AUGARJEMOCRATS eveey rtumsDAY tn bivebs pbintwo cokpawt, ate B. C. RIVERS, JR., PUBLISHES An Independent Weekly Newapaper ? I ix month], $lJtt; (our month*. $1.00. Out?ide Watauga County; On* year, $3 00; fix month*, $1.75; (our mootha, $1.29. t% aalca Us to bo added on aB North Carolina MhearlpHaai. NOTICE TO SUBSCBBEBB? la M?ueatine change of addreaa, it la important to mention the OLD. aa ?m0 aa the MEW afdwaa. Entered at the poatoffiee at Boone, N. C, a* aecohd (U*a mail matter, under the act of Congreii ? ?, 1 rm. : ; -gj Jft . MEMBER HATKMAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION NOBTH CAROUNA PRESS ASSOCIATION , E, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1961 Traffic Moves Better w$i The establishment of parallel parking on West King and the directional mark ings on the pavement at the intersections has been the moat effective step taken. Is our opinion, to facilitate the flow of traffic in the congested business area. Traffic moved along much more eas ily. it appeared to us, during the busy week end, than ever before, as motorists were able to move through town without appreciable Interruption and make eith er the right or left turns from the pro per lanes without confusion. Perhaps some will find fault with the fact that parking space is further re stricted by this move, but as a matter of fact, we'd just as well become accust omed to the fact that the Street can't contain all the automobiles, and that as a matter of fact, they weren't built in the first place with the notion of pro viding acres of storage space for motor vehicles, but for the movement of traf fic. The development of off-street park ing lots of course, will be hastened. One can't do all these things at once, but when it is possible, King should be widened to Its 100 foot width on up by the courthouse, which would further help the traffic situation. And with the extension of the 105 bypass through to 421, it would appear that there will be no further need for the through vans to barrel through the city as presently. If the trucks can be compelled to use the bypass this will tremendously improve the congestion. As a matter of fact they should be using the present bypass. The old town, that is, from the branch west of Smithy's to the one which courses under the street just east of the Depot Street intersection, has a 100 foot street width. It would actually be good perhaps to have parallel parking on both sides of this stretch. What has been done is working mighty well. Sees Federal School Aid Dr. Frank Graham has predicted that Federal aid to education will be an es tablished fact within the next two years, aad that such aid, coupled with Gov ernor Sanford's school program could pat North Carolina in the "forefront of the SO states in education." Dr. Graham, former President of the Univenity of North Carolina, who spoke at aa Education Day program at War renton along with Governor Sanford, said, and perhaps rightfully so, that Fed eral assistance to education is ? Mfttfal process in the development of demo cracy. The Governor, who is promoting the most aggressive educational program since the days of Aycock, coupled a grim reminder of world problems with aa admonition to students to do their homework and a request to parents to aee that it is done. "The school yard," said Sanford, "Is as vital to the defense of America as is the military yard." Continuing the Governor said: "There has long been quality edu cation. In this State are located some of the best schools and the finest teach ers in the nation and also some of the worst. The average is low and we can not be satisfied until quality education is brought to every section of the State and North Carolina becomes an edu cational leader in the nation." We like to hear the Governor speak out this way. To recognize that our , system contains some of the worst , schools and teachers in the country is *od, and not only enhances the stature of the Governor, but serves to popularize his program as it develops. The quality education program can not be developed in a few short months or in a few years, as for that matter, and some of those who watch from the sidelines are impatient. Those who con tend that the end result is only a teach er pay raise, fail to sense the Sanford aims to better the system, professionally and physically, and make it stand up with the best. That will take some time, but it can be done. Mr. Sam Smitten There is a general feeling of shock, mixed with surprise, that the grand old gentleman of the House and of the Dem ocratic party, Mr. Sam Rayburn, has been smitten, and that he likely won't be able to withstand the ravages of the disease with which he has been attacked. The surprise of course comes from the fact that a man like Speaker Rayburn, who's always been the strong man physi cally and in matters where the gavel had to be banged with great authority in the National assemblies, could be sud denly disabled. We come to think of strong men as being beyond the reaches of physical infirmities, whereas, those who are often ill, are more or less re garded as vulnerable by the casual ac quaintance. Cousin Sam, as many of the grass roots politicians from the South used to refer to him, has been a great man in the National Legislature, and strong in the councils of Ms party. G?tag to the House at about the same time the Blue Ridge hills sent Congress man Robert L. Doughton to Washington, the two men, close personal friends, had much in common, regarding the call to Government service as something sort of sublime, and giving to the positions they heki the last ounce of their devo tion and of their genius and their physi cal strength. Mr. Sam appeared ageless as he went about his duties and particularly on the occasions when he presided at the National conventions of his party. Rul ing without fear or favor, grim-visaged and ttern, he always acted positively, and was a past master at the art of parlimentary maneuver. In the House he will be sadly missed where he was a mighty General in guid ing dissident Democrats into line when they wanted to stray. Doubtless this great leader will have the prayers of the country, as suggested by Mr. Ken nedy. No one should mind saying one for Mr. Sam. Which Shoe On Other Foot? ^ (Christian Sctence Monitor) We are indebted to Holiday magazine for the possibly bootless Information that a Rom* shoe manufacturer intends to mate ladies' shoes that will fit either foot. Ia the past there have been some lively discussions in our letters column about such international issues as ballet slippers and spike heels. From the tenor of these it might be fathered that many citizens are disturbed about the extension of the power of conformity into the field of footwear. Indeed it would aeem the ultimate in conformity to have one's right shoe not only looking like all other right shoes but looking like all left shoes as well. (Perish the thought that some bootery might try to make heels and toes interchangeable.) However, we're more concerned for men than for women. Men have to march. And if some of them already have trouble telling their left foot from their right when the leading edges of their shoes look different, how are they ever going to manage with identical boots to port and starboard? That shoe manufacturers' plan may be dextrous, but it's also slightly sinister. X Complete Under? X^kTm . mfW'if & A From Early Democrat Files Sixty Years Ago October 10, 19#1. Jailor Miller bought the E. M. Grans property at Foscoe sold here Monday. Mrs. L. N. Perkins of Lenoir is spending a ?e w days at her old home near Boone. Mr. W. L. Bryan has been suf fering much of late from a se vere attack of rheumatism. Miss Nannie Rivers, who is teaching at Linvllle, was at home Sunday. . . Miss Mary Farthing left this week for Lenoir. ?he enter school under Prof. Spain h?W D. Clarke, Esq., l?a? taken a position with Henkel Brothers and baa gone to Statesville for the winter. . . ... , B. F. Ragan has rented the *? M. Moretz property in Boone, and will move to it at an early ? Ja *. The old roof on the Baptist Church in Boone was taken off last week and repl?ced by ? one, which was right badly needed. Mr. Herman Wallace of the Wal lace Brothers Co., of Statesville, in town last week, selling our merchants their wlnter td? _ Newland and Watson of 1 Blowing Rock are closing oat their entire line of general merchandise. Deputy Collectors Hayes and ?.Z seized Enoch Potter-steam and load of blockade whiskey near Gap Creek last ??k Moses Johnson and Thomas Greer are erecting a aaw mill at the fall* of Middle Fork, and win S in a grist mill In *???? hire The water power owned by them is perhaps the best In the C?Gcwernor Aycock. with . eom pany of ten State officials and per sonal friends. nl?h at the Blowing Bock Hotel. Thirty-Nine Years Ago October 1*. 19tt~ Mr T. J. Sullivan, familiarly . _ ai "Uncle Tom," died 1,st CTesd^y evening at V.11. Cruel. health and that night hi wriked from the home ,nd to that of Hr. W. . iM w.s stricken within ^ few mlnut after his arrival there. Mr llvan came to Watauga from New York many ,..??*> worked at his trade as a painter lo possibly every school district In the county. Attorney T. E Bingham ?d hU office temporarily Into the courthouae until hl? quarters In the mi postofflce building can be the heavy downpour of r*ln Monday, quite a delegation o Boone and oth? Watauga p?? attended the SpaAa Show ai ia ""llr. J. 8. SUnbory left for Wilrn lngton last Saturday to visit W? Z, Rev. w. A W-bury^ Mr G^ge Bra^ey ^rint^ ent of road work ootha Boon Trail In the Cove Crejk focU"1 was In town Sunday. Mr. J**"*' is working -art to?? Zk#^ a good force o* haoda a?d Uam* and within tl* P?at haa excarated and put down a ate inch sand and gravel bod fora distance <* I* A ? w crnster U en its arrival th? work <* putting six teehea ot JVT* "1 the gravel will begin. which wMl ?v ideatly mate ? verjr Fifteen Year* Ago October It, 1946. Rev. S. B. Moss is the new pas tor of the Boone Methodist Church, it was revested by Bishop Clare Purcellf who read the appoint ments at the closing session of the Western North Carolina Metho dist Conference in Asheville Mon day. A Hereford baby beef, owned by Fred Councill of Boone, won the championship in the Junior Here ford department of the Atlantic Rural Exposition held in Rich mond, Va., Tuesday. The fourth annual Watauga Hereford breeders sale will be held Saturday, October 12th, at the Mountain Burley Warehouse No. 1 or 2. Mr. Fred Gragg of Boone, inter viewer for the local office of the United States Employment Service, ha? resigned his position, effective as of October 4. Mr. Gragg's suc cessor has not been named. Dr. James Roderick Butler, 57, died at his home at Mountain City, Tenn., last Saturday after a long illness. Dr. Butler had been for 35 years a leading physician of Johnson county. He was the third "Dr. Jim" Butler of Johnson coun ty, making a Dr. Jim Butler in the county for the past 85 consecu tive years. Mr. Walter C. Greene, local building contractor, has resumed work after an illness with pneu monia, following a fall at the Farmers Burley Warehouse. Mr. Greene fell through a skylight, suffering fractured ribs and other injuries. 1 i Just One Thing By CARL GOERCH As prospective candidates (or the legislature are making up their minds as to whether to run next spring or not or as they plan their campaigns, they might make use of the following idea which orig inated with Fred R. Blevins up in Ashe county and was In the form of an advertisement in the Sky land Pott back in 1942. ANNOUNCEMENT March 29, 1942 To the Voters of Ashe County: Being as no one in any part of the county has asked me to run for a seat in the House of Represent atives, and as a number of my friends have urgently requested me not to run, I hereby announce my candidacy for the Republican nomination for the House of Rep resentatives. And being as my right honorable late Uncle Riley Blevins rode a plug mule and beat the late Hon. John Baker, who rode ? fine saddle horse, for a seat in the House of Representa tives, I therefore desire to follow in the footsteps of my illustrious Uncle. I propose to ride a bull and AFTER ANOTHER to defeat anyone who runs against me. Thanking everyone in advance for the support that I know I will receive, both In the primary and in the coming election; also the support of both Republicans and Democrats, I ar., Your next Representative, Fred R. Blevins, Son of the late Dr. Manley Blev ins. Owner and manager of the "Lonesome Polecat Ranch." From William B. Guthrie, of Durham: "The late Professor Hor ace Williams of Chapel Hill once asked this question on class ? and if it ever has been answered, I never heard of it. Maybe some of the readers of your magazine can supply the answer. "Q. If an Irresistible ball should come in contact with an impene trable surface, what would be the result? "A freshman answered: 'Pro fessor, I think there would be hell to pay,' but I am sure there is a better answer than that" Uncle Pinkney (Mac Knight Syndicate) DEAR MISTER EDITOR: It's sitting so I know more folks in the funeral columns of yoor paper than I do in the wedding announcements. I ain't concealing the fact that I've past the three-score milepost. I ain't like the wimmen this feller was writing about the other day. He said wimmen would go to "great er lengths to conceal their age than anything elae." On account of this not being a very con cealing generation far wimmen, Tm pleased to note they got a little modesty in this direction. But what I started out to say was I been in this troubled world a long time, including two world wars, two panics and several of their first and second cousins knowed today aa depressions and rece lions. Even a feller like me gits ? little wisdom with the years and I figger. If you dig down to the gipsa roots of the aituation in the world today, you fat to come op with just one answer. People living wider Com munism aint got nothing to fight tor and we have. That has got to HIS PALAVARIWS be the difference between us win ning and them losing. Per instant, I was reading in the paperi where American! has kept piling np saving! in Gov ernment bond! even during the unemployment. This report from the Treasury Department last week ihowed that at the end of June this year the holdings of t'ucse bonds was at a new high of $44 billions. Sales of these bonds fer the first half 1M1 was S per cent ahead of last yaar and caihing in wai the lowest in ? year. Vs Americans has not only got freedom of religion, speech, as sembly, the ballot, and all them other freeaas. but we own the Guvernmeat and the country, got plenty to eat and wear, and has got $44 billioa stored away fer a relay day. People living under Communism ain't got Both lag, ?ad secretly they know it. and when the chips git down people ain't going to haag together and fight very long ar very had fer aomepua under which they tint got no rights and in which they ain't got m slack. KING STREET By ROB RIVERS OH Ileum g . . Stir Mniierita Houses, like people, take their rightful places In the march of progress, and in some cases the structures of wood or of brick or of stone have more encompassing histories than have men. ... A man's age centers about one family, while a bouse shelters many families, often times, and if its ancient beams and ceiling plankscould record the hap penings and the convert a ions within its walls, a consid erable part of the history of a community or even a region, might be read ily available to those who fol low on. In our ref erences to the "yellow house," a structure which was a sort of land mark to many generations, we not only found out a little THE YELLOW HOUSE ... two views. The North western Bank stand* on the left of where this butldinf stood. Upper picture also shows east end of Blair Hotel. more of the history of this building, but got a couple of snap shots from a person who was born within its walls. . . . Mrs. Margaret Coffey Ramboo, member of a pioneer Boone family and daughter of Capt. Thomas J. Coffey and Mrs. Coffey, one of our good friends who lives in Mountain City. She sends along the pictures which are shown here, along with a highly-appreciated letter, which says: "I was born there in 1875, however, my parents soon moved to the Hall house on the next street. On page 194 of Arthur's History of Watauga County you will see the house was built before the war between the States by Levi Hartley for his sons, Nathan and Samuel, for a whiskey saloon. "My parents were married in 1866 and I suppose bought the house from the Hartleys. . . . Am so glad to send you the pictures and hope you can use them. . Mrs. Rambo adds these cherished lines, "Wednesdays are 'red letter days' for me as my Watauga Democrat comes on that day." But back to the yellow house. It seems Levi Hartley, who lived near Lenoir, never moved to Boone but that his sons carried on the rum business there till just before the Civil War. Another whiskey saloon stood on what is now the Rivers lot, about the center of the front of the A & P parking area. . . . Soon after Boone was formed Jordan Councill, Jr., built the old Rivers house, built another small house on the bank of the creek (just west of the Democrat building) and between the two, says Arthur, there was constructed a "small room for Solomon Crisp, where he later made boots and shoes and sold whiskey." In a village so sparsely settled as Boone must have been before the Civil War, it seems strange that it would be profit able for two men to open a saloon here, but they evidently did all right. . . . Prom the sketchy history available, it seems that always there was at least one bar room available in Boone's early days, so that thoap who toiled at laying the foundations for the fine little city we now enjoy, could quiet their nerves or make whoopee whenever the notion struck. There are others, no doubt, who have pictures of early day Boone buildings, residences or stores, who might be willing to make us a loan of them. . . The Democrat could establish an interesting feature along that line. Pictures would be returned, of course, undamaged. ? * * * The Rats . . Dying To Get Caught ? Mr. J. R. Gragg set a trap for some rats. . . . Next morn ing he found a family of four dead rodents in the flip trap. ... On closer examinati