Population
Jackson County?20,000
Sylva and Area ? 4,000
The Sylva Herald
VOL. XXin?NO.27
Sylva, N. C. Thursday, Dec. 2, 1948
$2.00 A Year?$c Copy
Mrs. E. L. McKee Passes Suddenly At Home Here
Indian Dinner
Features Age
Old Delicacies
Probably the most remarkable
and the greatest array of Indian
foods ever, prepared in this area
was spread before some 75 or 80
guests in the restaurant of the Mu
seum of the Cherokee Indian here
Sunday.
Although the number attending
was held down somewhat by a
general rain in Wesiern North Car.
olina, the excessivei moisture did
not affect the quality or quanity of
traditional Cherokee delicacies.
. While the Oconoluftee River
rushed past outside, visitors glanc
ed at the menu and helped them
selves. The menu, incidentally, was
printed in English with the Cher
okee language equivalent opposite.
. All in all, you had some 38 i
tems to choose from. Those at
tending found the sassitras tea
much to their liking, ate large
pieces of rojttt bear and rather ap.
prehensively nipped at the bar
becued rattlesnake.
Perhaps unique among the
breads was chestnut bread whi^
vegetables differed only in their
preparation from those you grow
yourself or buy in the market.
Fruits included wild blackber
ries, huckleberries, persimmons,
. * opossum grapes and others. Roast
deer and turkey gobbler supple
mented the already mentioned
meats.
If still thirsty after some spice
wood tea, you mighl flrink suma
cade or hickory nut milk. Bread?
Take some molasses bread or that
made of wild potato or hominy
to mention a few. Still hungry?
Hickory nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts,
chestnuts and butternuts were also
on the bill of fare.
Those attending were let in on
something that "will probably come
to them only once in a lifetime
and they sensed it. And it's im
portant, and a great credit to he
Indian cooks?that all came home
with full stomachs.
Of great interest and reverence
was the invocation, delivered by
the Rev. Ben Bushyhead in his
native Cherokee tongue.
Samuel E. Beck of Asheville,
founder of the museum, presided
and introducel H. E. Wheeler, di
rector of the museum, who was
master of ceremonies.
Joe Jennings, superintendent of
the Cherokee reservation, said that
in all his years in Indian work,
the feast embraced the most re
y mark able array of Indian food he
had ever seen.
Bernham S. Colburn of Ashe
ville spoke on the museum col
lection. His collection, it will be
remembered, formed the nucleus
for that of the museum.
GRATITUDE TRAIN, TOYS POUR IN
? ?
SMILING HAPPILY, Emanuel Celestine Cardinal Suhard, Archbishop of
i Paris, points to one of the dolls among the toys donated to the "gratitude
train" by French children. His Eminence visited the train during its stop
in the French capital. The toys are France's way of thanking the U. S. for
the "Friendship Train," which carried gifts to them. (International)
'Firemen Selling
City Auto Tags
Sylva firemen have the 1949
?upply of city auto tags on hand
and started them on sale Decem
ber 1, so that when motorists
chrnge their stata tag they can
also <put on thefr city tag. The
city taga are $1.00 each and all
funds-go to the flremer^s fund
to help provide equipment and
other things needed in fighting
I fires. \
Headquarters for ^he'^lags la
1 at Cajnpbell'a Ettctrlc sIHop on
Main.street. , -
If you wish a certain tag num
ber, such as your 'phone num
ber you should apply early. All ?
of the firemen will- be out sell
ing tags during the next few
days. .
Leaders Of State &
Nation Send Wires
To McKee Family
Mr.?E. L. McKee and farhily
have received hundreds of tele
grams and letters of sympathy
from top officials of the state and
nation expressing regret at the
passing of Mrs. McKee. Governor
Cherry wired: "Please let me join
with your many friends through
out the state in expressing sym
pathetic understanding at the
passing of your dear wife. Ger
trude Dills McKee lived a useful
life and was a loyal public servant
tof our state. R. Gregg Cherry,
Gov. of North Carolina."
Similar wires were received
from Senator Hoey, Senator-elect
Broughton and Senator Umsted,
Congressman Redden and many
other State officials.
Tourist9 Parks And Drama
Project Backed By WISCAC
Promotion of tourist bureau
project, road and park improve
ments in Western North Carolina
and production of Cherokee dra
ma during summer were endorsed
by the Western North -Carolina
Associated Communities in quar
terly session at Cherokee Tuesday.
The group approved the propos
al of projects cominittee, headed
by Francis J. Heazel of Asheville,
that the touristJ>ureau project be
pushed to completion during the
summer season.
Tjie WNCAC also voted to par
ticipate in requesting resumption
of road improvement work in the
national forests in Western North
Carolina.
A joint meeting of Western N.
C. Associated Communities and
North Carolina Chamber of Com
merce Executives will be held in
this area next spring, probably at
Br yson ? City, it was^ learned from
th meeting Tuesday.
S; lva men attending the meet
ing at Cherokee included Prank
Br<".vn, rdpresenflative elect, R.
U. Svtioi, Wor.dy Hampton, pres*
ident of the Chamber of Commerce
Paul Kirk and Felix Picklesimer.
Exports of United States fishery
products to European markets
have declined drastically and can
be expected to remain at low ebb
until means are found to improve
the foreign exchange situation.
American Legion And
Auxiliary To Have
Christmas Party \
A Christmas party will be given
by the American Legion and the
Auxiliary at the American Legiojn
Hall, Friday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p^n.
The Rev. B. S. Hensley will brihg
the Christmas message. Also fea
tured on the program will be
special Christmas music by mem
bers of the Sylva High school band.
Everyone will join in the singing
of Christmas carols. A committee
from the Auxiliary will serve
light refreshments.
This meeting will take the place
of the regular monthly meeting
which comes on Christmas eve.
Gardner-Webb College
Receives *. Gift In
Memory Of Mrs. McKee
Gardner-Webb College, of
which P. L. Elliott it president,
received a check as a gift to the
Endowment Fund in memory
Mrs. E. L. McKee, word of which
was received by Mr. McKee
Wednesday In the form of the
following letter:
Shelby, North Carolina
November 30, 1948
Honbrable E. L. McKee,
I Sylva, N. C.
Dear Sir: ?
It is difficult' to express the
sorrow and sadnefs irv one's
heart when ? a dear friend goes
home. Words are but feeble
things.
Gardner-Webb College today
received a check from Mrs. O.
Max Gardner, Ralph W. and O.
Max Gardner, Jr., as a gift to
the Endowment Fund of the Col
lege in loving memory of your
wife.
At the request of the Gard- ?
ners, the Board of Trustees of
the College has today directed
that the name of "Mrs. E. L. Mc
Kee" be perpetually enshrined 1
In ths "Book of Memory" as a
living memorial to her, and as
a constant reminder of her de
votlon and service to the cause !
of education in North Carolina. !
? Very truly yours,
Aileen Jones Gamble,
Associate Treasurer.
Funeral Services Held
For Corporal Canipe
Funeral services for Corporal
Jolly P. Canipe with burial in the
Natlbnal Cemetery in Salisbury
were conducted at 2:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, Nov. 24.
Corporal Canipe lost his life
during World War II.
Among the survivors are his
widow, Mrs. Nancy Canipe, and
their son, Michael, who reside with
Mrs. Canipe's sister and brother
in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Chic Young
of Sylva. Mrs. Canipe and Michael
have returned after attending the
funeral services.
U.D.C. To Have Memorial
Service For Mrs. McKee
The Christmas party ? of the
United Daughters ,of the Confed
eracy, which was planned for
Thursday evening, will not be held,
but the chapter will hold a me
morial service for their beloved
member, Mrs. E. L. McKee, at the
home of Mrs. Dan Tompkins
Thursday afternoon at 3:30. . |
American Legion Auxiliary
Send Gifts For Veterans
Members of the American Le
gion Auxiliary have filled 31 gift
bores to be sent for veteran pa
tients to the gift shops at Swan
nonoa and Ot*?en veteran hospi
tals. A box will also be sent to
Fayetteviile hospital. Any mem
ber *who has not already done so
will please send their gifts im
mediately to Mrs. O. K. Bess at
the Sylva Phdrmacy\
New Senator
J. R. Morgan, a member of
the state board of elections, told
The Kerald Tuesday that Sec
tion six of the general elqption
laws seta out that an election be
'held in all five counties In the
senatorial district to name Mrs.
E. L. McKee's successor as state
senator.
This district, composed of five
counties, has two senators. W.
B. Hodges, of Hendersonville,
was elected along with Mrs.
McKee on November 2.
The procedure, as prescribed
i by election laws, sets out that the
. executive committees of the
parties name a candidate from
Jackson county, under the ro
tation system of the district.
The Governor will set the date
for the election, and the ballots
will be printed by each county,
and the election held in Jack
son, Haywood, Transylvania,
Henderson and Polk.
The candidate will come from
Jackson county, since this is
Jackson's time to nominate one
of the two senators. Jackson,
Polk and Transylv{|jiia alternate
: every third term, while Hay
wood and Henderson alternate
every other term.
Speculation here is that Gov
ernor Cherry will set a date for
the election as soon as possible.
SYLVA CAMERA CLUB
'HOLDS MEETING
' The Sylva Camera Club met
Monday night at the Sylva High.i
| school with the Rev. ,W. H. Wake- ?
field, acting chairman, presiding,
j The meeting was devoted to
home movies, with several reels,
of amateur movies being shown.
A housing committee was ap
pointed and instructed to look for
a meeting place.
Two new members, Miss Vir
ginia Madison and Boyd Sossa
mon, were welcomed into the club.
It is not a male organization. Both
men and women are invited to
join. The club now consists of 24
members.
The club constitution and by
laws will be presented at the next
meeting on December 13.
American Legion Auxiliary j
To Sponsor Dime Board
The American Legion Auxiliary ;
will again sponsor the Dime Board
on Main Street in Sylva each Sat
urday until Dec. 20, the week be
fore Christmas. The Board will;
then be operated each day of the
week until Christmas. The pro
ceeds derived from this board will
be used in purchasing gifts for the
patients in the Veterans hospital.
Mrs. Jessie Cordell is president
of the sponsoring organization.
Western Regional Nutri
tion Committee Meeting
To Be Held At Battery
Park Hotel,Dec.4
Registration for the annual
Western regional meeting of the
State Nutrition comruittee will be
gin at 10 o'clock in the Battery
Park Hotel Saturday morning
Dec. 4. The meeting will be held
in the Sun Dial room from 10:30
a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Luncheon will
I be held in the Pine room at the
S and W Cafeteria, Asheville.
Christmas Bazaar
The Ladies of the Presbyterian
church will hold their annual
Christmas bazaar on Saturday in
the vacant room next to The Sylva
Herald office. A l'-rg* voHrty of
lovely and useful articles will be
for sale ? suitable for Christmas
giving. All articles are hand made
an<J of a wide variety from which
to choose. I
According to !egcnd; coffcc'
roasting started with Arab efforts
to keep a monopoly on the crop
by refusing to sell the raw beans,
I heating them until 4hey would
not germinate.
PASSES SUDDENLY AT HOME HERE
; .J
State Senator, Civic Leader Stricken
With Heart Attack At 6 P.M. Saturday
MRS. E.-L. Mctf'EE," State senator and civic leader of Jackson
county and Western North Carolina, and well known throughout the
state for her work and interest in school and public welfare problems,
died suddenly Saturday evening following a heart attack.< She had
spent the day in Waynisville where she addressed the 2nd annual to
bacco festival at the ? courthouse that afernoon. She became ill and
died soon after returning home. Funeral services were held Monday
afternoon at 2:00 o'clock at the Sylva Methodist church.
* /
Christmas Spirit Blossoms
In Sylva's Store Windows
With Old Saint Nick only around,
the corner, the merchants of Syl
va are beginning to show their
Christmas spirit through their
window decorations.
Each on^ of the merchants seem
to be going all out to fill their
windows with attractive decora
tions that draw the eyes of the
grown-ups as well as the kiddies.
From all outward appearances
the people of our mountain town
are promised one of the most col
orful Christmases in history. Mem
bers of the Volunteer Fire Depart
ment have strung their colored
lights from one end of towrf to the
other and all are ready to be
turned on.
Soon,"the home decorations will
be out, then the first snow will
fall and the Spirit o(' the Yuletid?
will descerd *upon all. Firecrack
ers- will burst, rockets will '/oorfi
into tne air to explode and bright
en the countryside with their bril
liancy. Then Santa Claus will
come sliding down the chimney
spreading, joy throughout.
It's something to look forward
to, but while you are looking, why
not come into YOUR town and
glance around. Let's make this
Christmas the most joyous ever.
WSCS Of Qualla To
Sponsor Rummage Sale
The Woman's Society of Christ
ian Service of the Qualla Metho
dist church will sponsor a rum
mage sale at J. H. Reagan's store,
Cherokee Village, on Dec. 17 and
18. The sale will begin at 9 o'
clock and remain open until 5:00
p.m. each day. Proceeds from the
sale will be used for inteYior dec
orations in the church. Also there
will be home made cakes,""pies, and
candy on sale at this time.
Mrs. Albert Patton is president
of the society, Rev. O. E. Thorne
is pastor of the church.
?OftSAMON'S In Sylva
College Students Home
For Thanksgiving Holidays
The following young Doople, stu
dents in various colleges, spent
Thanksgiving holidays at their
homes here:
Jimmy Madison, Kent Coward,
Barbara Bess from the Univer
sity of North Carolina; Jimmy Ba
les, Walter Allison and Joe Ev
ans from State; Jack and Dortha
Hennessee from the University of
Tennessee; Edoleno and Joan Cur
ry from Blanton's Business col
lege in Asheville; Carolyn Curry
from Marion high school; Evelyn
Davis from Woman's College in
Greensboro, Alice Weaver from
Pe body col lege, Betty Davis of
Phiefer college.
Funeral Services Held
At Methodist Church
Monday Afternoon
Funeral services for State Sena
tor elect, Mrs. Getrude Dills Mc
Kee, were conducted Monday aft
ernoon at 2:30 o'clock fro/n the
Sylva Methodist church of which
the deceased was an active mem
ber.
The Rev. Quay Grigg, pastor,
officiated and burial was in Keen
er cemetery. Glenn Funeral Home
was in ch. rge of arrangements.
Mrs. McKee, wile of E. Lindon
McKee, industralist and political
leader of Jackson county, died
suddenly at her home here at 6
o'clock Saturday afternoon. Death
was attributed to a heart at?ck.
At the time she was stricken
Mrs. McKee had just returned to
her home on Main street from
Waynesville where she participat
ed in the Haywood second annual
tobacco festival. Shortly after
arriving home she complained of
not feeling well and a physician
was ^mediately summoned but
she failed to tally from emergency
treatments.
The church was filled to over
flowing and. many who gathered
to pay respect to the deceased were
unable to get in. A throng of out
of town friends and relatives of
Mrs. McKee were here for the
services. Many political and civic
leaders from all over the state
attended.
Elected -To Senate Four Times^
Had Mrs. McKee she
w ore * apon her
fou>tb tcrrrri^s ^en-.tor from this- ^
district. Her first term was in
19#. and she was agairr returned
to the Senate chamber in 1937,
1943 and elected forv* her fourth
term November 2, 1948. She was
a leader of Jackson county, and
Western North Carolina, in both
political and civic affairs. Mrs.
McKee was one of the outstanding
public speakers of this area and
was in demand on many occasions
for public addresses. She could
interest her audience on almost
any subject as her knowledge of
the affairs of her county, state and
nation, as well as being well in
formed on current events, was
broad and varied.
She is survived by her husband,
and two sons, E. L. McKee, Jr.,
assistant vice president in the
Asheville office of the Wachovia
Bank and Trust Company, and
William D. McKee of Charlotte,
and one step-son, Hal McKee of
Charlotte.
Also surviving are two sisters,
Mrs. Minnie Dills Gray and Mrs.
Beulah Dills Weaver of Dillsboro,
and one niece, Miss Alice Weaves*
of Dillsboro.
She was born in Dillsboro, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William
Allen Dills. She graduated from
Peace Institute, Raleigh, in 1905,
and was married to E. L. McKee
(Continued on page 12) .
Sylva Curb Market Closes For
Winter Months9 Shows Profit
Miss Mary Johnston, Jackson
County Home Demonstration a- j
gent, announced this week that
the curb market in Sylva, sponsor
ed by the home demonstration
clubs and farmers of the county,
will be closed until early next
spring. The reason for closing, she
said, is because the farm families
who supplied the produce are now
out of suiplue items and being
an open market it is now too cold
to hold the sales.
The market was started on Aug
ur,I 14 this yea" and operated rach
Friday afternoon from 2 until 5
o'clock, and during this sho*f
pe riod of time, Miss Johnston stat
ed that a net profit of $600 was
realized from the sale of fresh
vegetables, fruits, chickens and
eggs. This is a remarkable record,
considering that only about 15
farm families supplied ptoduce for
the market. The purpose of start
ing tfte market wa6 to provide a
market for- the farmers who had
surplus produce. The demand was
greater than the supply and it is
expected that more farm families
will take advantage of this mar
ke when it opens next spring.
Kirk-Davis Co. 100
Per Cent Membership
In American Legion
Kirk-Davis Chevrolet Company
now has 100 per cent membership
in the American Legion, it was
stated Wednesday by a member
of the membership committee. The
last veteran employee of the com
pany signed up Tuesday to make
the 100 per cent rccord.
Membership committee mem
bers stated that it is hoped that
by December 11 there will be oth
er firms and stores, that will re
port 100 per cent membership.
Our post has a fine vecord, vtat
? d the official, but if everyone wflt
work together for the next two
weeks .we can about double our
membership, they stated.