atS HE! MURPHY I The Leading Vol. IIIL.?No. 21. CHRISTM plans for dam to bf: revealed soon bock says Word Has Been Expected Since TVA Operations Began Here While TVA is receiving one of its severest tests in the Supreme coyrt on the question of whether or not it is legal to sell its surplus power, encouraging word was received here this week to the effect that definite word on the Hiawassee dam can be expected soon. The information was included in a news article appearing in last week's issue of the Knoxville News-Sentinal. It said that in an interview Carl A. Bock, assistant chief engineer of the . TVA, declared he would be "able to say something definite about the Hiawassee project in about a week". With a sanctioned appropriation ior t.ne wiawassee dam about lour months ago when it was included in a deficiency bill after a senate subcommittee had ruled against it, the local dam became law. Since the appointment of Clarence E. Blee as acting engineer for the $13,000,000 project several weeks aga, definite word has been expected most any moment from Knoxville. Since the TVA's first consideration of the local site as a power dam possibility, their plans have been kept in practical secrecy except for the apparent fact that they were going ahead with surveys. It is understood that the local force of engineers under J. D. Blagg, ranging as high as 20 men at some times, has completely surveyed this section of the Hiawassee river from every possible angle. This Senate sub-committee's action in cutting off the Hiawassee appropriation last summer was a momentary set-back, but the recurrent action, when the , appropriation was finally included in the second deficiency bill, strengthened the postdbilities of the dam being built here more than ever. Cherokee county and its citizens have continually fought to bring the project in this section. They have spent time and money and made public fact after fact in support of this section's need for such a project. At first five sites on the Hia. wassee river were under consideration. When the decision was made (Continued on back page) PETRlE HOSPITAL HERE IS GRANTED A STATE CHARTER : The Petrie hospital at Murphy was granted a charter Thursday by Secretary of State. Staeey P. Wade "to operate and maintain an instifj tution for the treatment of sick people". It is a non-stock corporation with Dr. R. S. Parker, Don Witherspoon, J. D. Mallonee, all of Murphy, W. i H. Graham, of Culberson, and Edwin F. Troutman, of Andrews, named as I incorporators. By becoming a non-profit state corporation, the local hospital is now * eligible to be placed on the Duke fund list which provides one dollar per day for each patient. The B charter has no* effect on the title or requirements of the hospital, it was said. j The institution was opened here j two years ago last November by Dr. ! R. W. Petrie, eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, who was formerly connected with the Caldwell hospital at Lenoir. It has a capacity of 21 patients, is equipped for all surgical needs and has four registered nurses as attendants. iMiss Liza King is the head nurse, and Dr. R. L. Staton is connected with the surgical department. A Very B Weekly Newspaper n Western Nort AS GREE THE F And it came to pas Augustus, that all the w Cyrenius was governor < city. And Joseph also w< unto the city of David, espoused wife, being grt And so it was, that should be delivered, an* swaddling clothes and b the inn. And there were in watch over their flock I the glory of the Lord s angel said unto them, fe be to all people. For ui is Christ, the Lord. J wrapped in swaddling < An.] Cll^^onlv ll\m* r-. ing God and saying, GL ward men. And it raw heaven, the shepherds s see this thing which is < And they came wit a manger and When the) told them concerning th which were told them bj them in her heart. And the shepherds they had heard and seei Pioneers Of IV (This publication is indebted to Mr. J. V. A. Moore, of Hayesville, who is the historian for Clay County, for the following article which reuonlv n nnmhor -rvC "fj?nn/>om!nw the first families, the first churches the first modes of rtavel, etc., in this county.?the editor). By J. V. A. Moore The first white settlers of Murphy were Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Meroney, who moved here from Tennessee. Mrs. Meroney was the former Elizabeth Stanley, of the Pickens district of South Carolina. They had six children named John Stanley, Baylor, Barton, Mary and Martha. They lived in the Ramsour hotel, located east of where the present Regal hotel stands. The town was newly laid out. Phillip Meroney was the grandfather of W. H. Meroney. Mary married John J. Turnbull the name was later changed to Turnbill. Mr. Turnbill deed the present lfnd or site of the city of Wilkesboro. tferry Ch H Carolina. Covering a Ixirgy and Pt Murphy, N. C. Tues., D< TINGS E HMNMIm IRST CHRIS' s in these days, that there went out a ? orld should be taxed. And this taxing )f Syria. And all went to be taxed. e> *nt up from Galilee, out of the city of which is called Bethlehem, to be taxi fat with child. . while they were there, the days were . 3 she brought forth her first born son, ?id him in a manger; because there was the same country ^shepherds abiding ?y night, and lo, the angel of the Lord hown around about them; and they w< ar not; for I bring you good tidings of nto you is born this day in the city of I Vnd this shall be a sign unto you; ^ flothes lying in a manger. ; was with the angel a multitude of th< Dry to God on the highest, and on eart ie to pass as the angers were gone aw aid one to another, let us now go evei ome to pass, which the Lord hath mat h haste, and found Mary and Joseph 1 had seen it. they made known abroad is child. And all they that heard it \vi i the shepherds, hut Mary kept all thes returned, glorifying and praising God i, as it was told unto them.?-Luke 2. lurphy Recalled The Trubills were the first couple to marry in Murphy, and Ann, their daughter, was the first white child to be born in the town. I Ann married John Boone and they moved to the state of Maryland. They reared 10 children?five sons 1 and five daughters. One of the daughters married a Meriman. There were 13 children born to this union Urc iraoimon r>t KWk 1 of the thirteenth. i The first school teacher in Murphy was a Miss Byers. 1 The first Baptist church in Murphy f was built under the supervison of j William Meroney. Some of the > members were: William Meroney, Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard; their daugh- < ter-in-law, Lillie, and Daniel Green, < who was severely inflicted with inflamatory rheumatism. So badly was he crippled with the i malady that two men had to Baptize i him in a sheet. His legs were drawn nearly to his neck and a special casket had to be made for his burial, is iristmas 1 0fH1 Jtrntially Rich Territory in This St* sc. 24, 1935. i (TENDED ^ PBP rMAS I decree from Caesar I was first made when rery one into his own Nazareth, into Judaea ed with Mary, his accomplished that she , and wrapped him in I a no room for them in in the field, keeping i came upon them and ?re sore afraid. The great joy, which shall )avid, a Saviour which e shall find the babe * heavenly hosts praish peace, good will toay from them into i unto Bethlehem, and If known unto us. and the babe lying in the sayings which were uidered at those things e things, and pondered for all the things that I By Historian Dr. Patton was one of the first physicians in Murphy. The first Methodist church was built by Joshua Harcshaw in the years 1872 and 1873 near where the present Methodist cemetery is located. Mr. Karshaw was aided by Clark Rogers and Dr. Patton, father of Auk Patton. William Meroney was a first cousin to President Jeff Davis of the Confederacy. I ne method of travel in those days was principally by horseback. Wagons were drawn by oxen and horses and open buggies with woo