MOORE COUNTY'S LEADING NEWS-WEEKLY THE A Paper Devoted to the Upbuilding VOL. 15A, NO. 47. ^ >^A«THAOK eAOI.K SPRIN64 VASS LAKBVISW JACKSOH 9PRIM09 •OOTHBRN PtNSS PINEBLUPr PILOT FIRST IN NT.V/S, CIRCULATION & ADVERTISING c /> N. c' of the Sandhill Territory 'irolina Southern Pines and Aberdeen, North Carolina, Friday, October 18, 1935. FIVE CENTS N. A. McKEITHEN, 85 YEARS OF AGE, DIES IN CARTHAGE Former Chairman of Board of County Commissioners Had Been III Some Time PIONEER IN TURPENTINE REVS. LAWRENCE AND NEWELL TO LEAVE SANDHILLS Farmer Retires After Six Years of Service to Vass, Lake- ; view and Other Churches LOWRY AT PINEBLUFF Neill A. McKeithen, resident of this section of North Carolina throughout his 85 years of life, pio. neer in the turpentine industry in his early years, prominent in Moore county affairs over a long period, died at his home in Carthage on Tuesday night. Mr. McKeithen had been in failing health for the past seven years. Mr. McKeithen was born in Cum berland county, where his forbears settled in the early migration from Scotland. He was among the first to enter the turpentine development field here in 1870, and the first ship, ment of oil from Blue’s Crossing, now Aberdeen, over the Raleigh & Augusta Air Line Railway, now the Seaboard, was made by him. When the boom days ended in that indus_ try, Mr. McKeithen engaged in the mercantile business in Aberdeen, re_ siding there for many years. He mov ed to Carthage in 1905. Head of County Board He was for many years chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Moore county, served some time as Register of Deeds, and was later chairman of the Real Estate Equal ization Board in the county. He was regarded as the leading authority in 1 the county on real estate values. | Mr. McKeithen married Miss Mary | Pleasants in 1883, and Mrs. McKeith en and six children survive him. The sons are Edwin T. McKeithen of Aberdeen and Neill A. McKeithen, Jr., of Lumberton; the daughters, Mrs. W. R. Clegg, Mrs. Dan N. Car ter, Mrs. Frances Nicoll and Miss Annie McKeithen, all of Carthage. There are several grandchildren. One brother, A. A. McKeithen of Aber deen also survives. The Carthage Presbyterian Church was filled with the many relatives and friends of the deceased for the services at 3:00 o’clock ya(sterday afternoon. Officiating were the Rev. W. S. Golden, pastor of the church, the Rev. E. C. Durham, pastor of the Carthage Methodist Church, and the Rev. E. L. Barber, pastor of the Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen. Interment was at Old Be thesda Cemetery, Aberdeen. Nephews of Mr. McKeithen acted as bearers. Travel Agency Group Guests Here Thursday Struthers Burt and Frank Buch an Head Arrangements Committe for Visit Struthers Burt and P. Frank Buchan head the Chamber of Com. merce cdmmittee on arrangements for the reception of some 60 repre. sentatives of travel bureau agencies and automobile clubs who will be in Southern Pines the afternoon of Thursday, October 24th. They arrive here on the 11th day of their histor ic and scenic tour of the Carolinas, sponsored by the Carolina Motor Club and The Carolinas, Inc The group will arrive in Southern Pines at 3:15 o’clock and are sche_ duled to be at Pinehurst at 4:00 o’clock. It is planned to have a Southern Pines delegation meet the caravan in Aberdeen and bring the visitors here via Bethesda Road, past Old Bethesda cemetery and the grave of Walter Hines Page, into the Country Club grounds with a stop at the clubhouse, then through the Weymouth Heights aection, on downtown to the business section, then on out to the Mid.Pines Club and the Piiie Needles Inn, with a look-in at Judge Way’s orchid green houses. A Pinehurst delegation is expect ed to meet the group following the Southern Pines visit and show them the attractions of Pinehurst in a similar manner. Assisting Messrs. Burt and Buch an on their committee are Mayor D. G. Stutz, Robert L. Hart, R. S. Du Rant, Nelson C. Hyde, Howard F. (Pleaae tom to page 8) Sandhills parishes are to lose two beloved pastors, one through volun tary retirement, the other through promotion. The Rev. Charles A. Lawrence, for the past six years pastor of the Vass, Lakeview, Union and Cypress Presbyterian churches and for a shorter period pastor of the church at Manly, has asked that his rela tionship with these churche.s be dis solved, effective at the close of the calendar year. His announcement, made following the sermon at the Vass church last Sunday morning, came as a surprise, and caused many expressions of regret from members of his own church and friends of oth. er denominations as well. Although Mr. Lawrence greatly re grets giving up the active ministry, the condition of his health makes it imperative that he do so at least for a time. The work of preaching in the five churches and visiting in the widely scattered homes taxes his strength too heavily, so he plans to go with his family at the beginning of the year to Mrs. Lawrence’s old home at Falkland and take a need ed rest. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have entered whole-heartedly into every phase of church work during their ministry here, giving unreservedly of their best efforts, and no workers could leave a finer record. There has never been a question as to where Mr. Lawrence stood on aay moral issue that was before the pub lic, and his firm stand for the right has commanded deep respect both for his high office and for himself. It is with sincere regret that the Vass community sees the existing relationship dissolved. Mr. Newell Leaves At the annual session of the Blue Ridge Atlantic Conference which closed at Winston.Salem last Sunday, the Rev. Clyde O. Newell, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal churches at Pinebluff and Asheley Heights for the past few years, was appointed to the larger parish of Murphy. The Rev. Bernard W. Lowry was appoint, ed to succeed Mr. Newell here. Mr. Lowry was graduated from Bridgewater Academy at Bridgewa. ter, Va., in 1924. In the year 1924 to 1927 he attended the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. He was gradu. ated from Berea College at Berea, Kentucky. While at Berea he served as assistant pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. After completing his college work he en. tered the Boston University School of Theology, graduating in June, 1935 with a degree in Theology. (Please turn to page 4) Season To See Reopening' of Pine Needles Inn I If Mi m - PINE NEEDLES INN TO OPEN SEASON ON NOVEMBER 14 HEAVY FINES FOR INTERFERING WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT Southern Pines School for Girls Mew Institution Honored Dr. Clement R. Munroe Elect ed to Fellowship in Amer ican College of Surgeons Dr. Clement R. Munroe, sur. geon in charge at the Moore County Hospital, was notified this iveek of his election to Fellow ship in the Americaji College of Surgeons, an honor bestowed upon those who have proven sur gical skill and ability and one highly coveted by the medical pro fession throughout the country. Dr. Munroe has been ore and Chatham counties and leaves a large number of pupils who will mourn her passing. Surviviner her are her tw'o step .children, S. C. Yates /of Brevard; and Mrs. Gilbert Sexton of Trenton, N. J.; three brothers, C. D. Thagard of Huntingdon Beach, Cal.; R. L. Thagard of Quitman, Ga.; and J. C. Thagard of Dothan, Ala.; and two sisters, Mrs. M. D. McNeill of Cam eron, and Mrs. J. A. Bryant of Aber deen. The funeral services will be held in the Baptist Church in Carthage this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock \ Emmett E. Boone of West- hampton Beach, Long Island, Lea.ses Property NEW ROAD FROM MANLY Negotiations were closed this week by the owners of Pine Needles Inn on Knollwood Heights whereby Em_ met E. Boone, prominent hotel man of Long Island, will operate the inn this season under lease. Mr. Boone, who is the operator of the Howell House at Westhampton Beach, L. I., during the summer season, spent several days here during the week and was enthusiastic over the Pine Needles property and the prospects for the winter season. Announcement of the closing ot arrangements with Mr. Boone was made by O. Harrison Stutts, repre senting George T. Dunlap and asso_ ciates of the Patuxent Corporation which acquired the inn this year. Mr. Boone plans to come down to the Sandhills within the next few weeks and take possession. He expects to open the hotel on November 14th. The Pine Needles Inn was built in 1928 at a cost of $750,000. It is sur_ rounded by an 18-hole golf course and both the building and the course have been put in excellent condition during the past summer at a cost of approximately §30,000. The ho. tel, closed during the depression years, has been completely renovat_ ed, and plans are under way for building a solarium and amusement room which can be converted into a ballroom. W'ork was also started during the past week on a hard-surfaced road leading from Manly on U. S. Route 1 to the porte cochere of the hotel, a distance of about one mile. Excellent Golf Course In addition to the hotel there are 531 acres of land in the site acquired by Mr. Dunlap and associates dur. ing the past summer. An IS.hole golf course was laid out by Donald Ross over property surrounding the hotel at the time the inn was built, and the course was put in fine condition this summer. Much beautification work has also been done on the grounds immediately surrounding the hotel. There is a good clay tennis court near the hotel, a caddy house, servants’ building and other minor structure.®. Mr. Dunlap, member of the pub_ lishing firm of Grossett & Dunlap, is president of the Patuxent Corpor. ation which controls the Pine Needles; his son, George T. Jr., for. mer national amateur golf cham pion, is vicepresident, Mr. Stutts sec- and treasurer, and among the direc. tors is S. Y. Ramage of Oil City, Pa., and Pinehurst. The hotel has a capacity of 150 guests. Mr. Boone plans to operate it on a basis of $6.00 a day and up, with a low rate for golf. The mail ad_ dress will be Southern Pines. Founded in 1797 “Old Union” Church to Have Home-Coming Day on Sunday Next Sunday, October 20th, will be some-Coming day at “Old Union," and many are looking forward to the occasion with eager anticipation. The Rev Charles Rowan, a son of this historic church, will preach at 11 o’clock In the morning and in the afternoon there Swill be short talks and reminiscences by former pastors and members. Another im_ j portant feature will be the picnic dinner which will be spread during the noon hour, and those attending are expected to bring baskets. This church, midway between Vass and Carthage, was organized in 1797 and has a long and distinguished registry of sons and daughters who are expected to come from far and near for the anniver. sary. Former vninisters of the church and ministers who have gone out from the congregation havfl been es pecially Invited to return for the day. The Rev. Charles A. Lawrence of 'Vass is the present pastor.