McDow^
County’s
Leading
Newspaper
MARION PROGRESS
Advertising
in the
Profin^ess
Pays
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED IS9S
MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1940
VOL. XLIV—N0.39
Trade Jubilee
Declared To Be
Successful Event
Crowds Brave Weather Tio
Take Part In Festival;
Dance PostponedL
Marion’s Trade Jubilee was de
cidedly a success -in spite of the- bad
weather, said Walter J, Cartier, sec
retary of the local Chamber of Com
merce, this week, after interviewing
merchants who had participated: in
the celebration.
Rain and cold weather, which
threatened throughout the week-end
to halt the festivities,, caused the
postponement of the street dance
last Saturday night. Plans outlined
here call for the dance to be held lat
er in the year in connection with
some other event.
Thursday night a larger crowd
than was expected took part in the
treasure hunt, the opening event of
the Jubilee. Some 10,000 tickets
bought for distribution to treasure
hunters were soon given out. Ticket
holders crowded the stores in search
of prizes. The hunt for treasures con
tinued throughout Friday and Sat
urday, and up until today only three-
fourths of the prizes
claimed.
FEDERAL FUNDS SPENT
IN COUNTY OUTLINED
The sum of $2,935,163 in Federal
funds was expended in McDowell
county between March 4, 1933, and
June 30, 1939, it was stated in a re;
port of the Statistical Section of the
Office of Government Reports, re
ceived by The Progress this w’eek
from Senator Josiah Bailey.
Of the total Federal funds allot
ted to this county $284,970 represen
ted loans that are repayable, it was
said. The greater part of these loans
were made by the Home Owners’
Loan Corpoi’ation which issued the
sum of $125,992 to 82 borrowers be
tween 1933 and 1936. Other agencies
making substantial loans in the coun
ty were the Rural Electrification Ad
ministration, the sum of $61,375 to
one borrower; the Rural Rehabilita
tion division of the Farm Security
Administration, the sum of $27,373;
the Reconstruction Finance Corpor
ation, the sum of $40,000; and the
Farm Credit Administration, the
sum of $26,600 to 26 borrowers, as
of December 31, 1938.
Funds spent outright in the coun
ty during the six-year period am
ounted to $1,667,587. Of this am
ount the greatest part was spent by
the Public Roads Administration
which accounted for the sum of
$670,0^2. Funds expended in the
county by some of the other agen
cies were $422,745 by the Works
Four Principals
Are Re-elected
For The County
To Serve McDowell Schools
For Another Year; Teach
ers To Be Appointed.
Principals at the Old Fort, Glen-
wood, Pleasant Gardens, and Nebo
schools have been re-elected for an
other year, it was announced this
week by N. F. Steppe, superinten
dent of McDowell county schools.
The appointments of principals was
made last week at a meeting of dis
trict committees and the county
school board.
Principals who have been re-elec
ted are S. A. McDuffy of Old Fort,
C. L. Nor^^'ood of Glenwood, W. A.
Young of Pleasant Gardens and
Stanley Livingston of Nebo. A prin-
Extensions Of
Electric Lines
Discussed Here
REA Official Pays Visit To
County In Interests Of Ru
ral Power Facilities.
Julius Austin, of the Washington
offices of the. Rural Electrification
Administration met with a group of
Burke and McDowell county resi
dents here last Saturday and dis
cussed the extension of electrical
lines into some rural sections of the
two counties, announced County
Fiarm Agent S. L. Homewood, this
week.
NEGRO IS BEING HELD
HERE IN DEATH CASE
Tom Rutherford, 38 year old neg
ro of the Black Bottom section of
McDowell county is being held in the
county jail here pending an investi
gation of the contents of the stom
ach of Charles Dale, 53, who was
found dead in the Black Bottom
section on April 12.
Dale was found behind a negro
church in that section on the after-
iioon of April 12 and was first
thought to have had a heart attack.
Later, after another negro became
ill after having allegedly drunk some
of Rutherford’s whiskey, county of
ficials sent the dead man’s stomach
contents to Raleigh for analysis.
Rutherford is at present being
held on charges of robbery and lar
ceny. He was alleged to have taken
about $24 from Dale.
Rutherford’s trial has been set for
jMay 7. No information has been re-
The establishment of electrical
lines in the Dysartsville and North | ceived here about the analysis of the
Cove communities in McDowell | stomach contents of Dale, it was an
county was discussed. j nounced yesterday.
According to J. A. Wier, manager
cipal to succeed E. V. Gouge at thej^f Marion branch of the Duke i SUITS FILED AGAINST
, Progress Administration; $277,323
^ ®^”iby the Federal Emergency Relief
j Administration; $111,215 by the Civ-
Some 48 merchants participated j n Works Administration; $80,149
in the Trade Jubilee. Of these 35 of-1 |jy Public Buildings Administra-
fered prizes in the treasure hunt. Uion for Federal buildings; and $48,-
Many Marion store windows were 1272 by the Public Works Adminis-
decorated for the festival. A judging | tration.
committee inspected these windows! in addition to both the repayable
Thursday night and selected the.gj^jj non-repayable funds McDowell
three they thought best in sales ap-j county received $51,656 in housing
peal. First place was awarded ^ to : insurance from the Federal Housing
Workman’s for a display featuring Administration and $30,950 from the
Fresh from a successful tiip to
the State Music contest in Greens
boro, the high school band is ready
and anxious to demonstrate its abil
ity before local music lovers. The
concert originally was scheduled for
Paris shoes. Second prize winner | Public Roads Administration as ac-! March, but due to the fire and atten-
North Cove school has not been se- j Power Company, a study of the elec-
lected. I trical needs and requirements of
According to Mr. Steppe, the dis-j residents of the North Cove section
trict committees for McDowell coun
ty schools will meet before May 15
to elect the teaching personnel for
the various schools. Under state laws
teachers must be notified about the
election of teachers for next year
before school closes.
BAND CONCERT TO BE
GIVEN AT HIGH SCHOOL
FRIDAY NIGHT, MAY
will be made this week. The possible
power load that will be consumed by
that community will be estimated,
he said, and electrical lines will be
extended into that section if enough
users of electricity are found to jus
tify the work. Interest shown by res
idents of the North Cove section has
OLD FORT E;C-0FFICIALS
New Registration
For May Primary
Starts Saturday
Books Will Be At The Pollinc
Places On Each Saturday
Through May 11th.
The registration for the May Pri- *
mary will open in each of McDowell
county’s 17 precincts next Saturday
and remain open th’*ough Saturday,
May 11.
There will be an entirely new reg
istration of all qualified voters in the
county. Previous registration will
not entitle persons to vote in the
primary unless they register with
their respective registrars.
The registration books will be at
the polling places on each of the
three Saturdays during the period
they are to remain open. The hours
are from 9 o’clock in the morning to
sunset. On other week days persons
eligible to register may have their
Suits totaling $10,740.87 against i "^mes listed by visiting the regis^
the former Mayor and board of al-
itrars at their homes or business
dermen of Old Fort were filed with Pl^ces.
the Clerk of McDowell County Su- Under the new provisions of the
perior Court here last week by John law there will b6 separate primary
V. Robinson, present Mayor, and the registration books for the Demo-
incumbent board. j crats and Republicans. Persons who
The first of the suits charged that; list themselves as independents and
C. L. Tate, while serving as a mem-i have no specific party affiliations
indicated that there might be enough j ^ ^ board of aldermen, had I will not be allowed to vote in the
power users to justify the extension
of lines into that area, he said.
was Rose’s 5 & 10 with a window
featuring candies. Third place was
won by The Jjeader for two windows
displaying clothing with a back
ground of flowers.
Friday night’s festivities opened
■with a concert by the Marion high
school band on the courthouse lawn.
Spotlighting the pjrogram was ^the
style show at the Marion Theatre.
Approximately 27 merchants and
business firms in Marion had models
tive projects allotments.
WEATHERSPOpN TO BE
"^S'^ieAICER^T REVIVAL
dant difficulties, the progrram was
STREETMAN APPOINTED
MANAGER FOR HORTON
been elected chief of Police of Old!primary contests but, of course, will
Fort and had received $1,625 as sal-j have ’the right to cast their ballots
ary for the police office during the i in the general election in the fall,
period 1935-37, while serving as a | Separate ballots will be used for the
member of the board. The suit was j Democratic and Republican candi-
filed against J. F. Harmon, former' dates.
J. W. Streetman, Jr., of Marion, mayor, Dr. J. B. Johnson, George E. | The following is a list of the reg-
prominent Democratic leader in Me-1 Moore, H. R. Early and T. H. Ka- j istrars appointed by the board of
Dowell county was this week appoin- j nipe, former aldermen. > elections for the various precincts
ted county manager for Lieutenant-j In the second suit, J. F. Harmon, | of McDowell county:
Governor Wilkins P. Horton in his j while serving*as mayor of Old Fort] Marion No. 1 Reid Bird.
postponed to Friday, May 3rd. j campaign for the Democi-atic | and superintendent of waterworks j
Though the concert is a bit belated j nomination for Governor, it has been j and collector of taxes, was charged j
in point of-timCj the quality of the announced. Mr. Streetman has re-j with havinjg deposited only $20,043.-!
performance will probably be im- signed as a member of the McDow- j 08 in taxes while he was said to have |
proved to the extent that it will be jell county Board of Elections to be | collected a total of $22,998.23, leav-i
worth waiting this long for. ifree to give time to the Horton cam- ing $2,954.25 unaccounted for.
Due to a number of requests, one'Pai&”- He will be succeeded on the 1 In the third suit, Harmon, John
Dr. J. B. Weatherspoon, professor
in the Louisville Seminary, will be
the guest speaker at a revival and j concert numbers will be in- Elections Board by T. W. Gowan,! son, Moore, Early, Tate and A. J.
“evangelistic canipaign” to be con-jgj^jg^j program. However, the chairman of the Board. j Harris, who served from 1937 until
ducted in the Marion First Baptist j concert has been planned not only to j Robert W. Proctor, Marion attor- ■ the present board w'as elected last
... church during the week of May 12-] ^j^g audience but also theiney who was appointed some time j June, are asked for $5,367.32 which j
entered" in the show and some me^^ announced this week by|piaygj.g contains some very pop-'ago to the headquarters staff of Mr. | was said to^ have been unaccounted j
chants had several models. Pastor. lular selections. Two numbers, “Pa-'Horton, will continue in this advi-ifor in collections from the water-1
in nin+ViJncr Weatherspoon is a former res-^a„ng» ^y Morton Gould, and “Lady' sory capacity. He will spend much works and town taxes,
en and children were shown \rith thel^**®”^ North Carolina and a ^ad- j^f Spain” have been exceedingly | time in the headquartei-s office in
models beine introduced to the '^^® Wake Forest College. He winter and i Raleigh and also will be active in
thtt pac"; L
I teachers and preachers in the South-^ “Glow Worm” bv Paul
Walter J. Cartier. The show was ar-! _ . . _ . . . Known uiow worm oy raui
ranged by the Junior and
Woman’s clubs of Marion.
Senior;
Baptist Convention, said'Dr.
Bray.
Services during the revival week
The Marion business district wasj^.jn bg conducted in the morning and
at night. The time of the services
crowded with visitors Saturday af
ternoon and Saturday night, but the
street dance planned as a climax to
the festival was postponed.
Throughout the festival frequent
announcements w^ere made over a
public address system installed in the
business district of Marion. Activi
ties were directed by this means with
the announcing being done by Mr.
Cartier.
Mr. Cartier, acting on behalf of
the Marion Chomber of Commerce,
was general supervisor of the Trade
Jubilee. Advertising for the festival
was under the direction of V. T.
Eckerd, president of the Chamber of
Commerce. The treasure hunt was
arranged by a committee composed
of Cato Holler, chairman, Dan
Hitchcock and J. E. Evans. The style
show was under the direction of Mrs.
J. F. Shoemaker, chairman, Mrs.
Will Erwin and Mrs. Rowe Mauney.
FIRE DESTROYS HOUSE
JUST OUTSIDE MARION
Fire of unknown origin totally de
stroyed the home of C. E. Ricks, just
outside the city limits of Marion’ on
the Asheville highway, early last
Thursday morning.
The fire was first noticed at about
3:00 o’clock a. m. Thursday morn
ing. The Marion fire department was
notified too late to save any of the
structure. The building was situated
next door to the State Highway ga
rage and was the propertj^ of the
State Highway Department.
Practically all furniture and cloth
ing of the Ricks family was destroy
ed in the fire. Houses iCdJacent to the
blazing building and the highway
garage were protected by the Mar
ion fire department.
and soloists who will take part in
the revival program have not been
announced.
DEVERE CHOlSEN OFFICER
OF OPTOMETRY SOCIETY
Lincke. The program includes the
usual number of marches and other
music to round out a balanced band
concert.
It is hoped that everyone intei’es-
ted in music and the band will at
tend this concert.
organization work over the state.
DEBATERS OF OLD FORT
ELIMINATED IN CONTEST
The Old Fort high school debating
Marion No. 2—Highland Hawkins.
Marion No. 3—G. W. Biggerstaff.
Marion No. 4—J. E. Roland.
Marion No. 5—^Lester Waters.
Bracketts—George Rhom.
Buck Creek—Bud Hennessee.
Dysartsville—Paul Laughridge:
Glenwood—W. E. Morgan.
Higgins—Rex Wilson.
Montford Cove—George Marlowe.
Nebo—E.- L. Tate.
Old Fort No. 1—C. L. Tate.
Old Fort No. 2—S. F. Mauney.
Turkey Cove—Gene Good.
North Cove—J. L. Carpenter.
Crooked Creek—Glenn Bradley.
The fourth of the suits, filed j
against Harmon, Johnson, Moore,!
Early and Harris, alleges that Tate, j
while serving on the town board, . CLOSING HOURS
1937-1938, was elected chief of po-j EFFECT HERE
lice and received $803.30 as salary. (
The town of Old Fort is asking forj
this sum which was termed an .Hegal i Monday,
expenditure since it is claimed that;
teams lost out in the annual state de-| . ^ u j ^ u ■ — °
bating contest held in Chapel Hill!^ *”*7 been set by the Merchants division of
In the first day’s trials ' i^he Chamber of Commerce. Under
BROUGHTON TO SPEAK
last week. ..xov ... „
I ! or position of profit.
[the negative team of Old Fort met
the affirmative debaters of Bessemer)
J John D. Shaw, of Charlotte, and
Dr. P. N. DeVere of Marion was
elected first vice-president of the
North Carolina Optometric Society
at a meeting of the Society in j Broughton was in Marion last
Greensboro this week. j Thursday making preliminary plans
Dr. DeVere has been active in op- campaign in McDowell coun-
HERE NEXT THURSDAY; high school. The affirmative team of!
I Old Foi’t met the negative team of
J. M. Broughton, Democratic can-1 Lake Lure high school. All entries
didate for governor of North Caro-! debated the question, “Should There
IG. F. Washburn of Marion, are at-
the present plan general merchants
close their dooi-s at 5:30 p. m. on
week days and at 8:00 p. m. on Sat-
tometry in Marion for several years
and recently opened a new office in
Morganton.
During the state convention of
Optometrists, held Sunday, Monday
and Tuesday of this week, he was
elected chairman of the resolutions
committee for the convention.
Dr. Luther M. Dicus, of Washing
ton, director of the American Opto-
metrical Association, was principal
speaker at the convention. He ad
dressed the assembly on “Public
Health Optometi'y.”
LOCATION OF IDEAL
CLEANERS IS CHANGED
The Ideal Dry Cleaners of Marion
moved into their new quarters on
West Henderson street this week.
The new building housing the
cleaning plant is a one-story brick
structure adjacent to the Laughridge
Furniture Store. Some new equip
ment has been placed in the plant
and the installation of machinery is
now being completed.
No cessation of cleaning work has
been brought about by the change in
the location of the plant and regular
cleaning and pressing is now being
done at the new plant.
lina, w'ill speak in Marion Thursday;Be Government Ownership of Rail-
night May 2, it has been announced, j roads.”
In elimination trials in McDowell
county last month the Old Fort teams
won over the Pleasant Gardens neg
ative team and the Glenwood affir-
ty and greeting friends.
Announcement was made
this j mative team.
week that J. G. Neal, of Marion, has| Winners in the state contest were
been appointed manager of 'the
Broughton campaign in McDowell
county.
According to Mr. Neal, Mr.
Broughton will speak in the court
house here at 8:00 o’clock p. m.
PARSONS TO PREACH AT
EAST MARION SUNDAY
the Monroe high school, first, and the
James A. Gray high school of Win
ston-Salem, second.
WORK ON COURTHOUSE
WING IS BEGUN HERE
Rev. Joe Parsons, who is assist
ing Rev. J. A. Brock, of Spindale in week.
Work on the $50,000 WPA proj
ect for an addition to the McDowell
county courthouse to house a jail
was begun the latter part of last
a revival meeting at Spencer Baptist
church, will preach at East Marion
Baptist church Sunday afternoon at
3 o’clock. The public is invited to
attend this special service and hear
Rev. Parsons.
DEMONSTRATION MEET
A county demonstration will be
held in the Dysartsville school build
ing, May 1 at 2:30 o’clock p. m.
Excavatio^ work is now being
done in the rear of the courthouse.
Approximately 45*men are employed
on the project.. Superintendent of
the work is J. L. Early.
It is expected that approximately
eight months will be required to
complete the project. Some changes
in the present courthouse will be
made necessary, such as the building
it of new partitions and doors and the
tomeys for the to»-n of Old Port. shops closa
lat 6:00 p. m. on week days and at
ALFRED GRANT IS FATALLY j8:30 p. m. on Saturdays.
HURT NEAR OLD FORT! f^j^g chamber of Commerce has
I set Easter Monday, Thanksgiting
Alfred Grant, 25, died at 11 Christmas as days on which all
clock Tuesday morning from injur-: Marion stores should be closed.
ies suffered while he was at workj
deepening a well at the home of BELT MEDICAL
parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Grant,
about four miles from Old Fort.
Mr. Grant’s neck was broken when
a tub of rock fell on his head.
Surviving are his parents, two
brothers, Joe and Earl Graift, and
one sister, Norma Grant.
Funeral services were held Wed
nesday morning at 11 o’clock at the
Bethlehem Baptist church conduc
ted by the pastor, Rev. W. E. Pettit.
METHODIST MEETING ,
Mr. Floyd Todd, district lay leader
of the Gastonia district of the Meth
odist church will be the guest speak
er at a meeting of pastors, stewards
and laymen to be held in the First
Methodist church in Marion, Sunday
afternoon at 2:30 o’clock.
The theme of the meeting will be
the “Forward Movement.”
SOCIETY HAS MEETING
Approximately 50 doctors from
McDowell, Rutherford, Cleveland,
and Polk counties attended a meet^
ing of the Thermal Belt Medical So
ciety, held at the Marion Lake club
last Thursday night.
Among the speakers at the meet
ing was Dr. Paul McBee of Marion
who used as his subject, “Middle
Meningeal Hemorrhage.” Other
speakers included Dr. I. A. Phifer
of Spai-tanburg, S. C., ^*Dr. John
Hamrick of Shelby, and Dr. Austin
Woody of Tryon.
Dinner was served to members of
the society and guests.
COUNTY WIDE MEETING
OF WOODMEN OF WORLD
Hon. T. E. Newton, W.O.W. state
manager, and A. B. Galloway, dis-
was announced this week by Miss
Jean Steele, McDowell home demon
stration agent.
The progrram will be under the di
rection of Miss Clinard, of the Ball
Canning Company.
changing of wiring
equipment.
and
ATTEND HORTON MEETING
R. W. Proctor, county manager 1 trict manager, will be the principal
accompanied by J. W. Streetman, j speakers at a county wide meeting
plumbing I Jr.^ and W. D. Lonon, attended the j of the W.O.W. at Pleasant Gardens
meeting of the Horton campaign j Community building Monday even-
The interior of the courthouse is j managers in Raleigh Friday after
being painted this week with all but | noon, followed by a dinner Friday
the first floor having been refinished j evening- for county managers and
up to this time. [statewide workers.
ing, April 29th, at 7:30 o’clock. All
the W.O.W. camps in the county are
urged to attend. Each camp is re^
quested to bring sandwiches.
OH