Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / Nov. 24, 1955, edition 2 / Page 1
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VOLUME LXVHL? NO. 21 . ,? ? . i Burley Market, Farm Edition BOONE, WATAUGA COUNT*, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1W5 PRICE: VIVE Retired Postal Worker Tells Of His Long Career "The wcret of getling along U to do your Job the beet you can end hold your temper," uid B. H. Watson, who's just entered upoa retirement after serving more than 32 years behind the registry and money order window at the local postoffice. And to prove that Mr Watson has done his job well is the fact that he's continued in office year after year through both Democra tic and Republican administra tions, even though postoffices have always been considered political pluma to be picked by the party in power. Mr. Watson, a Republi can, served actually more time un der administrations of the Demo cratic party. Taking over a clerkship in the Boone postoffice just a few days after President Harding died, Mr. Watson served under Presidents Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, Tru man and Eisenhower. There nave been five postmasters during his tenure: W. D. Farthing, A. W. Smith, W. "G. Hartzog, Edgar Brown and Llye B. Cpok. Once Was Mail Carrier Actually Mr. Watson served the postal establishment for a bit more than 36 years, if one is to count the time he spent carrying the mail on horseback between Boone and Stony Fork. But that was done under private contract, and does not count against postal retire ment. "Sick Of It At First" Recounting the time back in ! 1923 when he was named regular clerk at the postof.fice (the first such appointment), Mr. Watson says he was "sick, of the job" for' the first few mpnths. Miss Vir ginia Councill had been helping Postmaster W. D. Farthing, in the building where the Savings and Loan Association now operates, and the office had just been moved up the street ' from the Critcher Hotel, where John E. Brown had held forth as ^postmaster. Being the only regular Clerk Mr. Watson had plenty to do and recalls that his work lasted from before day break until way into the night, de pending on the weather, and when B. H. Watson receives gift of watch from D. W. Norrii on behalf of fellow poetal workers upon his retirement.? Photo by "Rabbit" Moretz. the last harse -drawn mail vehicle arrived. The mail on the train to Johnson City, the Zionville and Stony Fork mails all had to be dis patched before 6 a. m. in those days, it it related, and often the mail from Blowing Rock did not arrive until 9 or 10 p. m. Ur. Watson had a one-half hour lunch period, and seldom more than that at supper. There were no adding taachines or other mod ern office equipment, and every letter had to be hand cancelled. The load was eased soon however, when the Postmaster's daughter, Miss Elsie Farthing began helping some after school hours. Then in 1926 the office attained third class rating and i. Wilson Norris came in as the second regular clerk. Since he held the seniority rights, Mr. Watson wa* able to choose his own work, and for many years took care of the money order department, the registry and box rent accounts. Has Been Pleasant On the whole Mr. Watson has found his work pleasant, and gen erally speaking, the most enjoy able part of bis work has been his contact! with ike people of the Community, he says. Of course, sometimes an irate patron, in the years past, would want to blame him with the failure of a letter to arrive or something else beyond his control, but the relations have averaged good. A good many humorous inci dents are recalled by the retired postal worker, as the time when the dozen children in a family called one after another, day by day, for mail which didn't come. One day, one kid came in within five minutea of another, and no mail had since arrived. Mr. Watson explained that he bad already looked in the general delivery case, and there was nothing. "Look again", demanded the urchin, "That's what you're paid for!" Looking back to the days of the long hours, the kerosene lamps, and the horse-drawn vehicles, Mr. Wataon expresses pride in the growth of the office, and the im proved conditions under which postal workers operate. A 40 hour week is in effect now, as against the 72 or more he used to work, and the new postoffice building contains all the facilities needed for efficient handling of the post al business. Honored By Fell** Wtrkcn Mr. Watson, who's taking thing* easy while he get'i hit bearings in thU strange world of retirement, ii expec tally proud of a citation he's received from Poatmaster General Arthur E. Summertield, on the oceaaion of his retirement. But more than that, he's grateful for the little party at the poatof flee aa he was ready to check out for the last time, when hla fellow employees gathered, and preaent ed him an expensive watch, as a token of their high regard. "I didn't know what to aay", Mr. Watson said, "1 was that touched by their kindness and friendship." School Board At State Meeting The first annual delegate as sembly of the North Cafrolina School Boards Association was held in Chapel Hill Wednesday. Approximately 900 Superintend ents and County School Board mem bers representing counties through out the state were in attendance. Dr. Charles Davant Jr., chairman of the Watauga County Board of Education, and W. Guy Angell, Superintendent of Schools, repre sented Watauga County at the delegate Assembly. Gov. Luther H. Hodges was the main speaker at the morning ses sion and told local school board members they would have to as sume greater responsibilities in running the schools. Hodges said "in view of the situation which our schools faceT? the trend toward local self-determination in school matters should and will continue." Other speakers appearing on the day long session included. Dr. Charles E. Jordan, President of the Association, Dr. Charles E. Carroll, State Superintendent; Dr. Henry Troy Jr., Director National Citizens Commission for the Pub lic Schools, and Mr. Thomas J. Pear sail. Chairman Advisory Com mission on Education. SOUND SLEEPER Vancouver, Canada ? James T. Maltese, 23, fell asleep in his car, which ran off the road, plunged down a 70-foot embankment and over a three-foot wall. When found, he 'was still sound asleep and unhurt. Apps End Grid Year In Burley Bowl Classic By russell Mcdonald Appalachian Stat* Teachers Col lage's Mountaineers will eloae their 1955 football season today (Thursday) as they meet the Buc caneers tf East Tennessee State College in the Eleventh Annual Burley Bowl in Johnson City, Tenn. Game time is set for 2:30. The Mountaineers, who are the defending champions of the Bur-, ley Bowl, will go into the after noon affair with ? record of 6-1 The Appalachian team holds vie-, tories over Newport News Ap prentice (46-0), Elon (194), Cata wba (21-19); Emory and Henry '(264), Guilford (27-6), and Pres byterian College (35-6). The four defeats were dished to the Moun taineers by Tampa (38-0), East Carolina (13-0), Lenoir Rhyne (26-13), and Western Carolina (7-6). The Buccaneers are sporting a 5-3-1 record for the '55 season. The wins were over Austin Peay (6-0), Maryville (28-18), Capon-Newman (22-6), East Carolina (35-20), and Tennessee tech (144). The de feats were from Middle Tennessee (20-7), Flornce State (13-12), and Western Kentucky (20-7). The lone tie was with Western Caro lina College by the score of 7-7. An Appalachian team first play ed the East Tennessee team in 1928 with the Appe winning 9 to 6. Since the first meeting there have been seven games played in this series. The Mountaineers hold the edge with five victories. East Tennessee has won one time and there has been one tie, that com ing in 1952 with the score 27-27. Today's game, the eighth be tween the two teams, will mark the fourth appearance of an Appala chian team in the Burley Bowl. The Mountaineers have played in this annual affair in 1948, 1950, and 1954. The North Carolina team has only one victory in its three trips, In 1948 the Mountaineers were defeated 7-2 by West Chest er, Pa., 1950 the Wasps of Emory and Henry won 266. The win fame last year as the Mountaineers de feated East Tennessee 28-13. The Mountaineers will be with out the services of two regulars i when they take the field this after noon. Quarterback Jimmy Moore and Center Buck Hall will mil* the game. Both el theie men auf fered Injury In an auto accident on November IS when they were returning from the Presbyterian fame in Clinton, S. C. The line-up for the Mountain eer* will be Johnny Matthews and Bob Poe at enda. Rick Lippard and Tad Freeman wUl (tart at tackles The guard. will be Hillard Clark and R E. Cumminga Joe KUer will start at center for the Moun taineer*. ?" In the hackfield it will be Char les Taylor at quarterback, Jim Ol lis at left halfback and BUI Stan ley at right halfback with Jim Kiaer at fullback. OUU missed last week's game with an injured back but is ex pected to be in top shape this af ternoon. The Mountaineers left half ia the leading acorer in the North State Conference with a aeason's total of M pointa. l Six Mountaineers will be mak ing their last appearance u a part of - an Appalachian team today. These include Johnny Matthews, Ray Morris, Jim Riser, Jim OUis, R. E. Cummings, and Buck Hall, who will be present but not ?? the Hopkinsville, Ky. ? V four youthful prisoners to the Rentucky Village correctional in-, stitution at Greendale, police had to return to the Christian County Jail so that one of the prisoner* could return a pair of shoes ha had swiped from another prison inmate. playing field. THEFT IN JAIL WELCOME | TOBACCO GROWERS To Boone ? Best Market In The Burley Belt * ? j While in Town, Come in and See Our Complete Line of Small Appliances, Such a*: Toasters Electric Irons Mixers ? Waffle Irons Deep Fat Fryers . Egg Roasters Percolators Sandwich Grills And Many Other Small And Large Appliances Excellent For Christmas Giving Ayers Electric Shop E. King Street - Boone, N. C. Dial AM 4-3877 Bring Your Burley to BOONE NOW FOR THE OPENING SALE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 at the Mountain Burley Warehouse No. 1 Plenty of Room To Unload for the First Sale Sell your tobacco with the warehousemen who are farmers themselves ? who know tobacco from the seed bed to the final bid ? We know the farmer's problems and are here to help you at all times. Just call on us! TOP MARKET PRICES ALWAYS IN BOONE A
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
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Nov. 24, 1955, edition 2
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