Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / March 4, 1954, edition 1 / Page 1
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WATAUGA DE^MOCRAT 1950 Population 2,?73 An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year 1888 1950 Po'M,1?tio,, 18,541 SIXTY-SIXTH YEAR? N<S. 34 14 PAGES? 2 SECTIONS ' KING STREET BY ROB RIVERS . "Totting hit man* of tnowt in wildest eddiet and Ungltt. Lion ? like March Cometh in. hoarte. with terapeatuout breath." March roared in "like a iion," with half a foot or so of snow, which would have b?en a lot deeper had it not started falling right on the heels of Sunday's de luge of rain . . . Schools couldn't operate Monday, 'count of the buses couldn't well travel over rural roads, but main arteries of transportation not seriously af fected by the winter's heaviest snowfall. . . And we find a tort if consolation as we wade through the snowpiles, that there's may be less chance of a big snow tow ard the end of the month. . . We also find a degree of solace in the knowledge that rainfall has been greater this winter than common, and that this snow atop the thawed terrain bodes well for needed moisture in the spring, and maybe a better growing sea son than we've been getting the past three years. . . THE ORDER CHANQETH New telephone books have bean mailed out. together with the utval initructioni for the ute of the dial telephone, which tiartt at noon today, and thut endt the era of the old hand cranker*. with the dry cellt and the magneto, and the pleat ant exchangee with the perton nel at the central office who have rendered ouittanding ser vice with the outmoded equip ment with which they have had to work. AND WE THINK BACK . . . to the days when Mrs. Etta Horton operated the switchboard in Boone, and later when Miss Mattie Toppings took care of the messages when the exchange was located in her living quarters in the E. S. Coffey office building, across from the old Rivers place. . And as a child we used to (visit some in the office, where Mrs. Toppings' mother, Mrs. Wyke, sat in the living room, loaded her clay pipe from a big tin tobacco box which sat by the fireside, dipped the Sally Michael creation into the glowing embers und came up with a heap of coals and ashes atep the pipe bowl. . . And that's the last of the old bonneted ladies we ever saw ma nipulating a wheezy clay pipe with a reed or ti-ti stem. . . Later Mrs. Toppings took the central office to her home down below the present Baptist Church, where >he carried on for many years. . . We remember the Watauga Dem ocrat's first telephone, installed by the laW J. C. "Pete" Mast, which incidentally cost about ten dollars per year. It was one :>f the wall models, which was placed high on the wall above the .tair landing in the old Democrat Duilding . . . (never did under hand why they were always placed so high that the average mnn had to stand on tiptoe). . . \nd we recall the different rings" assigned to each phone. . We believe two longs and V -hort was supposed to get the Watauga Democrat on the line. . . and we remember our child ish reflections on how long a long ring", should be, and how nany turns of the crank would jo for a short ring. . . We haven't ret' found out. . . We remember pleasantly the pioneers ,in the >usiness ? J. C. Horton, Pete Wast, W. Y. Farthing, the Far hing boYS, Mrs. Ett Hqrton, Mr?. Vlattie Toppings, Mrs. Jessie kicGuirc, and of late years, Mrs. cssie Warman. . . To these and ithcrs whom we may have failed o recall, we are especially grate ul for the service which hat been indered, and we shall miss, for fact, the pleasant voice we al ways heard at the other end of he line, which has been silenced n the march of progress. LIKES THE INFORMALITY And while w? arc among thoae who have yelled lha loud est faQdial aarrica. aa both Mr. Gaorga and Mr. Inabinat would testify- thai* will ba nostalgic memoriae of the old days and the old ways. . . A prominent business man sounded off lha other day in bahalf oi tha wholesome informalities asso ciated with tha ante- dated tel (Continued on paf* lour) Jerry Oddo as Proteus and Lauren Farr as Valentine, two merry, madcap gentlemen of Verona, in William Shakespeare's comedy, "Two Gentlemen of Verona," which the world famous Barter The atre of Virginia will present in Boone on Monday, March 8. The af ternoon performance will be given at 1:15 o'clock, under the sponsor ship of the Boone Business and Professional Women's Club, in the ASTC auditroium. The night performance, which is given under the college lyceum series, is open to college students only. The matinee performance at 1:15 is the only one that will be open to the public. Tickets may be secured from any member of the Boone Business and Professional Women's Club. High School Students May See Barter Play High school students in Wa tauga county will have an oppor tunity again this year to see a professional performance of an other of Shakespeare's plays. The occasion will be the famous Bai Fire Destroys Rooming House A rooming house owned by Delia Whittington in the colored section of Boone was completely destroyed by fire Saturday at about 6:30 p. m. Of undetermined origin, the flames had almost (ptally con sumed the two-story structure and its contents by the time he alarm was turned in, said Fire Chief Howard Cottrell. All of the occupants escaped without in jury, it was reported. Biggest Snow FallsSunday j The biggest snow of the season occurred Sunday night and Mon day morning when about six inches fell in the vicinity of Boone, and less In some other sections of the county. Schools were closed for the day, but as county roads were cleared for bus travel, classes were resumed Tuesday. The snowfall came on the heels of a one and a half inch rain of Sunday, and was accompanied by winds and freezing, tempera tures. Tuesday's sunshine was rapidly disposing of the snow. Economists discern favorable business outlook. ter Theatre presentation of "The Two Qentlemen Of Verona" which is to be given at Appala chian State Teachers college in Boone on March 8. A special matinee performance is being given at 1:00 in the afternoon for 'he benefit of visitors and public 9chool students and teachers. Pupils transported by school bus will be able to leave Boone by 4:30 in the afternoon. Appalachian State Teachers college is presenting this comedy on the night of March 8 as one of its lyceum series of the season, but the performance is open on ly to students from the college. The Boone Business and Profes sional Women's Club is coopera' ing with the collegc in the pre sentation of the matinee so that the public school students will have an opportunity to see this famous play in a professional performance. Tickets may be obtained by either writing or telephoning Mrs. Margaret Gragg in Boone. Mrs. Gragg is president of the Boone BPW Club, and all members of her club will also have tickets available for sale. Glovier Given Naval Award Malcom Glovier, resident of Boone, but presently an employee of the Chincotague Naval Base in Virginia, was one of those who was recently given a "Bcneficial Suggestions Award" by Captain H. T. Johnson, Commandant of the Naval Air Station. Mr. plovier, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Mont Glovier, was a Chief Motor Machinist when discharg ed from the Navy after World War II. Paul H. Norris Fatally Hurt In Accident At Mill Paul . Hoover Norris, 17-year old ,aon of Elbert S. Norris, of Boone RFD 2, died Sunday, Feb ruary 28, in Watauga Hospital of injuries he received Friday when his arm was caufht in a belt of a hammer mill, and he was thrown from the farm machine. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 2, at 2 p. m. in Bethel Methodist Church, con ducted by the Rev. C. R. Mc Kinney, and burial was in Fair view Cemetery. Norris suffered a compound fracture of the head, a severe brain injury, and a compound fracture of the arm. ' He was reared, in the Children's Home in Winston'-Salem after the death of his mother. He had been residing with his father about two years. Surviving besides the father are three brothers, Denver and Edward, of Boone RFD 2, and Jacob Lutz of Bel wood; four sisters, Mrs. Shuford Edmisten of Blowing Rock, Miss Nina Norris of Boone, Mrs. Roby Painter and Mrs. Linwood Lafferty of Ban ner Elk. Terry 0. Norris To Get Doctorate TERRY ORBAN NORRIS Mr. Terry Orban Norris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart H. Norris of Maple Hill Farm, Route 2, Boone, has completed requirements for a Ph. Ddegree in organic chem istry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Norris was graduated from Appalachian High School and also received his B. A. and M. A. de grees at Chapel Hill. As an un dergraduate he was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa, honorary scholastic fraternity. He was a member of the Naval ROTC unit in Chapel Hill end served in the U. S. Navy in World War II. Mr. Norris has accepted a po sition doing fundamental re search in photographic processes with the Photo Products Division of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company at Parlin, New Jersey. Mabel Postoffice Is Discontinued Mabel postoffice, in upper Cove Creek township, was discontinu ed March 1, in what is described as an economy move by the De partment. The postoffice, which served an important section of the count ty, had been in change of Mr. Lee Thomas as postmaster. NEW BUrLDI NG ? The modern building ercctesi by SouUicrn Ben Telephone uo., 10 house equipment for the new dial system. "The building is l<cated on East King Street. The "cutover" is to be made at noon today (Wednesday). ? Stall photo Joe Minor. _ . . .] Dial T elephone System Placed In Service Today INTRICATE EQUIPMENT ? Employees of Western Electric Co., are seen adjusting automatic apparatus at Boone's new dial telephone exchange. They are: J. M. Riddle, G. B. Davis, W. P. Bumpus, J. R. Bryant. ? Photo Paul Wesson. Dr. Gartner To Speak Tuesday To Civic Group Dr. J. B. Gartner, extension horticultural specialist, State Col lege, Raleigh, will be the speaker at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, March 9. Dr. Gartner will likely give some pointers on the beautificatiot) of the community, as a prelude to the annual cleah-up campaign. Meantime Rev. Edwin F. Trout man, Chairman of the Clean-up Committee calls attention to much unsightliness about the town, which he hopes will be cleared up when warm weather comes. The Committee expresses ap preciation for what other clean up groups have done in the past, and promises to do all possible to make the city clean and attrac tive. Other members of the clean up committee are: Mrs. B. W. Stallings, Mrs. James Winkler, Mayor Gordon H. Winkler, Bar nard Dougherty, Dr. A. P. Kep hart. 7 Wataugans In March Draft Call Seven Watauga county men went to Charlotte Monday for examination and induction into the army, as Watauga's March quota under the Selective Service law. The names of those inducted are: Tommy Earl Sluder, Banner Elk. Raleigh Ray Clark, Shulls Mills. Harbin Everett Moretz, Vilas. Kenneth Lee Coi)k, Boone. Luther Martin Banner, Sugar Grove. Albert Young Greene, Boone. Dillard Glenn Hodges, Boone. The men will likely be station ed at Fort Jackson, S. C. World Prayer Service Slated World Day of Prayer Service I will be held In Grace Luthern Church, Friday evening at 7 :30. For the sixty-seventh successive ! year World Day^of Prayer will be observed on JYidsy, March 5th. This mighty Christian Fellow ship encompasses the world. From land to land its torch is passed as the earth rotates its ; daily rounds, until 116 countries have kept this special vigil. You are urged to join in this, fellowship of prayer by attend ing the World Day of Prayer Ser vice. 0 Eggs selling at highest price 1 | wuce J848. ' Earl Cook Reelected Chairman Of G. O. P. McFadden To ?9 i Speak To Meeting Watauga Teachers Mr. Henry McFadden, of Ral eigh, director of public relations for the North Carolina Education Association, will be the principal speaker at the meeting of the Watauga unit of the NCEA to be held at Parkway School next Monday evening at 7:30. A full attendance of the teach ers of the county is urged. Mrs. Councill Reappointed To Welfare Board Mrs. Grace M. Council of Boone has been reappointed to a new three yeat term as the State Department of Public Welfare Representative on the Watauga County Welfare Board. Her selection was announced last week by Dr. Ellen Winston, State Welfare Commissioner, al though the term does not start until April 1. Other present members of the Board are Chairman C. D. Mc Neil, picked by other two board members, and Paul A. Coffey, named to represent the Board of County Commissioners. FIRE HELPS COPS Kingsport, Tenn. ? Searching for whiskey in a grass-filled empty lot. officers decided to burn off the grass. They did, and in the ashes found four half-gal lon jars and one pint of moon shine. Ten half-gallon jars got away ? they exploded in the heat. Watauga County Republicans met in convention in the court house In Boone Saturday after noon and re-elected Earl D. Cook county chairman,' Mrs. Paul Cof fey, vice chairman and Paul Cof fey, secretary. W. H. Gjwg and 8. C. Efters were named members of the state executive committee and the following to the county execu tive committee: Leslie Norris, Clyde Robinsori, AUeh Craig, El mer Miller, Kenneth Linney, Mc Coy Bingham, Clarence Watson, Ralph Hays, Charles Mast, Den ver Church, L. E. Wilson, T. O. Eggers, John Hollar, John Potter. Heath Smith, Joe Coffey and Stanford Coffey. Chairman Cook said the names of S. C. Eggers, Jr., G. K. Moose and Perry Greene are being sent to Raleigh as recommendations for the county election board.' Present board members are Roby Greer and Raleigh Cottrell,.bemo crats, and S. C. Eggers Jr., Re publican. Democratic recommendations for the county board made two weeks ago are Roby Greer, Ma jor John Thomas and Gordon Taylor. Some 200 Republicans attend ed. Bishop Henry To Visit Boone The Rt. Rev. M. George Henry, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, will administer the apostolic rite of confirmation on a class Sunday, March 7, In St. Luke's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Thomas SeiU. priest in-charge, will present the candi dates to Bishop Henry at the 11 a. m. service. In the afternoon Bishop Henry will go to St. Mary\ Church, Beaver Creek, of which l&r. Scitz also is in charge, to administer confirmation. Boone Says Bye To Old Manual , Type Of Phone Boone will say "farewell" to the * manual-magneto telephone when the new system is placed into service Wednesday, 12:00 noon, H. M. Inabinet, Manager ' for Southern Bell, said that there would be no interruption in ser vice here when the changeover is made. Although telephone users will no longer begreeted by the fam ous "number please" phrase, the voice with the smile won't di sappear entirely from the tele phone scene. After dialing "O" for operator, cheerful, efficient young ladies "will be there to handle your long distance calls, "information" calls, ctc. Com plete instructions on how to place calls over the dial etlephone are contained in a booklet recently distributed to all Boone subscrib ers. Mr. Inabinet stated, similar - details also appear in the new directory. The dial system constructed at a cost of well over $204,000.00 brings to this city the latest type of automatic dial service which will compare favorably with any found in the largest cities in the nation. Currently there are 1200 subscribers in the growing ex change. An aaaca convenience lor tele phone subscribers is the tele phone business office located in the new building on King Street The office will be open daily ex cept for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Bills may be paid there Also, other business transactions may be handled there in person or by dialing AM-4-8811 Mr. Ina binet pointed out. There, is a depository in the lobby where customers may make payments after office hours. Weather February 22 to February 28 Temperatures remained for the most part in the 40's and 50's this week, with no rain until Sunday. On that day, however, precipita tion occurred almost all day; there was 1 '4 inches recorded at 7 P.M. Max. Min 6 p. m. Date 47 36 44 Feb. 22 54 27 45 Feb. 23 47 40 42 Feb. 24 59 32 51 Feb. 25 51 34 34 Feb. 26 54 27 43 Feb. 27 54 42 48 Feb. 28 No precipitation. The month of February held mild temperatures for people in Boone; the extremes were: "high, 67, on the 15th, and low, 5, on the 9th. The most striking fea ture of the month's weather was the rain which fell on the 21st to total 4.31 inches. Total precipita tion for the month was 5.11 in ches with traces of snow. Baltimore, Md. ? A front wheel off a city dump truck crashed through a Lamont avenue store front, completely demolishing the window and narrowly missing a pedestrian. A bystander looking on fainted from the excitement, and was rushed to a hospital to be treated for a sprained back. Dough'ton Retires From Party Post; Higgins Will Get Nod Raleigh, Feb. 25? North Caro lina'! 90-year-old former Rep. R. L- (Farmer Bob) Doughton is stepping down as the stale's Democratic national committee man because of his health. Gov. Umrtead told his news conference toda>\ The governor told the news men he hoped that the State Democratic Executive Committee when it meet* hare March 10 will elect Carlisle Higgins of Winston-Salem to aucceed Dough ton The governor kaid Doughton had written turn telling him tbatj because- of his health he is asking to be relieved. Higgins, an attorney, managed Umstead's gubernatorial primary campaign in which Um stead bested Hubert E. Olive of Lex ington. Higgins is a former state district solicitor and former U. S. district attorney. The governor described Hig gins as "one of the best Demo crats I know" and as one who "has ri^ver faltered In fny mat ter I know of pertaining to the Democratic Party." Doughton's decision to step down came u no surprise. There u ? -".-.A..' . 1 had been rumors for several months that because of his health he was considering relinquishing the national committee post^ Gov. Umstead was high i?his praise of Doughton and particu larly the energetic part he play ed in the 1952 general election campaign. He said that since he had ban in public life he had not known of anyone who "devoted himself as Industriously and effectively" as Doughton did in that election. Doughton stepped down from Congress in 1952 after having (Continued on page eight)
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
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March 4, 1954, edition 1
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