CIRCULATION
Nat hU
La* W?k
3,098
file ftanklin If*##
Stt^
' ' Wh* JRactmian
ON THE INSIDE ?
WHO'S BEEN WHERE AND
FOR WHAT?
Staff correspondents of THE
PRESS keep the Inside paces
of this newsaper alive with
news about your friends and
neighbors. Read the inside
pages from top to bottom and
you'll know Macon County.
73rd Year ? No. 50
Franklin, N. C, Thursday, December II, 1958
Price 10 Cents
Sixteen Pages
MEANDERING
ALONG
MAIN STREET
IT TAKES something like
Christmas lights in town to really
give one the spirit. Everyone owes
the volunteer firemen thanks for
their part in this Yuletlde venture.
It was mighty cold Sunday morn
ing to just be outside, much less
shlnnylng up light poles to put
up lights. Thanks fellows.
A LOT OF LOCAL people are
viewing with interest Asheville's
overtures for the resumption of
minor league baseball. Sure would
be like old times to take in a
good Sunday afternoon ball game,
wouldn't it?
THERE'S AN old saw that says
if you keep hollerin' long enough
and loud enough you can get
something: done. So (loudly) we
yell. WOfoT THEY EVER DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THE CON
DITION OP THE INDIAN
MOUND!
HEY KIDS! Don't forget that
Santa Claus will be In town Fri
day and Saturday. Get your want
lists ready and look the old boy
up.
THE BIG question In town is:
"What will Bryant's do -with all
that building space on the square
now that It is going out 01 busi
ness T"
there sure has Been a lot
of attention directed to the little
go-buggy In front of "Winn-Dixie.
Go-buggies are sweeping the
country and several men here are
talking about building some and
racing them. '
FRANKLIN LIONS have done a
lot of bell ringing at their dime
board over the past 20 years. Show
your appreciation by contributing
to the fund generously. IPs going
to the needy for Christmas.
HOME FOLKS can be mighty
proud of the showing businessman
J. C. Jacobs made in Asheville
Saturday night as guest speaker
at W.N.C. Press Association meet
ing.
THE WEATHER doesn't seem
to bother ruby diggers. They keep
showing up at the Cowee mines.
Maybe It would be a good idea
to install hot houses down there
so they can dig In comfort.
A NOTE OF encouragement
about our Indian Mound cam
paign comes from Mrs. Ethel
(Donald) Da Costa. She even
promises flowers to spruce up the
mound.
THE CHAMBER of commerce
Is in a heck of a bind. No money
to operate. And at ? time when
some operating needs to toe done.
For one thing, the January issue
of FLYING magarine Is going to
carry a story ?nd pictures on the
"Pilots Ruby Rendezvous" *nd
the inquiries that win be received
as a result of the publicity must
be answered. But alas, the cham
ber. Is out of ruby mine promo
tional folders and doesnt have
enough money on hand to have
more printed. That's like owning
a new Cadillac and not having
enough money to put gas ;n it.
HENRY JACOBS has ?5 to
donate to a fund to clean up the
cemetery on White Oak Street.
And it does need some attention.
Anyone else want to donate?
A POSTAL card writer who
signs his name "A. Wag" com
ments on last Week's item about
the possibility of their being a
filling station for every car in
Frahkin. Says he, fcnd "a real
estate broker for every family."
BAKE SALE
The monthly bake sale sponsor
ed by the St. Agnes Episcopal
Auxiliary will be held tomorrow
(Friday) morning at 9 o'clock at
the Children's 3hop.
ERWIN PATTON (left), preskfcnt of Macon's tap community, Patton, U shown accepting *
certificate and 9M honorable mention award from Jack Barfield, vice-president of the AsheriUe
Chamber of Oramrace. Patton won the awartf in the award in the W. N. C. Rural Development
Contest. (Staff Photo)
MERCHANTS WILL BE RESOLICfTED ?
Franklin Chamber Of Commerce Operating
In Red Because Of Trade Promotions Costs
Plans For 'Holiday Houses' Revealed;
Public May Inspect Them December 21
Three "holiday houses" featur
ing Christmas decorations will be
open to the public December 21
under the sponsorship of the
Franklin Garden Club.
They are the homes of Mr. and
Mrs. John M. Archer. Jr., Mr. and
Mrs. Hall's
Dream Came'
True
AithouzJl bedridden because
' of a stroke, the week end was
a dream come true for Mrs.
John HaH.
For over the week end, all
of her children gathered at her
bedside. It was the first time
all of them had been together.
She recacnized each one of
them.
Of her eight children, only
one, Sam, is a resident of Frank
lin. The others are Carl, of
Clilcato, IB.; Mrs. A1 (Laura)
Womble, of Warwick, Va.; Miss
Ruby Hall, of Atlanta, Ga.;
Mrs. Scott (Pearl) Brank, of
Weaverville: Elbert and Ber
nard, of Springfield. Tenn.; and
Mrs. Stuart (Carrie) Kliorr, of
San Antonio, Tex.
Taylor Wins
Soil Post
Walter C. Taylor, of Holly
?Springs, is the new supervisor for
the three-man Macon County Soil
Conservation Committee.
He received 82 votes to George
Moses' 70. There were 10 ballots
voided.
The soil supervisor election was
held the week of December 1-6.
CHIZELING ROCK ?
Luke Chastain' 11 Keep At
It Until Hound Is Fresd
In a rock crevice Just over the
Guriit state line. Otto's Luke
C has tain Is workinc with a
hammer and chisel.
, Even In the oold, he's sweatln'
a little.
And l ake doesn't Intend to
quit hammering at that rock
cliff until "Old Touse" is free.
"Old Touse" is Luke's favorite
'coon .bound.
Yesterday (Wednesday) was
the I8U1 day "Old Touse" had
been trapped in the crevice after
chasing a 'coon.
Lake knows "Old Touse" Is
alive. Milas Anders, of Otto, who
Is slightly-built, crawled back in
the crevice about 80 feet Sunday
and fed the hound some bread
and meat. And they can hear
him lapping water.
"There was Just room for most
of his nose to poke through the
bole," Mila* recalls. "Luke and
some other fellows are try in*
to chixel the bole bis enough to
(tt htm out."
They blasted a little Saturday
and Sunday to loosen the rocht
but they're too clow now for
that.
"Old Touse" and another
hound chased the 'coon into the
cliff. The other hounds slimmed
down after five days of no
and managed to escape. But
"Old Touse" Is a larger dog and,
although he's awful skinny after
18 days, they don't figure he
ran make It out by hlmaelf.
Rocks probably shifted whey
the other dog got out and
trapped him.
That's why Luke (has tain
keeps hammering away, 'cause
time don't mean nothing to a
man when his hound's In
trouble.
Mrs. A. A. Brooks, and Mr. and
Mrs. E. S. Purdom. The Archer
and Brooks homes are on Hill
crest Circle, while the Purdom
home Is in Wayah Valley.
Hours at the "holiday houses"
will be 2-6 pjn. and 8-10 pjn. A
silver offering will be taken for
the club, according to Mrs. Sam
Simpson, president.
Assisting Mr*. Archer with prep
arations are Mrs. Steve Bundy,
Mrs. A. R. Higdon, Mrs. T. D.
Jones, and Mrs. J. _E. Perry, Jr.
Helping Mrs. Brooks are Mrs. Sam
Winkleblack and Mrs. Tom Mc
Nish. Mrs. B. L. McQlamery and
Mrs. J. Ward Long will assist Mrs.
Purdom.
CUNNINGHAM DIES
Frank Cunningham, 74, died
Tuesday night at his home on
Route 3. Funeral services are set
for today (Thursday) at 2 p.m.
at the Iotla Baptist Church. Bry
ant Funeral Home is in charge.
With several, projects still to be
completed. Franklin Chamber of
Commerce is about $400 in the
red.
This was brought out last
Thursday night at a meeting of
the chamber board of directors.
The indebtedness is linked to
the chamber's 1958 program of
sponsoring trade promotions. Up
until this year, the promotions
were handled Independent of the
chamber and merchants were
solicited for promotional funds as
each of the four annual promo
tions came up. At the begtnnint
of the '58 chamber year, it was
decided to handle the promotions
through the chamber, with the
understanding that merchants
would increase their membership
dues accordingly to cover the
extra cost.
It now develops that only a few
merchants raised their dues more
than $5 (prior to '58, )t cost most
of them about $10 per promotion,
or about $40-50 year) and the
chamber was forced to dip into
regular funds to finance them.
The chamber found It could not
finance promotions and meet Its
SEE NO. 1. PAGE 8
PATTON GETS
CASH AWARD
IN CONTEST
Several From Here
Attended Luncheon
In Asheville
Patton community won a $50
honorable mention award In the
annual W.N.C. Rural Community
Development Contest.
Macon's prize-winning commun
ity was honored, along with others
competing In the contest, at a
luncheon Saturday at City Audi
torium in Asheville. A total of
(2,000 In prize money went to
the best communities.
Erwin Patton, Patton's presl
1ent. accepted the award on be
half of his organization.
In addition to Mr. Patton. at
tending the luncheon from here
were H. Bueck. Prank B. Duncan.
Rep. James M. Raby. W. W. Sloan.
County Agent T. H. Pagg, Mrs
Harley Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. Ted
Blaine, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Brady,
Doyle Cloer, Mr. and Mrs. Rich
Bingham.
Sponsors of the luncheon were
Beacon Manufacturing Company.
Asheville Agricultural Develop
ment Council, and the Asheville
Chamber of Commerce.
J. Fred Bryson
Elected Council
Head For 1959
Meeting lMt Thursday night to
reorganize lor 1959, the Macon
County Rural Community Develop
ment Council elected officers and
launched plans for a county-wide
beautificatlon project.
J. Fred Bryson, of Carson com
munity, was elected president ol
the council, succeeding Bill Raby,
of Cowee.
Named to serve with the new
president were Tommy Raby, ol
Cowee, vice-president; Miss Mil
dred Corbin, of Hqlly Springs,
secretary; and W. W. (Bill) Sloan
of franklin, re-elected treasurer
Tike council, which is tyade up
of the officers of organized com
munities, approved preliminary
plans for a county-wide beautifl
cation project in 1959. Officers
plan to enlist the assistance ol
civic groups and clubs all over
the county In the project, includ
ing home demonstration and 4-H
clubs. Each club or organization
will be asked to appoint a repre
sentative to serve on a county
beautificatlon committee.
Three persons already have been
named to the committee. Mrs.
Jack Cabe will represent com
SEE NO. 2, PAGE 8
WORK STARTS ON BRIDAL VEIL BY-PASS
That's ice in the foreground at Bridal Veil Falls on US 64 between Franklin and Highlands.
And ice is the main reason state highway crews are gettng ready to by-pass the water wonder.
Last year, the frozen beauty of the falls blocked traffic and even encased a road scaper that
stalled while attempting to clear the highway. T ie white area in the background is where they re
removing rock for the by-pass fill. Highway offl ial* promise the by-pass will not detract from
the beauty of the attraction. (Staff Photo)
Willard Frady (top picture) shows the hole through which
his cellmate, an AWOL sailor, squeezed to freedom at the county
jail Monday night. Frady, although smaller, was unable to make
it through the hole. The bottom picture is a closer view of the
hole through the metal ceiling. In the background daylight can
be seen through another hole the escapee knocked through the
wooden roof. (Staff Photos)
OUT THROUGH ROOF ?
? AWOL Sailor Surrenders To
Deputy After Breaking Jail
An AWOL sailor being held in
the county Jail for U.S. Navy
authorities escaped Monday night
by squeezing through a small
opening in the metal celling of
his cell and breaking through
the roof.
Then, aifter some persuasion
from members of his family here,
Qarland Lee Nelson. 19. surren
dered to Chief Deputy Newell
Pendergrass early Tuesday after
noon.
"He (Nelson) scratched him
self up pretty bad," declared his
cellmate. Willard Frady, who. al
though about 30 pounds lighter
than the sailor, was unable to
make it throuph the hole in the
ceiling to freedom.
Frady, who is serving a 90-day
sentence for drunkenness, appear
ed before Judge J. C. Farthing
Tuesday morning and pleaded
guilty to attempted escape. The
judge gave him 30 more days.
"I just couldn't make it
through," Frady explained later
at the jail.
Nelson, who will be turned over
to Navy authorities, was picked
up here last Friday by Patrolman
H. T. Ferguson, after the Navy
reported him AWOL from his base
in Texas.
In making his escape from the
county jail. Nelson apparently
found a spot weakened by rust
in the ceiling of the cell and tore
out a section big enough to
squeeze through to the wooden
roof. He broke another hole
through the roof and dropped
frcm the second story to the
ground.
REPORT IS FILED ?
Gvcjid JmyiTnn Sing Same
CI' San# About Courthouse
Parroting recommendations
made by past juries, the grand
jury of the December term of
Superior Court asks for additional
storage space for records in th?
'our.hou e and rest room facilities
for county personnel.
Following an inspection of .coun
ty facilities Tuesday of last week,
the jury filed this report:
Frison Camp: The prison camp
was inspected by a committee of
this grand jury. It was found to
be clean and In very good con
dition.
Jail: The Jail was Inspected by
a committee of this grand jury.
Tt was found to be clean and in
very good condition.
Courthouse: The committee of
the grand jury examining the
courthouse found it to be as clean
as possible considering the age
of the building. This committee
recommends that additional space
' c made for the storage of records
? both the register of deeds of
fice and clerk of court office. We
find the space provided for the
storage of records to be very In
nr,e"u<<te for these two offices.
We also recommend that suffici
ent rest room facilities be pro
vided for the county personnel
'n the courthouse. The grand
?v "-1*1 thit nil records In the
r-urtTu'e have been audited and
are in good condition.
Schools; The offices of Macon
County school superintendent
were found to be in good shaps
:'nd all records properly audited.
The Macon County school buses
and the rural roads which the
buses travel were found to be
inspected by the State Highway
Patrol once each month.
J. Ned Teague served as fore
man of the jury.
Jurjmen were Joel M. Dalton.
Dan Bryson. Zeb Chllders. Jack
Cabe. Wayne Duvall. Earl English.
Ed Wallace, Grady Wilkes. John
Blaine. Beulon Holland. Ray
Downs. Don Watson. J. E. Whit
aker, Henry Christy. M. W Beck
Lewis Moses, and Nat Phillips.
Sloan Named
Area Safety
Chairman ,
W W. (Bill) Sloan, of Franklin.
Tuesday night was elected chair
man of the Western Carolina
Safety Council at a meeting In
Ashevllle.
He is secretary of Nantahala
Power and Utht Company here.
The safety group Is made up of <
Industries In the area.
BIGGEST
COURT TERM
IS RECESSED
Actions Bring In
More Than $10,000,
Official Report*
Judge J. C. Farthing recessed
the December term of Superior
Court Tuesday morning, leaving
behind the largest term, in volume,
ever held in Macon County.
Including cash bonds forfeited,
the term brought in more than
$10,000, according to the clerk
of court, Mrs. Kate M. Wrinn. A
complete tabulation will be avail
able as soon as all cases are
entered in the court minute
docket.
Judge Farthing made clean
sweeps of both the criminal and
civil dockets.
The judge heard his last case
Tuesday morning as he and
Solicitor Thad D. Bryson. Jr..
waited for Patrolman W. C. Item
ing and SJ3.I. Agent P. R. Kitchen
to join them for a grouse hunting
trip.
Judge Farthing emphasized that
he had not recessed court to go
hunting.
"We have completed our busi
ness . . . court comes first with
me. although I enjoy hunting,"
he declared.
The term opened December 1.
Dispositions will appear in next
week's PRESS.
Officially, the term will not ad
journ until Pihirc'sy in the event
any new cases arise for the court's
attention. ...
Solicitor Takes
His Last Look
Thad D. Bryson, Jr.. rut bh
last official look at a courtroom
Tuesday morning.
The Macon term of Snpcrlar
fourt marked his last term
as solicitor of the district, a
post he has held for 1? years
and 10 month*.
In the Democratic primary,
he filed for rc -election, then
decided instead to ran for
Superior Court judge. Seee
alter. Gewir B. Patton, a Ma
cojrtan, stepped down aa at
torney general of North Caro
lina and filed to oppose Mr.
Bryson. The former sttona*
general, who was a judge before -.
going to Raleigh, won in the
primary and was unopposed to
the general election.
Glenn W. Brown, of Haywood
County, was unopposed for Ike
solicitor's Job held by Mr. Bry
son. He takes office the first
of the year.
<'ny regrets, Mr. Bryson?
"None whatsoever ... It taa
been a wonderful experience.**
So from here on out (or on til
the political bug bites him
again > it'll be "Thad D. Bryson.
Jr.. Attorney at Law", with
offices in Bryson City.
Anything Just
To Gst Warm!
As a fireman shivvered in the
rnw cold of early Sunday morning,
ore tu>ned to a fellow fire fighter,
the Rev. Donn K. Langfitt.
"Wouldn't do you any good to
preach against hell today
preacher." he declared. "Most of
us would be willing to go ti.eu
Just to g-t warm."
But that's neither here nor
there. It just lets F-anklinites
know their volunteer firemen
braved the cold to install the
Christmas lights along Main
Street.
The Weather
FRANKLIN
11 Uh Low Balg
Wed., 3rd 48 42 t)4
Thursday 63 34 .05
Friday 57 29 .00
Saturday 49 20 .00
Sunday 53 15 , .00
Monday 52 15 ' 0O
Tuesday 55 20 .00
Wednesday _ 20 .00
COWETA
Wed.. 3rd 48 39 .03
Thursday 48 29 .10
Friday 62 29 tr*c4
Saturday 58 20 .00
Sunday 48 15 .00
Monday 49 IS .00
Tuesday 51 22 M.
Wednesday 54 22 .00
HIGHLANDS
Wed.. 3rd ???? ??
Thursday 55 34 ?*
Friday 56 38 ? .
Saturday 42 28 ? .
Sunday 48 18 ? .
Monday 43 20 *
Tuesday 50 37 .*
Wednesday _ 34 *
1 no record
Hey Kids! Don't Miss Santa In Franklin Friday, Saturday At 3:00 p. m.