39 Years
Serving
McDowell
Qounty
MARION PROGRESS
Marion,
A Good Place
To Trade
And To Live
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896
MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1936
VOL. XL—NO. 31
Entire County School Unit
Building Program To Be In
Progress By Monday Morning
Will Build Two Wings To
North Cove School; Nebo
Gets Gym and Auditorium;
Plumbing To Begin Also.
Operations on all projects under
the PWA school building and im
provement program, which wag ap
proved earlier in the winter under
an appropriation totaling $124,272,
are expected to be underway by
Monday. Every school in the county
administrative unit, • of which Bar
ron Caldwell is superintendent, is
undergoing some form of improve
ment.
At Nebo Monday, according to J.
F. Cribbs, resident engineer, opera
tions will begin on construction of a
new wing to the school. This will
house a combination gymnasium and
auditorium.
At Old Fort WPA workers are
tearing down the old school; and the
PWA will begin rebuilding as soon
as the site is cleared. This is expec
ted within a few days.
Next week also, a heating system
will be installed in the Pleasant Gar
dens community building and one in
the new part of the Gienwood
school. The new erection at Glen
wood, with cohsistent progress
shown in brick and tile work, and
steel being set, is fast assuming
shape.
At North Cove, where work was
begun last Monday, all the footings
have been poured for the two new
wings to be added to the present
building, and the brickwork on one
wing is reaching the first floor. Each
job is requiring'the labor of approx
imately twenty men.
KIWANIANS ENTERTAINED
BY HIGH SCHOOL BAND AT
MEETING TUESDAY NIGHT
Tuesday evening, 6:30 o'clock,
the Marion Kiwanis Club met at the
Methodist Hut. Following a delicious
meal, prepared by ladies of the
church, the group was entertained
with a concert by members of the
local high school band under the di
rection of Bernard Hirsch.
The club, in addition to routine
business, is planning a special meet
ing for the evening of March 17.
Each member will invite a farmer of
McDowell county as his guest. James
G. K. McClure, of Asheville, presi
dent of the farm federation, will
speak to the club and guests. The
program is in keeping with fellow
ship objectives of Kiwanis.
Thirty-eight were present at the
meeting Tuesday, several guests hav
ing been invited.
DUKE'S COOKING CLASS
AT HIGH SCHOOL NEXT
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY
A cooking' and homemaking school
will be held in the Marion highschool
auditorium next Wednesday and
Thursday, March 11 and 12, from 3
to 5 o'clock p. m.
Sponsored by the Duke Power
Company, the school will be under
the direction of Mrs. 0. B. Austin,
home service specialist, well known
here as director of former classes in
affairs of the home.
Modern appliances designed to in
crease the efficiency of home work
find make for comfort and economy
will be demonstrated.
All ladies are cordially invited to
attend. Admission is free, and atten
dance prizes will be awarded.
HOME DEM. SCHEDULE
Miss Anne Tucker, home agent,
announces the following schedule
for the coming week for meetings of
McDowell County Home Demon
stration Clubs:
Monday, 9th, 2 p. m.( Sugar Hill,
at the home of Mrs. J. D. Wilson.
Seven p. m., East Marion, at the
community building.
Tuesday, 10th, 2 p. m., White
Pines, at the school building.
Wednesday, 11th, 1:30 p. m., Nix
Creek, at the home of Mrs. G. West.
Friday, l3th, 1:30 p. m., Dysarts
ville, at the school building.
Saturday, office, in the courthouse
MT. MITCHELL ROAA IS
PRACTICALLY ASSURED
CAMP TO MOVE APRIL 1
Although no definite agreement
| has yet been reached between the
I owners of the toll entrances to the
Mt. Mitchell area and the State
Highway Commission, the two of
I whom are negotiating possible deals,
an early settlement is looked to in
the very near future. J. Q. Gilkey,
of Marion, member of the Conser
vation Board, states that he is confi
dent some deal will be made at once.
The Highway Commission, he
: states, is placed in a position such as
| to make the new road almost imper
! ative since such a route has been
assured by Chairman Capus Way
nick.
Provided the road is contracted,
the CCC camp is scheduled to move
in that area by the first of April to
begin work on park development.
A telegram of appreciation was
sent yesterday to E. F. Allen, of Le
noir, member of the highway com
mission, by Mr. Gilkey, county offi
cials, and Democratic leaders here.
Mr. Allen is the leader in the fight
for the new route.
INCOME TAX PAYERS MAY
FILE RETURNS HERE ON
MARCH FIFTH AND SIXTH
C. H. Crabtree, deputy commis
sioner, will be in the office of the
sheriff in the county court house
here on the fifth and sixth days of
March for the purpose of assisting
taxpayers in filing their state income
tax returns. All persons subject to
this tax are urged to see him at that
time: " • ^
According to A. J. Maxwell, N. C.
Commissioner of Revenue, if you
are un unmarried person or married
woman and had an income of $1000
during the year of 1935, or if you
are a married man and had an in
come of $2,000, you should file a re
turn with the state Revenue De
partment on or before March 15,
1936.
COUNTY RECEIVES
ALLOCATION FOR
LOCAL WPA WORK
«
State Organization Makes Ad
j ditional Grants — Old Fort
School Razing Begins.
i Last Saturday the State Works
' Progress Administration made sev
eral allocations of additional funds
to finance a number of projects and
supplement funds for the state's
sewing rooms. The state fund total
ed $19,271.40.
Of this amount an appropriation
was made to McDowell county for
the razing of the old school building
at Old Fort and an allocation for
county sewing rooms.
The Old Fort allocation amounted
to $999 and provided work for 19
men. This work began Monday, ac
j cording to reports from the local
! WPA office. The old school is being
! removed preparatory to commenc
ing the Old Fort unit of the PWA
building program approved in De
i cember, which is slated to begin on
; March 9. The building being razed
■ is one of the oldest schools in this
section of the state.
Allocated for McDowell sewing
| roms, according to state papers,
i was $3,300. Local officials, howev
i er, hape not been adpised as to the
i details of this fund, and it is not
1 known when the amount will be
i made available. Worw in the sewing
! rooms is continuing as usual.
FIRST AID GROUP MEETS
I The first aid class of the WPA, in
cluding all foremen and officials,
; held its regular meeting Saturday
afternoon at one o'clock. Twenty
members were present.
Rev. A. R. Batchelor, teacher,
! and J. L. Gourley, assistant, con
ducted the 2-hour session.
SIX PRISONERS
BREAK JAIL HERE
YESTERDAY A. M.
Sheriff Is Overpowered And
Placed in Cell by Two Who
j Were Hiding in Corridor.
| Early Wednesday morning six in
! mates of the McDowell county jail
on the third floor of the courthouse
here made their getaway in an ex
tremely clever fashion. The incident
happened between 1 and 2 a. m.
Sheriff 0. F. Adkins had gone up
to investigate noise in the quarters
! when he found that two of the pris
| oners were in the corridor. When he
unlocked the jail door to replace
! them, the entire six overpowered
him, placed him in the cell, and es
i caped down the stairs. Mrs. Adkins
; sought to stop them at the' outer
door but she was shoved aside.
\The method through which two of
the culprits got into the corridor
was that of an expert group. About
dark on Tuesday evening, a string
was lowered from the front wondow
to the ground, where confederates
attached two saws thereto. The lat
ter were then drawn to the cell
block over the end of a broomstick.
To render the iron bars more sus
ceptible to the saws, they were hea
ted with a small fire, after which
two hours of sawing opened a hole
large enough for a passage. The
sheriff, in examining the outer cor
ridor, failed to notice the hole which
was covered with blankets. The
group escaping was largely from the
Nebo section and Cal Smith was the
leader in formulating the plans, it
was stated.
Sheriff Adkins was let out of the
cell a few minutes later by the jail
cook, upon whose cot the keys were
plsrfied. He was not seriously injured
although he received some bruises.
The sextet, before they left, had
formulated an intricate series of
plans. They were to proceed to the
Southern Railway and other routes
to the vicinity of Linville Mountain.
At Nebo last night they were to
steal a V8 Ford belonging to one of
the school men. In case they were
unable to do this, they were to re
main at the mountain and make con
tact with someone else later last
night or as soon as possible.
To date they have not been cap
tured.
TWO DELIGHTFUL PLAYS
PRESENTED AT HI SCHOOL
The Sauline Players of New
York presented two delightful plays
in the high school auditorium on
Tuesday afternoon and evening. In
the afternoon the school children
and their friends were entertained
! by a very vivid rendering of "Huck
lebury Finn" in which Tom Sawyer
and Huck Finn rambled around as
"just two kids with some good
ideas." The familiar tale lived again
as the players artistically- portrayed
the scenes dear to so many hearts.
With an all-star cast it was not hard
to believe that Mark Twain"s two
youthful heroes were there in the
i flesh, always making Aunt Maria
"so very nervous."
The play of the evening was the
famous Broadway hit, "Have a
Heart," starring all the players, es
pecially Remorse and Mopupus, the
| parts being taken by Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Sauline, directors of the
company.
Special musical numbers between
the acts were especially enjoyed, be
ing given by Mr. Sauline, Mr. Has
kins and Miss Crawford, talented
members aof the company.
These entertainments were spon
' sored by the high school and under
the direction of Bernard Hirsch.
REV. J. W. MOORE SPEAKS TO
MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION
] At the regular monthly meeting of
the McDowell Ministerial Association
j held at the Methodist Hut here on
'Monday morning at 10 o'clock, Rev.
'John W. Moore gave an interesting
talk on "The Worship Part of the
Service". The talk, considered by the
Association as one of the high spots
of the year, dealt with the question:
How can a minister develop a wor
shipful atmosphere in his services?
An excellent attendance was re
ported. *
RECREATION WORK
IS TAKING SHAPE
IN THIS COUNTY
Old Fort Band to Play Tonight
At Camp-^McCloskey — To
Have Dollar Contest.
.
The recreational program of the
WPA, authorized in this county
several weeks ago under the direc
tion of J. L. Gourley, is, with the
advent of good weather, beginning
| to function in several branches of
activity.
Last week a horseshoe court was
secured for Old Fort aspirants and
play began thereon at that time. The
same is to be provided for other
communities within the near future.
As a special feature of the rec
reational work, Mr. Gourley has en
gaged the Old Fort band, under the
supervision of Miss Eula Grant; and
with everal young ladies of Old
Fort, the band will give an enter
tainment at CCC Camp McCloskey
this evening.
Several other minor projects are
also under way, but so far have
been withheld from publication.
As an incentive to local merch
ants and others to become interested
in the recreational program here,
officials state that they are planning
a test to ascertain "just how far a
dollar will go in McDowell county."
In view of the _ fact that Walter
Johnson, on February 22, duplica
ted George Washington's feat in
tossing a silver dollar across the
Rappahannock, it is thought that a
local contest of this nature might
provide a quantity of community
fun. It is further reported that sev
eral local hurlers have made claims
of being able to hurl the dollar an
equal distance. The contest, howev
er, will depend, on the interest local
merchants manifest within the next
few weeks. It is considered, on the
other hand, a good advertising stunt
MRS. GOFORTH DIES AT
GLENWOOD THURSDAJ PM,
FUNERAL HELD SATURDAY
Mrs. Letha Bright Goforth, 81,
widow of E. G. Goforth, d|ed last
Thursday afternoon, February 27.
She had been ill for some time as a
result of injuries sustained in a fall
Funeral services were held on Sat
urday at the Glenwood Methodist
church, and interment was in the
Glenwood cemetery. Dr. B. F. Bray,
of Marion, officiated. He was assis
ted by Rev. J. D. Pyatt, Rev. J. E.
Hipps, and Rev. J. M. Brown.
Mrs. Goforth, a native of this
county, was born in 1854, and join
ed the church at the age of eigh
teen, continuing her interest in re
ligious affairs until the time of her
death. She was a cheerful, friendly
woman, a splendid Christian mother
and a devoted wife.
She was married to Elbert G. Go
forth in 1872. Mr. Goforth died five
months ago. Also surviving Mrs. Go
forth are the following children:
Mrs. Callie Connor. Miss Margaret
Goforth, and Mrs. Edgar Parker, of
Marion; Mrs. Hattie Beal and Ben
Goforth, Hendersonville; Miss Re
becca Goforth, Los Angeles, Cal.;
Miss Bertha Goforth, Glenwood;
Frank Goforth, Seattle, Wash.; Lo
gan Goforth, Missoula, Mont.; John
Goforth, Logan; and Grover Go
forth, Columbus, Ohio.
Many beautiful floral offerings
attested the deep admiration in
i which she was held. Active pallbear
i ers were Messrs. W. L. Morris, R.
; W. Proctor, J. W. Winborne, Ben F.
| Conley, Edgar Morgan, and Thurs
ton Morris.
Mcdowell citizen
DIES IN KANSAS
j James Conley, son of Alonzo
I Conley, who was born and reared
| at Sevier, this county, died on Feb
ruary 27 in Mankota, Kansas, where
■ he has lived about forty years.
! He is survived, by one sister, Mrs.
Lula Wilson, and one brother, Eu
gene C'onley, both of Morganton;
and a number of relatives in this
county.
Friday is Family Bargain Day at
Marion Theatre with a very enter
taining comedy-drama "THE VIR
GINIA JUDGE", and good shorts.
Priced5, 10 and 20 cents.
COUNTY 4-H CLUB
COUNCIL HEARS
DISTRICT AGENT
Miss Current Speaks Also To
Home Demonstration Group
On Friday Evening.
The McDowell County 4H Club
council, at it9 meeting Friday morn
ing in the county court room, was
addressed by Miss Ruth Current,
district agent, from Raleigh, who
, outlined a program for county coun
i cil work. Representing all the coun
ty high schools, 19 members were
: present.
Buster Miller, president, opened
the meeting, after which the mem
bers transacted routine business.
Miss Current, in outlining the
program of work, stressed the fact
that council members were the club
leaders in their community and
should cooperate in every way with
the home agent. She then helped the
group to set up goals for coming
work. The district agent seemed
highly pleased with the outlook for
club work in this county, which is
attaining an unusual degree of uni
ty and efficiency.
As the customary educational
feature of the meeting, the group
then visited the office of The Marion
Progress where they were given a
short demonstration in the setting
up and printing of a newspaper.
Soeaks to Home Dem. Clubs
Friday evening at the Pleasant
Gardens community building, Miss
Current met with the women of the
entire county Home Demonstration
group and their husbands. Over a
hundred were present.
The affair, largely social, was
planned by Miss Tucker to stimulate
a county feeling of unity. In addi
tion to the members and their hus
bands, the county Boards of Educa
tion and Commissioners were invi
ted guests. The Pleasant Gardens
Club acted as cordial hostesses.
Miss Tucker introduced the dis
trict agent, who led the group iij
singing and an interesting series of
stunts and games, in which the en
tire group joined.
At the conclusion of the evening,
the Pleasant Gardens Club served
refreshments.
TAXLISTERS NAMED
WITH MRS. BURGIN
COUNTY SUPERVISOR
i
Annual Listing, of Property to
Start First Monday in April
—Completed in 30 Days
At the regular monthly meeting
of the county commissioners here
Monday, machinery for listing prop
erty -for taxation for the year 1936
was set up. Plans were made to be
gin the work on the first Monday in
April, the same to be completed in
thirty days.
Mrs. Mary G. Burgin was named
tax supervisor for the county. Sha
has served in this capacity for the
past three years, performing the du
ties of tax supervisor in- addition to
her regular work as county account
ant.
Listers for the various townships
will meet with the supervisor on
Monday, March 16, to receive in
structions and forms for listing. The
I listers are as follows:
W. B. Seaman, Bracketts Town
ship; Harlow Noblett, Crooked
Creek; C. E. Jarrett, Dysartsville;
J. M. Haney, Glenwood; C. Rex Wil
json, Higgins; T. Ben Conley, Mari
ion; Oscar B. Morgan, Montford
Cove; L. C. Parks, Nebo; 0. G.
Wiseman, North Cove; and E. T.
Burgin, Old Fort.
SINGING CONVENTION
TO MEET SUNDAY P. M.
The McDowell County Singing
Convention, A. H. Mitchem, presi
' dent, will meet Sunday afternoon at
2 o'clock at the Greenlee Baptist
church. Features will be the Roup
Quartette from South Carolina as
well as groups from Spruce Pine,
Black Mountain, and this county.
The publi-j i9 invited to attend.
PARENT-TEACHER
GROUP FETED WITH
MUSICAL PROGRAM
Plan Tonsil Clinic for First
Week in April — To Spon
sor Cooking School.
As a special feature, the Marion
Parent-Teacher Association was en
tertained Monday afternoon at 3:30
o'clQck, at its regular monthly meet
ing-, with a musical program by pu
pils of the four Marion music teach
ers, Miss Julia Burton, Mrs. Roy
Davis, Miss Lois Gilkey, and Miss E.
McCain.
The meeting was called to order
by the president, Mrs. R. J. Noyes,
this followed by a song by the group
and prayer by Rev. A. R. Batchelor.
The minutes of the previous meeting
were read by the secretary, Mrs.
George McCall.
The president reported that the
proposed tonsil clinic would be held
during the first week in April. In
February she was assured of free
operations and hospital attention
for the 65 underprivileged children
here needing the operation. So far,
36 of the parents have been heard
from, and only two have refused.
An additional 60 children also need
ing the operation, and who could
pay a part of the expenses, will
probably be taken care of at a later
date.
Hugh Beam, principal, then repor
ted that 36 undernourished children
are now being fed in the school
lunchroom through the aid of the
P. T. A. Since December 4, at which
time the children averaged 10.9
pounds underweight, the average
gain, to February 19, was over three
i pounds per pupil.
The Ways and Means Committee
reported $31.40 raised by the second
showing of the primary department
play, "Wedding of Jack and Jill".
The president then appointed Mrs.
McMillan, Mrs. 'Ernest House, and
Mrs. G. B. Justice as a committee to
nominate officers for the coming as
sociation election. It was further de
cided that the Junior-Senior ban
quet, to be served by the P. T. A.,
will be held in the community build
ing on March 26.
A cooking school will be sponsor
ed by the P. T. A. in the high school
auditorium on March 11th and 12th.
Several prizes will be given by the
Duke Power Company. Half holi
days were awarded to the grades of
Mrs. Morris and Miss Duvall for
parent attendance. The prize cake
was won by Mrs. D. F. Giles.
The musical program, given by a
large number of local pupils, was
thoroughly enjoyed by those pres
ent, and attested development of a
great deal of local talent.
B. F. POLLARD AT LANDIS
CHAPEL PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH SUNDAY MORNING
Sunday morning, March 8, Mr. B.
F. Pollard, one of the outstanding
laymen of the Presbyterian Church,
will address the congregation of the
Landi9 Chapel Presbyterian Church
on a subject of vital importance to
the progress1 of the Lord's Kingdom.
Every member of the church is urg
ed to be present at this service, and
all the people in this community are
cordially invited. Sunday School will
convene at the usual hour, ten o'
clock, and Mr. Pollard will apeak at
eleven o'clock. Special music is ex
pected to be rendered by the choir
of Hicks Chapel Sunday School.
"EXCLUSIVE STORY" AT
MARION THEATRE THURSDAY
The sensational revelations of
Martin Mooney who was recently
given a prison sentence for his re
fusal to reveal confidential sources
of information to a grand jury,
serve as subject matter of "Exclu
sive Story", M-G-M'S dramatic ex
pose of the 'policy racket', author
ized by Mooney himself, and com
ing to the Marion Theatre today.
Franchot Tone, Madge Evans, and
Stuart Erwin are cast in roles the
prototypes of which are screaming
from today's newspaper headlines.
The story contains a dramatiza
tion of a great newspaper's crusade
against sinister forces in a metrop
olis. The cameras tell their stories
in more than thirty different sels.