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70th Year ? No. 14
Franklin, N. C., Thursday, April 7, 1955
Sixteen Pages
r ? Staff Phalo by J. P. Brady
HERE'S WHERE DETOUR troubles begin In Georgia on US 23-441, just outside Dillard. At
right is a barricade stopping traffic from entering the small town and routing cars to the high
way (NC 106) to the left. Dillard is by-passed by a good gravel road a tenth of a mile up 106 and
it reenters US 23-441 just below the Rabun Gap school. However, highway officials are detouring
traffic away from US 23-441 in Clayton, Ga., although actual construction is now only in the
Dillard area.
NEW DETOUR
IS PROBLEM
?
Action Poses Local
Questions; Officials
Look To Georgia
Detour-hacked US 23-441 cur
rently is top-drawer talk in
Macon County, although the
latest construction break in the
vital tourist travel artery lies in
nearby Georgia.
But anything affecting US 23
441 is of major concern to this
area, for the heavily-traveled
highway is the north-south
"bread and butter" for more
than just a few.
Therefore, when new detour
signs went up last week in
Franklin and Clayton, Ga., rout
ing traffic up scenic, but wind
ing, US 64 to Highlands and
down NC 28 to Pine Mountain
Road in Georgia, questions
started : .
Why, if North Carolina has
been able to keep nearly 20
miles of US 23-441 open most of
the time during construction
(Franklin to Dillsboro), must
Georgia ? where an earth mov
ing project of a million yards
Is almost unheard of -- close
the highway and reroute traf
fic?
Why is it necessary to' de
tour traffic over a winding and
out-of-the-way course when ac
tual construction on the high
way is confined only to a short
stretch at Dillard, Ga?
Is the rumor true that a
clause in the construction con
tract stipulates the contractor
must keep the highway open?
Why was the detour run from
Clayton, through Highlands, to
Franklin, when a good gravel
road bypasses Dillard and the
SEE NO. 2, PAGE 8
Publication Of Centennial
Special Edition Planned
Pictures Wanted
Wanted: Old pictures of
Franklin and vicinity.
In its Centennial special
edition, The Press hopes to
publish many pictures of
life here in the old days.
Have you such a picture ?
reasonably clear ? that you
would lend the paper? It will
be handled with care, and re
turned to you. -
What is wanted is scenes or
pictures of important or in
teresting events or photo
graphs showing the way peo
ple lived and did things here
100, 75, or 50 years ago.
Portraits of individuals are
not requested, since there are
far more interesting pictures
of this type than it would be
possible to publish.
Judge Faces
Average Term
Judge Dan K. Moore, of Sylva,
will find "about average'" crim
inal docket when he comes .here
April 18 to preside over' the
Ap.il term of Superior Court,
according to Miss Kate McGee,
cleric of court.
As the docket .stands now,
by the opening: of the term
roughly 200 cases- will be on it
for trial, the clerk said. The
majority of them will be motor
vehicles violations.
"A very light" civil docket is
on tap, she added.
Judge .Moore is the resident
judge of the 20th Judicial Dis
trict.
Wilhide's 'Dancing Dolls'
A special edition of The
Franklin Press will be issued in
connection with the Centennial
observance.
Plans call for the largest
single newspaper ever publish
ed here.
To the management, though,
the size of the paper is secon
dary ? first emphasis is to be
put on quality. It is hoped the
special edition will give the
PART OF ISSUE
The big Centennial special
edition of The Press will be a
part of the paper published
June 16, the day the Centennial
celebration opens.
Since many persons, though,
will want to mail the Centen
nial special section to relatives
and friends away from here,
well in advance of the celebra
tion, the Centennial section will
be printed about May 30, and
will be available for mailing
after that date.
Since a heavy demand for this
edition is anticipated, plans call
for printing 5,250 copies.
reader a clear, comprehensive,
interesting picture not only of
Franklin's history and growth,
but also of what life was like
here in the old days.
That cannot be done by the
staff of The Press alone. It will
take the help of a lot of people
who know about the old days.
So articles or sketches are in
vited from anybody and every
body who has a story to tell
about life here in the long ago.
Prizes Offered
Ten prizes are being offered
for the ten best articles:
First prize, $25 in cash; sec
ond prize, $15; third, $10;
fourth, a two-yehr subscription
to The Press; fifth, a two-year
vo j jpaGF 12
It's Gotta
Be Spring!
It's Spring!
It's gotta be.
'Cause a wall on the second
floor of the Bank of Franklin
building says it is.
For just to the left at the
head of the stairs are two
mysterious lipstick prints.
It's Spring!
FRANKLIN
BUILDING
BOOMON
Construction Under
Way On Restaurant,
Center, And Court
Franklin's business building
boom continues, to the tune of
several thousand dollars.
The opening of the new $125,
000 Franklin Motel drops one
construction job into the open
fo|-business picture, but several
other projects, including a small
shopping center in East Frank
lin, a restaurant, and a pro
posed motor court are spotlight
ing the boom.
A modern one-story restau
rant Is being built by Sam Gib
son and Hall Callahan as the
new home for Mr. and Mrs. Kay
Montague's "Dixie Grill". The
52 x 32 feet structure is going
up on the Franklin (west) side
of the Little Tennessee River
between Manson Stiles' service
station and the river. It should
be ready for occupancy by the
middle of the month, accord
ing to the owners. Estimated
cost of construction is $12,000.
A small shopping center is be
ing built on the east side of
the river by W. H. Mashburn.
Footings for the three-store
unit ? tentatively a jewelry
store, restaurant, and grocery
SEE NO. 4, PAGE 8
Angel Succeeds
Cox As Manager
Of Bower's Here
T. Y. Angel, a former man
ager of the Franklin Bower's
%5tore, has returned here in that
capacity.
He succeeded A. L. Cox as
local manager April 1. Mr. Cox,
who is being transferred to be
manager of the Bower's Store
in Lenoir, and his family have
been here since he became the
local manager last July.
Mr. Angel, who comes here
from a similar post in Toccoa,
Ga., will be joined by his fam
ily when school is out in June.
He was Bower's manager here
from February, 1947, to October,
1949. During that period, he
was/ active in the local Metho
dist Church, Lions Chib, volun
teer fire department, and Boy
Scout work.
PATTON NEW
ROTARY HEAD
Creamery Official
Succeeds Sloan As
Franklin Leader
Erwin W. Patton was elected
president of the Franklin Ro
tary Club at the organization's
weekly dinner meeting Wednes
day night of last week.
Mr. Patton, manager of the
Nantahala ?Creamery, will suc
ceed W. N. Sloan.
William B. (Bill) Garrison,
manager of Slack Franklin
Parts Company, was reelected
secretary-treasurer.
Elmon ,M. Teague, Harmon H.
Gnuse, Jr., John B. Ray, and
E. J. Whitmire were elected di
rectors.
Under the club's by-laws, Mr.
Sloan, the retiring president,
automatically becomes vice
president.
The new officers will take of
fice July 1.
WILHIDE SATISFIED ?
'Dan And 'Dinah' Dancing
The rhythmic clickity -clack
of tiny dancing feet kept per
fect time with the strains of
"Down Yonder".
Those sure-fire crowd pleas
ers, "Dan" and "Dinah", were
dancing again. And so were the
eyes of the two-year-old, for
whom a command performance
of Wilhide's "Dancing Dolls"
was being staged.
And also, there was a smile
of satisfaction trickling from
the corners of H. A. (Chubi
Wilhide's mouth, as he tapped
out a steady beat on the sound
ing board under the feet of the
foot-high wooden figures.
"I get just as much kick out
of it as they do", Mr. Wilhide
declared, his right foot keeping
rug-muffled time with the in
fectious clickity-clack coming
from the feet of his two min
strel dancers
The "they" he referred to is
any audience watching the
amateur showman and his dolls.
And this audience is growing
larger as each week goes by.
Last week, Wilhide's "Dancing
Dolls" performed on Ward A at
the Oteen VA Hospital.
A letter trom i-he secretary
of the Henderson County Chap
ter of the American Red Cross,
which arranged his appearance,
pretty well sums up what a hit
was registered:
"They all fell in love with
'Dan' and 'Dinah' and we want
you to know how very much ,
pleasure you gave", she wrote.
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 8
Political Pots Start Boiling
As Towns Look To Elections
? smrt Hhoto by J P. tirady
"Okay, Mr. Rabbit", says toddler Lyle Hunnicutt, "let's quit
this stalling around and give the inside dope on your egg de
livery business Easter morning ... a couple of dozen will suit
me just fine, as long as you don't miss some of my buddies."
(Lyle, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Hunnicutt, is just one of
thousands of youngsters looking forward to receiving Easter
eggs this Sunday).
Maconians To Mark Easter
At Four Sunrise Services
Hundreds of Maconians and
visitors will observe Easter, 1955,
with special church events, in
clut'ing four sunrise services.
Dawn services are scheduled
on Wayah Bald, Whiteside
Mountain, 'Raven's Rock, and
at the Iotla Baptist Church.
Thi? services, particularly those
on Wayah and Whiteside, an
nually drew large crowds of
worshippers from this area and
neighboring states.
On Wayah Bald
"High Haven", camp of Mr.
and Mrs. G. A. Jones, of Frank
lin, on mile-high Wayah Bald,
will again be the scene of the
annual service for the Frank
lin area. Set for 6 o'clock, the
Finger Elected
Jaycee President
Members of the Franklin Jay
cees Monday night elected G.
Banks Finger to head their
organization for the year 1955
56.
The local attorney succeeds
Dr. G. R. McSween.
Other new club officers nam
ed include Dr.
J. L. Hill, 1st
vice-president;
Sam Gibson.
2nd vice-presi
dent; Bob Car
penter, secre
t a r j' ; Bob
.Moore, treas
urer; John
Cogan, state
director; and
J. P. Brady, J.
L. West, and
Vic Perry, di
Mr. Finger rectors.
The new of
ficers will be installed the first
Monday in May, just prior to
the state Jaycee convention in
Asheville.
A local attorney, the new
president has been active in
the state Jaycee set-up for the
three years the Franklin club
has been in existence. He is a
past vice-president of the state
executive board and this year
is serving as state chairman of
elections and credentials.
service will be timed to end
just as the sun conies up
As in past years, worshippers
will be able to remain in their
automobiles around the camp
and hear the special Easter
music and sermon. Prank Mar
tin has offered to install a
loudspeaker system outside .and
he also has charge of the rec
orded music for the service.
The Rev. S. B. Moss, pastor
o the Franklin Methodist
C hurch, has been selected by
the Jv'acon County Ministerial
Association to deliver the Easter
message.
A reading. "The Empty Tomb",
by Kagawa. will be given by
CLOSING FOR FASTER
Most county offices plan to
close Monday in observance
of Easter.
Schools will not operate Fri
day or Monday.
Mrs. R. S. Jones, following the
call to worship.
The Easter prayer will be of
fered by the Rev. M. C. Wyatt.
pastor of the Mt. Hope Baptist
Church.
W. A. Caldwell, resident high
way engineer, said the Wayah
Road has been worked by a
motor grader and is in excellent
condition.
The Franklin Jaycees have
charge of. transportation for
persons desiring a ride to Way
ah Bald. Dr. J. L. Hill repre
SEE NO. 5, PAGE 8
I Centennial Seen
Dr. J. L. Hill modeling a
young lady's bonnet . . .
J. S. Gray strutting around
Sunday in a split-tail dress
coat a.nd stripped trousers . . .
A well-known Franklin man
laughing about almost cut
ting off a.n / eyebrow while
trimming his beard with an
electric razor; . . almost
look like a one-horn steer" . . .
Elb?rt Angel, one of the
brushiest brothers in town,
telling about the four-year
old who seriously asked if he
used a curry comb . . .
The watched political pots in
both Franklin and Highlands
have started to boil and by the
April 16 filing deadline for the
May 3 biennial elections should
be bubbling vigorously.
In Franklin, Mayor W. C.
Burrell and incumbent alder
man A. G. Cagle filed following
Monday night's board meeting
and other members are expect
ed to follow suit. In the elec
tion, voters will pick a mayor
and six aldermen.
At the present time, only five
aldermen are on the Franklin
board. Erwin Patton submitted
his resignation this week, after
nearly eight years on the board,
in order to serve as a member
of the new Macon Board of Ed
ucation.
Mayor Burrell has served
about three years, a year of
this unexpired term of the late
Robert ,M. Dillard and an elect
ed term. Alderman Cagle is
seeking his third term.
File In Highlands
Highlands Town Clerk Louis
(Bud) Potts has announced the
filing of two men.
V. W. McCall, former town
clerk, has tossed his hat in the
ring for mayor. He is now as
sociated with the Highlands
Branch of the Jackson County
Bank.
Incumbent Commissioner Car
ter Talley also has filed for his
second term.
Highlands will elect a mayor
and five commissioners.
Registration books in the two
towns will be open April 9, 16,
and 23, with the latter serving
as challenge day.
John W. Paul is registrar for
Highlands and Henry Wright
and C. A. Wilson have been ap
pointed judges.
The Franklin registrar is E.
W. Long. Judges are L. C. Hig
don and J. A. Palmer.
Late News
and
Briefs
BOARD WAITING
The newly-appointed three
man Macon Board of Education
had not been sworn in yester
day i Wednesday i at presstime.
Although Rep. HouK's house
bill naming Erwin Patton, C. C.
Sutton, and O. F. Summer, as
a replacement board was pass
ed by the senate Friday, it still
has not been ratified.
It is expected the three will
be sworn in today or tomorrow.
* * ?
CANCER DRIVE OPENING
The annual American Cancer
Society fund drive will open
Tuesday niorhing with an in
creased quota of $729.
Co-conimanders of the drive
are Mrs. Lester Conley and the
Rev. Bryan Hatchett.
For the past eight years,
under Mrs. Conley's leadership,
Macon has been the first coun
ty in the state to top its quota.
The Weather
T':e week's temperatures an?l rainfall, as
recor-Ied in Franklin by Manson Stiles,
l\ S. weather ut.s. rrei ; i i ti u.i. an. . ?
TihI. r N Hall an.! W I . Ncwtor. T\ \
observer; an.l at tile C?>*eeta Hv<irvl"<i.*
J.aba.at >r> :
FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wed., Mar. 30 64 17
Thursday 69 20
Friday 72 23
Saturday 60 44 .40
Sunday 72 29 .28
Monday 75 31
Tuesday 64 44 .17
HIGHLANDS
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wed., Mar. 30 56 18
Thursday 63 22
Friday .. 62 26
Saturday 52 44
Sunday 65 40 1.73
Monday 66 32
Tuesday 56 42
COWEETA
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wed., Mar. 30... 61 18
Thursday 69 23
Friday 70 26
Saturday 57 47 1.24
Sunday 72 38
Monday 73 33
Tuesday 62 45 1.27