Viewpoints
Downtown commission
attacking problems
Members of the Raeford Downtown Revitalization Commission
seem to be headed on the right track in their efforts to rejuvenate
the Main Street business district.
The newly appointed group is planning a series of quick moves
which will demonstrate that a fixup movement is underway, and will
encourage merchants and property owners to join the push.
One of the first things on the agenda are signs marking the shop
ping area with a downtown logo. The same symbol would also be
used to designate parking and for directional signs.
Merchants will be asked to ban together and to advertise products
under the downtown banner in an effort to sell the district as one
shopping area.
Property owners will be given ideas for restoring buildings to the
original facades, and will be encouraged to help themselves by tak
ing advantage of low-interests loans and federal tax credits.
Downtown Raeford is the traditional shopping district for all of
Hoke County, and because of its economic contributions to the
community, the area is worthy of the restoration effort. If Main
Street is allowed to continue to slip into disrepair, not only will a
great portion of Hoke County's heritage be lost, but the county's
largest contributor of sales tax dollars will also be gone.
Main Street Raeford is the face of Hoke County, and as me move
forward to improve the quality of hje here, we need to put forth a
well washed and sparkling appearance.
An economically vibrant downtown does not mean other
businesses in the county will suffer. There are strong needs for new
services, which could draw sales dollars back from Cumberland.
Robeson, Scotland and Moore counties.
Local markets are wide open for shoe repairs, office supplies,
baked goods, records, books, movie theaters, bowling alleys, motel
rooms and specialities shops. All of these businesses could be
located in the downtown area, and all would generate new sales
dollars.
We applaud the efforts of the Downtown Revitalization Commis
sion, and hope the group will move quickly to erect signs indicating
the improvement push is underway.
We encourage merchants and property owners to join the self
help movement and to begin building restorations.
The time has come to remove the dirt from our nose and to repair
broken teeth. It is time for downtown Raeford and Hoke County to
smile again.
EAS briefs are
worth reading
Elsewhere in today's News-Journal we have included the oppos
ing arguments in the case now pending before the North Carolina
Utilities Commission to obtain extended area telephone service be
tween the Raeford and Fayetteville exchanges.
Both legal briefs are presented to give readers an exposure to all
sides in the case, and the arguments are being run in the newspaper
with limited editing to allow the attorneys' words to stand on their
own merit.
The briefs are summations of the cases presented to the commis
sioners earlier, and are in fact closing arguments by Public Staff At
torney Jimmy Little and Carolina Telephone Counsel Dwight
Allen.
We believe the briefs will clarify many questions on EAS and are
worth the effort to read.
The agruments also raise questions, which only the utilities com
missioners can answer.
We encourage you to get a cup of coffee, sit back and dig in.
Novj all ut do open
presents insert V>aUeries
*4*
I did it . 1 -finally did it.
I had to Start, in July but
Christmas is Were and
this time I'm ready..."
forgot fche, V>*Vttrics~."
>*&?
Letter To The Editor
Christmas parade
need in Hoke Co.
To the Editor:
I was dissappointed to learn that
the city of Raeford will not spon
sor a Christmas parade this year.
I have grown up in this city, and
I am very proud of Hoke County
and the progress that the city and
county have made in the last few
years.
However, I feel not having a
Christmas parade is a step
backwards.
In October, we had the Turkey
Festival; it drew much attention all
over North Carolina and most of
the South. We had a parade which
was quite colorful and exciting.
If we can have a Turkey Festival
Parade, why can't we have a
Christmas Parade? The Christmas
parade is something that everyone
(young and old) looks forward to.
The parade does not have to be a
Hollywood pageant. It could be
just something the kids of Raeford
would enjoy.
I remember when 1 was younger,
and I saw the clowns, floats and
then best of all ? Santa Claus?
The parade just made the
Holidays a joyous time of high ex
pectations; It made faces light up
with radiant smiles and young
hearts beat with happy thoughts.
I understand that parades are ex
pensive and the city probably
doesn't have the time; but would
you consider a change of thought
so that at least the kids will be hap
py?
Lets do something for our
generations. Let's have a
Christmas parade!
Sincerely yours,
Robyn Hardin
age IS
Letters Policy
Letters to the editor are aacouraged and
*etconved. Writers should keep Inters
as short as possible. Names, addresses
and telephone numbers should be h
duded and an letters must be signed.
Names *ill be printed; however, other
information will be kept confidential
Wc reserve the r?ht ?"?* letted*
?ood taste awl brevity. Letters should
be received by The Hrm^Jomn* by
noon on the Monday of the
Mildouson crowd puts on show
When Ireni asked me to go
Christmas shopping. I fdt like the
man who was to be tarred,
feathered and run out of town. He
said, "if it all the same to you I
had rather walk."
If it all the same to her I rather
stay home.
However, on one of our outings
I am leading the charge to go. The
Mildouson Home Demonstration
Club is an active group of women
who know how to have a big time.
Their Christmas party where the
husbands, boyfriends, or just
friends are invited is the highlight
of the season.
At one time there were two main
events where the men got an invita
tion. The encounter with the play
"Chorus Line" broke up the hap
py two-a-year events. Most of the
folks who attended the show are
just getting their eyeballs back in
shape. Ladies of the Mildouson
Club should be paid by the
playhouse. When word got around
about the members attending the
opening night's performance the
show was booked solid for the rest
of its* run.
Reverand Ben still gives me that
blank look when I ask him about
it.
Katherine Ferguson, the incom
ing president of the group is
demanding everyone go im
mediately to a revival meeting if
the club ever slips up again and
goes to a four-letter show .
In fact she fired my buddy
Theresa McBryde as the social
director since she was responsible
for booking the show. I tried to get
Mrs. Ferguson to retain Theresa,
but to no avail.
Explaining to her the age of the
members and husbands required a
little recharging now and then did
no good. Madam President is a
stubborn lady. She has lived with
my farming cohort Ben too long to
change. The semi-annual meetings
are sure going to be dull. Anticipa
tion adds to the spice of life.
Closing out the year at the
Western Steer the other evening,
gave the guests a sample of things
to come. Each lady in the Club has
a secret pal to whom the partner
Looking On
Raz Autry
gives gifts all year. Pals become
known to each other at the
Christmas party.
Women are a lot smarter than
men. They kiss and hug each other
when their secret is out. If a man
did those antics he would be label
ed or locked up. Now I am into
the hugging and kissing but not
with a man.
A doctor friend of mine who
wore a mustache caused me' to
come as close as I ever have to kiss
ing a man. When he got about two
stiff drinks he would get so close to
my face when he was talking his
mustache would be tickling my
nose. The choice of the listener was
to bend over backward until one
looked like a pretsel with the mid
dle broken out or kiss him in the
mouth. 1 have visited the
chiropractor several times over the
years.
When the secret pals were
revealed, the guests were given a
gift. The man was to draw a
number out of a hat and when the
number was called he received a
package which had the
corresponding number.
Much to my dismay I was fram
ed. 1 accused Theresa of being the
brains behind it because her
devilish grin gave her away. When
my number was called I was
presented two pairs of Playboy
Briefs, one blue and one pink.
Tom Jones looked like the cat
who swallowed the canary when I
held them up for all to see. I mis
judged Tom, he wasn't guilty only
envious. He knew 1 could get in
them, and he couldn't.
For some of you readers who are
less informed. Playboy Briefs are
fancy jockey shorts. If one wore
them in public he would get ar
rested for indecent exposure. 1
have them safely locked away, if
some of you reckless souls want to
borrow a pair give me a call, better
still check your P.O. box carefully
you may receive a Christmas gift.
Curtain calls are usually limited
to broadway plays. These ladies
used them for the last event of the
evening. They resort to gambling.
Bingo, Santa Claus or whatever
name is applied to little cards
covered with corn, buttons or
small pieces of paper is still gambl
ing.
No one enjoys the game of
chance more than me. I would get
better results playing the slots at
Reno or Las Vagus than 1 would
winning their little game.
Ireni called the numbers, and I
had the only card with the names
in Greek. I couldn't read them
much less win. Tom Jones and
Gene Maxwell didn't win anything
either. They protested, but it
didn't do any good. Their claim of
cards with July symbols drew ab
solutely no sympathy.
It really didn't bother me the
prizes weren't all that great. Who
needs a tour of Theresa Dress Shop
or a free afternoon of smelling the
flowers in Katheleen Jones' florist.
One dandy of a prize was help
ing to decorate John and Pat
Howard's Christmas tree. The
catch was the winner had to fur
nish the tree. A grand prize which
is always the last card was a stroll
downtown Raeford accompained
by John Jr. Blue.
A great evening came to an end
with all of the men lining up at the
cash register to pay. Ireni had slip
ped me a S20, some of the men
weren't so lucky. My friend Jack
Pope tried to pay with a ticket
which read "good for one motor
overhaul."
Gene Maxwell offered to fix any
toilet in the house in exchange for
the price for his meal.
Walter Malone got desperate.
He offered a one way ride to the
Florida Keys. The last time I saw
Buddy McGirt he had Hildegard
trying to explain to the cashier in
German, why he didn't have any
money.
What a fine evening. Bring on
the show Katherine, I can't wait to
talk to the new social director.
1929 was good year for Christmas in Hoke
County
The Christmas rush has put me off my schedule.
"I'm off my schedule, and I don't have a clue about what to
write," I told my wife.
She suggested I check into what was going on in Hoke County in
1929. "They had a lot of fun back then."
I followed her advice and dug out the old News-Journal. Here is
some of what I found:
In early December, the Raeford Woman's Club and the Raeford
Kiwanis Club got together to start a "Christmas Cheer Fund" to
help needy families in the community.
Several "pitiful" cases of starving families were targeted as being
recipients of food, clothing and money raised by the Cheer Fund.
Names of the contributors were published in the newspaper.
Local residents donated sacks of flour, bushels of potatoes, toys,
clothes and money to make the first drive a success.
The Christmas Cheer Fund was undoubtedly the forerunner to
the present Share Your Christmas Drive.
In 1929, local deputies were out to spoil good times.
"Deputy Sheriffs W.R. Barrington and J.O. Dudley have been
active during the past two weeks, breaking into plans for Christinas
hooch of a number of illicit operators," the newspaper reported.
"During the two weeks from December 9-21, they destroyed six
establishments and captured one alleged operator.
"Down on Raft Swamp, below Bethune's Bridge and near the
IfltMoa County line, they captured two sdBs within 300 yards of
? "*? and evidently operated by the sane parties**.
a complete outfit on lames Creek la the LMe
Warren Johnston
'he Puppy Papers
River Township and destroyed 300 gallons of beer."
Other stills and beer were found near Rockfish Station, in Puppy
Creek and Quewhiffle. Otto Evans was arrested and charged with
the Rockfish operation, the newspapet reported.
There was almost a white Christmas in 1929.
A light snow fed on the Sunday before the Wednesday Christmas,
but the weather warmed and waited the white stuff covering the
ground.
A Christmas Cantau was held on Sunday before Christmas at the
Raeford Presbyterian CWrth with members of choirs from the
" ? * ? * ~ ; part in the
1 coM weather, a small crowd was
?t kmq m UKtr praise of lot pro*
remembered. Fruit and candy were served to all present."
It was also reported that:"Mr. N.H.G. Balfour, Miss Balfour
and Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Stamps were Christmas shoppers in
Fayetteville on December 18."
During the Christmas holidays in 1929, the Woman's Club spon
sored a Christmas tree contest among merchants in downtown
Raeford.
Trees were placed on the sidewalks in front of the stores and
decorated by the merchants with lights, "which showed in many
colors and made a very pretty scene, especially at night."
A prize of $5 was presented to the Empire Cafe for the best tree.
"On Christmas Eve, the chapel at the mill village was warmed
and decorated. Seventy-five children gathered to sing Christmas
songs, hear the Christmas story and each received a stocking filled
with fruit, candy and raisins. Each also received a pair of hose and a
toy given by the school children.
"From the doth contributed by the merchants, 21 dresses had
been made by kind, loving hands and were given to the little girls.
You may imagine bow happy they were. Besides these there were 10
or 12 other children, who received Christmas presents suitable to
their needs," the newspaper reported.
Christmas passed quietly in 1929 in Hoke County, as residents
piepafcd for the coming of the new year.
"The young folks were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new
year. At midnight, they Journeyed downtown and rang the bells."
Happy noodayt.