McDowell
County's
Leadinflr
Newspaper
MARION PROGRESS
Advertising
in the
Progress
Pays
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896
MARION. N. C., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1940
VOL. XLV—NO. 7
MARION PROJECT
IS APPROVED BY
STATE OFFICIAlj
WPA Plan Provides For Play
ground And Sewage Dispo
sal Facilities For Town.
A $24,362 WPA project for the
construction of a playground ^nd a
small sewer pumping station in north
Marion was approved by state offici
als of the WPA this week and plans
for the work were forwarded to
Washington, it has been announced.
The playground planned in the
project will be constructed on the
vacant lot beside the Community
building. It is expected that wading j
D. R. HYAMS, FORMERLY
OF MARION, IS FATALLY
INJURED IN AUTO WRECK
D. R. Hyams, of Greensboro, a
former resident of Marion, died in a
Raleigh hospital Tuesday morning
as a result of injuries sustained in
an automobile accident near Raleigh
last Saturday afternoon.
The accident occurred at Holly
Springs when the car in which Mr.
Hyams and two daughters, Mrs.
Russell Emerson and Miss Minnie
Hyams, of Greensboro, were riding
was struck by a car driven by Henry
Turner, Negro, who was entering
from a side road. Mr. Hyams sus
tained a fractured skull and disloca
ted shoulder. Mrs. Emei'son had
both ankles broken and suffered a
fractured wrist while Miss Hyams
was bruised and sustained a severe
shock but was not seriously injured.
Mr. Hyams was 65 years of age. A
son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John
Hyams, he was born in Marion and
pools, tennis courts and other recre-i ,
ation facilities will be placed on the I about twenty-five
grounds. |
The sewer pumping station willj
be placed in north Marion and will
enable home owners on Viewpoint
Drive and North Main street to con
nect their homes with the sewage
disposal system of the town.
The $24,362 project calls for a
Federal appropriation of $16,564,
and for a sponsor’s appropriation of
$7,808.
Another project, calling for the
construction of a small sewage dis
posal plant in the Clinchfield section
to provide sewage disposal facilities
for homes on the far end of East
Court street, is now being investiga
ted by engineers. It is expected ±he
project will be submitted to theWPA
in the near future.
DUKE POWER EXPANDS
RURAL LINES SYSTEM
years ago when he mov.ed to Greens
boro and since that time has held a
position with the Odell Hardware
Company.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Lillie Perry Hyams; three sons, R.
L., Perry and Freeman Hyams, of
Greensboro; five daughters, Mrs. H.
D. Mauldin, Mrs. Russell Emerson
and Miss Minnie Hyams, of Greens
boro, Miss Winifred Hyams of Ral
eigh, and Miss Madeline Hyams of
Durham; four sisters, Mrs. Carrie
Childs, of Greensboro; Mrs. F. H.
O'Neal, of Statesville; Mrs. G. H.
Knight of Richmond, Va., and
Mrs. S. E. Whitten, of Marion, N. C.,
and one brother, John F. Hyams, of
Asheville, and two grandchildren.
The funeral services were held in
Greensboro Wednesday afternoon at
5 o’clock.
There are at present 81 miles of
“strictly rural” power lines in Mc
Dowell county serving 473 custom
ers, of whom 318 are farmers, ac
cording:' to J. A. Wier, local manager
of the Duke Power Company.
These figures, he pointed out, do
not include the service rendered to
LOCAL MEN PURCHASE
MAIN STREET BUILDING
The Wrenn building on the comer
of West Court and Main streets in
Marion was purchased last week by
Sam M. Yancey and C. F. Bames
from Sebom Perry of High Point.
The building was recently willed to
more or less rural consumers, in the Perry by T. F. Wrenn, who died
suburban communities of Nebo, Glen-
wood, Garden City, Stroudtown, and
along the lines between these places
and Marion.
In 1934, McDowell had 32 miles of
rural lines serving 107 customers.
this summer.
Store places in the building purch
ased include the Marion Drug Co.,
the Western Auto Associate store,
the Ideal Cafe and the Betty Jean
Beauty shop. In addition several sec-
FAIR LOT BEING
MADE READY FOR
SHOW OCTOBER 4
Westmoreland Outlines Work
Done In Preparation For
Horse And Cattle Exhibit.
Work on the McDowell -fair
grounds near Marion in preparation
PLAN TO BUILD
NEW STORE ON
SITE OF HOUSE
Burton Place Being Razed To
Make Way For Smith Fur
niture Establishment.
The razing of the old R. F. Burton
home place on North Main street in
for the annual horse and cattle show | Marion was begun this week to make
on October 4 is nearing completion, I way for a modern three story build-
stated S. J. Westmoreland, report- j ing that will be built on the location
ing for the horse and cattle show | 5y the Smith Furniture Company,
committee at the weekly meeting of i The Burton house was a landmark
the local Kiwanis club here Tuesday I in Marion, being one of the oldest
night. Mr. Westmoreland is chairman | residences here. It v/as a two-story
of the show committee and the annu- j frame building and was until recent
al event is being sponsored by the hy occupied by Miss Julia Burton.
Kiwanians. I The building and lot were purchased
A ring on the fair grounds for the
horse show is nearing completion,
said Mr. Westmoreland. The ring
measures about 125 by 225 feet and
is about 600 feet in circumference.
The property surrounding the ring is
being cleared of brush and under
growth.
A bridge has been built over a
stream between the highway and the
fair grounds and parking space is be
ing provided around the track for
cars, stated Mr. Westmoreland.
The fair grounds are located just
off Rutherford Road at the foot of
Mount Ida. Assisting Mr. Westmore-
by the Sm.ith Furniture Company
the latter part of August.
The site for the new furniture
store is located opposite the Mc
Dowell Hotel, between the Western
Union office and Young’s Esso Sta
tion. Razing of the old building is
expected to be completed by the end
of September and work on the con
struction of the furniture store is
expected to begin about October 1.
Plans for the Smith Furniture
company’s store call for a three sto
ry brick building. It will have 60
foot frontage on Main street and
will be approximately 112 feet long.
land in arranging for the horse and I According to Ray W. Smith, approx-
cattle show are S. L. Homewood, J.jimately two and one-half floors of
C. Rabb, J. R. Jimeson, W. C. Me- the new building will be used for
Iver and Frank Goforth. furniture display. The remaining
space will be used for storage.
CRIMINAL DOCKET IS ( The two stores of the Smith Fur-
CLEARED IN COURT HERE [ niture Company now located on
I North Main and Logan streets, will
All cases on the criminal docket in j be vacated on completion of the new
the Superior court had been disposed j building, it was said.
of late last Thursday afternoon and [
the court spent the remainder of the SERIES OF CONCERTS TO
week on hearings in civil actions.
Judge William H. Bobbitt, of Char
lotte, is presiding at the two-weeks
criminal-civil term.
RECREATION BOARD FOR
MARION IS URGED HERE
Stressing the need for planned
recreation activities for the residents
of Marion, Chamber of Commerce
Secretary Walter Cartier recommen
ded here last Friday that the local
Rotary club take the lead in promot
ing the organization of a recreation
board.
The proposed board, said Mr. Car
tier, would make a survey of recrea
tion facilities in the community and
promote activities of a self-financing
nature at first. The board might
bring about the organizaton of
clubs for soft-ball, badminton, hik
ing, boating and might promote
di-amatic and musical programs, a
craft guild and hobby shows, a sum
mer playground program for chil
dren and a social-recreation program
for adults, he said.
He asked that a committee be ap
pointed from the Rotary club to con
sider the project and urged that the
Community building be more gener
ally used as the recreation center of
the town.
Mr. Cartier was guest speaker at
the regular weekly meeting of the
Rotary club. The Rotarians decided
to have a fish fry at the Old Fort
picnic grounds on September 13 at
6:00 p. m.
Ray Smith rejoined the club.
Guests at the meeting were Raymond
D. Ridgeley, Rotarian of St. Peters
burg, Fla., and Harry Gilbert.
WORK BEGUN ON MARION
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING
BE BEGUN HERE SUNDAY
Work on Marion’s $100,000 WPA
project for repairing the high school
building and for the construction of
a classroom and gymnasium building
was begun Tuesday of this week.
Workmen are now employed in tear- Brooks,
ing down the fire-damaged portions
of the building and in cleaning up
debris around the building.
According to Superintendent Hugh
GREENLEE CHURCH
TO BE SCENE OF
BAPTIST MEETING
Annual Convention Of Train
ing Union To Be Held Ai
Baptist Church Sunday.
The annual convention of th,e Bap
tist Training Union of the Blue Ridge
Association will be held at the
Greenlee Baptist church on next
Sunday, Sept. 15. W. G. Wibon,
the director, announces an interest
ing program has been prepared for
the meeting and a large attendance
is expected. The program, consist
ing of addresses, music and playlets,
will begin at 11 o’clock'in the morn
ing and continue through the after
noon.
The progi-am follows:
11:00: Congregational song.
11:05: Devotional, James Mitch-
em, Clinchfield.
11:15: Special music. Clear Creek
Baptist church.
11:20: Appointment of commit
tees.
11:25: Special music, Kannapolis
Quartet.
11:30: Address—Theme of The
Month, Rev. N. C. Brooks, State
Training Union Secretary, Raleigh.
12:00: Announcements. Dinner
on the gn^ounds.
1:00: Congregational song.
1:05: Devotional, Robert Padgett,
Pleasant Gardens.
1:^15: Special Music, Whitson
Quartet, Clinchfield.
1:20: Panel Discussion, Rev. N.
1:30: Special music. West Marion
1:55: Report of Committees.
2:00: Special music. West Marion
2:05: Address, “Flowers for the
F. Beam, no work will be done on the j Living,” J. P. Thomas, Regional
new building planned in the project i P’^esident, of Gastonia,
until the reconstruction of the old! 2:20: Special music, Kannapolis
building has been completed. All
A symphonic concert, featuring
the music of Johann Strauss, will be | work will be concentrated on the old
Criminal cases disposed of during held in the Community building here i building to get if in shape for school
the latter part of last week were
follows: j
Earle Williams was sentenced to
six months on the roads for assault
with a deadly weapon, suspended on
Since that time more lines have been ond-story offices and rooms are con-
Btrang every year.
Last year, the company added 11.3
nules of lines to serve 82 customers,
thereby bringing the total on Janu
ary 1, 1940, to 68.7 miles with 411
customers.
So far this year, 62 customers have
been added on 12 miles of “strictly
rural” lines and the company is now
tained in the building.
obtaining the right-of-way for 25.3 j Bobbitt, who operated
more miles authorized to serve 112
customers in the North Cove section.
The work of erecting poles, string
ing wire, and cutting in houses and
stores will be started as soon as pos
sible, Mr. Wier said. When this line
is completed, McDowell will have
106 miles of “strictly rural” lines
serving 586 farmers and other con
sumers.
C OF C MEMBERSHIPS
REACH TOTAL OF 164
The McDowell county Chamber of
Commerce now has 88 members and
a total of 164 memberships, accord
ing to an announcement made this
week.
Of the 88 members, several are
McDowell firms which have taken
out as many as eight memberships
each in the Chamber of Commerce.
Among these firms are Belk-Broome
Co., the Duke Power Co., and the
Coca-Cola Bottling Co., all of Mar
ion.
Many memberships have been re
newed this year,
I fornication and adultery, was senten
ced to the Industrial Farm colony for
; a period not to exceed three years.
Eva Shehan, found guilty of for-
j nication and maintaining a public
nuisance, was sentenced to the Farm
Colony for a period up to three
years.
Bill Raines was found not guilty of
seduction.
, ^ ‘ Warlick, guilty of driving
time. Later the site was occupied by, ,
drunk,
Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. It i classes as soon as possible, he said,
will be the first of a series of Sun-j Approximately 35 men are now
day programs to be given here. j employed on the reconstruction work.
The conceit is the result of efforts j Foreman on the project is Charles G.
made here recently to provide some | Cannon, and the work is being done
payment of the court costs and the! form of Sunday entertainment for! under the supervision of Architect I Quartet,
sum of $72 to Garland Austin and on | Marion residents. Music for the con-j Lindsey Gudger of Asheville. j 3:10: “B. A. U.’s For Every
two years good behavior. j cert will consist of phonograph ra- j Plans for the reconstruction of the ' Church,” Rev. W. A. Pettit, Old Fort
Mrs. Zeb Sprouse, found guilty of 1 cordings which will be played over I old school building call for the re-! 3:20: Special music, ^Kannapolis
Our Task in the Blue
iss Aberlene Cresawn for
Quartet.
2:25:
Ridge,”
Greenlee.
2:35: Special music, Clinchfield
church.
2:40: Playlet, East Marion Union.
3:05: Special music, Whitson
The Ideal Cafe, operated by B. M. *
Swanson, went out of business lastj
week and the place occupied by the
cafe is now vacant. No new tenant!
for the place has as yet been an
nounced. 1
The corner building was erected |
many years ago by the
merchandise store there
late C. A.
a general |
for some 1
the Merchants and Farmers Bank
which was absorbed by the First Na
tional Bank. Before the advent of
movies in this community, the second
floor of the building was used as an
opera house where town gatherings
and entertainments of many kinds
were held. The whole second floor
was later changed to store space, of
fices and rooms.
The recent purchasers of the build
ing have ahnounced no plans for
changing the structure. The purchase
was made as an investment, it was
said.
JUDGE APPOINTED FpR
SPECIAL COURT TERM
Judge Wilson Warlick, of Newton,
will preside at a special two-weeks
term of civil court, beginning here
October 21. The special term was re
quested by McDowell’s county com
missioners to relieve a crowded civil
docket. The term was ordered by
Secretary Cartier * Governor Hoey last week.
stated, but there are still many firms It is expected that the orchard
and individuals in the county who case suit against the State Highway
bave not been called on. and Public Works Commission will
'occupy the attention of the court
G. O. P. CANDIDATE TO ! during most of the term. The plain-
MAKE ADDRESS HERE ^ tiffs to the action, Supreme Court
Justice J. Wallace Winborne, as ex
special equipment invented by Hu- j pairing of some eight classrooms and' Quartet.
bert Martin of Marion. the enlarging of the library. The' 3:25: Roll Call of the Churches.
The program is being sponsored The new building on the school! 3:30: ‘ Special music, Marion First
by the McDowell Chamber of Com-1 grounds will house approximately Church.
merce and several local persons who j four classrooms, a music room, and a' 3:35: Address, W. R. Chambers,
plan to have a guest soloist or in-1 gymnasium with a seating capacity ^ Associational Moderator,
strumentalist on each of the Sunday : of about 500. 1 3:45: Special music. Chapel Hill
programs. The soloist for this week
has not been announced.
Admission to the concert will be
by tickets, which are available, free
of charge, at Tainter's, Streetman’s,
REBUILDING OF FILLING
STATION PLANNED HERE Thomas
Quartet.
3:50: Installation of officers, J. P.
Gastonia.
was sentenced to 60 days, of charge, at Tainter's, Streetman’s, Work on a new building to house p^^^ES ELECTED TO HEAD
suspended on payment of $50 and Marion Drug Company, Cut Rate | the Main Street Texaco filling sta-1 YOUNG DEMOCRATS HERE
court costs and the condition he not j Drug Store, Rabb-Hitchcock’s, Oasis tion on North Main street here is ex- i
operate a car for 12 months. j News Stand, the Chamber of Com-jpected to be started in the near fu-i Robert Janves, Jr., was elected
Ed Suttles was sentenced to 12
months on the roads for assault
with a deadly weapon, suspended on
two years good behavior.
Willie Fulwood was sentenced to
six months on the roads for larceny.
MARION CITY TEACHERS
MEET IN LOCAL SCHOOL
Teachers of schools in the Marion
city unit assembled in the central
school auditorium here yesterday
for their first meeting of the fall
term. They were addressed by two
guest speakers and by Superinten
dent Hugh P. Beam, who outlined
the school program for the year.
Mrs. Ruth Penney, representative
frorti the State Commission for the
Blind, gave the teachers instructions
for detecting eye deficiencies in
children and explained the policy of
the Commission in seeking to remove
difficulties experienced by children.
She emphasized the importance of
the work of the Commission with
underprivileged children.
Miss Mary Langston, field repre
sentative of the classroom teachers
division of the North Carolina Edu-
Robert H. McNeill, Republican; ecutor and trustee of the W. W. Guy cation association, discussed the ac-
candidate for governor of North estate, and John Yancey, have char-1 tivities of the N. C. E. A. and recom-
Carolina, will speak in Marion on ged that the construction of the | mended the organization of a class-
Monday, September 16, at 2:30 o’- Parkway had damaged the Holston; room teachers division in the local
clock in the afternoon. Mr. McNeill and Heffner apple orchards to an association.
will conie to Marion in connection amount between $200,000 and
with a speaking tour on which he will $250,000. A jury of view has recom-
cover the central and western parts mended a settlement of approxi-
of the state. jmately $75,000.
The meeting opened with a group
song led by Bernard Hirsch. Devo-
tionals were under the direction of
William D. Tuttle.
merce office and from members of
the high school band.
Recordings and some equipment
for the concert will be furnished by
the Record Shop of Marion.
ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS
FOR AUGUST ARE GIVEN
Checks distributed through the
McDowell welfare office for old age,
dependent children and blind assis
tance during the month of August
totaled $4,251, according to a sum
mary released this week by Mrs. G.
W. Kirkpatrick, welfare officer.
The assistance payments were dis
tributed for the benefit of 432 Mc
Dowell residents. A total of 319
persons received checks amonting to
$3,171 for old age assistance.
The sum of $921 was distributed
to 54 families, representing 101
children, under aid to dependent
children provisions.
Twelve blind persons in the coun
ty received aid during August by
checks amounting to $159.
PLEASANT GARDENS
PTA MEETS TONIGHT
The Parent-Teachers association
of Pleasant Gardens will have its
first meeting of the year tonight at
7:30 o’clock. Rev. W. A. Jenkins of
Marion will be guest speaker at the
meeting and his topic will be “The
Purpose of Schools in a Democra
cy.” A full attendance is urged.
ture. j president of the McDowell county
Plans outlined here call for the | Young Democratic club, meeting
razing of the present station and the | here Tuesday night. He succeeds W.
building of a larger one with a greas-1 D- Lonon as head of the organiza-
ing and washing room. The new i tion.
building will be a one-story structure | Other officers elected were Mr^.
with a metal roof. The building will!Julia Stanley, vice-president; Mias
be extended on the north end. The I Kathryn Wall, secretary; and W. D.
station is the property of the Morgan j Lonon, treasurer,
estate but is operated by Roy Rabb. [ Members of the club voted to cer
tify all Democrats in good standing
MARION CITY SCHOOLS
BEGIN FALL TERM TODAY
The five schools comprising the
Marion city unit opened their doors
for the fall term this morning with
the enrollment expected to be ap
proximately 2,350 pupils. Of this
number, 550 are expected to be in j Alford Morgan, Grady Nichols, C. S.
the high school. j Finley, R. L. James, Jr., and D.
Schools of the city unit are the Hensley.
as delegates to the State convention
of Democratic clubs. The state meet
ing opens in Raleigh today and con
tinues through Saturday. Club mem
bers certified as delegates to the con
vention included Ben Hendley, Gray
son Neal, S. H. Pennington, Oscar
Adkins, R. W. Proctor, W. D. Lonon,
Marion high and elementary schools,
Clinchfield elementary. East Marion
elementary, Eugene Cross elementa
ry, and West Marion elementary.
Two colored schools, the Hudgrins
high and elementary and the Glades
elementary, are also in the city unit.
W. D. Lonon, presiding at the
meeting, reviewed the financial con
dition of the club from 1937 through
1939. Thirty-one members paid their
dues at the meeting.
R. W. Proctor spoke brieffy to the
Young Democrats, stating that three
propositions confronted Democrats:
RAMSEY TRANSFERRED (1) Republicans and Willkie, (2)
Thomas D. Ramsey of the Garden financing the Democratic canH>aign,
Creek community, junior civil engi-jand (3) getting the party machine-
neer at the Buck Creek CCC camp|ry to work. He suggested that Demo-
has been detailed to the Mortimer j cratic meetings be held in Marion
CCC camp in Caldwell county. At j and McDowell county to organize
the new location he will be employ-1 party members for carrying out the
ed in supervising the rebuilding of
Forest Service bridges washed out
in the floods of August 13.
program.
Oscar Adkins and E. C. Hawkins
spoke briefly.