GET READY FOR MARCH OF DIMES DEVOTED 100% TO OUR COMMUNITY — THE GROWING SWANNANOA VALLEY Weather Dec. 27_ Dec. 28_ Dec. 29— Dec. 30 Dec. 31_ Jan. l.__ Jan. 2_ High Low Pree. _44_33 _38_26 _49_33 .04 _51_36 .06 _38_25 T _49_21 _ -_„34_28 VOL. 16. THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1961, BLACK MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA NO. 19 — Single Copy 10c 8 PAGES TODAY REFLECTIONS Gordon Greenwood RESOLUTIONS! I resolve not to make any resolutions that I do not in tend to keep! That was my first New Year's resolution. At the end of the year I’ll give you an accounting as to how I did. 1 firmly resolve to try and do a better job for our com munity during the coming year than I did in 19(10. We need very badly, in my opinion, improvement in edu cation. more aid to welfare, a fourth lane to Asheville, an access road to the Blue Ridge Parkway via the Old Mount Mitchell Motor road, an im provement to the road to Mon treat, improved secondary roads — those traveled by school buses and those which aren’t—many things in many fields. The list grows too numerous to mention. We can't get these all at one time but we can keep pushing, never forgetting that "them what asks sometimes gits.” So during 19G1 I resolve to ask. And I hope we get. —R— CHRISTMAS MESSAGES! During the season we see many messages written or printed on beautiful and at tractive cards and letters. The following from Cloyd Philpott, lieutenant gover nor of North Carolina, was a simple typewritten letter but it carried a message which is one that we can car ry with us for many years to come. It said in part. Dear Gordon: For the new year, I send you this message, which came across my desk sever al years ago, the author of which is unknown: 1 said to a man who stood at the gate of the year, give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown, and he replied: ‘‘Go out into the darkness and nut yoer'tasift into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way.” —R— ■ l’RAYER FOR NEW YEAR 2 Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; Where hate rules, let me bring love, Where malice, forgiveness, Where disputes, reconciliation, Where error, truth, Where doubt, belief, Where despair, hope, Where darkness, Thy light, | Where sorrow, joy! 1 O Master, let me strive more to comfort others than to be comforted, To understand others than to be understood, To love others, more than to be loved! For he who gives, receives, He who forgets himself, finds, He who forgives, receives for giveness, And dying, we rise again to eternal life. Amen. —Francis of Assisi, (Thirteenth Century) Teen Agers Will Start March of Dimes Friday Teen-agers of the county kick-off the March of Dimes drive this Friday, January 6, at 5, when they begin the an nual sale of crutches. These minature pins are given to don ors to show' they have parti cipated in the drive and thus will not be again approached. Donations are on a voluntary basis, give as you feel able, or wish to; children are urged to feel free to give pennies so they can have an active part in the drive to help those less fortunate. Mrs. Grace Scruggs stated that Jackie Hughes and Pattie Ilyrd Talbot, of Owen w'ill be ! co-chairman and will, with about 100 others, initiate the drive which will continue un til the following day, Satur day, at 5. Mrs. Scruggs also said the teen-agers have been most en ; thusiastie about helping and are planning a county-wide dance which will culminate [their activities. The March of Dimes will I continue throughout the month [with other means being em ] ployed to gain the necessary [funds to carry on the work of [the organization. She wishes [the citizens of the community Ito be aware of the fact that [this fund is not covered in the llnited Appeal drive which ftook place some time ago. m mmzsaammm Only a portion of the 150 persons to attend the Rotary club Christmas party for children, is shown here. Gifts were distributed to a carefully chosen number of children ranging in age from 2 months to 11 years. This 10 month old youngster was pretty solem throughout the whole affair until he received his gift for which he bestowed a large smile on the Rotary Ann when she wished him “Merry Christmas”. Mrs. Don Burgin, Rotary Anne, presents a gift to this guest whose name had just been called. "One In Your Midst” Receives Answer To Letter To Editor (B. Gordon Byron, retired industrial executive, moved to Black Mountain several years ago. Since he has lived in many sections of the country he is well qualified to answer the charg es made by "one in your midst" in a letter to the editor last week. He has had wide experience in dealing with the public, built his home here, and knows the community. His an swer follows.) Dear Mr. Greenwood: While contrary to your pol icy to publish anonymous let ters, I think it was wise to publish the one signed “One in Your Midst," last week. For one thing, it causes me to look around and count our many blessings, and also stimulates a little soul searching and self analysis which is usually pro ductive. 1 would like to take up each point raised in turn. Taxes Obviously, if you buy a piece of unimproved property and put a building on it, its value goes up. As taxes are, throughout the country, based on the appraised value, the Enka Here For Doubleheader Friday Evening Enka, a leading team in Buncombe County and Blue Ridge Conference play, will be here for a doubleheader with the Owen High school teams on Friday evening, Jan. 6. The JVs game will start at 5:30 with the girls’ contest following at 7:00. On Tuesday, Jan. 10, the Warhorses and Lassies will journey out to Waynesville to play the Haywood county en tries in the Blue Ridge Con ference. taxes on this property will go up. But let us remember that the placing of a building calls for increased services from the town or county and addi tional costs which can only be met by taxes. I note that in the past five years, my own local taxes have increased 45 per cent. This is high, but I am not unmindful of the fact that the cost of labor and sup plies (also a result of con stantly increasing labor costs) have also increased in the same period. Thirty-nine years ago, when we were married, we built a small, two-bedroom house on 5500 square feet of land on the outskirts of a “backward” village in West chester County, New York, be cause it was cheap. The local taxes on that house in the thirties were about the same as my present taxes on a much larger three-bedroom house located on 22,500 square feet. And two years ago, when I visited my former neighbors, I found that the local taxes on my former house, then 37 years old, were more than twice what I am now paying for a much superior property. Sales Tax Few, if any States, have no sales tax of 3 per cent. Mich igan, just recently, has raised its sales tax to 4 per cent. Moreover, some states charge 3 per cent sales tax even on the food purchased in retail food stores, which N. C. does not. Two-Price System We moved here 13 years ago and have never discovered any two price system such as your correspondent claims. On the contrary, when we moved here, we were welcomed in lo cal stores, given advice and help freely, and even given a discount as a token of good will. I know that was the —Turn to Page 4 Citizen Urges Police Control Beyond City Lmt Dear Mr. Greenwood: Because of the limited area included in the Town of Black Mountain, traffic control by our local police force is inef fectual. Cars pass along Mon treat road at 70 miles per hour in a 35 mile zone and be fore the police can overtake them they are outside the town limit where they are free from arrest. The same problem arises with respect to other crimes committed within the town limits. The tragic acci dent Sunday night just out side our limits is a case in point. I urge you to sponsor leg islation to authorize our po lice force to make arrests any where within the township, of persons committing law viola tions within the Town of Black Mountain, if such legislation is possible. Of course the town limits should be extended but that is another subject. Respectfully yours, —M. E. Head. Throughbreds Sired From One Of Three Horses The term “thoroughbred” is one of the most loosely used in the horse world. To most dealers every horse they own has some thoroughbred blood flowing in its veins, (the a mount depending solely on the gullibility of the prospec tive buyer). But to a real horseman a horse is a thor oughbred only when its ances tory can be traced back in a direct male line to one of three horses: Eclipse, Herod or Mat chem. These stallions were de scended from one of three horses, all desert studs. They were in Darley Arabian, the Byerly Turk, and the Godol phin Barb. All of these found their way to England. Here they were bred to English Cart horse mares and produc ed, a few generations later, the foundation sires of the English Thoroughbred. They seem always to run in threes. Most horses now rac ing on American tracks go back to either Domino, Ben Brush, or Fairplay; Domino and Ben Brush being descend ents of Eclipse, and Fairplay of Matchem. Today, as for centuries, breeders are burning the lights until the wee hours studying brood mares charts and the racing records of var ious stallions for thorough bred parents are chosen with great care. But sometimes these careful efforts don’t pay off. Many an owner has stood woefully on the rail at the far turn and watched years of breeding, waiting, and paying out dough, drop back farther and farther because the colt in question lacked the class to answer the challenge of rac ing. There is a saying— “Breed the best to the best— and hope for the best.” Some less informed persons have said that the thorough bred isn’t as sensible as the common blooded horse. Well, maybe it couldn’t be called in telligent to keep fighting to finish with a broken leg, but is intelligent sense a greater virtue than courage ? Who can say? A s Cyranoride Bergerac cried, “It is better to fight when there is no use!” Any one who had seen horses like the gallant Black Gold, Dark Secret, and Scapa Flow, who fought so gamely when there was no use, would agree with this. Many thoroughbreds have been known for particular per sonality traits, C. W. Ander son, a noted author of horse stories and a great artist, tells the following stories in his books, “Thoroughbreds” and “Horses Are Folks.” There was once a horse who, during his racing career, won sixty-seven races. He might have won more but for several little habits of his. When you bet on him you weren’t bet ting on his speed, but on whether he would decide to jump over the rail and take his jockey for a nice little hack across the infield, or stop and enjoy the view along about the stretch turn. This horse’s name, the understatement of the year, Carefree! The Finn, was a rugged horse, known almost as much —Turn ta Pape 4 Hilltop Scene Of Unexpected Christmas Guest It was two days after Christ mas. The phone rang, "This is Howard.” "Why, Howard you said you couldn’t come. Where are you? I’ll be in Black Mt. at 11:30. I went to the bus station in N. Y. and a bus was just leaving for Black Mt. so I hopped on.” Such fun, such excitement at Christmas time to have chil dren come home. Ruth, Tom Innes, her husband, from Kingsport, Tenn., and their lively three were here for Christmas dinner. A phone call to Ray, Thelma and their son Raymond who had not dared to come over the icy roads from Oak Ridge for Christmas day were soon on the road for home and with them the dog and Siamese cat. They did not bri.j,y Raymond's pet mouse in a cage and his pet snake. And so the house on the hill was ringing with laughter again as of old and every one was having a good time. What matter if the pipes had frozen and broken and water was scarce. In the good old days that had hap pened before. Howard found some of his tricks and we all wondered once again however did he do it. Howard’s visit was all too short, just one night but it was like Dick’s visit a week or two back, unexpected and hap py. The tug of home is strong especially at Christmas time. Mary and Vic and their four teenagers in Ankora, Turkey, will be back in the States for next Christmas and happy Dr. and Mrs. Richardson will be. When Howard was taken to the bus to leave he looked at the It. R. station and the bus station and up and down Cher ry street. “Well,” he said, “This is certainly the scene of my childhood. It has not changed an iota,” but he had been shown how the rest of Black Mt. had moved forward. —Turn to Page 4 Orphanage Has New Name By Board Action By action of the Board of Trustees of the Mountain Or phanage and approved by the Asheville Presbytery in ses sion last April, the Mountain Orphanage will hereafter be known as the Presbyterian Home for Children of Black Mountain, N. C. The change of name was approved last week by the secretary of the state. The reason for the change in name was to avoid the use of the word “orphan” since the majority of children cared for in the institution are from broken homes and other situ ations, rather than from loss of both parents as the word “orphan” indicates. The change will also link the home with the Presbyter ian church which started the work in 1904. It was the first home for needy children in the Appalachian mountains. Be fore finally locating at the present site there were two other sites, one in Haywood county and the second in Hen derson county. The home has been located in Black Moun tain since 1923. The institution has a capac ity for 56 and at present cares for 54. Three of the young sters are in college and one student nurse at Memorial Mission. Don McKenzie is superintendent. —Photo by Ed DuPuy Employee’s children are shown receiving gifts at the Kearfott Employee’s Activities Association Christ mas party. Aiding Santa Claus with his task are, left to right, Utha Franklin, Barbara Rickett, Jessie Glenn and Mary Wagner. Fred Hoffman was also active in the distribution of toys. Hiss Clapp Becomes Bride Of John McRary Miss Carolyn Celeste Clapp, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Hu bert L. Clapp of Swannanoa, and John Walter McRary III, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wal ter McRary Jr., of Metuchen, N. J., formerly of Asheville, were married Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 4 o’clock in the after noon at the Swannanoa Pres byterian church. The Rev. George B. Talbot performed the double ring ceremony. A program of wedding music was presented by Mrs. Kenneth Davidson, organist. The bride, given in marriage by her father, wore a floor length gown of peau de sole, trimmed with Alencon lace, ending in a chapel train; a fingertip veil of illusion at tached to a silk organza petal headpiece and carried a bou quet of orchids. Miss Mary Linde Hatcher of Fort Valley, Ga., was maid of honor, and Miss Janet Bar field, Miss Nancy Johnson, Miss Mary Ann Swart of Wil mington, and Miss Joan Vel lines of Richmond, Va., were bridesmaids. They were at tired in gold satin street length dresses with gold petal caps and had bouquets of bronze-toned roses. The father of the br idegroom served as best rrran and Bruce Clapp and Lee Clapp, broth ers of the bride; David Puett of Morganton and Hoyt Hack ney of Sanford ushered. Following the ceremony a reception was held at the Monte Vista hotel. Mrs. McRary will graduate in January from Duke Uni versity with a degree in Eng lish. Mr. McRary will also graduate in January from N. C. State college with a B.S. in physics. He will then enter graduate school at N. C. tSate. Upon their return from a wed ding trip the couple will live at 2824% Bedford ave., Ra leigh. Toys were collected by plant personnel from various sourc es and committees were ap pointed to re-do the toys, paint them, repair them, and make them completely like new for distribution to children of needy families. The toys were distributed during Christmas week to some 20 families in which 100 children participat ed in enjoying a happier and brighter Christmas through the hard efforts of Kearfott employees. Those on the Christmas Toy committee were as follows: Andy Andrews, chairman, Lucy Hollifield, Jean McFalls, Phebe Hill, H. Wheelon, Eu gene McFalls, Jack Gilbert, Jessie Glenn, Bob Wheelon, A. T. Hollifield, Georgia Nix, Mary Carter, Dot Kennedy, Abnetta Tweed, J. Stevens, and Ben Ivey. (Other pictures appear else where in this issue.) Ingenious Work of Mrs,Norwood Recognized (The following article is from “CAROLINA BABIES”, a publication of the Children’s Home Society of North Caro —Turn to Page 8 Senior Club To Hear Of Appreciation The Black Mountain Wo man’s club will meet in the fellowship room of the Black Mountain Baptist church at .'1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11. Mrs. A. J. Schneider will present the music apprecia tion program of the year. Pi ano selections from the -works of Brahms, Kaehaturian and Ernesto Lecuona will be used to illustrate her talk on these composers. The regular board meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Mon day, Jan. 9 with Mrs. Carl Bowness. Mrs. Garnet Green wood assisting hostess. MRS. JOHN WALTER McRARY, III Christmas Tree Trail Followed By Garden Div. Members ftf the Garden Di vision of the Senior Woman’s club and their escorts drove over the trail of enchantment created by colored lights, trees and Christmas decorations on the evening of Dec. 19. Reginning at Oak Knoll, the party convened where a bright ly colored, lighted tree was atop a second floor roof; can dles lighted the many win dows and two beautiful trees were alight on the first floor. After greetings with Mrs. Aleshire and Miss Ruth the party drove to the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Weeks at Ridgecrest. Brightly colored lights decorated the natural holly tree on the lawn w'here gaily garbed carolers appear ed as the chimes pealed out the Christmas carols. After viewing the clever de corations arranged by Mr. and Mrs. Weeks in each room, the party departed for “Over Yonder,” the North Fork home of the Kerlees. Here each room accented the others. Tables were spread with bril liant red cloths, lights were confined to oil lamps, candles and lanterns. Greens, pine, holly and poinsettea were used in profusion on tables and paneled walls, giving the house a gala, holiday motif. Refreshments were served and carols sung—with Mrs. Bergthold at the organ and Mrs. Constance Weber leading the carolers. The party returned to the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. I. Willis of Ridgecrest, where decorations were of a different trend. Mrs. Willis being well known as an artist and dec orator, she used white, silver, pink and gold in the dainty arrangements for dining room, den and living room while na tive trees, greens, bells and lights adorned the outside of the house and door. The Garden Division meets each Monday following the regular meeting of the Wo man’s club for a program of inspiration and information throughout the club year. The meetings are held in the homes of the members and refreshments are served. Mrs. Walter A. Davis of High Haven is president of the group, and Mrs. Herbert Dougherty is the program chairman. Dinner Honors Those Born Under Capicorn A Capicorn Birthday dinner for Miss Ruby Hall, Mrs. .1. W. Bergthold, and Mrs. George Moray was given Monday, Jan. 2, at “Fairlawn Lodge,” the home of Misses Ruby, Caroline, Bernice, and How ard Hall. This is an annual event for the three ladies. Others present were George Moray and Mrs. Constance Webber. PART-TIME FARM FAMILY CHOSEN The J. C. Wise family of Beaverdam coimmunity near Candler in Buncombe county was selected to represent, via a picture series, a typical U. S. part-time farm family at the International Agricultural Fair in Cairo, Egypt, March and April 1961. C of C to Install Officers And Board Jan. 17 The officers and board of directors of the Black Moun tain Chamber of Commerce will be installed at a banquet to be held at the Monte Vista hotel, Tuesday evening, Jan. 17, at 7:00 o’clock. An excellent program is be ing arranged. Dr. Stanley L. Nale will be the speaker. Tick ets may be purchased at the Black Mountain News, Collins Dept. Store, Black Mountain Hardware Store and the Cham ber of Commerce office. The public is cordially invited. Tickets should be purchased not later than Monday, Jan. 16. BLACK MOUNTAIN LODGE MEETS Black Mountain Lodge 663 AF & AM will hold stated communications Friday, Jan. 6, at 8 p.m. All Master Ma sons are cordially invited tc attend. B. I,. Marett, Master. Pvt. David W. Buckner recently spent a 14-day furlough with his parents and brother, Mr. and Mrs. Bert W. Buckner and Ter ry of Swannanoa. He re ported on Dec. 16 to Fort Dix, N, J., for duty in Europe. Pvt. Buckner enilsted in the Army in July last year and completed his basic training at Fort Jackson, S. C. His final training before going to Europe was with the Engineers at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. For those of his many friends who wish to write him his address is: Pvt. David W. Buckner, RA 147/6335, 79 Engra Bn Construction Div., APO 189, New York, N. Y. Slate Accepts Hospital Site From YA The State of North Carolina formally took possession of the old Moore VA hospital site from the Federal government in a brief ceremony held on the grounds at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday. Attending were representa tives from the Veterans Ad ministration, state, Town of Black Mountain, City of Ashe ville, and officials of the State Board of Correction and Train ing, the agency which will utilize the property as a treat ment and diagnostic center for children. The property was bought by the State of North Caro lina for a test farm from J. H. Greenwood in 1908 and was sold to the government for an army hospital during World War II. In 1946 it was trans ferred to the Veterans Admin istration but had been declared surplus when the patient load for TB patients reached a lev el which, officials maintained, could be handled at Oteen. —Turn to Page 5 Susie Reed Leads Owen To Victory The Owen girls continued to show improvement as they turned back the strong Hen dersonville six on the local court, 39 to 28. The Owen boys lost a hard fought battle to the invaders, 48 to 45. Big gun for the Owen girls was Susie Reed who continued to pace the Buncombe county scoring with 30 points. She was ably assisted by Greene, Boring, Haney, and Himes in the forcourt. The home team guards, White, Harris, Cooper, Nan ney, Byas, Taylor, and Soos threw up such a tight defense that the Hendersonville girls were able to count but nine points during the first half. After leading by 20 to 13 at halftime, the Owen boys slipped in the second and saw the visiting boys draw along side at the three minute mark —Turn to Page 4 BANK PROVIDED ORGAN MUSIC WAS HOLIDAY TREAT ITie Christmas music waft ing from the Northwestern Bank on Thursday and Friday before the holidays was played on an organ furnished for the occasion by Cagle Music com pany of Asheville. The or ganists were Nonie Greene, junior at Miami University, who played in the mornings and Barbara Helgreen, organ ist at the First Baptist church, who played in the afternoons. Both young women are for mer employees of the North western Bank.