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CIRCULATION
Last Week
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PRICE
10 Cents
70th Year ? No. 23
Franklin, N. C Thursday, June 9, 1955
Fourteen Pages
? Staff Photo by J. P. Brady
IT'S DEBATABLE which is prettier, Miss Jane Zickgraf or the flame azalea she is photo
graphed with. You, the reader (and looker), ms.y decide for yourself to save argument. .Miss
Zickgraf lives in Franklin and the flame azalea is just beginning; to bloom at the lower eleva
tions of mile-high Wayah Bald. To accommodate lovers ?f flame azalea, Taylor Construction
Company has agreed to make every effort to keep the Wayah Road, which is under construc
tion. open to Wayah Gap on the Franklin side until June 20. Annually, hundreds drive here to
view the colorful stands of azalea and mountain laurel 011 the B.i!d. (Just for the record, the
photographer would much rather look at Miss Zickgraf, but must admit that in combination the
two are hard to beat).
NOT WORST*
HOUK SAYS
Macon Representative
Says Legislature Was
Not 'Cap Buster* One
Regardless of published opin
ions of many over the state,
M^con Rep. G. L. Houk thinks
the 1955 Legislature was "one of
the hardest working bunch"
he's seen in some 25 years of
observing legislatures at work.
"It may not have been the
best, but it lacked a lot of being
the worst," he declared in an
interview this week.
And it did not deserve the
"cap buster legislature" label
hung on it by some newspapers,
Mr. Houk added.
Aside from the fact that the
'55 session turned out more
measures than any one body in
the last 22 years, the represen
tative said "quite a bit of
thought and study" went into
a number of items, including
bringing school law up-to-date,
consideration of conservation
and control of water resources
of the state, and the "very
controversial budget, which
twice was revised downward.
Discussing budgetary head
aches encountered by the leg
islators. including proposed spe
cial taxes, Mr. Houk said the
flexibility of the financial set
up shows "North Carolina's
economy is probably the most
delicately balanced of any in
the country."
On the water conservation
proposal, he saii the state for
the first time realizes water i<
most "vital and necessary" and
needs controls just as fish and
wildlife.
The representative introduced
eight measures in the house,
including the 33rd senatorial
district rotation measure, which
leaves balloting for a senator to
the county in which he is run
ning.
Coach Barnwell
Hired As Youth
Program Director
Franklin Hi?h Coach Howard
Earnwel! has been hired to di
rect a county youth center pro
gram which is scheduled to get
under way the week after the
Centennial celebration.
Plans to build a youth cen
ter in Franklin have been post
poned indefinitely by the group
of interested citizens backing
the youth program.
These two actions ? select
ing Coach Barnwell and tabling
building plans ? highlighted a
meeting of citizens and teen
agers Wednesday night of last
SEE NO. 2, PAGE 4
Cowee School Patrons Ask
Return Of Principal Love
Macon's three-man board of
education Monday night had
the now controversial Cowee
principalship issue tossed in its
lap again.
Charging "politics" in fre
quent exchanges, a delegation
of men and women from Cowee
handed the board petitions call
ing for the reappointment of
T. T. Love as head of the
school.
Mr. Love was not reelected to
the post by the district com
mittee. A Cowee teacher, Alex
Arnold, was named principal
and already has signed a con
tract for the 1955-56 school
year.
Tense situations that develop
ed during the board's interval
with the delegation were held
in check by Chairman Erwin
Patton, who continually re
minded the delegation that the
school board, under the law,
does not elect or discharge
principals or teachers, but only
approves or disapproves the
recommendations of the district
committee.
Petitions handed the board
contain the signatures of 371
Cowee School patrons, accord
ing to C. N. West, who acted
as spokesman for the delega
tion. This number, he told the
board, is about 93 per cent of
the eligible voters of the school
district.
Resents Insinuation
At one point, a charge by
Mr. West that the board, which
was appointed by Rep. G. L.
Houk, was "rigged" brought
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 10
Here s Centennial Program
Thursday
"Governor's Day"
18:00 a. m.: "Miss Centennial" Parade in downtown area.
11:90 a. m.: Crowning of "Miss Centennial" by Gov. Luther H.
Hodges.
11:30 a. m.: Contests ? corn husking, bean stringing, churning.
1:00 p. ni.: Dedication of Municipal Building by governor, fol
lowed by address by governor, buriai of time capsule,
and presentation of Centennial Plaque for building.
3:00 p m.: Contests ? spelling bee. woodchopping, milking (by
hand i. and best quilt top.
4:00 p. m.? Pie eating contest for all under 18 years.
4:30 p. m.: "Fashion show" and prizes for the best pack of
hounds.
8:00 p. m.: Free square dance or. town square, music by Hunter
Young's String Band.
Friday
"Parade Day"
10:00 a. m.: Contests ? ( a > oldest dress, <b. most fashionable
* dress >c prettiest bonnet. <d> oldest men's suit,
( e ? most original attire, < f > most outstanding
couple
11:30 a. m.: Ox (or steer race.
2:00 p. jn.: "Parade Of Progress"? floats, bands, and marchers
to assemble on Depot Street at 1 o'clock.
4:00 p. m.: Contests ? hog calling, ugliest man, fattest man and
woman, biggest feet, etc.
8:00 p. m.: Old timey hymn singing at courthouse, featuring
local and visiting quartets and singers
3:00 p. m.: Free square dance on town square, music by Hunter
Young's String Band.
Saturday
"Homecoming Day"
13.00 a. m.: "Welc-: me" by Mayor W. C Burrell.
13:30 a. m: Beard Contests? selection of "Brushiest Brother in
Franklin", longest full beard, curliest beard, most
original beard, bushiest mustache, bet goatee or
Vandyke, and most original beard.
1:30 p. m.: "Progress Tour" of some outstanding sections of
county. Automobiles to assemble at Agricultural
Building on Church Street. County Agent T. H.
Fagg, lead car.
3:00 p m.: Free Barbecue at Franklin High School.
8:00 p. m.: "Brushy Brothers" and "Belles of the Bustle" Dance
at Franklin Feed Mill, by admission. Event to fea
ture the crowning of the "King and Queen of Cen
tennial".
Sunday
"Freedom of Religion"
All churches requested to emphasize the freedoms of this
country.
ALDERMEN
SET SAME
TAX RATE
$1.10 Per Hundred
Valuation Approved
For Eighth Year
Franklin's tax .rate of $1.10
per hundred valuation ? now
ending its seventh year ? has
been given a vote of confidence
for the new fiscal year 1955-56.
Following a review of the new
budget estimate in session
Monday night, the board of
aldermen decided municipal af
fairs could be administered for
CLEAN-UP ASKED
In ? special resolution, the
Franklin Board of Aldermen
has requested citizens to ob
serve a clean-up period be
ginning today (Thursday) and
running through the 18th ?
the closing day of the Cen
tennial celebration.
All are urged to clean-up
their premises and burn all
trash. Rubbish that wan't
burn will be picked up by
the town - garbage truck on
request. This service may be
obtained by telephoning 38.
Owners of vacant lots are
asked to cut weeds and brush
and clean them off.
another year at the old rate.
A budget will be adopted by
the board at Its July meeting.
Under a new law, a budget esti
mate Is now open for Inspec
tion in the town office. The law
states the estimate must be
available for 20 days prior to
adoption of a budget.
While exact figures cannot be
compiled at this time, Town
Clerk C. O. Rair.sey said the
1955-56 budget will be aoout
the same as last year ? "some
thing around $100,000. Taxable
valuation will be above three
million, he added.
In other business, the board
contracted Perry M. Weaver,
certified public accountant, to
make the annual audit for $350:
voted to hire an extra man to
work on the garbage truck for
three months with instructions
that sweeping of Main Street
begin at 5:30 a. m. daily: and
requested the street committee
to make a survey of streets for
a paving and graveling pro
gram later in the summer.
RUFUS GREEN
PASSES HERE
Was Known Widely
As 'Craftsman';
Dies At Age 92
Rufus Coleman Green, at 92
one of the county's oldest citi
zens and known widely as a
"craftsman" cabinet maker and
machinist, died Wednesday of
last week (June 1> at 7 a- m.
at his Franklin home.
He had b'en in declining
health for several years and
had not worked for about four.
Funeral services for Mr.
Green were conducted the day
after his death at the FTanklin
Baptist Church, of which he
was a member. Officiating were
the Rev. M. W. Chapman, pas
tor, and the Rev. W. N. Cook,
retired Baptist minister. Burial
was in the Holly Springs Cem
etery.
Although born in the Green's
Creek section of Jackson Coun
ty, Mr. Green spent most of his
life in Macon. His contributions
were many. Considered one of
the finest cabinet makers and
machinists in the area, even
though self-taught, old friends
recall that he had the first
steel lathe in Franklin and one
of the first electric motors ?
the latter wired for operation
by John Gribble.
But above all this, they recall
Rulus Green time and again
through the years showed he
was a "true neighbor" by al
ways tetns ready to give a
helping hand regardless of th?
situation.
He was born July 20. 1862.
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elija
Green. Mr Green was married
three times, first to Miss Mag
gie Holland, who died in 1908,
later to Miss Jennie Shuler. who
died in 1915, and then to Miss
Octa Deal, who died in Febru
ary, 1949. His children were by
his first wife.
Surviving are two sons, Elmer,
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 4
Plans For Town's Centennial
Celebration Falling In Place
Legion Groups
Pick Delegates
To Youth Meets
Delegates to the annual Boys'
State and Girls' State have been
selected by the American Legion
post and auxiliary.
Both events are set for June
12 to 17, the girls' at Woman's
College, University of North
Carolina, Greensboro, and the
boys' at the university in Chap
el Hill.
Tommy Gnuse, son of Mr.
and Mrs. H. H. Gnuse, Jr., of
Franklin, and Jerry Norton, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Norton,
of Dillard, Ga., Route 1, are
the two being sponsored by the
post. Miss Joyce Gribble, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. (Jack)
Gribble, of Franklin, / Route 2,
is the auxiliary representative.
All three are Franklin High
students and were selected on
the basis of scholastic ability
and extra-curricular activities.
They were chosen from among
several submitted for considera
tion, according to Legion of
ficials.
Finger Named
To Industry
Program Job
C. Banks Finger, Franklin at
torney, has been appointed
western representative to the
Small Industrial Development
Plan, it has been announced.
The function of the plan is
to screen industries for small
towns and communities over the
state.
Gov. Luther H. Hodges sug
gested the plan and is being
assisted by the N. C. Jaycees.
Annual Gibson Reunion
Is Scheduled Sunday
The annual Gibson reunion
will be held Sunday, June 12, at
the home of the Rev. and Mrs.
C. C. Welch in the Cowee com
munity.
Descendants of John Stewart
Gibson and Martha Carroll Gib
son are asked to come and
bring picnic lunch.
With Franklin's 100th birthday party just a week away, a last
minute push to whip final arrangements into shape for the
Centennial celebration's many features is very evident.
But, the pieces for the "big shindig" next Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday are dropping into place, Centennial officials re
port, and the three-day party appears destined to become one
of the most talked about events of the next century.
Another "Struttih' Day" is slated in town Saturday to give
celebrants the opportunity to "show out" in Centennial finery
prior to the actual celebration.
Weather permitting, parades are
planned at 11 a. m. and 3 p. m.
Last Saturday's "Struttin' l^d
by Rep. G. L. Houk in a period
costume complete to bat-wing
collar, was small, but gave rise
to thousands of comments and
promise that this Saturday's
show is going to be quite an
event.
Cooperation Urged
With a budget of more than
$2,500 set up for parade prizes,
a free barbecue, and other fea
tures, Centennial officials are
urging all men and women in
Franklin over the age of 18 to
purchase "Brushy Brothers" and
"Belles of the Bustle" badges at
once so financial arrangements
can be made.
For the most part, sale of
the badges constitutes the fi
A complete story on activities
will appear in next week's issue
oh The Press.
nancial backing for the entire
celebration and the success of
the venture hinges on the co
operation of all citizens. It was
pointed out
Other fund-raising projects
being pushed by the Centennial
committee include Centennial
plates. Franklin Centennial
Boogie" records. ' Davy Crock
ett" hats, and other small
items.
Only a limited number of
plates and records are on hand,
it is reported. Both sell for $2.
About 200 plates and 150 rec
ords are left. No reorders are
planned for either, so sales are
to be first-come-first-serve.
Program Deadline
This (Thursday i morning is
the deadline for obtaining an
ad in the official Centennial
program, which is dedicated to
the war dead of the county.
Because of the small size of the
program, advertising also Is be
ing sold on a first-come-first
serve basis J. C. Jacobs and
Bill Bryant are in charge of
the program.
Most Are Free
Most of the features of the
celebration will be free to vis
itors and homefolks alike.
Free square dances are plan
ned nightly on the town square
with music by Hunter Young's
String Band Lon Dalton. chair
man, reports dance arrange
ments are in order". He also
issued an invitation to all en
tertainers ? from fiddlers to
buck dancers ? to contact him
any of the three nights and
they will be given a spot on the
program.
In line with this, musical en
tertainment will be going on
day and night during the three
days, it is reported.
Contests ? ranging from milk
ing to hog calling, and. of
course, dress and beard events ?
are sandwiched between the
main events. Persons entering
the contests will be required to
display a Centennial badge. Cer
tificates and cash prizes will be
awarded.
Around Courthouse
Most of the activities will
center around the county court
SEE NO. 2, PAGE 10
Have Some Room?
Let C. Of C. Know
It would be too Dad If peo
ple who come here for next
week's Centennial celebration
could find no place to stay.
That easily might happen,
though, because indications are
there may be more visitors in
town than the tourist courts,
motels, and tourist homes can
accommodate.
With that in mind, the
Franklin Chamber of Commerce
this week asked that every pri
vate home that can accommo
date one or more guests during
the Centennial celebration noti
fy the Chamber of Commerce
booth on West Main Street.
The telephone number is 80,
and the booth is open daily
from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. and
from 3 to 7 p. m.
FARM BUREAU
ORGANIZED
Parker Is President;
District Farm Agent
Is Guest Speaker
A new farm organization.
Farm Bureau, was formed in
this county Friday night at the
Agricultural Building.
Bob Parker, of Franklin,
Route 1, was elected president;
J. S. Gray, of the Hickory Knoll
section, vice-president; and Mrs.
Mary B. Justice, of Holly
Springs, secretary-treasurer.
District Farm Agent Bryan
Collins substituted for the
guest speaker, Clyde R. Greene,
of Boone, who was called out
of town at the last minute. Mr.
Greene is state A.S.C. chairman.
The program of Farm Bureau
was explained by O. L. Yates,
of Waynesville, field represen
tative.
? ?? i nntay
MACON Representative G. L. Houk turned out in his best
bib ar.d tucker Saturday to lead the Centennial "struttin'."
His partnei in the parade of styles was Mrs. Lucinda Bryant
Crownover. Another "struttin' " is planned this coming Sat
urday.
The Weather
T'.e week's temperatures ml rainfall, ai
recorded in Franklin bv Mans-m Stiles,
?r S. tv?a:h?r otaervrt . in Iii?.iJatni? by
r. N. p.*: ,r,i W 1\ \>?*r?v rv\
nWrver; and a; tlic C?*eeu liy.ir^Iogic
T.a-> >rat<>ry .
FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wed . June 1 80 38
Thursday 81 40
Friday 84 40
Saturday 84 42
Sunday 85 47
Monday 81 54 .03
Tuesday 77 59 .038
COWEETA
Temperatures
High Lew Rain
Wed.. June 1 78 38
Thursday 80 39
Friday 82 40
Saturday 81 42 .035
Sunday 82 46 .013
Monday 80 51 .08
Tuesday 75 57 .460