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Gey ser Becomes
Attractive Again
I Speaking at Sunday's
eremonies marking the
estoration of Andrews
l<Jyser, U.S. Rep. Roy A.
i(ylor paid tribute to the
eople of Old Fort and
IcDowell County for their
erserverance in resurrecting
ihe historic landmark.
Noting that the first
restoration, in 1911, was
ileilicated to Col. A.B. An
drews for his in building tht
railroad line up and over the
Mountains, Taylor said,
Today we pay tribute to the
perseverance and efforts of
ihe citizens of Old Fort and
McDowell County, who have
generously contributed their
njeney and their labor.
;:Tn particular, we salute
lywo men — Old Fort Mayor
Jack I,ytle and Mayor Pro
Toni Jack Piercy — who,
through their untiring efforts,
have succeeded in once again
making Andrews Geyser a
symbol of the determination,
vitality and beauty of Western
North Carolina.”
:Taylor described the laying
of- track over the Blue Ridge
Mountains as 'one of the most
spectacular achievements of
our railroad system.” It was
at Round Knob, which was to
! become the site of the foun
tain, that the builders faced
apd overcame their most
difficult problem, he said.
K 'ln order to accomplish
their goal, they built a cur
vature in the line which, as the
track winds up the mountain,
enables a passenger to see
Andrews Geyser from five
different places on five dif
ferent sides of the track.
"Many times, 1 have
ridden a train by the geyser,
and people would rush to the
window to see the geyser.
Then someone on the other
side of the train would say,
There’s another one.” Then
they would see a third or
fourth one - they thought.”
The congressman noted that
six tunnels had to be carved
out of the rock within a 2M>
mile section. “The completion
of the rail link between Old
Fort and Ridgecrest was a
great engineering
achievement — 2 especially
when we relize that the only
available tools consisted of
pick and shovel, black
powder, draft animal and
manpower."
Describing the geyser as “a
community asset of lasting
value,” Taylor said its
restoration was “a real
community project of which I
know you are most proud.”
“There is a need to preserve
open spaces, to preserve
beautiful quiet spots such as
this where people can slow
down, away from crowded
cities, and be revived, in
spired and impelled by the
grandeur of nature,” he said.
-..■‘■Nextiottie preservation of ,
liberty and security, our
government’s great
responsibility is the steward
ship of our national resour
ces."
Among the other speakers
at Sunday’s event was Harold
H. Hall, executive vice
president of Southern
Railway. Hall reviewed the
joint history of the railroad
and the geyser, describing the
building of the railroad line
from Old Fort to Asheville and
its impact on the area.
The railroad executive also
discussed the construction of
the old Round Knob Hotel and
its geyser, which was built in
1890.
Built as a tourist attraction
for travelers on the railroad,
the geyser served as an at
traction again Sunday.
Although passenger trains no
longer travel the route except
for the Skyland Special on
summer and fall weekends, a
special eight-car excursion
train made the trip Sunday in
honor of the opening of the
geyser.
Those attending the
ceremonies stopped and
waved and the passengers on
the train crowded to the
windows as once again the
railroad, the geyser made
history together.
Soon after twelve o’clock the
program started off with blue
grass music, chorus singing
and two teams of the Old Fort
Cloggers. A change of wind
aimed the geyser spray
toward' th# West Mcv***vU
Junior High Band as they
played but the impromptu
“shower” did not dampen the
quality of their music.
Xm v m.
V iew Of Geyser From Excursion Train
D
1!
Cl
pi
til
Grocery Store Robbed
o\
sc
Bi
f'ropst Grocery on
'Craitjmont Road in Black
Mountain was robbed Wed
nesday morning, Mav 12, by
*n armed man, ' Black
fountain police reported.
Patrolman Myron Fineberg
’aid the robb ,r entered at 7:20
*as t *e owner, David
h’ropst, was preparing to close
the store for a few minutes.
Propst had just taken the
money from the cash register,
the patrolman said, when the
intruder struck him on the
side, of the head with his
sawed-off shotgun, forced him
into the basement, bound him,
took his car keys, cut the
telephone line and left.
In addition to the cash, the
robber took Propst’s late
model station wayon,
Fineberi! said. Props! ear was
later recovered at Otcen,
Props! was treated for ear
lacerations at Memorial P“
Mission Hospital be
•MBgMgngwBBMMaMlAM
???? BDif C
me Board ot com
missioners of the Town of
Montreat met in regular
session on May 13. The
following actions were taken:
The Mayor was asked to
request the State Highway
Department, in accord with
the Town’s contract with the
State of North Carolina, to put
in one day’s work, not to ex
ceed $700 in cost, on patching
of streets, particularly
Greybeard Trail.
A report that the re-paving
of Assembly Drive would cost
$20,000 was received.
The Planning and Zoning
Commission was directed to
see that the maps used by that
group be made available to
the Executive Director of the
Mountain Retreat
Association.
After explanation by the
engineer for the Metropolitan
Sewerage District of a
proposed change in the
method of determining the
share of each municipality in
the cost of a survey under the
201 Facilities Plan, basing the
share on work necessary
rather than on population, the
Board tabled until May 20
action on this proposal.
A study was directed of the
desirability of enforcing the
requirement of privilege
licenses provided for in the
Code of General Ordinances.
The Mayor was asked to
direct Montreat - Anderson
CS»a«gO to discontinue the use
of a dump on Oklahoma
Terrace and to cover the
present pile of debris.
A special meeting for
Four More Hats Tossed Into
Political Ring
Asheville businessman
Marvel J. “Jim Crawford
innounced Wednesday, May
2, he will seek the
Jemocratic nomination for a
■eat in the Western North
Carolina delegation to the
itate House of Represen
atives.
Also, Wednesday, Superior
,'ourt Judge .Bruce B. Briggs
if Mars Hill announced his
ntention to seek the
lomination as Republican
andidate for the 11th District
eat in the U.S. House of
tepresentatives, from which
eteran Democrat Roy A.
'aylor is retiring.
In announcing his candidacy
ir the state seat, Crawford,
iho is chairman of
iemocratic Precinct 3, said,
My political philosophy is
imple and straightforward,
ly position on any issue will
e determined by what is best
>r our area."
"I will work for increased
?onomy and efficiency in
overnment, more and better
>bs, tighter controls on
lending and taxation, in
■eased support for education,
ronger law enforcement and
leedier administration of
istice, improvement in our
:nal system and increased
msumer protection," he
lid.
Crawford, a Buncombe
lunty native, has served as a
ember of the state
emocratic Executive
immittee and as 11th
istrict representative on a
'•member committee
irrently drafting the party’s
atform for consideration at
e state convention in June.
The 46-year-old parking lot
mer earned a political
ience degree and was in Phi
ita Kappa society at Duke
liversity. After military
rvice with the U.S. Army
unterintelligence Corps in
irope, he entered the
blishing field, working as an
itor for W.W. Norton,
indom House and Odyssey
ess publishing houses,
ither hats tossed into the
litical ring Wednesday
sides/ Crawfords’ and
/ «
Briggs’ are those of Thomas
F. Eller, challenging in
cumbent Democrat William
E. Digges as Buncombe
County register of deeds, and
J.W. Morgan, a South French
Broad Junior High School
science teacher, who became
the second candidate for the
at-large seat on the expanded
Buncombe County Board of
Education.
Diggs filed for re-election
Tuesday, saying he would
campaign on his record in
office, which includes
microfilming county records.
He has been register of deeds
since 1963.
Briggs, 38, a former
Asheville attorney, state
senator and assistant U.S.
attorney, resigned his 24th
Judicial District judgeship
effective Wednesday. He was
appointed to the bench in
February, 1975, by Gov.
James E. Holshouser Jr.
“One of the main reasons
I’m seeking this office is my
firm belief that we need to put
the government of Washington
back in the hands of the
people,” he said in a news
conference at the Sheraton
Motor Inn.
“For too long, the laws and
regulations coming out of the
federal government in
Washington have grown and
grown until they interfere too
muchin the lives and affairs of
average citizens and small
business people,” said Briggs,
38, who was a district court
judge prior to the superior
court appointment.
Eller, 34, is a legal assistant
with the firm of McGuire,
Wood, Erwin and Crowe. He
cited his frequent dealings
with the register of deeds
office as a major factor in his
qualification for the position
he is seeking.
He is completing
requirements for a bachelor's
degree at Western Carolina
University, where he is
studying business, business
law and real estate.
He was president of the
Buncombe County Young
Democrats in 1973 and 1974.
The incumbent, Digges, was
appointed register of deeds in
1963 to fill the unexpired term
of his father, George A.
Digges, who held the post
since 1918. The younger
Digges has won re-election
three times, only once with
opposition. A potential issue in
the campaign is the complaint
of his absenteeism.
Morgan, 44, taught
chemistry, physics and
general science 13 years at
Reynolds High School before
taking the job at South French
Broad.
He said he believes more
vocational courses in the
schools is the key to getting
more industry in the county.
If elected to the school board
the nonpartisan November
election, he said, he will also
try to secure participation by
students, citizens and
businesses in developing a
broader school curriculum.
There are many needs in the
health care and child care
areas, he asserted.
Buncombe County Com
missioner Roy M. Trantham
officially entered the race for
the chairmanship of the Board
of County Commissioners
Wednesday by paying his
filing fee at the Board of
Elections.
Trantham, a Democrat,
faces an Aug. 17 primary
against incumbent chairman
R. Curtis Ratcliff, a
Republican, and Clerk of
Court J. Ray Elingburg.
2E2* COMI^ENCEMENT EXERCISES at Warren Wilson, students and
S5SLSS2" ,am"y and ,ri'n“ ~ tk'> «•**«
Warren Wilson Graduates 53
Fifty-three seniors received
bachelor of arts degrees in
commencement exercises
Friday at Warren Wilson
College in Swannanoa.
President Reuben A. Holden
addressed the graduating
class and Rev. Frederick G.
Ohler, chaplain of the college,
presented the invocation and
benediction.
Taylor Lists
Revenues
Sources
U.S. Rep. Roy A. Taylor
today published in the
Congressional Record the
sources and amounts of in
come he and Mrs. Taylor
received during calendar year
1975. in addition to his salarv
as a Member of Congress, and
the amounts of federal and
state income tax they paid for
1975.
The 11th District
Congressman detailed the
additional income as $2,459.56
from a family-owned dairy
farm in Leicester Township of
Buncombe County, N.C.;
$2,485.47 from dividends from
a variety of stocks and bonds
held by him and his wife;
$392.21 from interest on
purchase money real estate
notes, savings deposits,
Swannanoa, N.C. Baptist
Church bonds, etc.; and ■
$2,302.26 from North Carolina
State and Local Employees’
Retirement System (based on
N.C. State and local service
performed before going to
Congress).
The Congressman’s report
showed that he and Mrs.
Taylqr paid $10,538.22 in
federal income tax and
$1,944.77 in state income tax
for calendar year 1975.
In making his report,
Congressman Taylor told his
colleagues that he had
adopted a policy of going 1
beyond the requirements of
the law in making financial I
disclosure, having previously
published in the Congressional i
Record the sources and I
amounts of additional income I
through 1974 for each year he ;
has been in Congress and the (
amounts of federal and state
income tax he and his wife c
paid for calendar years 1969 f
through 1974. l
Chamber Plans Outing t
For Valley
Your Chamber of Commerce has planned a day of ac
tivities for everyone in the Valley on Monday, May 31, at
Owen High School football field.
Games, contests, band concert, tug-of-war events,
prizes and more.
Extent of the planned fireworks display will depend on
the outcome of the truckers’ strike - at this writing.
The day’s events will conclude with a salute to all of our
war dead.
Chet Prentice, chairman of the events, promises an
unforgettable experience for everyone of all ages, 'and
it’s free.”
Montreal Township Board
Discusses Problems
discussion of a proposed
budget for 1976-1977 was set
for May 20 at 7:30 in
Fellowship Hall.
Visitors were Welcomed and
recognized. Monroe Ashley,
Executive Director of
Mountain Retreat
Association, introduced the
new Administrative Director,
John Lewis. Ashley also in
formed the group that since
the suggested repairs to the
dam would require at least 120
days' work, Lake Susan will
remain unfilled this summer.
The Association is considering
what might be done both to
improve the appearance of the
empty lake and to make it
useful.
The meeting was adjourned
until the special meeting
announced for May 20. The
next regular meeting will be
held on June 10 at 7:30 in
Fellowship Hall.
Commencement Exercises
Slated For Owen High School
Commencement Exercises
of the Charles D. Owen High
School will be held in the B.W.
Spilman Auditorium at
Ridgecrest Baptist Con
ference Center.
The Baccalaureate Service
will be held Sunday May 23, at
8:00 p.m. The Baccalaureate
Address will be given by
Frank Shelby Thielman and
David Charles Wilson. They
will be introduced by Robert
K. Norton.
The Owen Senior Ensemble
will present the Anthem “The
New 23rd Psalm'’ by Ralph
Carmichael. The Prelude,
Processional and Recessional
will be presented by Miss
Anita Karen McCracken,
Pianist and Miss Janice
Lednum Price, Organist.
Graduation Exercises will
be held Wednesday May 26 at
8:00 p.m. The Invocation will
be given by Frank Thielman.
Miss Chrisann Ohler will give
the Valedictory Address. The
Graduation Address will be
given by Lewis Anthony
Wright. They will be in
troduced by Rebecca Leigh
Bridges.
Miss Brenda Diane Har
wood will recognize the Honor
Students. The Scholarship
Winners will be recognized by
Tony Wright. The Beta Club
members will be recognized
by Miss Donna Pate. A tribute
to Parents and friends will be
given by Ivan Byron Bailey.
Charles A. Lytle, principal
and Olen Sisk, Asst, principal
will present diplomas to the
graduates.
An Anthem "The Way We
Were” by Hamilsch will be
presented by the Owen Senior
•Ensemble.
. The Preslude, Processional
and Recessional' will oe
presented by Miss Anita
McCracken, pianist and Miss
Janice Price, organist.
Dr. Holden told the
graduating class that small,
church-related colleges like
Warren Wilson give students a
strong sense of values and
morals as well as a basic
education.
Pointing to Watergate and
other national and in
ternational events in recent
years, Dr. Holden said the
nation needs a better sense of
values today.
The small church-related
colleges played a major role in
the nation's history during
the first 150 years of this
country, according to Dr.
Holden, who said* this in
fluence can be seen in the
leaders of that period.
Dr. Holden said that,
although the seniors have
received their degrees, their
education is only just
beginning and must continue
to be an on-going process for
the rest of their lives.
Degrees were presented by
Dr. Holden and Dr. Samuel
Scoville, dean of the college.
Dr. and Mrs. Holden
received members of the
graduating class and their
families at their home im
mediately following the
ceremony.
The graduating class in
cluded seven students from
the Asheville area:
Judith Hinshaw Dod,
daughter of Mr and Mrs.
Howard Hinshaw of 61 Con
Benje’s
Bulletin Board
We have good news and bad about our boy this week. So let’s
>et the bad out of the way first. After such a wonderful weekend,
is we reported last week, Benje had a pretty tough week. He was
lot able to be out of bed until Friday, May 14, again. He was just
oo weak. However some more skin grafts were done.
Benje is still on the A-l critical list and apparently will be for
ome time to come. His burns are very serious and will require
reatment over many months.
There will be numerous trips to surgery for grafts, etc. for a
ong time.
It is extremely difficult to explain to a little six year old, no
natter iiow brave, that he must do something although it is going
o hurt, but this is what his momma has to do - again and again,
tenje is still cooperating but for how long? It is going to require
upreme patience to guide and encourage him through these
ainful steps.
His worst burns are on his little hands, arms, one ear and a spot
n his chest. The doctors say he must be encouraged to use his
ands and arms, a painful process, but necessary. His momma
as been encouraging to use his hands for a two fold purpose - the
xercise and to get solid food into him. He has been conveying
otato chips, placed in his hands to his mouth and eating them. A
ig, big step.
He still is showing tremendous spirit and courage. The visit
om his father did wonders for him and Dorsie. Skin grafts are
rogressing but our brave little guy isn’t out of the woods, yet.
Have you written or sent a card to Benje or Dorsie. Please do,
's important. Here’s the address . 1036 Anderson Hill Dr.,
incinnati, Ohio 45230
Also blood is still being used. The hours for the Red Cross Blood
ank are: Monday and Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and
hursday 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday afternoon 1 to 5 p.m.
Now for some good news. He had no temperature Saturday
hen we talked to the folks and had not had any for a while. His
ood pressure has stabilized and he stood the graft surgery well,
e enjoyed seeing his dad and rough-housing (on a minor scale)
ith him. He also got a shampoo, administered by dad, in a
•ofessional manner. He’s eating better, asking for peanut butter
id jelly sandwiches.
nesstee St., is a behavioral
science major. Mrs. Dod and
her husband, Rev. David Dod,
live on campus.
Beth Gettys is the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Gettys of
28 N. Pershing Rd., and a
music-education major. She is
a 1971 graduate of A.C.
Reynolds High School.
Greg Harris, a biology
education major and a 1972
graduate of A.C. Reynolds
High School, is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. E.B. Harris of 661
Fairview Rd.
Kathy Jean Lamb of
Avondale Rd., Black Moun
tain, is a music major and a
1969 graduate of Barboursville
High School in Barboursville,
W. Va. Kathy is the daughter
of Dr. and Mrs. Samuel F.
Smith of Tampa, Fla.
Peter Lorenz, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Marvin P. Lorenz of Rt. 5
Asheville, is an English
theatre major and a 1971
graduate of A.C. Reynolds
High Schgool.
Carole Ann Morgan,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Herman 0. Morgan of 24
Stockwood Dr., is also an
English-theatre major and a
1971 graduate of A.C.
Reynolds High School.
Sherie Lee Ray, an
elementary education major
and 1972 graduate of Asheville
High School, is the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Roy R. Ray of 17
Hampden Rd.