The Journal-Patriot Hps Blazed of 50 1 $0,000 people Id W^m, r Northwestern Tr il of Prog ws$ i| tTie""State of Wilkes" For Over 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.

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