie " Democratic Executive
Committer of Watauga County.
Representative Winkler's bill
which would provide for the
election of the tax collector and
supervisor, has been reqorted
unfavorably by the Senate com
mittee, tt js learned.
By MRS. LUCILE LETT
The Community Blue Ridge
Sunrise Service ? held annually
for the past several years at the
Cone Mansion in Cone Memorial
Park, has been discontinued, at
least I or this year. Individual
services will be held at all the
churches here in Blowing Rock
this year.
The Baptist and Presbyterian
services Will be held at 6:15 a.
m. and th> Episcopal will be ot
9:00 a. m. High Mass will be held
at 10:00 a. m. in the church of the
Epiphany Catholic church here.
There will also be services at
the St. Mary's of The Hills Epis
copal Church on Maundy Thurs
day at 9:00 o'clock in the morn
ing and also on Good Friday
from noon until three o'clock.
During the Friday service per
sons attending need not stay for
the entire two hours, but are
free to come in or leave any
time during this period when the
singing taken place. The public
is invited to all of these Easter
services at any of the churches.
Also on the Easter program
will be egg hunts for the child
ren of the community, to be held
at the respective churchcs; at the
Baptist on Saturday afternoon at
2:30 In the afternoon; at the
Presbyterian there will ' be two
htints for the different age
groups, the Beginners and Pri
mary will be held at 3 o'clock
on Sunday afternoon and later
at 4:30 the same afternoon the
group of Pioneer Fellowship
members will hold their hunt.
On Saturday afternoon at 2:30
o'clock Mrs. Charles Davant will
be hostess to the children of the
(Continued on page four)
T.B. AssociationT o Send
Mobile X-Ray Unit Here
Because the Alleghany-Ashe
Watauga County T. B. Association
has dccidcd to continue as a sin
gle organization, the State T. B.
Association has agreed to send an
annual mobile unit except (or the
year 1954. The schedule is filled
for that year, but Dr. W. A. Smith,
chief of the division of T. B. in
North Carolina, says that if he
has a cancellation in 1954 he will
put this area on his schedule for
a survey.
With a plan for using volun
tary clerk service on the units.
Mr. William Braswell, field secre
tary of the State TB Association,
say s that we will be able to get
this service for about $400 per
year. Since this is less than the
operation cost of a privately own
ed unit the board of directors de
cided to use the state equipment
for one year at least. At the end
of that time it will be determined
if this is a wise and if it is a per
manent plant for case finding
will be set up for the three coun
ties.
There are persons who made
donations to be used for an X
ray unit only. It is hoped that
those persons will allow the
money to be used for the annual
survey expense; however, if they
I wish a refund, they may receive
I it by notifying Dr. Bill Smith,
treasurer for the Watauga branch
of the association.
The aim of the Tri-County TB
Association is good health educa
tion a case finding. An early
diagnosis means the difference of
months in bed and years in bed.
Members of the board of directors
are serving on a voluntary basis ?
and arc working hard to give the
county the most effective pro
gram possible.
If you have any questions about
(Continued on page four)
Local Republican
Women Organize
The Watauga County Federa
tion of Womon'i Republican
Clubs was organized at the home
of Mrs. Paul Coffey on Saturday
night. March 28. The following
officers were elected: Miss Edna
Bingham, president; Mrs. E. M.
Luttrell, vice - president; Mrs.
Clyde R. Greene, secretary; and
Mrs. W, H. Gragg, treasurer.
A social hour followed the bus
iness meeting and Mrs. Coffey
served doughni^s and coffee.
Clinic Schedule
Is Given Out
Mondays, 8:30 u. m. to 12:00
noon, gcn?ral clinic.
Fridays, 2:00 p. m. to 4:00 p.
m. Immunization clinic.
Since Or. Mary B. H. Michal.
health officer, is at the Univer
sity of North Carolina, the nurs
1 cs arc holding the above clinics
as usual, and conditions which
need a doctor's attention are re
ferred to a local physician at the
regular clinic timn.
The monthly mother and in
fant clinic has been discontinued
until June
, 1