1: ;i
S3 .
M.ndvd PkiNTJJiG Co
120-230 8 Firt 8
LOUIS VILLI Kv
IS '
a
1 1!..L'ul
The Waynesville Mountaineer
Published Twitc-a-VVcek In The County Scat Of Haywood County At The Entrance Of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
49,500 People
Live within 20 mOe of
Waynesvto their Ideal
hopping center.
Sce-awev,k
I m JaV
d Friday
No. 34 EIGHT PAGES Associated Press News
kcoN
WAYNESVILLE, N. C, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1947
$3.00 In Advance In Haywood and Jackson Counties
if Sets
r 4s
W id
rmm'iV Ramp
(ition W.I1 Be
lundayAtHiacK
Gap
. ..... ,, lender.
vt a fiur flaur neAl
s y W. Won' i" -,-..'h
annual li'iywood
,n Cuiivcnlion, to be
o,i Black Camp Gap
j 000 ramp -atcrs from
gatticroU last yrai iu
this unique
dv. president, aim
k'illiams. secretary
Li, have been Riven
gather all the ramps
torn Hie C.reat Smoky
;iinnal Park. "Were
k I linn in the coves
fctiest ramps grow," lie
It inv iled and asked to
Lilies and enjoy the
L.icir and dancing ill-
It entertainment. Con-
till come from t-ni-cr
distant cities to
onion of the Moun-
Dicture camera will
ctivitics for Standard
icr of "Meet North
id other films.
will be furnished
Irs of the convention.
lo attend are asked to
coffee or bread, fry-
ler plates and cups.
tavc the largest coffee
lc to use this year,"
Woody. "It holds
0 gallons, and has a
the cups." The big
k been manufacturer
the ramp convention.
seeking office in the
is arc invited to be
I customary, for offi
courthousc who are
Inted at the conven-
ph a crate of eggs
lion.
Mart, well - known
ssman. and Mollie
f of Cherokee will
r folk dance, "Train
ilsam." as one of the
highlights. Several
will play music,
est thing of all," re
)od.v, "is that the men
Jking. The ladies just
' have, to do any of
H to have the best
' this year."
Workers
ngMeet
ville
Ruccn, suurrintonrl.
pood county depart-
euare, and Mrs.
. msc worker of the
" attending the thir
' meeting of the
1 Conference of So-
AsllPvlllo thl.
VV on Sunday
is featuring a sym-
f"l legislation, an
1 and aHHi-n, .
fulorS and social
f state taking part.
1 "FtajviTS Wno wi
f Program are: Dr
lay, director of the
ot De Univer-
tUrsnn R,.,
l ncad
-v university; Dr
I ; m. Latham,
l evA- Brou8hton,
'Wcutive
Association; and
he in uy cloudy
a v cooler
torn in .
ton,;,, uun-
j y th t(Lmpera-
Max. Mln.
78 44
39
42
31
. 76
... 70
Coming Here July Fourth
lYs: f
':: f r x'
Tml
CHARLES M. JOHNSON, state treasurer, who recently announced
he was a candidate for governor in the Democratic primary next spring,
will be th$ speaker here at the annual county-wide Fourth of July
celebration on the high school grounds. The Fourth of July celebra
tion is sponsored annually by the Hazelwood Boosters club. Tentative
plans are fou Mr. Johnson to speak on the morning program.
Over 1,000 Visit
Campbell Tulip
Garden Sunday
More than one thousand per
sons visited the home of Mr.
and MfS. Tom Campbell on the
Socq Gap road to view the 10,
000 tulips in bloom in their
tgardn on Sunday, having ac-;elw4-'.h
iavttaiiM,.o the
owners.
Among the visitors were a
large number from out of the
county, many persons coming
from Asheville and as far west
as Bryson City to view the
riot of color of the full blown
tulips.
The first visitors to arrive
came around 9:30 and the last
came as late as 6 in the after
noon." . Sorrie: persojis not familiar
with the growing of tulips ex
pressed surprise at the small
acreage. that. 10,000 tulips oc
cupied in the garden but real
dirt gardeners, who had had
experience knew what to ex
pect and were more than
thrilled over the quality of
the blooms.
The location of the gardens on
the Campbell place lias been
pronounced an ideal spot on
which to grow these popular
bulbs, by J. B. Ivey, tulip and
dahlia enthusiast. Mr. Ivey's
opinion was that the loamy
soil of the Campbell place has
the same qualities as that on
which, the famous Holland tu
lips thrive.
Family Night Will
Be Held Friday At
Methodist Church
Mpmhnrs And friinfts of the
First Methodist church will hold
a Family Night program Friday
evening, at 7 o'clock, announces
Hev. Paul Townsend, pastor.
There will ho an interesting pro
gram of music by the young people.
and community singing by all.
Every family is asked to bring a
covered dish, and invito anv of
their friends who may not be
members of the church.
Those who have joined the
church, this year will be special
guests.
Miss Helen Smith, assistant
county home agent spent the week
end in Forest City with her parents.
Several Firms Start
Price Reduction Plan
Several Waynesville firms have
joined the national tiampaiga'. to
reduce prices, as urged by Presi
dent Truman. .
Last week Sims Tire and Battery
Company set their;recapping prices
back to the 1841-pri.ee, reduction
from $7 to $4.80 for a popular size
tire.'-.--.-- v " "f
About the same time, Belk-Hud-son
Company announced reduc-
.:'.... -:V-d-'-':..'"' '- v '-'' ' : ''-'V. . ; - -Y . ' ...... ,. .... .
. .y::'v;-. .-;.,'.-..":': Y"Y ir ' Y'Y YY-y-v'rJ" v ---"f-"" """"'T ;Y 'V V'-
Full Program Is
Arranged For 4th
Of July Event
The general committee working
on the details for the annual
countv-wide Fourth of July celeb
ration, announced a full week of
activity would be held. The pro
gram is being sponsored by. the
Boosters Club . of Hazelwood,.'
Tn'nl alive Dlarts incltldp a vesucr
service on Sunday evening before
the Fourtn, with the Haywood
ministerial association in charge.
Contracts have been signed for
six or seven modern rides to bc
ein operation on Monday, and con
tinue through the week.
On Wednesday or 1 liuisday
night, tentative plans are to have
a singing contest, with choirs,
quartettes and others participating.
On Friday, the Fourth, the morn
ing program will feature an ad
dress by Charles M Johnson, state
treasurer, and candidate lor gov
ernor. A band concert will also be
featured, and a baseball game in
the afternoon and softball at night
will be staged.
Plans are heinii made to take
care of a record attendance, and
the committee is encouraged over
the prospects of a banner celebra
tion. A local organization will have
I he concessions on the grounds.
The general committee is com
posed of K. L. Prevost, Dr. Stuart
Itobcson, William .Chambers, John
Blalock, C. N. Allen, and W. Cur
tis Russ.
W. N. C. Press To
Tour Mountain
Area Next Month
Plans were made Saturday night
at the monthly meeting of the
Western North Carolina Press As
sociaton, for the group to have
lunch here on Saturday. May 24, as
they start a two-day tour by bus
of Western Carolina!
The tour will start in Asheville
and come here for lunch, and
then proceed via Soco Gap to
Cherokee. Newfound Gap, Cling
man's Dome, and other places of
interest in the Park, and back to
Bryson City for the night, resum
ing the tour the next morning.
The press group is staging this
tour in order to get better acquaint
ed with the entire section.
Those attending the meeting
from Haywood Saturday night were
W. Curtiss Russ and Marion T.
Bridges, of Tlic Mountaineer.
tion of $1 per Pair all shoes re
tailing for $5.95 and above.
Yesterday Garrett Furniture
Store announced a reduction of
ten per cent on their entire stock.
All the managers in making their
announcements, stated they were
doing their bit to help curb the
rise of prices, and bring selling
prices back nearer the pre-war
level. . -
WTHS Wins
Excellent
Ratings In
Music Tests
Band and Choruses
Return From Contests
at Greensboro Friday
Night
Waynesville township high school
musicians returned home at mid
night Friday after four days of par
ticipation in the 20th annual state
contests at Greensboro, biinainp
back ratings of excellent for their
band work, instrumental and vocal
solos, and girls' glee club; and the
highest grade of superior for the
songs of the mixed chorus.
"I am very proud of the way
they did and feel sure they have
gained some valuable experience."
says Charles Isley, music director
at the school.
The best high school bands and
other musical groups from all over
North Carolina look part In the
contests.
Waynesville high's mixed chorus
earned a one minus rating in Fri
days competition, and the girls
glee club were rated two. Wed
nesday, in vocal solo recitals, Aaron
Hyatt was graded two among the
tenors. During jthc first two days,
the band received the rating of
two (excellent), as did the instru
mental soloists: Theresa Alley, Joe
Morrow, Ray Rogers and Aaron
Hyatt.
Clarence Morrow of St. John's
Academy and Bob Matthews of
Canton high school were graded
superior for work with the bass
horn and trombone, respectively.
Mr. Isley reports that the band
and chorus will present a concert
here prior to the end of the school
term. The band also will continue
practice this summer and serve
during various community tunc
Hons.
JEL..WU)iaun $q
Is rJew President
Of Rotary Club
Rev. M. R. Williamson was elect
ed president of the Waynesville
Rotary Club here Friday, at the
annual election of officers at Pat
rick's Cafeteria. Mr. Williamson
succeeds Howard Clapp, who will
serve as vice president during the
coming year, which begins July
first.
James Kilpatrick was named sec
retary, a post he has held for the
past month, and Robert Sutton was
cleeted treasurer, and David Hyatt,
assistant treasurer. Kim Barber is
the new sergeant at arms.
The new board of directors to
take office on July first is: M. II.
Bowles, Dave Felmet, James Kil
patrick, Ralph Prevost, Hallett
Ward, M. I). Watkirv, Howard
Clapp and M. R. Williamson.
Five from here are scheduled to
attend the district Rotary meet
ing in Charlotte on May 5-6. These
include Mr. Williamson, James Kil
patrick, Howard Clapp, Robert Sut
ton and N. W. Garrett.
Cub Scout Meeting
Here Wednesday
All parents of children interest
ed in promoting the Cub Scout
program for boys from 9 to 12
years of age are invited to attend
a meeting Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m.,
in the First Methodist church.
Rev. Malcolm Williamson, com
mittee chairman, will preside. AH
persons who are willing to help in
the cubbing program, whether they
have children in that age group or
not, are urged to attend.
Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Davis and
daughter, of Sumter, were week
end guests of John L. Davis.
Minstrel Will Be
Given Wednesday
At Bethel School
Cotton Blossom Minstrels will
be given at the Bethel high
school auditorium Wednesday
night, April 30, at 8 p.m., the
date having been changed from
Thursday, it is reported by Fran
cis Massie, producer of the Lions
Club show.
Dinner will be served to the
minstrel group by the Bethel
ladies at 6:30 p.m. Members will
leave from the courthouse at 6
o'clock.
The regular prayer-meetings at
Bethel have been postponed this
week to Thursday. Mr. Massle
also announces that th6 minstrel
will serve as the regular meet
ing of, the Lions,
Two Men Confess
T-'HIi?! iviiwii i " r i nwi''sii iimi 1 1 i Sf...t 1 i-"i.Sst
This photograph was made after Earl O'Dear and Robert Mcsscr, confessed the hammer slaying of
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hall, in the Hall's car on a lonely road near Sylva a week ago. Shown here, left to
right, arc: Sgt. T. A. Sandlin. F.arl O'Dear former employee of a Waynesville Cum: Robert Messer, of
Dillsboro, and Sheriff Griffin Middleton. Robbery was said to have been the motive of the slaying. Other
pictures on pnges 5 and 0. This photograph through courtesy of The Sylva Herald.
Large Vote Predicted In All
Town Elections On May 6
Phone Union
Gets Offer
In Northwest
Gov. Luther W. Youngdahl of
Minnesota anounced that North
western Bell Telephone company
had made. . an, .offer to its, striking
workers of a $2.50 weekly pay in
crease, with a formal answer from
the union expected late yesterday.
This statement, coupled with
union president Joseph A. Beirne's
announcement that local unions
have authority to make settlements
on a local basis, was hailed as a
definitely favorable turn of events
by government conciliators.
Union leaders in the northwest
ern area asserted, however, that
they would not accept the $2.50
pay hike, which equals 61 4 cents
per hour, but are holding out for
$6. According to the Southern Fed
eration of Telephone Workers chief
counsel, a $6 weekly increase in
Minnesota would end the strike
throughout the nation.
Waynesville's telephone workers
still are maintaining a full walk
out Into the fourth week, with "no
change" reported in the local situ
ation. Haywood Man
Takes His Life
In Asheville
Francis William McElroy, 114, na
tive of Haywood county, was in
stantly killed around 12:10 Sun
day noon, at his home, 49 Cumber
land avenue, Asheville, by a self
inflicted bullet, according to Dr.
P. R. Terry, Buncombe county cor
oner. The body was brought here yes
terday by the Garrett funeral home
in charge of the arrangements,
which were incomplete at the time
The Mountaineer went to press.
Dr. Terry said Mr. McElroy had
placed the muzzle of a .22 caliber
rifle inside his mouth, against the
roof and pulled the trigger. This
had resulted in a contact wound,
he said and the roof and sides of
the mouth were powder-burned.
The coroner said the bullet ranged
upward and backward through the
brain causing instant death.
Mr. McElroy, who was an invalid,
had not left the house in two years,
Dr. Terry said he was informed.
Very despondent, Mr. McElroy had
threatened a number of times to
take his own life, and had so
threatened yesterday morning, ac
cording to information the coroner
said he had gathered. A sister. Miss
Stella McElroy, was in an adjoin
ing room and heard the shot, Dr.
Terry reported.
Survivors include the father, W.
H. McElroy, of Hazelwood; three
sisters, Mrs. Cora Waters, Miss
Bertha McElroy, with whom he re
sided; and Miss Stella McElroy, ail
of Asheville; three brothers,, Har
dy McElroy of Brasstown; Jessie
McElroy of Gastonia, and Elbert
McElroy of Asheville; five nieces,
and two nephews.
Murder of Sylva Taxi Driver and Wife
Apple Blossoms
To Be In Full
Bloom Tomorrow
Predictions yesterday were that
the late apple trees In Haywood
would be in full bloom by Wed
nesday. Some of the earlier ap
ples have already bloomed.
Many people visited the vari
eaev . liard - throughout Iho
county Sunday,' and large num
bers are expected to see the or
chards today and tomorrow.
Fire Destroys
House Near Town
Friday Night
Fire caused a total loss lo the
two-story frame residence of Wil
lie Watson, colored employee of the
Waynesville water and lights de
partment, Friday night, and seri
ously burned his wfi, Charlene.
while attempting to save a trunk
from the burning house.
It is believed that the fire start
ed from the kitchen flue, around 11
p.m. Another woman living at the
house first noticed the blaze after
it had started, and awakened the
Watsons. By that time the upper
part of the home was burning
fiercely, and the couple found it
impossible to salvage any of their
clothing or household furnishings.
A call was sent to the Waynes
ville fire department at 11:30 p.m.
It was not possible to extinguish
I he blaze, however, since it had
gained too much headway before
the truck arrived.
The residence, known as the old
Charlie Patton place, is on Oakland
road, a quarter-mile from the
town limits.
The Watsons owned the house
(Continued on Page Eight)
U.S.D.A. Council Has
Important Meet Tonight
All members of the U. S. D. A.
Council in Haywood county are
urged to attend a very important
meeting tonight at 8 p. m. in the
county agent's office.
It is desired to work out a long
range planning program in agri
culture for the county, announces
R. C. Francis, council secretary.
Floating Mine
Medford's Adventures
In War-Torn
Two ships hit by mines since the
war ended is enough, avers Charles
Woosey" Mcdford, chief officer
with the Merchant Marine who now
is visiting his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Sam Mcdford of Waynesville,
Rt. 2.
His first peacetime voyage to be
interrupted by contact between the
ship and a floating mine was last
October when 20 miles out from
Naples, Italy.
Then on February 17th it hap
pened again.
"We were delivering the U. .
Waynesville Registra
tion Nearly 1,800;
More Than 800 in
Hazelwood
The heaviest registration of
voters ever for local elections
are reported for both Way
nesville and Hazelwood after
the books closed Saturday,
with fCcrbrcl votes forecast in
next Tuesday's election.
J. Hayes Alley states that there
are approximately 1.800 names on
the Waynesville registration book
and predicts that nearly 1,000 per
sons will cast their ballots May 6.
Officials at Hazelwood report a
registration of more than 800, and
expect from 500 to 600 votes on
election day, with 12 candidates in
the race for alderman, two for
mayor, and a $50,000 bond issue to
be decided.
Ray Moody joined the group
seking positions on the town board
prior to filing deadline. Another
withdrawal, by Howard Passmore,
was announced by Rudolph Cars
well, town clerk for Hazelwood.
The contest in Waynesville will
center around choosing three men
for aldermen, since Mayor J. H.
Way. Jr., is unopposed. Candi
dates for board membership arc
Mack Pace. T. L. Bramlctt, L. M.
Killian. Dr. Thomas Stringfield, As
bury Howell, T. Guy Massle, T.
Henry Caddy, David Felmet and
David Cabe.
In Hazelwood. Mayor Clyde
Fisher will be opposed by Furman
"Mutt" Tate. Those on the ballot
for alderman are Grady R. Smith,
R. L. Prevost. Nathan "Frog" Hill,
Ed Greer, John Wyatt, Leonard
"Deacon" Woodard. Chrl Swangcr,
George A. BisehofT, B. H. Holland,
Tom Garrett, Clarence A. Scruggs,
and Ray Moody.
Three men who filed for places
on the board. Mr. Passmore. James
A. Cochran and Earl D. Conard,
withdrew their candidacy.
The Waynesville election will be
held in the District Health Dcpart-
j ment office at the courthouse. It
is announced that J. P. Dicus will
replace T. Henry Gaddy as election
judge, the substitution having been
made since Mr. Gaddy announced
as candidate for alderman.
Hazelwood voters will cast their
ballots in the Town Hall.
Starts
Greece
ship. Dale D. Owens, a liberty, to
the Greek government. Twenty-five
miles off the island of Crete, one
of the Greek islands in the Medi
terranean, we heard the explo
sion." The ship, he related, was beach
ed in a Crete port. Salvage crews
worked on it for 22 days; it was
turned over to the Greeks and re
named the Kalliopi.
The 20 Americans in the crew
were sent to Athens for repatria
tion, arriving March 6. U. S. Con
(Continued on Page Eight)
High School
Graduation
Programs lo
Begin Friday
Fines Creek and
Bethel Finals This
Week; Crabtrec Ends
Year Monday
Graduation exercises will he
held Friday, May 2, at Fines Creek
and Bethel high schools, the first
to conclude the school year in
Haywood county.
Crabtrce-lron Duff high school
will present its graduation program
Monday, May 5, at 8 p. m., witli
the Rev. D. O. Melnnis. pastor of
the Canton Presbyterian church,
delivering the commencement ad
dress. The baccalaureate sermon
wiill be given Sunday night by Mrs.
C. O. Newell, pastor of the Crab
tree Methodist charge.
Waynesville township high school
and Clyde high schools will hold
graduation exercises in early June.
An all-student program will bo
given at Bethel, it is announced by
the principal, W. P. Whitesides.
The Bethel seniors heard Rev. R.
A. Kclley, pastor of the First Bap
tist church, Canton, Sunday after
noon at the high school auditorium.
William Medford. state senator
of Waynesville, will deliver the
graduation address at Fines Creek,
and Superintendent Jack Messer
will present diplomas. The bacca
laureate sermon was given Sunday
by Rev. G. L. Lovett of Fairview.
Thirteen seniors will graduate
at the Crabtree-Iron Duff finals,
with Reba Kinsland as valedicto
rian and H. R. Caldwell, Jr., salu
tatorian. Others to receive dip
lomas are Bennett Best, Lowery
Ferguson, Jr., Ernest Green, Erwin
Lee Haney, Billy K. Medford, Da
vid - Rogers, Susie Bryson, Hilda
Crawford, Dane "Franklin, Bobby
llogan and Thoinasene Noland.
Local Mep Work
On Park Plans For
Senate Hearing
Charles E. Ray left yesterday for
Washington to confer with park
officials on a hearing before the
Senate appropriations committee
relative to additional funds for the
Park Service.
Several from Asheville made the
trip.
C. N. Allen, of Hazelwood, will
meet the party in Washington and
accompany them, together with
Representative Monroe M. Redden,
to the Department of the Interior.
Mr. Allen is in Baltimore on a
buying trip.
Crabtree P.-T. A.
Elects Officers
Officers elected at the meetini;
last week of the Crabtree-Irmi
Duff P.-T. A. were O. L. Yates,
president; Glenn Noland, vice pres
ident; Mrs. Hugh Noland, secretary;
and Fred Noland. treasurer. I.. C.
Bryson, principal, reviewed the
school year.
Drivers Asked To Slow
Down At Intersections
Several arrests have been made
of drivers violating the speed lim
it of 20 miles per hour at the in
tersection of highway 19-23 and
the Junaluska-Dellwood cutoff, re
ports Cpl. E. W. Jones of the high
way patrol. Drivers are requested
to observe the directions to drive
slowly, so the road will be kept in
condition to receive the surface
this week.
Highway
Record For 1947
In Haywood
(To Date)
Killed - - 2
Injured -12
(This Information Compiled
From Recorda of State High
way Patrol)
!
.1? Y.
t