North Carolina Newspapers

ELKIN The Best Little Town In North Carolina I The Elkin Tribune k ELKIN Gateway To Roaring Gap » and the Blue Ridge VOL. NO. XXXIV No. 10 PUBLISHED WEEKLY ELKIN, N. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1946 $2.00 PER YEAR 12 PAGES—TWO SECTIONS Stockholders 2Of Chatham Co. \Hold Meeting Chatham Heads Board, Butler Is President f A Thurmond Chatham was again elected chairman of the board, and A. L. Butler president of the Chatham Manufacturing Com ' pany following a meeting of di rectors of the firm who were re ^ elected at the regular annual stockholders meeting held at the Chatham office Tuesday. * v m President Butler reported on the operations of the company for the year 1945, and also reported on the progress of the modernization program of the company, which involved the erection of some building space and the purchase of modem machinery in several departments of the mill. The stockholders also learned that the company had completed all its contracts with the various depart ments of the United States gov ernment on September 1, 1945, and that the demand for Chatham blankets and other products had enabled 'the mill to maintain its full operating schedule. The stockholders expressed approval of the conduct of business by officers and directors. Mr. Chatham, who presided, outlined plans of the company for VHfcL946 and succeeding years, and his remarks were enthusiastically re ceived, it was reported. The following directors were re elected: Tnurmond Chatham, A. _ p. Butler, H. C. Graham, Thomas ' J. Sheehe, W. A. Neaves, R. W. Harris, C. W. Poor, J. W. L. Ben son, John D. Eller, John D. Clark, ^ R. M. Hanes and Ralph P. Hanes. At the meeting of the directors immediately following the ad journment of stockholders, the following officers were elected; . chairman of the board, Thurmond j ▼ Chatham; president, A. L. Butler; vice-president, W. A. Neaves; vice president, Thomas J. Sheehe; vice-president, J. W. L. Benson; vice-president, Eleanor S. Taylor; • treasurer, W. R. Hartness, Jr.: secretary, James A. Booher; as sistant treasurer, N. J. Blackwood; assistant secretary, Charles F. Dixon; general counsel, J. Milton Cooper; general superintendent, ^ R. W. Harris; superintendent, Fred L. Neaves; assistant superin tendent, Earl M. Hodel; assistant superintendent, P. M. Greene; as sistant superintendent, Howard C. Hatch. Phone Company Adds * To Distance Circuit W. S. Beddingfield, group man ager of the Central Telephone Company, which serves Elkin, has announced that the company has increased their long distance cir cuits to Winston-Salem by 50 per cent, having previously had four lines. The increase wrill give Elk in a total of six. The company has materials on ^ * hand to string two additional cir cuits to North Wilkesboro, Mr. Beddingfield said, and two to Yad kinville, with plans under way for an additional circuit to Mount Airy. This will enable the com ^ 1 pany to give much better service > on outgoing and incoming calls, he pointed out. There are 80 varieties of trees on the grounds of the White House. --- Expresses Thanks For Honor Done Him At Dinner The Tribune is in receipt of the following letter from Thur mond Chatham, expressing his thanks to the citizens of the community for the honor paid him last Thursday night at the recognition dinner held at the Gilvin Roth YMCA. The letter, addressed to Harvey F. Laf foon, Tribune publisher, fol lows: r “Dear Harvey: “I want to thank you, and through you, the citizens of Elkin and this community who gave me such a high honor on Thursday night. As I said in my talk, I cannot adequately express my appreciation. J was deeply touched and I will always be grateful. “Yours sincerely, “THURMOND CHATHAM” i I Police Are To Cite Motorists Without City Tag Corbel Wall, chief of police, said Tuesday that all motor ists who do not purchase a city license tag will be subject to ci tation, effective now. Chief Wall also stated that the law requires that city tags be displayed on the car or truck, and that persons will be cited who are not displaying their tags, even though they have bought them. The 1946 city tags are on sale at the City Tax Office for $1.00 each. DEATH CLAIMS CHAS. E. COX Was Father Of Mrs. W. A. Neaves And W. Cone Cox, Of This City RITES HELD WEDNESDAY Charles Edwin Cox, of Mouth of Wilson, Grayson county, Virginia, died Monday evening in Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital here, where he had been a patient for several days. He was 78 years of age. He was stricken rather sud denly at his home in GraySon county and was brought to the local hospital immediately,»but his advanced age and physical condi tion failed to respond to expert care and treatment. For more than half a century Mr. Cox was closely identified with the progressive life of southwest Virginia. He was active in the agricultural, educational, stock raising and political movements of the Commonwealth, and was an aggressive leader in all forward looking programs. He was at one time a member of the Virginia State Assembly, and several years ago was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention. His genial and liberal disposition made friends for him in all walks of life, and his home was a Mecca for those friends from all southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina. Mr. Cox was born in Grayson county, Virginia, the son of Hardin and Emeline Cox, and was educat ed in the Grayson county schools, later attending Oak Hill Academy. He w'as married in 1889 to Miss Mintie Bryant who died in Jan uary, 1940, shortly after celebrat ing their fiftieth anniversary. A few >years ago he was married to Mrs. Lessie Helvey, who survives him. Mr. Cox wras well knowm in Elkin and had scores of friends in this community, many of whom attended the funeral services. In addition to the widowr he is survived by three daughters, Mrs. W. A. Neaves, of Elkin; Mrs. S. L. Payne and Mrs. Kyle McMillan, of Galax, Va.; two sons, Virgil Cox, of Mouth of Wilson and W. C. Cox, (Continued on page eight, 1st sec.) IS OBSERVING TEXTILE WORK Mu-Yuan Hwang, Native Of China, Is At Chatham Manufacturing Co. Mu-Yuan Hwang, 24, native of China, arrived in Elkin the latter part of January for practical ob servation of and to study textiles at the Chatham Manufacturing Company, so as to take back to China with him when he returns in June new ideas and improved methods of the textile study from this country. He is a graduate of a textile school in China and is enrolled as a textile student at North Car olina State College, Raleigh. He expects to observe at the local plant for two months, after which time he will return to State Col lege. Mr. Mu-Yuan Hwang receives his education here at the expense of the China government. He is residing at Hotel Elkin and says that he is “thrilled with America,” and that he is “a very happy man.” CITY EARMARKS FUND FOR SWAN CREEK AIRPORT Commissioners Allocate $10, 000 For Improvement BLUE RIDGE AVIATION Five Thousand To Be Put Up In Private Capital By Present Operators PROPERTY IS LEASED At the regular meeting of the Elkin board of commissioners Monday evening at the City Hall, consideration was given to the im provement and enlargement of the airport situated on the Swan Creek highway about three miles from Elkin, known as the Blue Ridge Aviation, Inc. After a very careful study over a period of several months, Mayor Garland Johnson said, and with the approval of the Civil Aeronau tics Authority, the board author ized an immediate allocation of $10,000 for this work which is to be subsidized by an outlay of $5,000 by Blue Ridge Aviation, Inc. A lease has been previously en tered into by the Town of Elkin, Mr. Johnson said, with the proper ty owners on whose lands the air port is located, Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Vestal. A sub-lease has been let by the town to Blue Ridge Avia tion, Inc., inasmuch as the Board of Commissioners were of the opinion that it would be more practical and more feasible for the airport to be privately operated rather than for it to be the direct responsibility of the town. Inasmuch as the lease can be terminated under certain provi sions during its term of 15 years, Mr. Johnson said, and inasmuch as the maximum outlay to the town, is not to exceed $17,000 which includes rent over the period of 15 years, the board is of the opinion that it can provide an adequate airport and at the (Continued on page eight. 1st sec.) ONE IS KILLED IN AUTO WRECK Two Local Men Injured When Car Crashes Into Their Automobile SEEK MYSTERY WOMAN One man was killed and two local men injured in a two-car crash on the Elkin highway near Old Town school at 6 p. m. last Thursday night. Archie Linwood Smothers, 40, of Route 3, Greens boro was the fatal victim when his car was said to have collided with the 1941 coupe in which Edworth Freeman, of Pleasant Hill com munity, and Stone Monroe Coop er, of 1053 North Bridge street of this city, were riding. Patrolman E. L. Smith, who reached the scene of the accident shortly after it happened, said that before Smothers’ car collided with the one driven by Freeman, owned by Cooper, it apparently had left the road and had return ed to the highway with a sharp veer to the left. The coupe, it was said by mechanics of the Winston-Salem garage where the two cars were taken, in which the two passengers were not seriously injured, was thoroughly smashed, while the 1936 two-door sedan, which Smothers was driving, was not badly wrecked. Freeman was admitted to City Hospital and held for observation until Friday. Although uncon scious for a short time after the accident, he was not seriously in jured. Main injuries were head lacerations. Cooper also had head cuts but no internal injuries, ac cording to Baptist hospital offic ials. On Thursday night neither of the local men remembered the de tails of the accident. Cooper said the other car suddenly appeared in front of them. When the cars were found, the car in which Freeman and Cooper were riding was off of the road on its right side. Apparently there were no eye witnesses to the acci dent. Reports and evidence that a wo man pasenger was riding in the automobile in which Smothers was killed are under investigation by the State Highway Patrol and an effort is being made to locate her, Patrolman Smith said, but he would not divulge hex name. He said there were women’s clothing, contents of a pocketbook, and letters presumably addressed to her inside the automobile, and that he was told by persons who had gathered at the wreck that a woman had been in the auto mobile, but a search of the area did not reveal tier. Speaker For Annual Banquet Here Tuesday ROBERT ORMSBY The annual Employer-Employee banquet will be held next Tues day night at 7:00 o’clock in the gymnasium of the YMCA with Robert Ormsby, noted humorist of Winston-Salem, featuring the oc casion as guest speaker, the Mer chants Association has announced. Mr. Ormsby has spoken to civic groups in this city on several oc casions and on each of his ap pearances has made a decided hit with the people. To add to the full evening of fun that is in store for all employers and employees, Charlie Myers, in his usual good humored manner, will be present with a part on the program. Also Joe Bivins, noted for his square dancing technique, will lead the reels which will fol low the dinner. Claude Farrell, president of the Merchants Association, said that the event, known as ladies’ night, was not limited to business men and women alone, but that anyone wishing to attend was urged to do so. Tickets can be purchased until Saturday noon from Mrs. Beau ford Stanley, secretary of the Merchants Association, whose of fice is in the City Hall building. Plan Service During National Scout Week • All cubs, scouts, and scouters of the Elkin-Yadkin district of the Old Hickory Council Boy Scouts of America, and all other persons interested in scouting activities are cordially invited to attend a union service at the Jonesville Baptist church, Sunday, February 10, at three o’clock in the after noon, Rev. C. Marvin Boggs, pas tor of the Jonesville Methodist church has announced. This service is being held in connection with the annual obser vance of the founding of the Boy Scout movement in the United States. The address for the occasion will be delivered by Rev. Boggs, and Rev. R. J. Hogan, pastor of the Jonesville Baptist church, will act as host-pastor. SORRY COURT TOCONVENE Judge J. A. Rousseau To Pre side Over Two Weeks’ Mixed Term JURORS ANNOUNCED A two weeks’ term of Surry county superior court for the trial of both criminal and civil cases will convene at Dobson next Mon day, -with Judge J. A. Rousseau of North Wilkesboro, presiding. Jurors drawn to serve have been announced as follows: For the first week for criminal trials: Robert Simpson, Wiley F. Segraves, Charles W. Marion, Vir gil Wood, R. C. Freeman, Thed ford Sprinkle, Robert Crews, Jr., Walter H. Sides, Oliver L. Moore field, Dewey Parker, J. F. Moseley, Jim McMillan, J. D. Gravely, Carl McBride, G. L. McMickle, Clyde T. Shelton, Willie Gray, Manuel Branson, W. E. Parker, W. L. Thore, J. H. Hardy, G. R. Black burn, E. P. Caudill, Cletus E. Marion, S. E. Newman, Ed Wag oner, C. W. Willard, Ashby Hiatt, Walter Collins, J. R. McKinney, Ralph Midkiff, C. R. Brintle, El mer Hunter, A. L. Hiatt, W. H. Davenport, Luther McMillan. Jurors for the second week for civil hearings are Reid T. Joyce, Y. B. Johnson, J. K. Smith, C. L. Segraves, H. W. Watts, M. G. Timmons, J. H. Barker, I. O. Wal lace, Seldon Midkiff, Hawkins Moore, W. L. Smith, J. H. Beeson, O. P. Flinchum, Clyde C. Chilton, F. V. Edwards, Mack Hicks, Ed ward Nichols, John R. Tilley, J. B. Mitchell, W. O. Dobson, Grover C. Tilley, Dillard S. Cooke, John ny Hunter, J. R. Willard. CHURCH STATES AIRFIELD WILL BE READY SOON Rendezvous Field Expected To Open In 30 Days NEW PLANES BOUGHT Plans Include Modern Han gars And Buildings As Soon As Possible IS PRIVATELY OWNED Edd Church, manager of the new airport, Rendezvous Field, which is located just west of The Rendezvous, about a mile from Elkin on the Elkin - Boonville highway, announced Tuesday that the field will be in operation in approximately 30 days. He stat ed that final grading is now being done and that new airplanes have been bought with delivery expect ed very soon. Mr. Church further stated that the airport will be up to date in every respect" and will be capable of landing the largest types of civilian planes, and the servicing of the same. Pil-ef Cub, Fairchild and Stin son airplanes will be sold and complete student instruction, rental and charter service will also be available, it was said. Plans have been completed for the construction of modem fire proof hangars and other necessary buildings as soon as materials are available, and in addition, modern rest rooms and other conveniences will be provided for the public. Manager Church also pointed out that in his opinion the present costs of flying is almost prohibi tive for the average citizen and it is his plan to reduce this cost as much as 40 per cent in some cases and to bring it down to a rock bottom average in all cases. The field and all facilities will be privately owned and will not in any way entail the expenditure of taxpayers’ money, Mr. Church said. COURT IS UNDER WAY IN YADKIN Large Number Of Cases Are Heard; Judge Rousseau Is Presiding HALL IS PROSECUTING The February term of Yadkin county criminal court convened Monday morning with Judge J. A. Rousseau, of North Wilkesboro, presiding. Judge Gwyn of Reids ville was scheduled to hold this court but Judge Rousseau swapped courts with him. Solici tor Avalon E. Hall is prosecuting the docket, except Tuesday morn ing when he went to take a daughter to the hospital. Atty. Turner Grant, of Mocksville, pro secuted the docket while he was absent. Harvey J. Peoples, merchant of Yadkinville, Route 2, is foreman of the grand jury and Paul Casstevens is secretary. Judge Rousseau delivered his charge to the grand jury Monday morning, which was regarded as a forceful charge. Two divorce cases were tried and divorces secured. They were Luther Potts vs Nancy C. Potts, and Judie B. Stout vs John B. Stout, both secured on grounds of two years separation. Most of the cases tried have been for violating the prohibition laws, driving drunk, and cases growing out of such as these. Judge Rousseau jaas been lenient in these cases, but firm. One of the first cases disposed of was Wendell Prim, driving drunk. He plead guilty, was given 30 days on the roads, suspended on condition he pay a fine of $50 and costs of the case, not drink any substance containing alcohol, and surrender his driving license to the clerk for 12 months. Dick Groce, driving drunk, plead quilty, given 60 days on roads, suspended for two years on condition that he pay a fine of $50 and costs; not to drink any substance containing alcohol; not to violate any of the state laws, and not to drive a car for 12 months. Arvil Groce, driving drunk, gets same sentence as above. Ralph Gray Styers. driving drunk, pleads guilty, and gets same sentence -as In above cases. Weymouth Boyd, driving drunk, pleads guilty and gets same sen tence as those above. Marie Vestal plead guilty to a charge of vagrancy and was given a sentence of 30 days in jail. Ernest Coy Anthony, reckless driving, pleads guilty, 60 days on (Continued on page 8, 1st sec.) $2,500 Is Presented Thurmond Chatham For Gilvin Roth Y. M. C. A. Boy Scout Week <&■/<# sssssssssssssss T7T HONOR SCOUTS — Nearly 2,000,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Senior Scouts will mark the 36th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America during Boy Scout Week, February 8 to 14. Theme of the celebration is “Scouts of the World—Building Together.” As a part of the program here, local Scouts will take over the town govern ment for an hour Friday afternoon. Clothing Drive Here Proves A Big Success Myers Thanks Everyone For Cooperation Charles N. Myers, chairman of the local Victory Clothing Drive, Wednesday expressed his thanks to the citizens of Elkin, Jonesville and neighboring communities for their cooperation in the drive to collect used clothing, shoes and bedding for the peoples of war ravaged countries overseas. Mr. Myers stated that the drive had gone over the top. “Although the final count has not yet been completed, more than 5,000 gar ments have been contributed,” he said. He also stated that hun dreds of really worthwhile gifts, such as men’s and ladies’ suits, pants, coats, blankets and shoes, in addition to thousands of small er garments had been contributed. Mr. Myers said that special thanks should go to the local fur niture stores and the postoffice, which acted as receiving stations, and the former of which furnish ed trucks used in making the two town-wide canvasses; to Dr. W. B. Reeves, who permitted the use of a room at the State Theatre for storage, and to C. H. Leary and his helpers for packing and shipping. He also gave full credit to the Boy Scouts of Troop 48, and all others who worked so faithfully in the drive, and ex tended his appreciation to The Tribune for publicity given the campaign. The drive will come to an end this afternoon (Thursday), at 5:00 o’clock, he said. Dr. J. W. Jolley Buys Hudspeth Home Here Dr. J. W. Jolley, Elkin physician, purchased the. John Hudspeth home and adjoining property at the auction sale of the Hudspeth farm held Monday. Dr. Jolley, it is understood, will make his home there. The remainder of the farm was subdivided and sold in lots to a number of different purchasers. The Hudspeth herd of beef cattle was also sold during the sale. Eugene Transou and J. R. Sambill, both of Sparta, pur chased some of the cattle, with ether head going to Harry Hen ierson, of South Carolina. Scouts To Take Over Government Of Town Friday Local Boy Scouts, in observ ance of National Scout Week, will take over the town govern ment Friday afternoon from 4:00 until 5:00 o’clock, it was announced by Tom Both, local Scout official following a meet ing at the Gilvin Roth YMCA. Mr. Roth said a meeting of Scoutmasters was to be held at the YMCA Wednesday night to select Scouts to serve as the various town officials. POLIO DRIVE IS CLOSE TO GOAL Total Of $1,903.14 Is Con tributed To Date; Some Unreported LOCAL QUOTA IS $2,000 Sam Neaves, chairman of the local March of Dimes campaign, sponsored by the National Foun dation for Infantile Paralysis, an nounced Tuesday that Elkin’s goal of $2,000 appeared assured as total contributions to date amounted to $1,903.14, with sev eral sources as yet unreported. Mr. Neaves stated that local theatres, which cooperated in the drive by the showing of appropri ate movie shorts, and the taking of collections from the audiences, had reported a collection of $530 during the week of January 24-31. Half of the money contributed to the drive will remain for local use with the other half to go to the National Foundation. New Postmistress At Jonesville Office Mrs. Carl Rary, of Jonesville, who was appointed postmistress of the Jonesville post office Novem ber 10, 1945, assumed her new du ties February 1, replacing Mrs. H. G. York, who had served as acting postmistress during the past year or more. Mrs. Rary, prior to her appoint ment to the Jonesville post office, had been connected with Bryan’s here for the past three years. Industrialist Is Honored As 500 Attend Dinner Thurmond Chatham, citizen of Elkin, nationally known industria list, and a veteran of two world wars, was honored by “the home folks” here last Thursday evening at a recognition dinner staged in the Gilvin Roth Y.M.C.A., a build ing made possible for Elkin through his own generosity and that of his firm, the Chatham Manufacturing Company. Charles A. Cannon, of Kannap olis, another prominent North Carolina industrialist who heads the Cannon Mills Company, was speaker for the Elkin Civic Clubs, sponsors of the event, and the citizens of Elkin. Mr. Cannon de clared the Elkin man was one of the nation’s first citizens, and paid tribute to his father, the late Hugh Gwyn Chatham, as “one of the most beloved men that North Carolina ever produced.” The speaker then pointed out that “through the longest and most severe depression in our his tory,” the Chatham Manufactur ing Company “produced goods of the highest quality, styled to please the most exacting buyer, but best of all, filling the needs of the American family. Through advertising and merchandising the buyers’ dollar from the entire United States was brought here to create jobs and payrolls that have been the life blood of this com munity, a blessing to the home of every employee, and a help to the farmer and merchant.” Turning directly to Mr. Chat ham, Mr. Cannon continued: “From such a period you were in a comparatively short time pro ducing for the war effort day and night, week after week, every pound and yard of goods possible. ‘‘Your leadership through the depression had already won for you the complete confidence of your associates. “Every employee was ready and eager to do his part. They all knew that things do not just hap pen. Someone must take the lead — be captain of the team, furnish inspiration and co-ordinate the efforts of all the men and women who were ready to produce for the finest men in the world — the American army, the American navy and the American air force.” The over 500 guests assembled for the meeting stood in honor of Mr. Chatham as he came to the speaker’s stand to make his re sponse. And in this response he paid the highest tribute of appre ciation he could give by calling the name of the families who (Continued on page 5, this sec.) DEATH CLAIRS MRS. BUTNER Passes Away Saturday At Pinehurst Hospital Fol lowing Illness RITES HELD MONDAY Mrs. Virginia Hensley Butner, 28, resident of Elkin for the past seven years, and wife of Henry L. Butner of 131 Sunset Park and co-owner of Butner McLeod Motor Company here, died Saturday at a Pinehurst hospital after a criti cal illness of several weeks. She had been a patient at a Charlotte hospital since December and was recently moved to Pinehurst. Her condition had been considered serious for sometime. Mrs. Butner, a member of a prominent family of Pinehurst, was a member of the Junior Wo man’s Club of this city and of the Women’s Society of Christian Ser vice of the Elkin Methodist church. She attended Meredith college, in Raleigh, for two years. Surviving are the husband; three daughters, Janice, Peggy, and Toby Lee Butner, all of Elk in; and her mother and stepfath er, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Leavitt, of Pinehurst; both maternal grand parents, Mr. and Mrs. K. W. Mc Leod, Carthage, N. C.; and pater nal grandmother, Mrs. C. B. Hen sley, Penn-Liard, Va. Funeral services were conducted Monday morning at 11 o’clock at the Community church, in Pine hurst. Interment was made in the Southern Pines cemetery.