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VOL. LXIX? NO. 42
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY OCT. 14, 1954
FOURTEEN PAGES
THIS PICTURE OF THE SCOTTSBORO, ALA., PLANT
of Burlington Mills Corporation will give some idea of what the
Franklin plant will look like when completed. Officials of the
company have announced the $3,000,000 plant here will he con
structed along the lines of the Scottsboro building, which was
just recently opened. Engineers of the corporation were here
Monday to make a survey of the plant site on U> 23-441.
? Staff Photo by J. P. Brady
PUPIL AND TEACHER ? Mrs. Mary WaWroop, 84, plays a
selection on the piano (or Mrs. G. A. Jones, 92, and W. N. McCoy,
95, the "youngest" at Sunday's church -sponsored "Fellowship
Hour" at the Franklin Methodist Church. Mrs. Waldroop also
proved to Mrs. Jones, her old piano teacher, that she taught well.
'Youngsters' Bring 5,099
Years To Gathering Here
Yesteryear played a key role
at the Franklin Methodist
Church Sunday afternoon when
some 70 "youngsters" pooled
their 5,099 years to make their
annual "Fellowship Hour" a
success even beyond the fond
est hopes of the sponsoring
churches of the county.
And an addition 60 persons ?
those "still wet behind the
ears" ? were on hand to help
Macon's young-in-heart write a
new chapter of fellowship and
reminiscing with old-timey
hymn singing, poetry, and
backflashes into the era when
a paved road in the county was
a dream and the 23-mile jaunt
to Dillsboro was a "back bust
er" by horseback.
The 70 "youngsters", whose
enthusiasm and zest made
those younger In age forget
their' troubles, at least momen
tarily, all were 65 years .or
over and their average age was
74. Thirteen were octogenarians
and three topped 90.
Prizes for being the "young
est" present went to W. N.
McCoy, of Gneiss, 95, and Mrs.
G. A. Jones, of Franklin, 92.
Third place in age was W. S.
Davis, 90, of Highlands.
Those 80 years and over in
cluded, John E. Wilson, 82, of
Franklin, J. H. Grant, 83, of
Nantahala, Mrs. T. B. Ramsey,
88, of Sylva, John Dehart, 82,
of Franklin, Route 3, George
Parrish, 88, of Franklin, Route
3. Mrs. Ella Bingham, 84, of
Franklin, Route " 1, Mrs. Flor
ence Garner, 80, of Franklin,
Route 1, Mrs. Mary Waldroop,
84, of Tuckasiegee, Mrs. Lula
McCracken, 81, of Franklin,
Route 2, Mrs. Jennie Nolrn, 82,
of Franklin, Alex Moore, 82, of
Franklin, R. R. Rickman, 82, of
Franklin, Route 4, and Mrs. Ada
Hyatt, 80, of Franklin, Route 2.
Mrs. Ramsey and Mr. Rick
man were awarded prizes for
having the largest number of
grandchildren. He has 54 and
she 46. Mrs. Waldroop, a Macon
native who is now living in
Tuckaseigee, and Mr. Grant, of
Nantahala, received prizes for
traveling the greatest distance
to attend.
History took on added sig
nificance during a portion of
the program while an 84-year
old "pupil" played piano selec
tions for the audience, and
especially for her 92-year-old
former piano teacher. Many
years ago, Mrs. G. A. Jones
taught Mrs. Mary Waldroop pi- I
ano. Mrs. Waldroop's still
nimble fingers on the piano
turned back the years for many. '
Some eyes were moist as she j
played.
Z. Weaver Shope served as
master of ceremonies for the j
"hour", an annual church- j
sponsored event, which was j
conceived three years ago by |
Mrs. Eloise G. Potts, superin- j
tendent of welfare. Theodore I
Orr, Franklin band director, led \
hymn singing and the Rev.
Bryan Hatchett, Presbyterian
pastor, sang a solo. Mrs. Bill
Bryson was pianist. The ladies
of the Methodist church were
hostesses and . the ladies of the
St, Agnes Episcopal Church
furnished refreshments.
Javan Gray, of Franklin,
Route 2, expressed the appre
ciation of the "youngsters" to
those who arranged the gather
ln?
Said one "youngster" in his
80's: "I've seen more people
here this afterndon than I've
seen in the past year."
ACHIEVEMENT
EVENT SLATED
Demonstration Clubs
To Gather Friday
At Methodist Church
Women of Macon's 24 home
demonstration clubs will mark
their annual "Achievement Day"
tomorrow i Friday > at the Frank
lin Methodist Church with the
theme, "Homes, the Foundation
of Peace, Justice, and Progress."
Exhibits of work done by the
individual clubs over the past
year have not been prepared this
year because of inadequate quart
ers for exhibiting displays, ac
cording to Mrs. Florence S. Sher
rill. county home agent.
However, the day-long program
which will begin at 10 a.m. is
marked by a number of high
lighting features, including the
awarding of "The Gavel" to the
best of the 24 clubs, recognizing
"Honor Club" members, and a
warding perfect attendance cer
tificates.
Two significant addresses also
are scheduled. Mrs. C. Tom Biy
son, of Cullasaja, who returned
Sunday from New York City and
a tour of the United Nations, will
speak on "Toward World Under
standing". Mrs. Bryson made the
trip with home demonstration
women from over the state. The
second speaker will be John M.
Whitelock, New Zealand dairy
man, who is studing dairying
methods in Macon this month.
Mr. Whitelock, a farm exchange
student, will speak on "Travels
in New Zealand" and will illus
strate his talk with color slides
taken in his native country.
Following the opening devotion
al by Mrs. E. G. Altland, of the
Iotla Club, greetings wil be ex
tended by County Agent T. H.
Fagg and Holland McSwaln,
county school superintendent.
I "Honor Club" members will be
recognized by Mrs. Pritchard Peek,
county council secretary.
The Macon County Chorus, com
posed of club women and directed
by Theodore Orr, will sing several
selections.
Lunch will be served in the
church dining quarters with the
Carson, Cartoogechaye. and Mul
berry clubs in charge.
The Franklin club will be the
host to the annual gathering.
Mrs. George Byrd. of the Cowee
club, is program chairman.
As the closing feature in the
afternoon. J. P. Brady, news ed
itor of The Franklin Press, will
briefly cover "Looking to 195a".
and the possibility of a county j
fair in the near future.
In explaining the absence of j
club exhibits this year. Mrs. Sher
rill pointed out that there is no
building in Franklin large enough |
to handle exhibits.
"Rather than attempt to jam
them (exhibits) into a small place
just for the sake of having ex
hibits, we decided it would be
better to eliminate them this
year and hope adequate quart
ers will be available next year,"
the home agent said.
Demonstration
Club Organized
The county's 24th home demon- 1
stration club was organized Mon- I
day afternoon in Highlands. 1
Officers of the new club are <
Mrs. Robert Hart, president: Mrs.
John Miller, vice-president; Mrs
Jack Laros, secretary; and Mrs.
Echol Rowland, treasuer.
Mrs. Florence S. Sherrill county
home agent, assisted with organ
izational procedure.
Macon Communities Hustling
As Rural Contest Nears End
There's a concerted scrambling
in Macon's 21 organized commun
ities to finish scrapbooks and
score and summary sheets for the
1954 Macon County Rural Com
munity Development Contest.
For there's $1,100 in prize mon
ey dangling at the October 25
contest end for the 13 best com
munities.
The difficult task of picking
these 13 top communities will fall
to two out-of-county judges Oc
tober 27-28-29. Awards will be
made November 13 at a special
contest-end banquet at Franklin
High School.
Nickels Vote
Set Friday
Tomorrow (Friday) Macon
farmers will go to the polls to
decide whether the "Nickels far
Know-How" program for agri
cultural research and education
is to continue another three
years.
The referendum is being held
state-wide. Polls open at 6:30
a. m. and close at 6:30 p. m.
Only those farm families us
ing feed and fertilizer are eli
gible to vote, according to
County Agent T. H. Fagg.
In urging a heavy turn-out
for the election, the county
agent explained that the "Nick
els for Know-How" program,
which originated in this state
in 1951, Is financed by a five
cent per ton assessment on feed
and fertilizer.
For the average farmer here,
Mr. Fagg said this means he Is
contributing about 30 cents to
the program each year.
"Thousands of dollars worth
of know-how is one of the best
returns on an investment of 30
cents I know of", the county
agent declared, "and I know
our farmers realize the impor
tance of continuing the pro
gram."
Polling places:
Burningtown, Younce's Store;
Tellico, Carl Morgan Store; Co
wee, Tom Rickman Store; Wa- '
tauga, Lee Crawford Store; Mill
shoal, Paul Ammons Store; Car
toogechaye, Ledford's Store; El
lijay, Estes Service Station;
Sugarfork, Willie Moses' Store;
Highlands, Potts' Store; Flats.
Warren Owenby Store and
Clyde Morgan Store: Smith
bridge. Miller Norris Store:
Prentiss. John Cunningham
Store; Carson, Bill Pressley
Store: Franklin. Agricultural
Building: Xotla. Paul Swafford
Store; Fouts' Town. W. T.I
Fouts' Store; and Patton, R. D.I1
Wells' home.
In giving an advance summary
of contest plans. County Agent T. \
H. Fagg this week urged all com
munities to submit scrapbooks to
his office not later than October
25. He also reminded each com
munity to select a man and a
woman to accompany the judges
on their rounds.
Meanwhile, the campaign to
raise $1,100 in prize money among
businessmen and merchants met
with success. W. W. < Bill ? Sloan, i
contest treasurer, reported yester
day (Wednesday) that the goal
has been reached and a prize
schedule adopted.
First place community will re
ceive $300: second, $200; and
third, $100. The next 10 best will
be awarded $50 each.
Arrangements for the awards
banquet are being handled by the
women of the communities under
the supervision of Mrs. Florence
S. Sherrill, county home agent.
Mrs. Sherrill said this week that
this phase of the contest's end is
progressing.
All of the 21 communities are
entered in the Western North Car
olina Rural Community Develop
ment Contest, which is sponsored
by the Asheville Agricultural De
velopment Council. Last year Pat
ton Community, top community
in the local congest, placed fourth
in area competition.
Both the local and area con
tests are judged the same way ?
SEE NO. 2, PAGE 10
Late News
and
Briefs
STOP 'LITTERBUGS'
"Don't Be A Litterbug".
This slogan will be pushed ,
.ocally beginning Monday by the '
Franklin Garden Club to im- j
r>ress the importance of keep- '
ng roadsides and streets clean
if litter. j
The club plans to work Its
:ampalgn ? part of a nation- j
vide movement ? through the
schools and town and county j
jfficials. "Litterbug" stickers j
will be distributed, it was said.
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 10
? .Si of' / hoto bx J / . Hrndy
The Rev. R. D. Burnette, "Macon's Flying Preacher", gets a
last-minute briefing from Howard .Stewart before taking off.
HE'S NOW KNOWN AS
Macon's Flying Preacher
Saturday afternoon at the
Franklin Airport, a small air
plane nosing skyward turned a
new page in the lite of the be
ipectacled man at its controls. .
As the plane left the ground
ind dipped toward the west, its
silot, the Rev. R. D. Burnette,
jecame "Macon's Flying Preach
er". The significant flight .
neant the preacher was log- i
?ing his 30th hour in the air '
ind he therefore was eligible i
or a private pilot's license.
With an enthusiasm char
jcteristic of new pilots, Mr. ]
3urnette chatted with a report
er and outlined a plan whereby ;
lis newly acquired art will not i
>nly bring personal pleasure but
V?1 enablc hlm 10 bett<~r
his 10 Sunday Schools in this
state and in Georgia.
"I figure by flying I will be
able to devote twice as ? much
time to each of the Sunday
Schools," the field worker for
the American Sunday School 1
Union explained.
By automobile, he says, his | :
visits to Sunday Schools in I
Jackson, Swain, and Macon, in
this state, and Rabun and
Towns counties in Georgia, are .
tiring journeys and he general
ly visits each once, a month
But by flying ? well, Mr. '
Burnette thinks this is the so- '
lution and he figures, if neces- ]
sary, he can visit all of the I
Sunday Schools in a day and !
also can spend more time visit- ]
rff Mr> a PArnr in ;
Mill Engineers Here;
Site Fund Growing
Three engineers of the Burlington Mills Corporation new here
Monday to make a topographic survey of the site of the corpor
ation's proposed $3,000,000 hosiery plant near Franklin as the
local campaign to raise funds for the site moved into the home
stretch.
Yesterday (Wednesday! W. W. Reeves, president of the local
chamber of commerce, reported the fund raising campaign for
the site was about $1,000 short of its approximate goal of $30,000.
"And some of the $1,000 already is in sight," he added. How
ever, Mr. Reeves said additional contributions will be appreciated.
REGISTRATION
BOOKS OPEN
Politics In Whisper
Stage In County For j
November 2 Election
Registration books for the
general election November 2
opened Saturday as members ,
of both parties started beating
the brush for votes.
The registration books will be
open for the next two Satur
days ? October 16 and 23. The ;
third Saturday ? October 30 ? j
will be challenge day, according [
to Elections Board Chairman J. ;
Lee Barnard.
Meanwhile, politicking is rid- |
ing on the whisper fringes, but
is expected to break loudly on
the Macon scene shortly. Some
candidates are kicking off news
paper advertising campaign this
week. Others have begun stump
ing the county to garner votes
both for themselves and their
party. Absentee ballots also are
being mailed to Macon residents
who will be out of the county
on election day.
The county political cards
stack up this way:
G. L. Houk, Franklin attorn
ey, is the Democratic nominee
for the state house. He is being j
opposed on the G. O. P. ticket ,
by H. S. Talley, Highlands busi
nessman.
Democratic incumbent Miss
Kate McGee is opposed for the
Clerk of Superior Court post by
Ray Swafford.
In the sheriff race, L. B.
Welch, Republican, will attempt
to unseat Sheriff J. Harry
Thomas.
Incumbent Lake V. shope will
face Republican Clyde Drake
for Register of Deeds.
SEE NO. 5, PAGE 10
Some 175 businessmen and inter
ested parties have contributed to
the campaign.
The plant site, on US 23-441
'south i on part of the old Johns
ton sub-division, is to be given to
Burlington Mills, which last week
announced plans for building the
Franklin plant.
W I. English, chief engineer,
heacied the party of engineers
here Monday. The group' is ex
pected back within the week, ac
cording to Mr ./Reeves.
Grading on the site is expected
to begin at an early date.
Takes Work
Disclosure of Burlington Millls'
plans last week climaxed several
weeks of arrangements locally.
Franklin businessmen ? hearten
ed by the fact the corporation
was interested in the county as a
possible plant site ? visited both
the Franklin Board of Aldermen
and the Macon Board of County
Commissioners to request cooper
ation in providing faclities for the
corporation.
In session October 4. the com
missioners voted unanimously to
give $10,000 of the needed $30,000
for purchase of the plant site.
And the board of aldermen fol
lowed through by pledging to (1)
build a water line to the plant,
12) construct a 100,000-gallon
storage tank near the plant to
provide fire protection, and (3)
adopt a new industrial water rate
of 10 cents per thousand gallons
over 250.000 gallons monthly: the
rate to apply to all industry using
Franklin water.
ToTTn Clerk C. O. Ramsey this
week said the town has $20,000 on
hand in the budget for water line
extension work and improve
ments.
Long: Interest
Burlington Mills' interest in
Macon is nearly a year old. John
M. Archer, Jr., president of Nan
tahala Power and Light Com
pany, had first inkling the cor
poration was interested back in
November, 1953. At that time, he
received a call from Brandon
Hodges, of Asheville, former state
treasurer, that a representative of
the corporatoin was going to con
tact him. Mr. Archer received a
call soon after from John Harden,
corporation vice-president, con
firming the corporation's interest.
Several days later, representatives
of the corporation visited here,
after pledging Mr. Archer to sec
recy in the matter.
After this visit, Mr. Archer
marked time for nearly a year,
until September 9 of this year
when he again received a tele
phone call from Burlington Mills
and was asked to arrange a meet
ing of local businessmen and cor
poration officials This meeting
was set for September 16, with W.
W. Reeves, Frank B. Duncan, and
H. H. Gnuse, of the power com
pany. sitting in for the local side.
Burlington officials were back
September 29 for additional in
formation and then on October
4 announced through Mr. Duncan
that the Franklin plant would be
built.
P. T. A. WILL MEET
The Franklin Parent-Teacher
Association will meet Monday
at 7 :30 p. m. in the school cafe
teria. it has been announced.
The Weather
wct-k's temperature* an ! rair.
r< lei i i Franklin by Mars >n
r >. wcatlier .?b*erve-, and at the C"
II' '. I ?. ? k at ?r v :
FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low
87 58
74
61
80
83
85
83
HIGHLANDS
Temperature
High Low
81 56
65
73
76
81
63
60
Wed.. Oct, 6
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wed . Oct
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
56
35
45
44
45
49
49
64
51
46
44
44
. a*
1 AfCtli
Rain
.20
Rain
.08
.11
COWEETA
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wed.. Oct. 6 85 54
Thursday 59 58 trace
Friday 60 33
Saturday 76 44
Sunday 80 40
Monday 80 42
riif-iii.m 70 <f> i ?