BOONE Il/ATA TT/^ A 1 IT? AT1 WATAUGA COUNTY
^ sl? we,tera North YVjlY a jHL U vjA I yKlVll ll ;K f\ X
isso Po^UUon 2,t73# An Independent Weekly Newspaper? Established in the Year 1 888 * - ( l?50 Population 18,341 |
SIXTY-SEVENTH YEAR.? NO. J. ' BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, .1954. TWO SECTIONS? 10 PAGES
KING
STREET
BY
ROB RIVERS *
THE END Or A BUSY
SOJOURN
On Monday we took another o(
those measured walks up the
grade to the old neighborhood
cefnetery, where the funeral rites
were concluded for one of Boone's
aged citizens, who only Sunday
reached the end of the journey
. . . )Ve reflected on the fact- that
so few of the older citizens of the
community ? the folks who were
around in the days of our youth
? are here today, and we found
ourselves lost in the memories of
the activities of those who had
departed. And the life of Maw
Blackburn who so recently went
away, stood out in clear perspec
tive as one of the most whole
some and gracious careers in the
history of a kind little village,
which almost overnight found it
self grappling with the problems
of a thriving city.
IN RETROSPECT
The- Blackburn Hotel and
general store. operated by Mr.
and Mr*. M. B. Blackburn used
to be the center of buslnee* and
social life of the neighborhood
. . . The traveling public found
food and shelter there; the local
residents found shoes and cloth
ing and fat back and kerosene
and dress goods, and plows and
turpentine. Japanese oil and 22
bullets . . . But more import
ant there were the genial and
charitable ManJey Blecjcburn
and Mrs. Blackburn, who in
later years came 4o be called
"Maw Blackburn", who was the
advisor, the physician, the un
dertaker. the untiring friend of
all the folks, whoee feet trod
the Street for sixty-fire years,
bringing food to the needy,
nostrums to the ill. cheer and
laughter to the faltering and
tbe wisdom of love and experi
ence to the unknowing.
AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD of
a sharp frosty November morn
ing when the family physician,
Mrs. Blackburn and Aunt Emma,
a mammy Negro, got there in
time to hear our first yelp cut the
crisp air and to lend a hand in
the emergency, which was per
haps considerable in those days
before hospital care was avail
able and when conveniences had
not reached the households of
the village . . . And in succeed
ing years when the Blackburns
and Riverses lived close together,
we came to love this good neigh
bor, who knew most everything,
it seemed . . . She knew how
long it should take for the meas
les to pop out thick and stinky,
when the whooping cough was
apt to let up, how much Jeru
salem oak seed should go in the
'lasses when the yoiinguns need
ed wormin', the proper yarbs to
ma^e puny youngsters eat better,
and wjho John Doe married, and
the eccentricities of his grand
paw . And she knew how to be
a good ? neighbor, socially. Her
high good humor, her wealth of
funny stories, and the ludicrous
things that had happened to her
while ministering to the needs of
the neighborhood, made great
fun on cold winter evenings,
when the logs crackled and there
were red apples a'plenty and pop
corn and chestnuts, and the kids
were well and the neighbors in
fettle.
BUT DARK DAYS CAME, in
the coutm of time. and there'd
be M? and Mn. Blackburn
would minister io tha naada of
tha ilrickan. and console fhoaa
who waited ... And several
time* thara waa crapa on tha
door . . . Thara war* no under
takers in thoaa days and thara
waa tawing to bo dona, and
cooking for tha waka. advice to
bo given . . . and she knaw
what to do. And iho'd (had ?
tear over a casket. smooth back
a stray wisp of hair, an<4*tall
tha folks if it would ba safa to
wait for tha kin to arriva "from
off." . . . And nobody would
halp bring tha spirit of man
back to normal lika Maw whan
thara waa fraab dirt in tha local
graveyvrd.
MRS. BLACKBURN had been
a member of the Boone Metho
dist Church for about sixty-Ae
yean, and contributed of her
(labors and her funds without
stint, but her greatest joys came
from her love of humanity .
Among the people who inhabited
(Continued on page two)
* , s
Last Rites Are Held
For Mrs. Blackburn
Mrs. M. B. Blackburn, 94 years
old, prominent resident of Boone,
died at Watauga Hospital Sunday.
Mrs. Blackburn had been in
her usual health until she was in
jured in a (all a few weeks, ago.
Since that time she had gradual
ly weakened and her condition
qad been critical for the past sev
eral days.
Funeral services were conduct
ed at the Methodist Church Mon
day at 2 o'clock. The pas(or, Bev.
J. T. Shackford and a former
pastor, Rev. S. B. Moss conducted
the rites and burial was in the
family plot in the community
cfmetery.
Thq, pallbearers were: Austin
South, Kenneth < Linney, Paul
Coffey, Rob Rivers, Frank Payne,
Dean Bingham, prady Farthing,
Jim Councill.
The floral offering was in
charge of members of the Friday
Afternoon Club.
Surviving Mrs. Blackburn are
two daughters: Mrs. M. P. Crit
cher, Mrs. J. W. Jones, Boone; a
brother, Benjamin Norris, Route
1, Boone; six grandchildren and
eight great grandchildren.
Mrs. Blackburn was a native of
Watauga County, arfc was reared
in Meat Camp township. She had
lived in Boone lor more than
sixty-tive years, where she and
MRS. M. B BLACKBURN
her husband, the late M. B.
Blackburn, operated the Black
burn Hotel for many years.
Annual Farm Tours
Begin Here Tuesday
The Annual Farm Tours for
the Watauga Unit Test Demon
stration termers will start on
Tuesday, it. was announced by L.
E. Tuckwiller, county agent. All
(arm people and others interested
in farming are especially invited
to attend.
Four area tours will be held and
then special farms will be visited
in a county-wide tour at a later
date.
At the end of each area tour the
people on the tour will be asked
to select the "home that made the
most improvements within the
yeW," and also the "farm making
the most improvements within the
year." In both cases the land,
livestock, end prior improvements
will be considered.
The tours for next week will be
as follows', with each tour begin
ing at 8:30 at the county agent's
office, the group going directly
to the first farm mentioned.
Tuesday, August 10:
Clyde Moretz, at 9:00 a. m.;
Odis Greene, Royce Perry, Ferd
Michael, Milton Moretz, Roy Mo
retz, a'nd Bill Krider.
Thursday, August 12:
Cecil Swift at 9:15 a. m.; San
ford Creed, David Farthing, W.
R. Vines, D. F. Greene, Ivan
Dishman, Mrs. Janie Dishman.
Mr. Tuckwiller stated that
those interested in the tour may
join the group at any of the farms
mentioned.
This year special attention will
be called to both farm and home
improvements, therefore both
men and women will participate
in the tour. Those wishing to eat
may carry a sandwich lunch.
Twin City Leader
To Address C. Of C.
Archie K. Davis, vice-president
of the Wachovia Bank & Trust
Company, Winston-Salem, and
president of the Northwestern
North Carolina Development As
sociation, will be the speaker at
the Chamber of Commerce meet
ing to be held at the Gateway
Restaurant at noon Tuesday, Au
gust 10.
Mr. Davis, whose career is
closely identified with State and
national banking organizations, is
in alumnus of the Graduate
School of Banking at Rutgers Un
iversity and a member of the Ex
ecutive Committee of the Ameri
can Bankers Association. He has
served two terms as vice-presi
dent of the Winston-Salem Cham
(Continued on page six.)
ARCHIE K. DAVIS
Local People
Help Organize
TV A Association
Muscle Shoals, Alabama. ? A
Tennessee Valley Association of
Test-Demonstration Farm Fami
lies was organized here last week
by some 400 test-demonstration
farmers and their wives from 90
counties in the Tennessee Valley
watershed of Alabama, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North Car
olina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Purpose of the association is to
knit together the efforts and
leadership of farm families who
are serving and who have served
their communities at test-demon
stration families. The experience
these farm people have gained in
combining the use of fertilizers
produced at the TVA factory-lab
oratory at Muscle Shoals with
scientific know-how provided by
their land-grant college research
and agricultural extension staffs
is to be pooled through this org
anization to contribute to the
continued advancement of rural
living in the Valley and the Na
tion.
The association is designed to
also "provide a medium of ex
change between TVA, land-grant
colleges, and farm people," and
"provide a vehicle whereby peo
ple of the Valley can act together
on matters of mutual interest."
The association is to be purely ed
ucational in its functions and will
concern itself with the develop
ment of the resources of the Val
ley for the benefit of the people.
Attending the meeting which
set up the association were Milton
Moretz, Route 1, Boone; Otto
Thomas, Zionville; R. C. Shipley,
Vilas, from Watauga county.
Mr. Shipley served on the nom
inating committee to set up the
TVA area group for this section.
Milk Suppliers
III County Are
Given Grades
All milk suppliers in the coun
ty have been graded by the Wa
tauga County Health Department
in accordance with the grade
specifications of the milk ordin
ance and code governing same.
All consumers are urged to
purchase milk on the basis of
grade. These grades appear on
each bottle cap or carton. The re
tailing of raw milk was banned
effective July 1. Excellent infor
mation is given about milk in
an article, "What Every Person
Should Know About Milk," cop
ies of which mav be obtained
from the local health department
or from the U. S. Public Health
Service in Washington, D. C.
The following Watauga county
distributors have been approved
for pasteurized products: Appala
chian State Teachers College,
Coble Dairy Products. Inc., Hil
lards Dairy, Hillside Dairy Pro
ducts, Inc., and Southern Dairies.
All persons are urged by the
Health Department to not use
or plav any part in the illegal
sale of raw or ungraded milk or
milk products.
Canada is building up her de
fensive naval forces.
Summer Band To Play At Vespers
The Summer School Band, up
der the direction of William
Spencer, will present a program
of sacred music at the Horn in
the West Theatre Sunday after
noon at 3:30 o'clock. The band
has presented several concerts of
outdoor music for the students
on the campus and for the towns
people on Monday evenings dur
ing the past two months.
In case of rain the program will
be held In the college auditorium.
This program is the regular
community vespers program, held
each Sunday during summer by
the churches of Boone aod Blow
'ing Rock. ?
The program will be as fol
low t:
Chorale, "Komm Susscr Tod,"
J. S. Bach.
"Rock of Ages," Hastings, fea
turing an OThoing brass quartet.
"The Lord's Prayer," Malotte
Lakc, Hoyt Safrit, soloist.
Quartet, "Bless This House,"
Taylor-Brahe, Alene Queen. Mary
Alva Cole, Gene Wilson. Pat Mat
hews.
Instrumental number.
The band has been active thfe
summer with concerts and read
ing music lor the instrumental
workshop which was held at the
college July 20-30, and will con
tinue to be busy right up to the
end of the summer.
They will help furnish the mu
sic for the Annual Masonic Pic;
nic, which is held at MocksvilJe,
Thursday, August 12. They ex
p^t to spend the entire day thcra.
This year the band will be as
sisted by members of the Cherry
vilie and Wilkes Central High
School bands. Directors of these
bands are Dale Gabill and Claude
J arret'.. ,?
Democratic Convention Names
Candidates For Local Offices
MISS JENNIE COFFEY, who died Tuesday in her I02nd year, is shown here as she perused the Wa
newspaper w ith ouT* glasses.8 Ugh She had PaSSed her 10Iit Wrthday' she was readin? the local
* I
Miss Jennie Coffey, 101 Years
Old, Succumbs Tuesday Noon
Williams Given
Duke U. Grant
CRATIS D. WILLIAMS
Cratis O. Williams, Professor of
English at Appalachian, has gone
to Duke University for six weeks
where he will engage in research
in the Duke Library under a
grant-in-aid from the university.
Mr. Williamp, who is studying
the history, social customs, and
literary treatment of the moun
tain people in the south, hopes to
make extensive use of the facili
ties of the Duke Library in his
preparation of a full-length
treatise on the mountain people.
Each summer Duke University
extends a limited number of
((1(11115 BUllltlUll IU UUVLI CA^Clia
es of the recipients to college
professors over a wide geograph
ical Area. Thirteen, largely teach
crs (rom the nine southeastern
ftates, received grants during the
first summer term. Eight college
teachers are benefiting from the
program during the current terin.
Mr. Williams and Appalachian
are signally honored to be in
cluded among those receiving the
giants.
July Draft Quota
Is Made Public
The following is a list of those
from Witauga County who havo
been inducted into military ser
vice for the month of i July:
Ralph M. Hodges, Lawrence E.
Phillip*, Clyde J. Eggers, Jr.,
William G. Mast, Worth E. Greer.
Edgar E. Parlier, Vilas J. Mor
ctz, Jr., Clint M. Reese, and
Johnny Smith Barnetl
Miss Jennie Coffey, aged 101
years, Watauga county's oldest
citizen and pioneer merchant of
Boone, died at her home Tues
day noon, following a long per
iod of failing health.
Funeral services will be con
ducted from the Boone Methodist*
Church today (Wednesday) at 3
o'clock. The pastor, Rev. J. T.
Shackford will ctnduct the rites
and interment will be in the city
cemetery. ?
Miss Coffey was born in Cald
well county December 5, 1852,
and had resided in Watauga for
more than seventy-five years. In
her early years here, she estab
lished a millinery shop, and sold
school text bofeks and school sup
plies, and was in business here
longer than any other person. t
V
She was a member o{ the Meth
od is t Church throughout har
idult life and for more than half
i century taught an adult Sun
lay School class. She had retired
rom active church work, and
lusiness activities some years
igo, but hadn't suffered critical
Usability until the last few
months.
Miss Coffey was the last survi
vor of a family of sixteen, which
ncluded the late Capt. Thomas
Coffey and Mr. W. C. Coffey of
3oone.
Survivors includc a number of
lieces and nephews, among whom
ire Mrs. Nell Linney and Mrs.
Semmel Porter of Boone.
The Armv now offers recruits
i guarantee on school.
Teachers Of Singing
To Gather In Boone
I Plans and programs for the
southern and southeastern region
I workshop of the National As
I sociation of Teachers of Singing
| have now been completed, and
- the workshop will be held at Ap
' palachian State Teachers College
! from August 15 to 20. The an
nouncement comes from Mrs. Vir
ginia Wary Linney of ASTC, who
is chairman of the regional work
I shop for this summer.
i The invitatioh Is extended, ac
cording to Mrs. I.inney, to all
voice teachers, vocal students
and others interested in singing,
to attend the workshop.
These sessions offer an oppor
tunity for a vacation in the cool
mountains, and at the same time
to receive instruction and inspira
tion from some of the leaders in
the profession, as well as from
qualified educators in related
fields.
Registration for the workshop
will begin at three o'clock on the
(Continued on page six)
Perry and Barnes
Are Chosen For
Assembly Races
V
Perhaps a record number of
Democratic voters gathered in the
courthouse Saturday afternoon in
nominating session, and Dr. H. B.
Perry was nominated as a candi
date for the State Senate to head
the slate for county offices
Mayor Gordon H. Winkler who
ran close behind the Boone phy
sician moved a unanimous no
mination at the end of the first
roll call.
Stuart Barnes was nominated
or the House of Representatives.
Edgar Brown, the only other can
didate before the session, with
drew.
Ernest Hodges of the Adams
neighborhood was nominated for
Sheriff, after the withdrawal of
Police Chief Glenn Richardson
who had gathered strong support
for the position throughout the
county. Arville Perry also with
drew as a candidate. Others with
convention support for the
Sheriffs post were John Greer
le Hodges, Dallas Hartley
Austin E. South, Clerk of the
Supenor Court for more than
twenty years, received the no
mination by unanimous vote of
the convention. There was no op- ?
posing candidate.
Coroner Richard E. Kelley was
renominated, and W. R. Vines was
nominated for Surveyor, gather
ing more vote, than C. F. Thomp
son.
For commissioners the conven
er i named Arlie Walsh, Georg,
rZ' ? and J' D" Shoemak*
: j commissioner candidate
voted on were Kent Brown, WjV
liam Lentz, Custer Wallace DfC
Ca0"^.San'0rdCreed^^rd
D. F. Baird, chairnUtn of the
Executive Committed presided
over the conventiorf Mrs. Roh
Riven acted as Secretary, while
Dr. J. t. C. Wrighjt and Starr
Stacy tabulated the jvote.
Eastern Star
School Is Held :
The Eighteenth District School
of Instruction Order of the East
err , St,r held in the Masonic
Hall last Saturday, with Snow
Chapter as hostess.
Members and visitors registered
totaled. 105 including distinguish
cd guests: Mrs. Irene Moore, W.
G. M., Hal Hamby, W. G. P
Edna Moag, General Grand Esth
er; Hilda Haliburton, A. G. M ?
A. H. McNeill, Jr. A. G. P.; Nel
lie B. Stine, G. Treas.; Lena W
Brewer. G. C. Zula L. Eisen
hour G. M.; Belle M. Connolly,
Gr Electa; Ola T. Ray, G. W.
Elspeth C. Setzer, Mae H. Will
man, Helen B. Rimmer, P G
Matrons; K. Wm. Cullingford, c'
D. Roberts,. Harold R. Moag, Arn
old Kincaid, P. G. Patrons.
Mrs. Ruth B. Redmond W.
Matron of Snow Chapter gave
the address of welcome with Mr?.
Nellie B. Stine of Hibriten Chapt
er responding.
A luncheon was served at the
Methodist Church.
Enrollment This Term Biggest
m "
In History Appalachian College
The enrollment for the second
term of summer school has gone
beyond the number expccted by
the administration, and ha* bro
ken all records for the second
summer terms at Appalachian
State Teachers (college.
Some latecomers ate still re
porting, and additional work
sty>ps which will be enrolling
next week canot yet be counted,
so the figures are still incomplete.
However, a survey reveals that
for the second term in 1953 the
total enrollment was 1IM. Up to
the present, the enrollment for
the second term is 1291 with stu
dents still enrolling.
There are thirty-five register
ed for the workshop in element
ary education. They rcprcacnt
six states. This is the third in a
series of elementary education
workshops held this summer at
Appalachian.
In the music education work
shop, which is one of the most
widely knowj) and heavily at
tended, thtf-e' are 106 sAdents re
presenting 12 states and Puerto
Rico. The enrollment is not yet
closed in this workshop, and it is
anticipated that this figure will
increase appreciably.
In the student teaching work
shop. which is being conducted
for the purpose of improving its
program of student teaching, Ap
palachian has sixty students en
rolled from twenty counties in
the northwestern and north Pied
mont sections ol North Carolina.
Last year the enrollment at
Appalachian for the first term
was 1291 students. This year the
enrollment for the first term was
1352 students.
Yet to come in are the choral
workshop to open on August 8
and the National Association of
Teachers of Singing, which opens
on August. IS, though the latter
is not offered for credit. The col
lege is host to this regional meet
ing, however. The choral work
shop is a credit course, and the
NATS regional meeting is held
at this time to give those attend
ing the choral workshop an op
portunity to hear and talk with
some of the country's outstanding
teachtn of singing. '
V ? fM i