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THE
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896
MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1946
VOL. 51—NO. 23
Building Program For Hospital
Is Launched By Hospital Board
I
Three Year Plan Calls For
Construction Of New Build
ing At Cost Of $150,000.
The Board of Trustees of the
Marion General Hospital have voted
unanimously to launch a drive to
raise funds for the construction of
a new hospital or an addition to
the present building, according to
announcement yesterday.
The present building was con
structed in 1929 as a 30 bed hos
pital, and has been badly over
crowded for the past several years
"with as many- as 54 patients on the
roster at times. Large numbers of
patients have been forced to go
elsewhere or do without hospital
facilities.
Approximately $15,000.00 was
raised in a campaign started in the
summer of 1941 to build an addi
tion to the hospital, but this move
ment was stopped by the war and
since that time it has been impos
sible to do anything to relieve the
crowded condition.
The ,last Congress passed an Act
providing for the Federal Govern
ment to contribute as much ^s one
third of the cost of hospital con
struction. These federal funds are
to be administered by a State
Agency and the State will be re
quired to make some contribution,
therefore, the extent of Federal and
State aid cannot be determined un
til after the Legislature convenes
next January and makes provision
for State participation in the Fed
eral program.
It Is the consensus of opinion of
the physicians in Marion that a
j)«w hospital is badly needed, but;
It is generally thought that unless!
a' substantial twntrihotion is-made!
%y the State and Federal Govern
ments a 85 bed addition to the
present building is all that can be j
hoped for. The board of trustees |
is launching this drive with the
understanding that all contributions
■will be earmarked for new con
struction either for complete new
facilities or additions to present
facilities. The present plan con
templates a three year drive for
funds if it is finally determined
that a new hospital is to be con
structed and a two year campaign
for an addition in the event suffi
cient State and Federal funds are
not available.
The three year plan for a new
hospital calls for a total of $150,
©00.00, to be raised $50,000.00 this
year and $50,000.00 each in 1947
and 1948.
S. R. Cross, member of the board
of trustees, is chairman of the
building fund and J. N. Morris,
member of the board, is treasurer.
Contributions may be made to them
or to any of the following members
of the board:
W. L. Morris, president of the
hoard; Dr. G. S. Kirby, Dr. J. F.
Miller, Dr. D. M. Mcintosh, Sr., Dr.
J. F. Jonas, Dr. G. B. Justice, W.
W. Neal, Sr., A. S. Bradford, Otis
L. Broyhill and Robert W. Proctor.
Plans for volunteer teams for
soliciting funds are being worked
out and some of those who have
agreed to serve, and to whom con
tributions may be made, are as fol
lows: M. W. Gordon and Joseph L.
Noyes have charge oi soliciting
merchants, professional and bus
iness men in the business area of
Marion. S. J. Westmoreland will
have charge of soliciting garages,
filling stations and outlying business
establishments. Other volunteer so
licitors will be published later, and
a separate organization will be set
up for Old Fort.
Any contributions made to this
fund would be allowed as a tax de
duction for both State and Federal
income taxes since the Marion Gen
eral Hospital is a non-profit organi
zation.
Over 300 Attended
Federation Opening
Here Last Saturday
The Farmers Federation coopera
tive opened its new warehouse here
Saturday afternoon, with cere
monies which included brief talks,
music, and refreshments. The new
building, located on West Hender
son street, and the frozen food
locker plant under construction
rext door, were inspected by more
than 300 people.
James G. K. McClure, president
of the cooperative; Guy M. Sales,
general manager; Grady Walker,
Marion manager; the Rev. Dumont
Clarke, religious director; George
Wright, assistant general manager;
James McClure Clarke, field secre
tary; and Bill Barnard, construction
engineer, spoke briefly.
Winslow Burgin, of 'Old Fort, di
rector of the Federation for Mc
Dowell county, spoke briefly about
the newly remodelled building. Al
though there has been a Federation
warehouse in Marion since 1936, it
has been in a rented building. The
West Henderson building was
bought by the cooperative from W.
R. Chambers.
A. F. Hunt, of Glenwood, retired
superintendent of the Marion Man
ufacturing company, spoke of the
work done by the religious depart
ment in the country churches of^
Western North Carolina.
Mttsic was furnished by the Fann
ers Federation String"
Johnny Rhymer. Others in the band
included Gaither Robinson, James
Sluder, and Eugene Boone. Bobby
McFee, eight years old, sang solos.
Coffee and doughnuts were served.
MARION HI GLEE CLUB
WILL PRESENT CONCERT
The Marion High School Glee
club will make its first public ap
pearance of the season in a concert
to be given this evening at 7:30
o'clock in the high school auditor
ium, according to announcement
yesterday.
The singers will be under the
direction of Miss Mary Lillian
Jonas, public school music teacher,
and the program is scheduled to
last approximately one hour.
Following the concert the stu
dents of the elementary grades will
present "Why the Chimes Rang."
Admission to the concert is free
and the public is cordially invited.
FIRE CHIEF WARNS
OF FIRE HAZARDS HERE
Fire Chief C. C. Bolch has as
sured a warning to all home own
ers to clean the leaves out of gut
ters and the valleys of residences
in the interest of preventing fires
in the community.
Speaking of the recent hotel fire
in Atlanta, Bolch said, "a similar
tragedy could occur here unless
everyone uses the utmost caution
to reduce fire hazards to a mini
mum."
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
A Christmas program will be
given by the young people of Story i
Memorial Presbyterian church at
West Marion Sunday, December 22, j
at 7:30 o'clock. The public is cor-!
dially invited.
the
tike c(times of Geffs, tlW songs of carofers...
) ike music of 6Jtristmas iujmits...3Ttis is a i\
i season of itarmomj arti reverence, wken aff ^
A people reaffirm tlte koyes axxb faitlt of manfaitS. j
us pCecLje ourtetve*,wi$\ ttue- toiemniiij,
to wozk and prn^j fat
JWce ori earths.(3ooS unll toward men.
Christmas Plans Are Announced
For Services At Marion Churches
' ♦
Pre-Ohristmas services and other j
programs of local churches were j
announced this week by the local j
pastors. The public is cordially in
vited to attend all the services.
The schedule follows:
Lutheran
The annual children's Christmas
program will be given at St. Mat- j
thew's Lutheran church, Sunday i
night at 7:30 o'clock.
The program will feature a'
sound motion picture entitled, "The
Child of Bethlehem," showing the
familiar scenes wrhich are usually
associated with the story of Jesus'
birth.
About 35 children from St. Mat
thew's Walther League and Sunday
School will take part in the pro
gram and will tell the story of
! Christ's nativity in recitations and
Christmas carols.
Special music will be furnished
by Mrs. T. R. Cline who will sing,
"O Holy Night."
Miss Joanne Field will direct the
singing of the children.
St. John's Episcopal
A series of tableaux depicting
Christmas story will be given in St.
John's Episcopal church by the
children of the Sunday School on
Sunday night, December 22, at 7:30
o'clock.
The scenes: The appearance of
the Angel Gabriel to Zacharias in
the Temple; the Annunciation to
the Blessed Virgin Mary; the Shep-'
herds on the hillside; the Nativity!
and visit of the Wise Men. Prin- j
cipal characters: The Angel Ga- j
briel—Mary Jane Martin; Zachar-;
ias—Hubert Martin; the Blessed;
Virgin Mary— Jenelle Harrison;!
St. Joseph—Sammy Yancey; An-1
nunciation Angel — Martha Wood;'
Shepherds — Louise Young, Lester;
Williams, Ray Glenn; Wise Men—j
Walker Blanton, John Glenn, Wayne
Nuckolls; The Heavenly Host —
children of the Kindergarten Class,
There will be a celebration of the
Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve
promptly at midnight.
First Presbyterian
The Juvenile and Junior choirs of
the Crosby Adams Music club un
der the direction of Mrs. C. W. Mc
Murray will present several choral
numbers at the 11 o'clock service
Sunday morning, December 22, at
the First Presbyterian church.
Dr. C. W. McMurray, pastor, will
deliver a Christmas sermon.
The annual Christmas pageant and
candle lighting service will be giv
en at the First Presbyterian church
Sunday evening, December 22, at
7:30 o'clock.
The pageant in which a large num
ber of young people will partici
pate is under the direction of Mrs.
John A. Finley.
There will be a White Gift of
fering and also the annual Joy
Gift offering.
The annual Sunday school Christ
mas Tree program will be held Fri
day evening at seven o'clock in the
Sunday School auditorium. C. A.
Harris, superintendent of the Sun
day School will preside.
In addition to the Christmas Tree
festivities there will be a program
by the several departments of the
Sunday School.
(Continued on page 8)
LIBRARY WILL CLOSE
3 DAYS FOR CHRISTMAS
The Florence Thomas Memorial
Library will be closed three days
during Christmas Week—December
24, 25, and 26. The library will
also be closed January 1, on New
Year's Day. The fourth Tuesday
Bookmobile trip for December will
be made January 8th.
f
Eurke County Man
Killed By Auto
Sunday Afternoon
Morganton—Louis L. Stamey, 67,
of Connelly Springs, Route 1, was
killed instantly Sunday afternoon
when he was struck by an automo
bile driven by Walter William
Rowe, 22, of Marion.
Deputy Sheriffs Hoyle and Ben
field were the first officers from the
sheriff's department on the scene.
It was reported that Rowe was
driving east on highway 70 just
past the intersection of the Drexel
road when the accident occurred.
Officers said Stamey was walking
across the road in a diagonal di
rection and had just crossed over
into the lane in which Rowe was
driving when struck by the car.
Stamey was hit by the left front
fender, and the body was thrown
upward, hitting the windshield of
the auto, breaking the windshield.
He suffered numerous injuries, in
cluding a fractured skull and
crushed chest. Rowe posted a bond
of $1,000, but no charges were
made pending further investigation.
A preliminary hearing was set for
Friday.
SCOUTS ADVANCED AT
COURT OF HONOR HERE
The Boy Scout Court of Honor
was held in the Methodist church
Friday and Jack Corpening of troop
1, Nebo, was recommended for the
Eagle Scout badge, bringing the
total number of Eagle Scouts for
the past year to nine, the largest
number of any year in the history
of Scouting. This total is in sharp
contrast to the Eagle awards of
war years. One year there were
three Scouts advanced to the Eagle
rank and another year no Scouts
received this honor. Corpening will
receive his badge in January.
The meeting Friday night open
ed with the repeating of the Boy
Scout Oath followed with prayer.
The following Scouts were ad
vanced in rank:
Tenderfoot rank: David Patter
son, troop 4, Marion; Eugene Haw
kins, Dean Kanipe, Joseph Buchan
an, troop 5, Marion* Bill Smith,
troop 6, Marion; Lester Durham,
Harlem Townsend and Carl Dur
ham, troop 1, Ashford, Douglas F.
Jarrett, Robert E. Browning and
Frank Dobson, troop 1, Nebo.
Second Class Rank: Bill Brad
ford and Eugene Cross, III, troop
6, Marion; Hugh Beam, troop 7,
Marion.
First Class: Bobby Miller, troop
4, Marion, and Marshall Dark, troop
7, Marion.
Merit Badge Awards
I Agriculture: Pat England, troop
j 5, Marion.
i Animal Industry: Jack Corpen
j ing, troop 1, Nebo, and Norman
; Melton, troop I, Marion.
I Art: Charles Montgomery, troop
1, Nebo.
Athletics: Lloyd Scott and Ger
ald D. Murray, troop 4, Marion.
Automobiling: Hunter Ballew,
Doyle Evans and Jack Corpening,
1 troop 1, Nebo.
| Bird Study: Fred Frisbie, troop
| 5, Marion.
(Continued from page 3)
I
NEXT WEEK'S PAPER
WILL BE PUBLISHED
TWO DAYS EARLIER
Next week's issue of the Ma
! rion Progress will be printed
Monday in order that the Pro
I gress may cooperate with other
business firms in closing two
days for Christmas holidays
and members of the staff can
enjoy Christmas with their
families.
It will therefore be neces
sary for copy to be in at the
earliest possible moment. No__
copy will be accepted after
Monday noon.
Announce Plans
For Observance
of Yule Holidays
I
Stores And Banks To Close
Two Days; Schools Close
Friday For Holidays.
Marion business firms, offices, and
schools, have announced the dates
they will be closed for Christmas.
The Marion Merchants associa
tion voted at a recent meeting to
remain open evenings until seven
o'clock for the remainder of this
week and until eight o'clock De
cember 23 and 24. Stores will close
December 25 and 26.
The schools of the Marion City
System will close December 20 and
reopen January 6, according to an
nouncement by Superintendent H.
F. Beam. The county schools will
close December 20 and reopen Jan
uary 2, Superintendent N. F. Steppe
has announced.
County offices in the court house
will be closed December 24, 25 and
26. Due to this closing period the
U. S. Employment Service, which
begins the Christmas observance
December 23, will be closed four
days, December 23 through Decem
ber 26 and reopen on Friday. The
McDowell County Draft Board of
fice will close December 24, 25 and
26.
The Health Department will also
close December 24, ?5 and 26.
The Marion post office will be
closed Christmas Day.
Offices in the city hall will be
closed Christmas Day and the First
National and Marion Industrial
I Banks will close December 25 and
[26.
E _ ;■ J ■ : - • : t
! KIWANIANS TO SPONSOR
DIME BOARD FOR NEEDY
i The Marion Kiwanis club has an
i nounced plans this week to sponsor
I a Dime Board during the holiday
] season for the benefit of needy
children of the county. The Board
will be set up on the Main street
on Friday of this week.
In making the announcement the
Kiwanians stated that they had
spent a total of $294 on 19 needy
children during the past three
months.
This amount provided tonsilec
tomys for six children, glasses for
five children and clothing for eight
children.
The report stated that one blind
child in Blind school needed warm
clothing for winter, three of the
children were abandoned by par
i ents and had been placed in board
ing schools; one orphan child aban
doned by relatives needed warm
| clothing for school; three children,
j who are above school age and have
| never attended school, were enabled
| to attend.
I The public is asked to contribute
j liberally to the Dime Board and
j have a part in providing aid to
j cases similar to those listed above.
i
I
| OFFICERS ELECTED
BY MASONIC LODGE
John T. Jolly was elected wor
i shipful master of Mystic Tie Lodge
No. 237, A. F. & A. M. at the regu
lar meeting of the lodge Friday
night. Clarence C. Wise was elect
ed senior warden; Paul J. Story,
junior warden; B. H. Laughridge,
treasurer, and W. R. Burleson, sec
retary.
The new officers will be installed
in January.
UMSTEAD NAMED SENATOR
Governor Cherry has appointed
Wm. B. Umstead U. S. Senator to
succeed Bailey.