TONY* WELCH I
EMPLOYED FOR
VETERAN POST
Job Is Mads' Full-Tims;
Ccmmii si osier* O. K.
Nantahala Road
Th* board of county commis
sioners, at Its meeting Monday,
appropriated $1,000 for the next
fiscal year, to match a like fund
from the state, for a full-time
veterans service officer for this
county, and employed R. E.
(Tony) Welch to fill the posi
tion.
The board also gave its ap
proval to a road proposal from
people of the Nantahala town
ship, approved the county wel
fare department and forest fire
fighting budgets, and transacted
routine business.
Under an act of the 1049 gen
eral assembly, the state will
match funds put up by the
rounty (up to $1,000 each) for
full-time cpunty veterans serv
ice officers,' and the appropria
tion was made and Mr. Welch
was employed upon recommen
dation of the local posts of the
American Legion and the Vet
erans of Foreign Wars. Mr.
Welch will succeed Mrs. Bill
Bryson, who has been working
on a part-time basis, July 1.
A delegation of six or eight
from Nantahala presented a pe
tition, signed by most of the
citizens of that township, that
the state take over and black
top the Nantahala Power and
Light company road, which
leads from just below the Nan
tahala dam down the river
gorge to Nantahala station, and
build a road from the present
Forest Service road, connecting
with the power company road,
starting at White Oak creek, a
distance of about thre*4*aetea
of a mile.
The delegation, which pointed
out that this would reduce the
distance to Nantahala Station
and eliminate the necessity of
going down the Winding Stairs
road, told the commissioners
the power company figures show
that firm spent $138,000 In
building the river road.
The delegation, it was under
stood, planned to present the
petition In person to the divi
sion highway commissioner in
Asheville.
The welfare department budg
et, presented by Mrs. Elotse G.
Potts, superintendent, Is for a
total of slightly more than $18,
000, representing an Increase of
about $700 over last year's total.
The increase in property valua
tion will make the larger ap
propriation possible without any
increase in the tax levy, It was
explained.
The fund for fighting forest
fires, which is matched by the
state, was increased from last
year's $1,000 to $1,200.
Since the first Monday In
July falls on July 4, a holiday,
the board will meet next on
Monday, July 11.
Do You
Remember . . . ?
(Looking backward through
the files of The Press)
v' ......
50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
H. G. Trotter, J. M. Carpenter,
and N. L. Barnard spent Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday of last
week in town prying into every
body's business affairs. They are
the tax assessors for FrankHn
township.
A lively party went up to
Wayah Bald mountain yester
day and will return tomorrow.
The party consists of Messrs.
W. J. Neville, Sam L. Kelly, Lee
Crawford, P. L. Slier, Will Sloan,
T. J. Johnston and Misses Laura
Jones, Kate Roblnaon, Carrie
S'oan, Margaret Redding, Lizzie
Kelly, and Isabel Ellas. Mrs. T.
M. Slagle Is chaperon, and Coley
Guess boss of the train.
25 TEARS AGO
Beautiful in its simplicity was
the marriage of Miss Annie Lee
Waldroop to Mr. Hal Slagle,
which tcok place on June IS at
the home of the bride. " 1
Of Interest to Women With
Bob*? Hair bobbed, shampooed,
and electrically dried In forty
minutes. City Barber Shop, J. S.
Conley, Manager, ? Advertise
ment.
jr
Record Rain Sends Little Tennessee On Rampage
? Photo by Crisp Studio
RAGING FLOOD QUICKLY COVERS RIVER VALLEY ? The photo above, made from near the Franklin depot, shows
the Little Tennessee at the height iof last Thursday's flood. Note the wood, drifted from stacks along thfi railroad tracks. Huge
pile after pile floated from its location, teeteired uneasily, and t'iv&r. slowly toppled into tha rushing current, as the water rcse
higher. From the depot, the hundreds .of spectators who rushed to the scene could see several pigs ma.rooned on the Indian Mound
(just left of the area covered by the photographer's iense), while on a nearby island of sawdust were a number of chickens. The
water neared the floor of the highway bridge as the picture was made.
Major Gray's
Funeral Held
At Salisbury
Last rites for Major Fred Jud
son Oray, Macon County man
who was killed in action May 24,
1944, at the age of 26, were
conducted at the National Cem
etery In Salisbury yesterday
(Wednesday) at 11 a. m.
A flier, Major Oray was shot
down over Germany.
Persons from here who at
tended the service were Major
Oray's widow, Mrs. Louise
Blaine Oray; his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Javan J. Oray; a Sis
ter, Mrs. Gus Baldwin; his
uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs.
Jim Oray; and Mrs. Louise
Oray's mother and two broth
ers, Mrs. D. W. Blaine and Nor
man and Doyle Blaine.
Present from elsewhere were
the other members of Major
Gray's family? his brother, Elam
Oray, of Delaware Water Gap,
Penna., and his other two sis
ters, Mrs. R. P. Davis, of Dem
orest, Ga., and Mrs. Elmer W.
Crawford, of Winston-Salem.
A native of this county, he
was born December 15, 1917.
He was a graduate of the
Franklin High school and of
Clemson college, having major
ed in dairying at the latter. Up
on graduation from Clemson In
1940, he accepted a position with
the South Carolina extension
division, but resigned in Sep
tember of that year ? four
months before Pearl Harbor? to
enter the army air forces as a
flying cadet.
He received his wings and
commission as a second lieuten
ant at Kelly Field, Texas, in
April, 1941, and was assigned
to Randolph Field as a flight
instructor. At the end of a
year's duty there, he was trans
ferred to Hendricks Field, Fla.,
for flight training on Flying
Potresses. in March, 1943, he
became squadron commander of
a bombardment group at Blythe,
Calif. After duty at Oelger Field,
Wash., and Rapid City, S. D., he
was sent to England in April,
1944, as commanding officer of
a heavy bombardment squadron.
He was on his third flight over
Germany at the time of his
death.
His promotion was rapid. He
became a first lieutenant in
September, 1942, was promoted
to captain in February, 1943,
and received his commission as
a major in October, 1943. He has
been awarded tto Purple Heart
poathumouily,
ATHLETIC FIELD
FUND IS SOUGHT
? inr-O' ?? ?? ' ?-% ?4
A movement Is under way
here to raise funds to build a
permanent fence around the
Franklin school athletic field,
and to add 1,200 seats to the
stadium, which would provide
a seating capacity totaling
nearly 1,800.
A goal of $6,000 has been set.
It is proposed to raise the
fund by selling advertising space
on that section of the fence
that will run along the south
(left field) side of the field and
a committee this week Is solic
iting business houses for adver
tising. ,
It is proposed to build a six
foot woven wire fence, with
three strands of barb wire
above it. Some form of ever
green would be planted along
the fence to provide a screen.
The fence would be attached to
metal posts, that are to be sunk
in 36 Inches of concrete.
The posts are to be 10 feet
apart, and a space 5</2 by 9 14
feet between would be used for
advertising boards. Forty such
spaces are available.
The committee T. W. Angel,
Jr., John M. Archer, Jr., and
Frank M. Henry, Jr.? is attempt
ing to see all business firms this
week, but yesterday requested
that any Interested firm that
is not solicited get In touch
with a member of the commit
tee.
The movement grew out of a
meeting Thursday night of last
week, called by Robert R. (Bob)
Gaines.
REAPPOINTED ? Judge George
B. Patton, of Franklin, Tuesday
was reappointed bj Cot. Scott
as a special superior court judge.
Mr. Patton is one of eight per
sons ? ?e?en men and one wom
an? appointed to special Judge
ships, -which pay $10, OM per
year, plus $2,500 travel allow
ance, The appointments are for
two years, start tag July I,
? Photo by Crisf Studio
HIGH WATER DRIVES FAMILY FROM HOME? The floodwaters rose so rapidly that the
Simonds family, driven from their home, hurried away without stopping to remove the family
wiash front the line ora the porch. After the Jam ily had left, a son was said to have swum back
to the house to get some article of special value. The house is situated at a low point, just
back of the Standard Oil storage tanks (right), near Uhe railway station. (Another flood pic
ture on Page ,.)
Calendar
Of The Week's
EVENTS
?
(Data for this column should rcach
The Press by not later than noon
Tuesday. In order to keep the calendar
accurate, secretaries of organizations are
requested t o notify t h e newspaper
of changes in flie time or place).
THURSDAY, JUNE 23
7:30 p. m? Franklin Lodge
No. 452, Loyal Order of Moose,
at Slagle Memorial building.
8 p. m.? Co-Ed club at Hotel
Hearn.
8 p. m? Y. W. A. of First
Baptist church at home of Miss
Nancy Calloway.
SATURDAY
7:30 p. m.? Teen Age club at
Hotel Hearn.
8 p. m.Dance (American
Legion benefit) at Memorial
building.
MONDAY
7 p. m.? Franklin Lions club
at Presbyterian church annex.
7 p. m.? Franklin Troop No.
X, Boy Scouts, at Memorial
building.
TUESDAY
8 p. m.? American Legion
Auxiliary at home of Mrs. John
D. Alsup.
8 p. m.? Go-Ed club at Hotel
Hearn.
WEDNESDAY
7 p. ??.- Franklin Rotary club
at Memorial building.
7:30 p. m? Teen Age club at
Hotel Hearn.
'Our Town'
To Be Given
Here July 11
?
The Highlands Community
Theatre will present the well
known play, "Our Town", in
Franklin Monday evening, July
11, under sponsorship of the
Franklin Rotary club, it was an
nounced this week.
The play, the first of three to
be produced this summer by
the Highlands little theatre
group, will be presented in
Highlands July 7 and 8, and will
be brought to Franklin the fol
lowing Monday.
"Our Town", by Thornton
Wilder, was successfully pre
sented on Broadway several
years ago, and since then has
been produced in cities all over
the country.
The Highlands Community
Theatre has won recognition,
both before and since the war,
for the finished character of Its
productions, and one of its
dramas, given in Franklin two
summers ago, was well received
here.
"Our Town" will be given at
the Slagle Memorial building.
The Rotary club's share of
the proceeds will be used to
wards paying for the heating
plant the club installed in the 1
Memorial building several!
months ago.
Franklin
SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Franklin softball fans tomor
row (Friday) night will see
what are expected to be the
most colorful games of the sea
son to date, Coach Milburn
i Atkins said yesterday.
Starting at 7:30 o'clock, the
undefeated Rotary team will
clash with the fast-stepping oil
ers. The game is expected to
prove a test of youth vs expe
j rience plus age.
| The second game, starting at
9:15, will bring together the
Forest Service and Zickgraf
teams, fighting for No. 2 posi
tion in the league.
Following is a summary of
Franklin Softball league results
to date, and the schedule of
approaching games :
Teams' Standing
Rotary 3 0
Forest Service 4 1
Oilers 2 1
Zickgraf ...: 2 2
Van Raalte 1 4
Power Co 0 4
Results
Friday Night, June 17
Forest Service, 12; Oilers, 11.
Rotary club, 6; Van Raalte, 1.
Monday Night
Forest Service, 11; Van Raalte,
1?
Zickgraf, 13; Power Co., 9.
Coming Games
Friday (tomorrow): Oilers vs.
Rotary club; Forest Service vs.
Zickgraf.
Monday: Van Raalte vs. Pow
er Co.; Rotary vs. Zickgraf,
1.000
.800
.667
.500
.200
.000
MACON'S FLOOD
DAMAGE HEAVY.
CROPS HARD HIT
Farm Losses Alone Put
At $250,000; Reads,
Bridges Suffer
A near-record rain that sent
every stream In the county
swirling across bottomlands last
Thursday resulted in one of the
worst floods in the history of
Macon County.
The farm damage alone was
estimated by personnel of the
county agent's and the o. I.
farm training offices at $250,000.
While the most spectacular
floods occurred in the valleys of
the Little Tennessee river and
Cartoogechaye, Ellijay, and Tel
lico creeks, every branch swiftly
rose above its banks and muddy
waters covered its valley, curry
ing away crops and top soil.
The rapid rise in the streams
followed near-record rains. The
weather observer at Coweeta
Experiment forest reported a
J rainfall of 6.32 inches in the 23
hours ending at 8 a. m. Thurs
day. Manson Stiles, TV A weath
er observer at Franklin, record
ed a fall from Wednesday morn
ing to Thursday morning of
4.59 inches, with an additional
.95 of an inch falling Thursday.
And Mrs. Jo E. Setser, EVA ob
server in the Cartoogechaye
community, reported .28 of an
inch in the 24 hours ending
Wednesday morning, 6.2 inches
in the 24 hours up to Thursday
morning.
The highway damage in Ma
con County, said to have been
the hardest hit in this respect
of any county in the region
was estimated at at least $35 000
to $40,000.
The following bridges were
washed away: Peach Creek
bridge across the Cullasaja
river; Asbury Gregory bridge
across the Cullasaja; the Garn
er bridge across the Cullasaja;
the Charlie Henderson bridge on
Rabbit creek; the Bradley Creek
bridge; the iron bridge across
Telllco creek; the Robert Ram
sey bridge across Tellico; the
bridge at the mouth of Telllco;
the Carl Slagle Bridge on Car
toogechaye; and the swinging
foot bridges at Robert Fulton's
and at West's Mill.
The,- people of the Tellico
community were isolated, as far
as motor travel was concerned,
until Monday morning, highway
officials said.
The farm damage, along every
tiny creek as well as in the
river bottoms, was not confined
to crops washed away or ruined
?in many cases all, or a part,
of the top soil was swept away
by the rushing waters.
To offset, in part, their loss
of feed, farmers are being ad
vised by the county agent's of
fice to replant corn for silage,
wrtiere their feed needs are
chiefly for dairy or beef cattle;
a15! t0 re~seed the land with
millet and soy beans for hay.
Wherever possible, however,
farmers should plan for the
future, the county agents sug
psted. by getting all bottom
land in Ladino clover and orch
ard grass for permanent hay
crop and pasture, in order to
hold the topsoil when another
flood comes.
Contrary to widespread re
port, the Little Tennessee at
Franklin did not rise as high
as it did in 1940 J. s. Conley
pointed out that the floodwaters
at his Standard oil warehouse
lacked two or three inches of
reaching the mark placed on
his warehouse by Jim Palmer
Just after the 1940 flood.
The flood here, however, cov
ered the highway and lacked
little of reaching the floor of
the highway bridge; covered the
entire valley, with several feet
of water in many business
houses around the depot and on
the east side of the river; and
floated off an estimated 75 to
100 cords (valued at $10 a cord)
of acid wood stacked along the
railroad tracks, the property of
the Champion Paper and Fibre
company. The Hays block plant
was almost covered with water.
The Weather
High Low Prec.
Wednesday 70 63 .65
Thursday 72 59 6.32
Friday 83 55 .55
Saturday 79 51 .00
Sunday 85 52 .00
Monday 84 55 .08
Tuesday 80 62 .02
Wednesday 62 .1]
Total rainfall, 7.14 Inches.