.THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1941
THE FRANKLIN PRESS AND THE HIGHLANDS MACON IAN
PAGE FIVE
EARLY DAYS
IN HIGHLANDS
(Continued from , Page 4)
O. M: Ricketson .50
lames Cansler, Shf. MacOn Co. .50
John Love .50
The Misses De Sanssure of
Charleston, S. C. ,1.00
Mrs. Parmer (of Charleston) .50
Yates Snowden (Charleston) - jO
T. B. White, Sec."
One can not fait to be impressed
with the very large .-' number of
contributors needed to bring the
undertaking to a successful issue.
From all over the county and even
beyond the confines of the county,
people ' came to lend their aid
: though most of the : gifts were
small. The first actual public use
of- the scliool building was tin
March 31, 1878, for a religious
service. (Without a doubt it .was
then in an unfinished condition.)
"School And Church Houm"
It will be recalled that the original
paper stipulated that the building
should be used alike ' for a "school
and a church house.". The High
lands Union Sunday School movr
ed into the new quarters and it
was the "meeting house" hence
forth for all denominations until
1885, when the Methodists entered
the first completed church in the
' town; and two months later the
J'resbyterians moved into their
splendid new house of worship. As
might be expected, public meetings
of every legitimate description
were granted .free use of the new
town school building. The day of
the old Law House had passed.
With some added acreage it fell
into the hancjs of a Mr. Bathrick
as private property. Its last days
were as a lowly tool hou.se of the
later owner, 'Mr. S. Clark.
CHAPTER IV
. Firt Tchan
A M r. Baxter was probably the
first to teach school in the new
structure, unfinished as it was, in
the spring of 78. Several teachers
held short sway, Mr. Baxter having
succeeded Miss Porcher. In addi
tion to accepted attainments as an
educator, he wa,s an accomplished
flute player. A further pastime of
his was bringing down with a rifle
the magnolia blooms from the tree
tops back of .the Selleck place on
Spring Street.
Mr. Baxter, fades, from the pic
ture father abruptly and Mr.
Holway steps in. He was elected
principal, and had hardly assumed
Charge when on April 24th appears
the record, "Bad state of affairs
about the new teacher." Equally
terse, on May 1st: "Committee
asked Mr. Holwav to resign." Our
curiosity is stirred mightly to know
what crimes or grave misdemean
ors were laid to the charge of the
poor pedagogue, but it was for
ever to remain unsatisfied.
A Rev. Mr. Lukens was the in?
structor who finally brought the
school up to the summer vacation.
The ensuing fall marked the be
ginning of, an era of confidence
and steady improvement in the
Highlands school. The building and
furnishings were now complete.
That indispensable adjunct- of
school and church in those days
the bell was last to be added. It
came, a splendid 360 pounder.
Heard it was, under favorable at-
mospheric conditions, for a dis
tance of three miles.
In the principal's cliair was Miss
Orpha E. Rose, accomplished
young teacher fresh from the pub
lic schools of Chicago. And well
she guided the - destinies ' of our
school for the next six' years. She
had executive ability with accom
panying strength of character. This
became apparent at once in resul
tant organization and discipline.
She possessed, too, the ability of
imparting knowledge with the skill
to bring .out the best -in the pupil
and to' arouse his ambition.' Near
the close of- her frst spring's term,
o,n account of frail health, Miss
Rose relinquished her place brief- j
1y to Rev. A. M. Cooper. But with
the fall opening of 79 she was
back in the chair till the close of
her administration in the summer
of 1884. Holding the highest esteem
of the townspeople it was with uni
versal regret that her resignation
at this time was accepted.
CHAPTER V
New CycU In Growth
The building of the ' school
house, as has been noted, marked
an important milestone in our little
. history. The closing of the six
year period following marks an
other at which we. may well pause
before resuming the last cycle of
the 15 years leading tip to 1890.
Among the 'newcomers to the
town in the spring of 1878 was
Dr. Geo. W. Kibbee. He liked the
climate, the people, the tiny town
and quickly decided to cast in his
lot with us. Hit family had arriv
ed, he proceeded to the building
of a home on thje old Satulah road,
and at once began the practice of
his profession. He was the first
resident practicing physician in
Highlands and surrounding country.
Doctor FifhU Pettitaic
Dr. Kibbee had made research
and special study in the control
of a specific type of fevers, and
had produced an especially valuable
method of treatment for them. He
met with success in his new home
town through the spring and sum
mer. This same season the 19th
century scourge of the South, yel
low fever, broke out in epidemic
at New Orleans.; Promptly
Dr. Kibbee left for the stricken
area and used his weapons with
success. But on Sept. 28 Came the
dreadful news to a grief stricken
family amd the horrified village
that the week previous Dr. Kibbee
had hid down his life. The pesti
lence which he had so bravely
fought claimed -the physician him
self. He literally laid down his life
to save others.
A signal honor came to this six
year old niouritain town in the
spring of '81 when president Gar
field, appointed a citizen, E. Sel
leck, to the post of Collector Of
the Port of Philadelphia. His-enjoyment
of.' this distinction was
short-lived, however, due to the
assassination of the ill-fated Presi
dent. Whatever the future other
wise might have held for Mr. Shel
leck, tile lure of the Blue . Ridge
was too strong for hint. The next
year found -him returned to our
midst and to the joys ..of his little
village -'farm.
Firrt Newtpaper
Illustrative of tlu- courage and
spirit of the early settlers, are their
eftorU to establish a weekly news
paper. E. E. Ewing, veteran editor
and former publisher of the Kansas
Farmer began, in 1881, publication
of the Blue Ridge Enterprise. Vil
lage and adjacent country (items,
petty town politics, live editorials
and a modicum of advertisements
made up-the columns of this stand
ard sized four page paper. Prob
ably a successful newspaper on -a
permanent basis was an impossi
bility, considering the small popu
lation hemmed in by mountain
fastnesses as they were, with means
of travel and communication un
developed. But the weekly sheet
was a needed medium of expres
sion, and outlet . for exchange of
views amongst those whose world.
was largely confined to " . their
midst. For a dozen years the paper
struggled along intermittently; Ed
itor Ewing to be succeeded by A.
F. Clark, Richard Goldie, T. G.
Harbison and Chas. . A. .'Cue in
order. Succeeding names .with
changing styles of the sheet were
The Highlander, Mountain Eagle
and Highlands Star until its de
cease in the .--early 90'c. .
CHAPTER VI
Social Life .
That they were segregated and
provincial the . little community
would never presume to deny, but
the eternal presence of the glorious
waterfalls, the wonderful moun
tains, and the incomparable track
less forests 'in yet thousands upon
thousands of acres to cliann their
own and woo an outsider, was
their world. And these were the
assets ultimately to bring sectional
and national fame and perennial
popularity. In .some ways noted the
ears of the outside World aireauy
had been caught. May we add one
more which at that time made
lively copy? .
A contingent of revenue officers
on a moonshine-trail in the spring
of '85 had made a successful raid.
They brought in their quarry of
a couple of prisoners, and halted
for the night at our village hotel.
The friends and kin of the cap
tured formed a rescue party. The
enemy camp was stormed but the
besiegers were .speedily put to rout
losing one dead and tw.o reported
wounded. Excitement ran high for
days, Mayor H. M. Bascom even
declaring martial law for the town.
The carving for the social aide
of life particularly as is evidenced
in' community gathering at the end
of' (he day's work is a very na
tural one. And especially notice
able is this in small and isolated
communities. It was manifested in
our town by the informal "sings"
the first year in the homes, the
most popular ones being those of
Mrs. Kclsey and Mrs. G. A. Jac
obs Very few owned an organ,
the first, piano appearing in 1880.
Debating Society
v ,.A debating society came into being
very early, from which sprang tne
"Literary Society", a going concern
in 1878, with the twin ahns of im-
firovement and entertainment. It
lourished for many years patron
ized by visitors and townspeople
alike. Young and old and all ages
in between enjoyed and look part
in the weekly meetings. A healthy
temperance society similarly organ
ired met monthly. The entertain
ments featured vocal and instru
mental music, readings, recitations,
speeches, dialogues, tableaux, etc.
Visitors were impressed into serv
ire to Fend their talent for the
common benefit. A part of the'
duties of the officers, of course,
w-as to see that programs were
provided. The school children were
favored uarticipants.- Once a husky
17 year old boy, Charley Skinner
by name, had been assigned a acc
lamation, He ascended the platform
and began : "Ladies and Gentle
men : What are you, looking at me
for? 1 haven't got anything to say
to you!" and marched to his seat.
Needless to say he was never again
importuned to take a part, the glee
with which his performance was
received by the youngsters o the
audience notwithstanding.
Orchestra Formed
A local amateur orchestra in the
late 80's was an appreciated addi
tion to the community musical and
social life. Its leadership was under
the late Prof. Louis Zollner, who
played 1st violin. Frank Sheldon
played the cello,' B. T. Kelsey, Jr,
2nd violin, and Harlan ' P. Kefeey
3rd violtfi.
But to resume' our school his
tory. Rev, Jas. . Fogartie tt first
filled the gap caused -by, Miss
Rose's resignation. It was under
stood as a temporary arrangement
for Mr. Fogartie was the resident
pastor of the Presbyterian Church.
At this juncture Mr. S. Clark was
the timely find. He was a High
lands citizen and an old and sea
soned schoolmaster. But disappoint
ment came again in little more
than a year when Mr. Clark was
chosen to the position of Supt. of
Public Instruction for the County.
He . resigned the principalship of
the school therefore to take thi
place of the aged A. I). Farmei
who had long and honorably rep
resented Macon at that post.
A schoolmistress again was tlu
head of the' school, Mrs; S. C.
Davis, 'coining' here from Murphy.
She in turn was followed by H.
S. Duncan, bringing our history
up to the summer of ,'8fi.
Bright Outlook In 1890
Two young men from Pennsyl
vania, in the glow of youth and
health, were tramping through the
mountains of the South in the
Spring of '80, being interested in
animal and plant life of every de
scription. One of theni was an in
terested visitor at our school one
day When Mr. Duncan was teach
ing. At the opening of the ses
sion in the fall that visitor sat
in the principal's chair. He was
the late lamented Prof, T. B. Har
bison, botanist - scientist - educator.
With energy, courage and faith
looking forward to an educational
institution of high .status, Prof.
Harbison attacked the problems
which faced him. New books, new
equipment, ynew methods came in.
The clumsy, handmade wooden
desks dating back to 1878 gave
way to new furniture of up-to-date
manufacture..:. The knowledge
of a new school spread abroad, and
new recruits came from far be
yond town and environs. In the
winter of '88-'89 a substantial ad
ditional room designed to provide
more clas,s; space . and to house a
library was built. The zealous prin
cipal himself aided by equally zeal
ous students took some, consider- '
able part in the. work of build
ing. Already received for the li
brary alcove were a large number
ot miscellaneous volumes, "gifts to
the enthusiastic principal from
friends who thus bespoke their irtr
terest in a school with high aims
and greater opportunities .for the
youth of this mountain section;
Thus the year 1890 arrived with
the brightest outlook for the little
town and the cause of education
therein since its founding in 1875.
Battles were ahead yet to be
fought and won, but her citizens
had established their right td ex
istence. Nay, more, the people of
Highlands were yet to claim all
Mrs. Root's Shop
A Home Of Beauty
Tall pines shade the home where
Mrs. J. E. Root of Highlands es-
Bowling Center Is Place
Of Popular Amusement
One of. the newest and most
popular amusement places in this
tablished her gift shop about ten section is the Highlands Bowling
years ago.' Garden flowers border Center in the Cobb building on
the pathway to the house, where
inside visitors find themselves wel
come in a home where they, may
relax in comfortable chairs to shop
or visit with their home where
they may relax in comfortable
or visit with their hostess.
In a way, Mrs. Root explained,
this home has grown, quite in
formally, into her gift shop, has
been1 a dream come (rue for .her
and Mr. Root. His work as an
engineer, which has; carried them
to many places for temporary resi
dence, brought them to Highlands,
where he was to install waterworks
for the toWim'Here they found the
place to make a permanent home.
The gift . shop began when
friends living in China sent her,
from time to time, . boxes of rare
and exquisite articles of Chinese
art to sell. The first venture into
the gift business started at the
urging of a friend to invite others
to her home to see the con
tents of one box that were particu
larly beautiful. They covered four
card tables in her living room.
When asked to display them in the
newly completed Highlands Coun
try Club, she had no more need
to advertise. Soon she added to
her stock the craft work of the
mountain schools
Her home has been enlarged to
accomodate her stock of beautiful
things in ever-increasing variety
in order to serve her growing
business. Three large rooms hold
many treasures for many of her
things are just that treasurers ;
some of them are very rare. For
instance, there are two Chinese
mandarin coats, trimmed with
white squirrel, with patterns of
exquisite embroidery that can no
longer be obtained. After the war,
these products of tihe ancient civi
lization ' of an art loving people
will t never again, be produced.
There are appliqued Chinese quilts
filled with raw silk, and many por
celains and carvings.
There is rare Staffordshire
ware from England which feature
diminutive figures under an old
tree, wrought with unbelievable
delicacy, with birds in the branches,
tiny flowers and blades of grass.
Thus Mrs. Root has made her
love of the beautiful .serve her and
others. That is part of (tie secret
East Main street. The part of this
building occupied by - the bowling
alley has 33 by 110 feet of flqor
Space, and is insulated throughout
and- finished with celotex plank.
The fluorescent lighting adds to
the pleasure of evening bowling.
The four 20th Century Bruns
wick alleys are the best to be had,
and bowler, have the choice of
king pins' or duck pins. There is
every comfort offered players and
onlookers. Twenty-four comfort-
ajlll1 Cfafc ti.-J'n hti irr-w1i1 f-r
spectators, and refreshing drinks
and candies are to be had in the
building. '
The establishment is owned by
Wilton H. Cobb. '
Boss Son do you. know the mot
to of this firm ? i
New Office Boy Sure, it's
"Push."
Boss Whert'd you ever get that
the advantages enjoyed, and in
degree the success attained by any
community existing or yet to come
in the commonwealth- of North
Carolina.
of her success. Another part is
Mrs. Root herself, who adds: a
gracious presence to the beautiful ' idea ?
things around her to create a New Office Boy 1 saw it on the
charming and restful whole." door as I came in.
FAIR VIEW INN
Highlands, N. C.
FOR SPECIAL WEEKLY AND MONTHLY
RATES, ADDRESS
P. O. Box 454
Highlands, N. C.
WIT'S END
... .-.'. ' ; . ...
Gifts
Silver Wools Crafts
'Where ye come when ye are already at thy
own wit's end and have found nobodie home."
Mrs. O. E. Young
Highlands, N. C.
incemoiniit
Terrace
Top 'o the Town"
With an altitude of 4,000 f eet, Tricemont is believed to be the
' ' highest elevated hotel in Eastern! America
.
r'
a
i I .4.'r
J. Harvey Trice, Manager
ii Fried chicken is tops!' says Duncan Hines, listing
TRICEMONT in "Adventures in Good Eating."
Hve Acres in Grounds
- '''"',' - -
Private Baths Tubs and Showers
Congratulations to
THE FRANKLIN PRESS and HIGHLANDS MACON I AN
ON TEN YEARS OF PROGRESS