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Vol. Wo. 44 Not 5 Published Monday* and Thursdays WORTH WILKESB0B0, W. C., Monday, May 1, 1960
"i■> >*.\fSPP^
P COMPANY, I9MMR YARD AND
RESIDENCE HERE DESTROYED
____________________________________
Brown's Lumber Plant, Ice And Fuel Plant,
Wilkes Milling Company And Billings ~
Trucking Firm Buildings Burned
North Wilkeeboro's worst fire
Saturday afternoon destroyed
three industries, one tracking
firm and one residence, with a
total estimated damage of one
million dollars.. V * •* ,v*
Totally destroyed were: Former
Sheriff Presley E. Brown's lumber
plant, North Wllkesboro Ice
and Fuel company, "Wilkes Milling
company. Billings Tracking
company terminal, and a residence
owned by Mr. Brown and occupied
by Marshall Harris and family.
The fire originated shortly aftwo
p. m. in the Brown lam'
wer plant. Workmen were repairing
a re-saw machine with welding
equipment when tire flashed
from some oil and grease and
frames Immediately enveloped that
part of the plant.
Sheriff Brown was in the office
when one of the workmen ran in
to put in a call to the fire department.
The fire, which spread with
almost the speed of an explosion,
was then so great they could not
go back into the plant.
In a period of minutes flames
enveloped the Interior and were
pouring from the windows and
roof of the plant.
Adjacent to the lumber plant
was the lumber yard, containing
between three and four million
feet of lumber. Fire from the plant
rapidly spread into th« dry lumber
and the entire yard covering about
three acres totally burned. ,
Firemen fought valiantly to
save the Wilkaa Milling —
balMlng Intense hStTrote tfie
vast lumber yard made it impossible
to save the milling
plant, which was owned by the
S. V. Tomlinson estate and had
been in operation for more than
40 years. Recently large shipments
of grain and feed had been
placed in the building. Workmen
were able to remove only small
quantities.
A brisk southeast wind lapped
the flames and heat across the
street and railroad into the side of
Turner-White Casket company
plant, where firemen won the
fight to save that property and
perhaps the entire ea astern part of
the city from burning. Sprinkler'
system on the inside of the
Turner-White plant was opened
and the building was soaked from
^£,^inside while firemen kept it
'Ajptinually wet on top and braved
We intense heat from the lumber
plant fire to keep the south side
wet. Two freight cars on the railroad
were ^valuable to break the
t and allowed firemen a place
work.
From the lumber plant the fire
spread to the North Wilkesboro
Ice and Fuel company plant, which
-wag also a total lots. It appeared
that the ice and fuel plant would
be the eastern end of the fire^until
a fuel oil tank containing thousands
of gallons of dlesel oil
barsted and a river of fire flowed
down Cherry street to the intersection
of Fifth street. There the
darning oil poured into a ditch and
ran off into the farm lands.
Hie flaming river of oil doomed
the two story block and brick
building which Hubert Billings
erected two years ago to house
bis trucking business. That building
was the eastern end of the
fire, there being a vacant lot between
there and the corner of
Cherry and Fifth streets. Trucks
had been removed from the Billings
Trucking company building
but some manufactured goods in
storage for transit were destroyed.
{The residence which burned
near the lumber plant was a
comparatively new home. -Mr.
Harris for many years had been
an employe Of Sheriff Brown.
Soon after the fire alarm it was
evident that the fire was a serious
threat to several industries
and a great part of the* city. Fire
departments from Wilkesboro, Lenoir
and Statesvllle responded
quickly to the call for assistance
t&k all aided greatly in preventing
further spread of the flames.
Firemen Of the local and vlsitj£|f$v«ws
suffered intense heat
and at numerous times were In
places of much danger. However,
there were no serious injuries.
f,re fighting forces.
During the fire the Wilkes Red
CrotsB chapter served coffee and
sandwiches to the hard fighting
>U,d Doke Power lines,
men Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Davfc
prodded cool water for the men
Sonn? Red CroSs Worhers and
Scouts carried refreshing drinks
Julions* TUDd t0 the <"«erent |
stations where the men were
for t?*«TO provlde refreshments
for the fire crews on dnty during
Re? Cro*' 0Mr,lt«d
an all night canteen located nnJoller
roo'm.6" "
ak^'»I.T *"S£ "™ 'lamee
gratis**
small fires. Some ot the fires were
on roofs, in lumber stacks ran****
and in grass. ' *
Wilkesboro and Statesville fir®
te'rrSS
>»<*y be able^to
ay and had no opportunity to
'ne area.'*6 hM,i <rOB "e
beTtad^ " "" Bro»"
oer industry were destroyed on
savea and taken from the ««
tWMn th®1^6KF°rd parked be"
een the lumber plant and the
r««road withstood the 1
whea
it"!*,??,ran dOWn tbe> 8ld«- I
ffiEf "trte^^wwe
r«0rrthe8tE
Z°7* h6re ,Q months- The news ,
? , ®. fIre attracted many more
including numerous cars
LSltiDg towns' and traffic was
kept moving with great dlfflcul*
rtewS bTTderiag ruin* wer*
viewed by thousands Saturday
night and the stream of sirht
seers continued through Sunj£
Bremen in relays kent an «n
night vigil Saturday night to keep
bu'rJTS.™*
Workmen who were repairing
—sHjS ~ s
fnadVlhaVTkeTUk^
tions to present »«"*
heat frnm flre- But the
neat from the welding torch <*
ed mVatd !°.have ignited oil-soaked
materials nnder the machine
Z1X' "Mi «■»35
a^Ce"malD6d todV ln ^e storSfiks
0?i°f ,Ce Plant- ManV
one-tolrd J® melted to about
t 8lze and endnred the inbrick
tin 8torage rooms had
walls and a wood floor
4V
Seniors Leave For
Washiigtoa, D. C.
Thirty-eight members of the
senior class of North Wilkeaboro
high school left today for a week's
stay in Washington, D. C.
While there they will visit
places Of interest in and around
the" city of Washington.
Students making the trip are:
Margaret Foster, Joan Blevins,
Evelyn Minion, Mellon Wood,
Clate Duncan, Richard Wyatt,,
Tommy Ray Johnson, Jim Moore,
Doris Wiles, Gladys Sebastian,
Betty Lou Kenerly, Prances
Harris, Deanie Gaddy, Doris Ann
Godbey, Jean Summers, Agnes
Reynolds, Anna Lee Luffman,
Martha Stone, Jeanette Brown,
Faye Bumgarner, Nancy Prevette,
Betty Elledge, Adeline Shatley,
Tony Marlow, Velma Church, Paul
Foster, Buddy Tugman, Bobby
Poteat, Claudius Abaher, Jack
Gaddy, Hiram Cox, Grady Kilby,
Carroll Yates, Mary Evelyn Adams,
Coleen Fairchlld, Marcelene Barnette,
Nancy Hall and Vecle Hall.
Mrs. J. Flyod Woodward, senior
class advisor, is acting as chapsrone
and guide for the group.
This annual trip to Washington,
which is becoming a custom with
the senior classes, has proved
educational and most worthwhile.
Presbyterian Men's
Supper Wednesday
. ■
The men Of the Presbyterian
chnreh of the North Wilkesboro
ijilli will have a supper meeting
here, Wednesday night 8:30.
Thi* is the regular meeting of the
men of the church with the added
privilege of having visitors from
other churches in this district. The
guest speaker for the evening will
he the Rev. W. R. Smith, Jr.,
executive secretary of Home Missions
of Winston-Salem Presbytery.
All men of thiis church are
urged to be present. An election
will be held for both district and
local officers.
Dinner Tuesday At
Community House
Ladies of the Wilketboro
Vfethodist church will serve dinler
Tuesday evening, Seven
o'clock, at Wilkesboro community
house. c- ; ■ iW •
An exoellent dinner will be
served for $1 for adults and BO
cents for children. Everybody invited.
o
Fairplains Baptist
Conducting Revival
_ ■ \ —J
Revival services began Sunday
night at Fairplains Baptist
church *nd will continue through
this week with services at 11 a.
m. and 7:30 9. m. The public has
a cordial nlvltatlon to all ser▼ices.
.
Rev. Clate Brown, pastor, is
being assisted by Rev. David W.
Day, of Mk)n. There will be
special singing for each service.
The Leadership Training committee
Of the Wttfces district, Old
Hickory council, Boy Scouts of
America will act as hosts to Scout
leaders from Wilkes, Bikin, Ashe
and Watauga districts on Tuesday
night. May 2,
A "Training for Trainers" meeting
will be held at the American
Legion hut in North Wilkesboro,
beinning at 7:30 p. m. At least
six Scoutmasters frooi each of
four districts will gather to receive
Instruction in the new
Scoutmasters basic training course.
Stanley Mate, of the national
training staff, will conduct the
meeting.'Mr.' Mate will also conduct
a wQek-end camping trip for
Scout leaders at Camp Butler'
near Roaring Gap. The training
material to be presented by Mr.
Mate will be of much interest to
Scoutmasters and commissioners
and will be of such a nature that
it can be used in troop meetings
at once. For further information
please contact Joseph D. Edward;
field scout executive, or Robert
Oibbs, Wilkes District commissioner.
EFFORTS MADE TO INCLUDE J
EVERYBODY HERE IN CENSUS
Census enumerators .hare practically
completed their work in
North Wilkesboro, but inevitably
there have been some who have
been missed.
Efforts are being made to Include
every resident ef the Wilkes
bofos, because census figures
will be Of value in obtaining cer
t
tain benefits Those who have not
been counted are urgently requested
to fill out the blank bolow
and mall It immediately to
"Census" North Wllkesboro, If you
Mre In N^rth Wllkesboro, or
"Census," Wllkesboro, if you reside
In Wllkesboro:
VE YOU BEEN COUNTED?
NOT BEEN COUNTED BY A GOVERNMENT
. * ■ r •.
ENUMERATOR MAIL THIS COUPON TO "
Census 1950, North Wilkesboro
. n I have not been counted.
MY NAME IS
In a statement made today in
connection with the Wilkes Community
concept Association's third
annual 'membership drive Dr.
John T. Wayland, pastor of First
Baptist ohurch said that the role
of music in the history of mankind
has always been one of Inspiration.
'
Dr. Wayland said: "Man, in his
unceasing struggle toward the
bildlng of his spiritual life, has always
found in music an invaluable
support to his higher inclinations.
Whether It be the integrated
beauty of a great choir, the massed
splendor of a symphony orchestra,
or a simple moving rendition
of a song, music has traditionally
served to (Aspire in mankind
those sentiments which are
In lofty accord with its ultimate
destiny and those human attitudes
which strike deepest in the heart.
I feel that in bringing series of
concerts of the high order which
have been given In the past, the
Wilkes Community Concert Association
Is doing a service of the
first rank for its fellow-citizens."
May 8th through 13th will be
Community Concert Week in the
Wilkesboros and surrounding-area.
A large group of volunteer workers
will make a general canvass
to obtain renewals from past
members and enroll enough new
members for a capacity audience
for 1960-51 season.
Admission to this scries of cm
K
MILLERS CREEK RET CLUB
Friday afternoon (April 21) at 2
o'clock the Kijranis club of North
Wtikesboro presented the charter
ceAiflcate to Be charter members
of the Millers jereek Key club, with
thi, high school student body in
attendance.
P. W. Greer, principal, welcomed
the Klwanians and presented
Robert Morehouse, chairman of
the Key Clnb committee of the
Kiwanls club, who introduced W.
H. McElwee, president of the
Kiwanls club last year. Mr. McElwee
spoke of the accomplishment
of the Kiwanls club in this
county, mentioning particularly
the work for underprivileged
children through the Crippled
Children's clinic, by which some
ten thousand children have been
helped in the twenty-seven years
history of the local Kiwanis club
—children who were crippled and
who now can walk because of this
work; similar work also done for
those with halrlips and children
who needed removal of tonsils.
Deane Will Visit
' Friends In Wilkes
[ Representative C. B. Deane,
who is a candidate for re^nominatin,
will spend sme time this
week in Wilkes at a number of
appointments. /While in the county
Representative Deane will hear
any constituents who wish to use
hie services.
On Wednesday at three p. m.
he will be at the home of J. B.
Church at Roaring River and at
five p. m. on the same date will
be at Pleasant Hill school in
Edwards township. On Thursday
night, 7:30, he will address a
rally of Democrats at Reddles
River School. He will spend Friday
morning at the North Wilkesboro
town hall.
— —o
Rummage Sole On
Saturday May 6th
Wilkes chapter no. 42, O. E. S.
will hold a rummage sale Saturday,
May 6, In the building where
the Wilkes Hatchery was formery
located on Tenth Street.
■ o
Fred C Smith In
Neon Sign School
Fred C. Smith, owner and operator
of Smith Signs business here,
today enrolled in Neon Sign school
In New York City, where he will
study fabrication and manufacture
fit neon signs.
Mr. Smith upon his return here
after 27 weeks training will add
a complete neon sign shop to his
business and will serve customers
in this part of the state In neon
business. ; gv
i—* o—
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Leyshon
were in Oak Ridge, Tenn., from
Frid#y until Sunday visiting with
their son and hie wife, Mr. and
After handing, over the charter,
Mr. McElwee presented a president's
button and a secretary's
button to the officers Of the new
club. Barl Watts, president of the
Key Club, received the Charter and
explained the purposes and aspir?
ations of his club, after which Mr.
Morehouse presented membership
cards to the charter members.
Short talks were made by T. E.
Story, secretary of the Klwanis
club for the past nineteen years,
Dr. EX. N. Phillips, president this
year, Paul Osborne, president two
years ago, and H. H. Morehouse,
president nineteen years ago. Mr.
Greer expressed appreciation for
himself and for the school to the
Kiwanis club for establishing this
Key club, which is a service club
in the high school. Charter members
of the Millers Creek Key club
are Earl Watts (president),
George Franklin McNeil (secretary,)
Wilbur Greer (treasurer),
Ralph Snyder (vice-president),
Jack Canter, Max Hurley, Bill
Kanupp, Allie McNeil, Rex McNiel,
Hobart Osborne, Albert
Sheets, Claude Vannoy. The weekly
luncheon meeting is held on
Tuesdays at 12:10 p. m.
Rambler Football
Schedule 1950 Is
Nearly Complete
The athletic department of the
Wilkesboro high school today announced
the 1950 schedule for the
Rambler football team, which is
complete with the exception of
an open date and an indefinite
game with Wilmington. The team,
whieh has made a splendid record
the past several years is scheduled
to play twelve games, if the open
dates are filled.
The schedule includes strong
opponents, among the teams being
Valdese, Elkin, Children's Home
in Winston-Salem, and North
Wilkesboro on Humksgiving Day.
Following is the schedule:
September 1—'Lenoir at Lenoir;
Sept. 8—Wilmington (not definite);
September 16—Boone at
Boone; September 22—Sparta
here; September 2*—Newton
here; October 6—Valdese here;
October 13—open; Oct. 20—
at Elkin; October 27—Cove
Creek here; November 3—Children's
Homi;!|n Winston-Salem;
November 10—Spencer here; November
17 or Thanksgiving —
North Wilkesboro at North
TRIES
PRESENT
tire here Saturday today had not
formulated definite building
plans.*'.
Without time to inventory
losses or give time to planning,
they were not in position to make
definite announcements.
Largest individual loss. - was
Former Sheriff P. E. Brown's
lumber plant and. yard, -which was
one Of the state's largest lumber
industrial units. The plant and
yard of three or tour million feet
of lumber -were a complete loes
and no insurance was carried.
However, this industry has several
million feet of lumber on a yard
on the Flint Hill road near this
city.
Mr. Brown said today that he
was not in position to make any
definite statement relative to rebuilding
or futnrp plans. His
plant and yard normally employed
from 75 to 90 men.
- No plans have been made for
rebuilding the, Wilkes Milling
company plant.
Frank Blair, owner of North
Wilkesboro Ice and Fuel company,
stated that his ice business
will continue without interrupts.
C. Autos To Sport
Gayer 1951 Licovts*
Raleigh — North Carolina
motor vehicles will wear gayerhued
license tags next year.
The Prison Department reported
yesterday it plans to begin
manufacturing the new plates—
which will have red numbers on
^ * *-'■ * <- — '
: The new colors will replace
the orange and black which the;
State has used for several years.
William R. Handy
Claimed By Death
Funeral service was held Saturday,
11 a. m., at Round Mountain
church for William Rowan
Handy, 82-year-old citizen of the
Hays community who died Thursday.
Rev. Jimmie Bryant, Rev.
L. E. Sparks and Rev. R. W.
Franklin conducted the service.
Born October 7, 1868, Mr.
Handy was a son of the late Marcus
and Elizabeth Handy, of
Wilkes county. Only surviving
member of his immediate family
is one son, W. M. Handy, of Hays.
O—; ■—
Card Party, Bazaar
Here On Tuesday
North Carolina Catholic Laymen's
Association will sponsor a
card party and bazaar on Tuesday,
May 2,r8:80 p. m., at the
North Wilkesboro Woman's club.
The Public is cordially invited to
attend. Tickets may be purchased
at the door.
tion. lee I* feeing transported
(here from neighboring towns and
1s being stored in the Freeser
Locker plant on the Oakwoods
road.
Office <jf the firm will be located
temporarily in the basement
of the Quality Food store building
on the corner of Fifth and B
street. lee will also be kept there
for thoee who call for it and the
company's telephone will be located
there with the same number
as formerly. Mr, Blair, who
was out Of town Saturday and
Sunday, said as soon as he completes
temporary arrangements
for supplying customers that he
will glre attention to rebuilding
plans.
Mr. Billings plans to continue
his trucking business from a
temporary location.
At Mr. Brown's lumber plant
much new machinery had recently
been Installed and some was 'in
transit here at the time of the
fire. Recently a wing was added
to the plant for storage and was
filled with valuable finished lumber
and building materials. Recent
improvements in plant facilities
and equipment cost approximately
$40,000.
Kiwanians Have
Meeting Friday,
Near Readings
mmmmmmm mm
North Wllkesboro Kiwanis dub
held am interesting meeting here
for "#.• A. Stroud, who was
because oflilness, read two stories
which were enjoyed by the club.
The stories were Train Robbery,"
by Chanu&g Pollock, and "The
Face From Beyond,'' by Aubury
Abbot. The
President appointed A. F.
Kilby, J. H. Whicker and L. M.
Nelson to go before the county
commissioners and ask for an increase
of appropriation -for the
public library fund.
J. B. Williams called attention
to the beauty of the Brushies at
this time on account of the very
copious apple blooms. He urged
everyone who can to go and see
them.
Joe McCoy for the Kiwanis
education committee asked the
members to read the article in
the May issue of the Magazine,
"Our Over Grown Democracy."
Quests Friday were: W. T. Sullivan,
of 3tatesville, with Paul
Osborne; Howard Colvard, Walter
Keller and George Smith with
Paul Choplin.
o
Legion To Meet
% Wilkes post of the American
Legion will meet Thursday, eight
p. m., at the Legion 'clubhouse.
All members are asked to attend.
FLASHERS OPEN TONIGHT AT ]
ELKMj PLAY HERE THURSDAY |
North Wllkesboro Flashers, i
developed daring the past week
Into a very promising team with
ample power, wtyl, open the Bine
Ridge season in Blkln tonight
at eight o'clock.
Tuesday night's game will also
be in Elkin and on Wednesday
night the Flashers will go to
Mt. Airy.
The first home game will be
here Thursday night and a gala
opening to planned. For this
special opening night admission
will be $1 for adults and 30
cents for children. Season tickets
will not be good for this special
event, which to designed to give
the club a very necessary financial
boost and give fans an opportunity
to show their support of
professional baseball here. To
avoid lines at the gate fans may
purchase tickets from Robert
Gamblll, business manager, or
from Brame's Drug store.
Galax will play here Friday
night and North Wllkesboro will
go to Galax Saturday night. North
Wllkesboro will go to Radford
Sunday.
Manager Bernie Loman has assembled
the best prospeots for
lesperste need In early exhibitions.
The team has two top receivers
in Pick Bigger*taff and Bob
Wright. Detroit Tigers last week
sent the powerful Bob Wright
here, and in the first eight swings
in batting practice he lost four
balls completely ont of the park
from 4«4 to 425 feet from the
plate. He can also play outfield.
On first Is the veteran Tom
Daddlno and Manager Loman will
play the kepstoivrf sack. At short
Is Dave Davenport and Bd Morton
is on third. Carter Lents 4s
the utility inflelder. Loman says
the infield Is o. k. •
The outfield has power to burn.
Bob Shields with speed and fielding
ability, and a high betting
average in exhibitions, is In center
and ls-leadoft man.
■ Owen Childress, of Phoenix.
Arisona, hit 450 in college bate-,
ball and his tall frame has ample
power. Harry Shuford, Clyde
Bumgarner and Joe Snbblonda,
dan field and hit and any of them .
may break Into the lineup tonight.
On the mound is Lee Bentley
Leslie -from 1^*,+
year. Tall Joe Rndislll, Bob Hamlin,
Lefty Mike Sheer, Harry
Simpson, Tom Jackson and Bill
Coram. Manager Loman believes
this staff has at least four starting
pitchers.