WATAUGA COUNT*
1W POPULATION 1LM1
SIXTY-SIXTH YEAR. ? NO 22
afT.3M^.lW
, yssmmnm
mmmm&rn
An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Yeard 888
i i I.. f i , a i ? ? . '? ?
BOONE. WATAUGA COUNTY, NQRTII CAROLINA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER It, 1953
U PAGES - 2 SECTION!
KING
STREET
BY
ROB RIVERS *
"THE HUNTER IS HOME
FROM THE HILL"
An increasingly large number
of Boone and Watauga county
people are enjoying deer hunting
? a sport which was revived a
few years ago through the co
operative State-Federal program,
and news is that more Nimrods
brought home the buckskins than
in any previous year . . . Frank
Teague of Rich Mountain knock
ed down a 130-pounder the other
day down on the South side of
the Mountain, and fetched this
corner a nice package of venison
. . . D. B. Ragan of Route 2, is
back from Canton, Pa., in the
vicinity of which town he bagged
? 190-pound buck on his first
day out, and he too thought of
us, and brought us a generous
portion of the tasty flesh . . . We
thank these two gentlemen for
their kindness, and our holiday
board will have added appeal
due to the - unerring aim of our
friends.
THE LAWS WERE POSTED
Speaking ,oi hunting, *? are
reminded of tlx day* whan on*
bagged a rabbit occasionally
alongside King in what is now
the businees district in spite of
the city ordinance . . . which
?at forth that no. tire arms should
be tped within the town . . .
There was a proviso, however,
that in case one wanted to fell
a steer in the bar^lot or con
vert a pig into pork, ha could
fire hi* rifle without fear of
the disfavor of the "town mar
shall." . . . Incidentally in those
days, the laws of the town ap
peared in a frame down in the
Coffey Hotel porch, so thai all
strangers within the gates
might read and conform.
VALUABLE PUBLICITY I
Motor car manufacturers,
through their various magazines,
are ? contributing immensely ? to
the dissemination of information
about this land of ours, and we
always enjoy reading the pub
lications . . . We were particulaf
ly interested in the November
December edition of the Lincoln
Mercury Times, which carried a
color photograph of the Robert
Shipley barns and silo at Vilas,
taken from a photograph by
Frank J. Miller of Hickory . . .
The photograph was taken in
wintertime, and the backdrop of
the mountain range, white with
snow, is silhoutted against a
cloudless sky . . . The neatly
painted barn, and the well-kept
'premises speak well for the mod
ern agricultural trend in Wata
uga . . . Such publicity is bound
to enure to the benefit of the re
, I'on.
BURLEY . . . AND SMOKES
Burlty is selling wall on the
Boon* market and farmers,
who hadn't farad to wall with
cattle. and with potato**, and
(tuff are gratified that thalr
burley tobacco is bringing good
money. and tha proceeds of lha
sales ara going to strengthen
tha local economy. no and . . .
f Meditating on lha market in
general, and smoking specifical
ly. a bystander recalled some
of tha tobacco products we'd all
but forgotten . . . Soveriegn
Cigarettes, with the red crown
Mi a yellow pasteboard . pack
age. Strollers. Reno. Piedmont.
One-Eleven, and Indian Girl
wara soma of the cigarettes of
other days recalled, and we re
member the Cubebs. medicated
smoking of some sort, for bad
colds and stuff, which were
legal for the youngsters . . .
They tasted a little better than
tha rabbit tobacco and earn
silk cigs we'd fashioned with
such painstaking care down be
hind the old barn . . . And
thoaa who want in for chewln'
could always find Brown's
Mule, or Schnapps plug at any
genera] store in the land . . .
And smoking tobacco. Mae
Queen. Ante Bellum. Bull Dur
ham and Stud, in generous
cloth bags, with appals for
tree, supplied the makia's. in
those days whan coin was rare.
CHRISTMAS PRAYER
Mrs. Mont Glovier, one of the
many who are concerned orrd
the growing commercialization of
Christmas, visits pleasantly with
the Democrat and leaves us a
little booklet, containing "The
Rector's Prayer in Anticipation
W Christmas," by Rev. Robert R.
Brown, which we quote: (
1 "O God. our Heavenly Father,
insist tis in our endeavors to en
(Continued an pact tour)
College Choir ToRendet ' Messiah '
The fifty-five voice choir of
Appalachian State Teachers Col
lege, under the direction of Vir
ginia Wary Linney will be heard
in its twelfth annual presenta
tion of the Christmas portion of
Handel's Messiah, Sunday even
ing, December 13 at eight o'cloqk
in the First Baptist Church of
Boone.
Soloists (or the performance
will be Miss Alene Queen and
Miss Marie Vaught, sopranos;
Mi. -s Catherine Ray ' and Miss
Gloria Gattis, Contraltos; Jerry
Hill, Tenor; and Robert Gilley,
Bass.
Assisting at the organ will be
Mr. James Rooker of the college
piano'departmont, and Miss Fran
ces Sisk and Miss Beth Eggers at
the piano.
The public is invited to attend.
Weed SalesPass Million
Pounds In First Week
The Boone ' Tobacco Market
sold the maximum poundage al
lowed on each sales day last
week (or a total of 1,020,038
pounds, an?f distributed $543,093.
03 to the farmers for an average
price of $53.43 per hundred. The
market opened Monday, Novem
ber 30,
Sales of 297,000 pounds on Mon
day of this week for a slightly
higher average of $54.25 brought
Rites Held For
William Woodie
Wert Jefferson, Dec. 7 ? William
Vance WboAi, 9i, a former police
chief of Wert Jefferson, died at
his home here yesterday morning.
Mr. Woodie was the foreman of
the Joint Lumber Company in
North Wilkesboro for a number
of years, and later was engaged
in the merchantile business there.
He moved here 37 years ago and
was a merchant until his retire
ment a few years ago. At one
time he was chief of police here.
He was an active member of
West Jefferson Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife,
Mrs. Delphia Woodie; and seven
children, Ed H. Woodie, E. O.
Woodie and M. C. Woodie of
West Jefferson, Mrs. Elzina Lyle
of Tampa, Fla., L. E. Woodie of
Buford, S. C., Mrs. H. W. Wilcox
of Boone, and Glenn C. Woodie of
Winston-Salem.
Funeral services will be con
ducted at the home at 2 p. m.
Wednesday by the Rev. Wilson
Nesbitt and the Rev. Rexford
Campbell. Burial will be in West
Jefferson Cemetery.
Chandler Is New .
Local Patrolman
State Highway Patrolman J. R.
Chandler, of Asheville, came to
Boone' Thursday, where he will
be located, succeeding Patrolman
R. C. Buckner, resigned.
Officer Chandler, served with
the patrol from September 1947
to August 1953, since which time
he has held a position with the
Burke county Sheriffs office.
Mr. and Mrs. Chandler have
two daughters, eleven and seven
years old. ?
Roger B. Parker
Given Promotion
Roger B. Parker, who has been
supervisor of the Charlotte
weighing station since it began
operating in September, 1952, re
cently accepted a promotion as
inspector wfth the license and
theft division ?f the Motor Vehi
cles Department His territory
covers five Piedmont counties
with headquarters In Troy, N. C.
Inspector Parker was formerly
with the State Highway Patrol
and was stationed in Boone for
five yeara.
STORE SALES ,
Department store sales during
the week ended November 21
dropped two percent compared
with a similar week' in 1951 ac
cording to the Federal Reserve
Board.
the total to 1,317,038 pounds.
"In view of the quality of the
burley, we think this is the best
price ever paid in this territory
J>y at least ten or twenty per
cent," said Stanley A. Harris,
supervisor of sales. "Prospects
are good for another capacity
sale at Mountain Burley Ware
house No. 1 on Wednesday," he
added.
R. C. Coleman, President of
Mountain Burley Tobaccq Ware
house Co. which operates in
Boone and Mountain City says,
'The quality 'of tobacco is disap
pointing in that it is nothing like
as good a crop as was first re
ported, but when the quality is
considered the price has been far
above any previous year." Mr.
Coleman was asked what are the
tilings that farmers could do to
get a better price. Mr. Coleman
said, "The first thing is to grade
more carefully. What we call
pawpaw tobacco, is tobacco that
cures light like flue cured and
powpaw leaves, is frequently
mixed in the better grade of to
bacco. That reduces the price
materially. Almost every crop
has some pawp&w tobacco, and if
possible it should be kept separ
ate from the nice goldeiv brown,
which is the centcr leaf on the
stalk and brings the highest
price." Mr. Coleman said that
another thing is to watch care
fully and keep the tobacco dry.
If it is in too high case the price
will go down. If your tobacco is
too wet, try to get it dry before
you bring it to the warehouse.
It seems now as though any
tobacco delivered before noon
will be sold the same day it is
delivered. Sales in Boone are on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
at 9 o'clock. Listen fb Happy Sam
over station WATA in Boone at
12:13, Monday through Friday.
150.00 is given away each Mon
day morning just before the sales
?tart at Boone. This is given by
the Merchants Association. Farm
ers are urged to be sure to get
their tickets when their tobacco
is weighed. Tickets not selected
for the Monday prizes will go in
to the general basket for prizes
on Christmas Eve, when the
Merchants Association will give
away some $500.00. Get tickets at
all stores for Saturday afternoon
gifts and Christmas Eve gifts.
I " \ , t
Cash Gifts Awarded
By Boone Retailers
ruui ptupic ui vvaiuuga coun
ty were awarded cash gifts by
the Merchants Association on the
square Saturday afternoon, and
four farmers received awards at
the Warehouse Monday morning.
Saturday afternoon W. W. Austin
received $20.00, Edsel Greene re
ceived $15.00, Dewejj Isaacs re
ceived $5.00. $10.00 winners name
is not known. Monday morning
at the warehouse C. H. McGuire
received $20.00, W. G. Rutherford
received $15.00, Jason Putnam
received 10.00. Name of the $5.00
is also not known.
Any of the above people who
were not present should call at
the Merchant's Association office
in the Watauga Building and
Loan Building an^l get their
money
Be sure to get your tickets at
the warehouse and your favorite
store, so that next Saturday af
ternoon and Monday morning you
will be eligible for a cash gift.
ana on cnnsimas tve tne Dig 1
$500.00 distribution.
Luther Wilson
Taken By Death
Luther Alexander Wilson of
Reece died at the Watauga Hos
pital on December 6 at the age
of 54. Funeral services were held
on Tuesday, December 8, at the
Beaver Dam Baptist Church.
He is survived by his widow,
Mrs. Ina Wilson, of Reece; one
son. James, of Reece; seven
daughters, Mrs. Dare Hanson, of
Lenoir. Mrs. Ella Mae Tester, of
Blowing Rock. Martha Ann, Bet
ty Sue, Marilou, Alma Ruth and
Ina Jean Wilson, all of Reece;
one brother, William Wilson, of
Reece; and one sister, Mrs. S?m
Duggcr, of Campbellville, Ky.
Local T elephone Building!
Is Soon To Be Completed
Spencer Is Speaker At Annual
Grid Banquet; Athletes Praised
VIRGIL G. ROLLINS
Frank Spencer, sports editor of
the ' Winston-Salem Journal,
! praised All-State Halfback Shir
ley Gabriel of Appalachian State
Teachers College as the "finest
backfield man in the state of
North Carolina" Tuesday in an
address to the Boone Chamber
of Commerce and their guei-H,
the coaching staff, managers and
varsity football team of the col
lege. He was introduced by Ear
nard Dougherty, Appalachian
State business manager.
Spencer said it was his plea
sure and privilege to recommend
Gabriel for Ail-State, Little All
America, and as the best ntulete
in the state this year. He added
Bright Lights To
j Enhance Festive
I Yule Atmosphere
Oaily colored Christmas lights
I and dac orations will soon land
! their overhead beauty to enhance
the festive Yuletide atmosphere
of Boone provided by (he many
attractive window displays and
decorations oi the individual
stores.
Workmen began installing the
lights along . the main business
thereughiarea Tuesday, and the
Job is expected to be completed
and the switch thrown before the
end of the week.
Homer Brown Is
Library Director
In Wilkes-Watauga
Homer Brown of Boone has
been appointed district library
director for the Watauga-Wilkes
area. He will begin his new duties
immediately.
Mr. Brown retired from the
Navy in 1944 as a chief petty of
ficer after 20 years of service. He
then entered Appalachian State
Teachers College and was gradu
ated in 1951 with a B. S. Degree
in Library Science. He received
his master's degree in 1932.
He has been Watauga County
librarian for the past^ear.
Mr. Brown and Clyde Eggers of
Boone were recently named co
chairmen of a committee appoint
ed by the Southern Appalachian
Historical Association to write a
history of Watauga County.
He married Miss Mable Bing
ham, daughter of the late Edward
Bingham, Boone attorney. He is
a brother of Mrs. A. L. Cooke of
Boone.
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
During the first ten months of
1953, spending for nonfarm resi
dential .construction declined
about ten per cent. The total
number of housing units started
during the year is estimated to
be about 1,100,00, about the same
as in 1952 and 1951.
Results Forensic Tourney. Are Tabulated I
Lenoir Rhyne College walked
away with individual (coring
honors in the 13th annual Appa
lachian Mountain Forensic Tourn
ament which was held Thursday,
Fridtay and Saturday, but al] sev
en colleges participating took
home with, them some of the
awards that were presented.
The tournament, which was
sponsored by Pi Kappa Delta.
Appalachian State Teachers Col
lege chapter, was directed by Mr.
Leo K. Pritchett, Appalachian's
coach of debating. Awards were
not presented to teams, but were
given to individuals on the ba
sis of achievement. Those win
ning the various events are as
follows:
In ihen's debating: John Smart
and William Bolick. both of Le
noir Rhyne, tied for first placc;
Fred Ramseur and Harlan Creech
of Lenoir Rhyne, Bill Jones of
j Carson-Newman, tied for second
I place; and David Wright, Lenoir
Rhyne, Doyle Casteel, Carson
Newman. and David KnUely, Car
son-Newman. tied for tmrd placc.
In women's debating the win
ners were Joanne Aldridfo,
ASTC, first place; Mary Ann
Wolfe of Lenoir Rhyne, and Jo
Ann Brooks of MaryviUe tied for i
second; and Ann Cline and Alice
Setzler, both of Lenoir Rhyne,
tied for third.
In men's oratory, Johnny Byrd
of Milllgan wns first, and David
j Pittman of Mars Hill second. In
: women's Oratory, Roberta Mc
Bryde, Man Hill, was first, and
| Mouise Simpson of Mars Hill (co>
ond.
After-dinner speakers, who per
formed at the tournament ban
quet? won out as follows: Men ?
Frank Kendall, East Tennessee,
first; David Pittman, Mar% Hill,
second! and Jewell Bryson, East
Tennessee, third. Women ? Mou
ise Simpson. Mars Hill, first; and
Naomi Burgess, Maryvillc, sec
ond. , ?
In extempore, the men winners
were David Wright, Lenoir
Rhyne, first; A. L. Addington.
East Tennessee, second;' Bob
Cook, East Teniwpc*', Johnny
Byrd, Milligan, wflliam Bolick.
Lenoir Rhyne, and Jim Kilgore,
East Tennessee, all tle0for third
place. The women winners were
Joanne Aldridgc, ASTC, first: '
Ana Cllne, Lenoir Rhyne, second; |
and Mary Jane White, ASTC.
third.
Men winner* in problem-solv
ing were Harlan Creech, Lenoir
Rhyne; David Pittmon, Mar*
Hill; and Gene Christian, East
Tennessee, in that order. The
women winner* were Joanne Al
dridge. ASTC, Janie Dennis,
Mars Hiir, and Ann Cline of Le
noir Rhyne, respectively one, two
and three. *
In poetry reading the men
were David Wright, Lenoir
Khyne, second: and David Pitt
man, Mars Hill, third. The wo
men were Roberta McBryde..
Mars Hill, first; Mary Ann Wolfe.
Lenoir Rhyne, aecond; and Jo
anne Aldridge, ASTC, third.
The contest In radio newscatt
' (Continual on page two.)
that Gabriel recaiifed the vc.tes
of all participating North Caro- {
Una sports writers for a berth on
the Little All-Ameriean team. |
He told the assembled players
that if they will team all football I
has to offer during their college 1
careers they will have something !
that will stand them in good
stead in later life. Former athle
tes are leaders in any community,
he continued, because they have
that driving, competitive spirit
and the desire to win that charac
terizes success on the football
field.
Gabriel spoke earlier in the
meeting and modestly gave a
lion's share of the credit for his
exploits on the gridiron to the
linemen and other backs who op
ened the holes and did the down
field blocking.
Opening the meeting on a key
note of teamwork between the
town and the college, President
H. W. Wilcox introduced head
coach E. C. Duggins, who in turn
expressed appreciation for that
cooperation and the 'successful ef
fort of the Chamber of Commerce
in their recent otty-wide project
to provide funds -to send the col
lege band to the Tampa, Fla.,
Watauga Farmers Seek
To Save Soil, Water
Watauga County farmers are
cooperating with the Federal
Government in an effort to con
serve our soil and water resour
ces. according to Dwlght Cable,
cHairifan, County Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation
committee (formerly the Produc
tion and Marketing Administra
tion, PMA) On November 6, the
initial closing date for farmers
to request Federal cost-sharing
under the 1954 Agricultural Con
servation Program, 1,200 Watauga
County farmers had indicated
their intention to cooperate in the
Glenn Reese Third
In Sheep Shearing
Contest In Chicago
Glenn Reese, son of Mr. an'd
Mrs. Asa L. Reese placed third
in the National 4-H Sheep Shear
ing contest held in Chicago Fri
?day, December 4.
Glenn scored 92.1. The winner
Hal Bowen from Indiana scored
92.43. Durlfig the preliminaries
which were held earlier in the
week Glenn was high scorer with
a score of 93.65.
Bobby Gene Norris another
Watauga county boy scored 88.35
in the preliminiries but did not
get in the finals.
Twenty top 4-H shearers from
throughout the. United States en
tered the contest. ,
the boys were accompanied to
Chicago by W. C. Richardson, as
sistant county agent Who is their
coach.
game.
Attorney Wade Brown also
spoke briefuly, and pointed up
the fact that the school and the
town are working more closely
together than ever before.
Coach Ditggins introduced the
following coaches, managers, and
players who were present at
Tuesday's luncheon meeting at
the Gateway Restaurant:
Coaches: > Francis Hoover, Bob
Broome, and Preston Mull. Assist
ant Coach John Kirk was unable
to attend because of classroom
duties.
Managers: Jack Parks, Bunk
Carpenter, and Jake Hord.
Players: Mac Smith, Joe Eiler
Ben Quinn, Jack Pennell, R. E.
Cummings, Morris Branch, Mack
Maynes, Bob Jones, Colon Ni
fong, Harold Lakey, Buck Hall,
Ned Pennell, Charles Taylor, Don
Hiatt, Jim Ollls, Junior Grocc,
Aubrey Elam, Jim Kiser, Joe
Garwood, Paul Wellborn, and
Shirley Gabriel.
School assignments prevented
the attendance of Bobby Joe Bak
er, Jim Martin, John Gamble,
Bob Clendenin, Ray Trip'ett, and
a former Appalachian backfield
great, Jack Groce.
program. These farms requested
$165,000 Federal assistance, ac
cording to Mr. Cable. ,
The county was allocated only
$43,920 to be used in sharing
with the farmer part of the cost
of carrying out needed conserva
tion practices.
Mr. Cable points out that the
establishment of legumes and
grass vegetative cover as a part
of land-use adjustments and ini
tiating systematic crop rotations
is an important part of the 1954
Agriculture Conservation Pro
gram. Eleven hundred and six
ty-five farmers in the county re
quested cost-sharing for 8,570
acres for the establishment of
permanent protective cover. Fed
eral cost-sharing on seed, lime,
and commercial fertilizers essen
tial to such establishment is pro
vided for in the program. Mr.
Cable says that farmers have re
quested cost-sharing for more
earth moving practices than any
previous year.
"Some of the farmers who have
been given approvals will -prob
ably not be able to carry out the
practices by the date specified by
the county committee and the
money set up for these practices
will be returned to the county
pool," he said. "The county com
mittee has decided that they will
accept farmers' requests for cost
sharing throughout the program
year, and requests filed will be
acceptcd and given consideration,
to the extent available funds per
mit. at each regular monthly
meeting of the committee."
All fanners may file requests
with the county committee at the
ASC (PMA) office which is locat
ed at the county buildinf,*Boone.
Requests for cost-sharing under
the 1954 ACP may be filed during
office hours Monday through Fri
day.
Funds Sought For
Orphans Home
y ?
Funds are again being sought
for the Grandfather Home, Ban
ner Elk, to aid in preparing a
Christmas party for the oi-phans
who are being reared there.
Since the children at Grand
father are principally from this
immediate section, the people
here have been (lad to respond
heretofore, regardless of other in
stitutions.
Those willing to aid in thia
work are asked to lenve their
contributions with Guy Hunt,
Rob Rivers, Watt Gragg or Willys
Chester within the nest few days.
?
Project To
Cost Over
$200,000
Southern Bell's new building,
located at 709 E. King Street, is
about 90% complete, It waa an
nounced by Mr. H. M. Inabinet,
group manager (or the telephone
company. Good progress is being ,
made on the erection of the $31,- A
000.00 building and will soon be '
ready (or the installation of the
dial central of(ice equipment
valued at $173,800.00, the tele
phone manager stated.
Dial telephone sets have been
installed in subscriber's homes
and business prior to the com
pletion of the new system, bpt the
present telephones will continue
to operate under the manual
method until the entire dial sys
tem is completed and placed in
service. The campany would like
to be advised of any case whese
the dial set has not been installed,
by calling 9000 and leaving tele- ?
phone number. Mr. Inabinet said
that until the conversion is com
pleted, any manipulation of the
dial might serve to impair the
present service.
The dial system is scheduled to
be cut over -at noon March 3,
1954. Mr. Inabinet stated that
the improvement and expansion
of telephone service in Boone is
another step forward In South
ern Bell's program of providing
more and better telephone ser
vice.
Christmas Seal
Sale Progresses
The 19S3 Christmas Seal cam
paign, now in its fourth week, is
progressing nicely according to
Miss Helton Underdown, Seal Sale
Chairman. i
Miss Underdown would like to
take this means of expressing her
appreciation and sincere thanks
to every person in the coilnty
who has in any way contributed
to the success of the campaign,
and to urge all who have not sent
in their contributions, to please
do so, that we may be able to
reach our goal o( $1,500.00.
Virgil Guire Is
Claimed By Death
Virgil D. Guire, 79, prominent
religious, civic and educational
leader of Lenoir, died suddenly
there Saturday, (rom an attack
su((ered while driving his car.
Funeral services were held
Sunday at 3 o'clock at the First
Presbyterian Church o( Lenoir.
A member ftt the Board of
Trustees o( Appalachian State
Teacher* College, ancK a (ormer
highway commissioner, Mr. Guire
was well known in Watauga,
where he had many (riends.
Weather
This week began with the low
est' temperature recorded this
winter, and ended with muddy
back yards, produced by rain on
the third and fourth. ?
Temperatures were:
Max. Mih. 6 p.m.
41 ? 32
43. 25 36
42 * 20 31
90 13 30
48 20 40
52 30 48
63 36 40
Precipitation:
Dec. 4?0.48 in.
Dec. 3-0.1J in. '
The month of November was
mild, and Ihe first nineteen days
dry. Th^ highest temperature
was 70, recorded on the second:
the lowest, t, recorded on the ?
29th. The greatest amount of rain
occurred on Nov. 23 ? 1.28 Inches;
the total amount of precipitation
Date
Nov. 20
Nov. 30
Dec. 1
Dec. 2
Dec. 3
Dec. 4
Dec. S