Don’t miss the Leap Year Pro
posal contained in the coupon
over on page four. You don’t
get Leap Year offers every
year.
Alleghany Times
The Times office is upstairs,
over the Watchmaker, opposite
the Post Office IN SPARTA.
"Come up and see us some
time.
Vol. 15. No. 39.
SPARTA, Alleghany County, N. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1940.
3c Per Copy
More than 9,250
North Carolina
[families,
I_who were refinanced by
I the Home Owners’ Loan
| Corporation, when they
faced the loss of theii
[homes through foreclosure only
a few years ago, today are clear
lly on their way to debt-free home
^ownership, or already have achiev
ed that goal.
Of these borrowers, HOLC
State Manager C. Abernethy re
ports, 950 have paid in $2,196,
ilO to cross off their debts ir
j)l. Some 8,308 others eithei
entirely current, less thar
jee months in arrears, or are
feting all current bills and, ir
jition, making regular monthly
lents to liquidate their ar
ages.
^ "SVtill 1,637 others are making
adjusted payments sufficient tc
keep [their accounts active, anc
we exjpect the great majority tc
rehabilitate themselves,” said Mr.
Aberneflthy. “Considering that the
average\ borrower was two years
deiinqueiot in both principal and
interest, \and between two and
three yeans on taxes when he was
refinanced,! the record proves that
what most \of our borrowers need
ed was on,\y a fair chance-^—em
bodied in tong-term loans at a
low interest nate—to overcome the
hardships thej depression forced
upon them.” ^
In all, Nort'h Carolina borrow
ers have paid back $8,317,931 or
approximately 2\h per cent of their
entire principal* indebtedness.
The other side of the picture
—:he manner in which the Corpo
ration is liquidat-ing the proper
ties it has been feorced to acquire
and which came (to it through
voluntary deed or Abandonment—
also wras given by Mj-, Abernethy.
The HOLC now \ owns 341
homes in North Carolina and, in
addition, has $3,093,2-,09, about
$833,200 below their capitalized
value—representing a buok lost
of $802 a home—in addition tc
selling costs which include.il com
missions of $181,304. - y
- -But into that capitalized value
was written not only ,/the unpaid
balance of the m^gage loan
including unpaid advances and in
terest, but also delinquent taxes
which may amount to hundreds ol
dollars, foreclosure costs, and the
(turn to- page 2, please)
An Historical
Society for
Alleghany Comity
—has been suggested, and
it would seem that much
good work might be done
How many would be inter'
ested in such a society remains to
be seen. If those who are inter
ested will communicate with the
Times editor, even by post card1,
some plans can be made for
further steps.
The editor himself is deeply
interested in gathering, all possible
information about the history of
Alleghany newspapers that
have preceded the. present Times.
If any copies of the Alleghany
Star are in existence they should
be treasured, as also the Demo
crat and the Eagle—which had a
brief existence.
Don’t Mis* It: You know that
suit needs cleaning: “turn to page
4, please’’ and read1 ’’Wake Up.”
Topia
Topia, Feb. 5.-—Miss Lucille
Black, Eugene Black and P. C.
Edwards made a business trip to
West Jefferson Saturday.
| W. I. Caudill, who is 77 years
jof age, and has lived near the
river the greater part of this
time, had a new experience last
Monday, when he walked on the
ice across New River,
j Mrs. Delia Pugh spent Thurs
day afternoon with Mrs. Belle
Blevins.
Miss Lorene Moxley visited
Misses Irene and Doris Blevins
j Saturday afternoon.
I Miss Velma Pugh and Guy
Pugh spent Wednesday with Mr.
and Mrs. Steven Ward, Grumpier.
Mr. Ward has been ill for some
‘time.
j A candy-making was given in
the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. D.
! Blevins Saturday night, entertain
ing a number of young people of
| this community.
Jarvis Blevins and Ray Fields
visited Mr. and Mrs. Carey Blev
ins Sunday afternoon.
Twin calves were born to a
Guernsey cow, owned by D. M.
Pugh, on Wednesday night of last
week. They are prospects of a
fine yoke of work cattle in the
near future.
Rev. Ben Williams spent Sat
urday night with Steven Ward, of
Crumpler, who is ill.
Permits are
necessary before
burning brush
—on or near woodlands
during the forest fire sea
son months. The public
laws of North Carolina
provide that: It shall be unlawful
for any person, firm or corpo.r
ation to start or cause to be start
ed any fire or ignite any material
in any of the areas of woodlands
under the protection of the State
Forest Service or within- five hun
jdred feet of any such protected
| area, between the. first day of
! February and the fifteenth day of
June, inclusive, or between the
fifteenth day of October and the
i thirtieth day of November, in
clusive, in any year, without first
| obtaining from the State Forester
or one of his duly authorized
! agents a permit to set out fire
j or ignite any material in such
i above mentioned protected -area;
: rto charge shall be made for the
granting of said permits.
This Act shall not apply to any
fire9 started or caused to be
started within five hundred feet
of a (dwelling house.
Any person, firm or corporation
violating this Act shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor, and upon con
viction shall be fined not more
than fifty dollars, or imprisoned
for a period of not more, than
thirty days.
Permits cost nothing, and this
law is designed; to protect your
[woodlands. So, for a permit, see
[your County Forest Warden, R.
i D. Gentry, at the Court House.
Town Council of
Sparta has ordered
1,100 feet of fire
t 7
! —hose, of Goodyear manu
| facture, with all necessary
, couplings and nozzles, from
the American LaFrance Cor
poration of Atlanta, as decided
at the Council meeting held in
Mayor Crouse’s office Tuesday.
T
Sincere Thanks
To the Towns of Independence and Galax,
and particularly to their Fire Departments, for
the very prompt and energetic manner in which
you responded to our call for help during our
emergency in the fire of last Thursday night, we
wish thus publicly to express our deep gratitude
* and offer our most sincere thanks. You stopped
the spread of our fire and saved us from further
serious loss. We thank you.
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
February 5, 1940
Sparta, N. C.
ikMi
Sparta’s fire last
Thursday night
destroyed the
—Baptist Church, the Alle
ghany Motor Co. building
and the Greenland Cafe and
Pool Room, with a loss of
$40,000 Insurance covere-d about
25 per cent of the loss on the I
-church and the Motor Sales build- j
ing. |
The file originated near the.
furnace in the basement of the
Motor Sales building, an-d was dis
covered very early. Heroic ef
forts- were made to extinguish it,
but lack of means and lack of
organization gave the flames thei
opportunity to work their way
up into the rear oof the building,
and then they raged beyond con
trol. Time did allow the removal
of new cars from the street show
room and the saving of some of
fice equipment.
From the Baptist Church two
pianos and all the new pews were
removed, as also some books.
From the Greenland- Cafe con
siderable equipment was removed,
but the pool tables perished.
When the fire had the Motor
Sales building enveloped in frame
the moderate wind from the west
sealed the fate of the Baptist
Church on the south, which stood
very close. Both buildings burn
ed fiercely and went down to
gether.
The Greenland Cafe and Pool
Room on the north was separated
by a brick wall, which hindered
the progress of the fire but did
hot prevent its destructive work.
The slowness- of the burning of
the Cafe, plus the fact of
Smithey’s Department Store next
door having a solid wall of stone
toward the narrow alley, as also
the fact of the wind blowing
slightly away from Smithey’s, ac
counts largely for it remaining
Unscathed.
LUC ilUUUl
■so good. The smoke and flame
i and sparks from the church hov
ered over Mis. Etta Reeves’ house'
like a demon, aided by the wind.
Her house was doomed and the
roof began to burn. Someone
remembered a single length of
fire hose in the north part of
town. It was hurriedly brought
and attached to a street water
hydrant near, and the fire was
I held-—barely under control—when
I here came the hose truck from
Independence. Their streams soon
'(assured us Mrs. Reeves’ house
> would stay, and that removed1 the
I imminent danger of houses across
the street catching. Without the
timely anival of the energetic
Independence, Fire Dept, none can
say what Sparta’s story today
might be. It would most prob
ably be very different.
Soon after things looked a
trifle better, the Galax Fire Dept.
arrived1 from their 28 mile trip,
and Sparta breathed a great sigh
of relief in the knowledge that
now the fire would be held indeed.
Beginning about 8:15 p. m.
the fire, wreaked its worst be
tween*^. and 10. By 10:30 it
was apparent our men, aided by
Independence and Galax trucks
and men, had the mastery. A
hose truck came also from Elkin,
but fortunately was not needed—
as it might so very easily have
been.
In the Motor Sales building
several cars in storage and a stock
of some 20 used1 cars were de
stroyed> as also the truck belong
ing to Sparta town.
The town is stunned by this
fire, coming so close upon the
greater fire of Jan. 7, 1933. But
Sparta is not dismayed. A new
water supply system is about
ready for acceptance from the
engineers. The town council has
opened bids on hose and fire
fighting equipment. The Presby
terian Church was immediately
offered to the Baptists for their
Sunday School and services, and
accepted. And today, the note
in Sparta is one of courage, con
fidence, and high hope for the
future
Mt. Zion
Piney Creek P. O., Feb. 5.—
Rev. T. A. Plyler filled his regular
appointment at Mt. Zion Sunday,
and was a dinner guest in the
home of Rev. and Mrs. R. L.
Billings.
Mrs. Oscar Moxley, Topia, visit
ed her father, Lee Black, last
week. Mr. Black’s condition does
not improve.
Little Miss Joyce Billings,
youngest daughter of Rev. and
Mrs. R. L. Billings, celebrated her
seventh birthday recently.
Last week, J. F. Shepherd mov
ed Mrs. Mary Cox and Georgie
Cox to his home, to care for them
••11111111111
..mi.i.•••»••»•....
B
Sparta Local News
a.
Mr. and Mrs. Chester of
Belk’s were in Charlotte Tuesday
buying spring merchandise for
the store.
Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Mood,
Bobbie Wood and Miss Rowena
Wood have returned to their
home in Pearisburg, Va., after
attending the funeral of R. E.
Hawthorne.
Mrs. C. R. Deeds, Cincinatti,
Ohio, is with her mother, Mrs.
R. E. Hawthorne, this week.
Among those from a distance
attending the funeral of R. E.
Hawthorne were Dr. James Davis,
and Dr. Sam Holbrook, States
ville, N. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy “Black spent
the week end with Mr. and Mrs.
Luther Delp.
Mrs. Paul Carpenter is spend
ing this week with her mother,
Mrs. Susie Billings, Piney Creek.
Mr. and Mrs. James Doughton
and Howard Rector of Lenoir
spent the week-end in Sparta.
Charles Castevens who is a stu
dent at Emory and Henry College,
Virginia, spent the week-end with
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Castevens.
Mrs. Robert Andrews is visit
during the cold weather. Georgie
has been ill for some time, but
is slowly improving.
Recently, R. M. Pugh received
news that his brother, Joe Pugh,
was seriously ill at his ^iome near
Rural Retreat, Va.
Mr. and Mrs. Ross Bateman
and mother, Mrs. Mary Wyatt,
visited Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Pugh
Sunday.
Rev. and Mrs. R. L. Billings
were shopping in Sparta Wednes
day.
V
ing relatives in Winston-Salem
this week.
Dick Doughton, student at Ap
palachian State Teacher’s Col
lege, spent the week-end with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M.
Doughton.
Preston Reeves spent the week
end in Boone.
Dr. and Mrs. Wayne Richard
son of Boone spent the week-end
with relatives in Sparta.
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Greene*
of Boone, visited Mr. and Mrs. A.
F. Reeves Tuesday.
Mrs. Troy Irwin is much im
proved from her recent illness.
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Baumgard
ner of North W’ilkesboro are
guests of Mrs. Maude I. Richard
son.
Duke Bledsoe, who suffered
such a loss in the burning of the
Alleghany Motor Sales building,
expresses gratitude to all those
who helped remove cars and
equipment from the sales room.
Dick Gentry’s sister, Mrs.
Frank Maxium, is very seriously
| ill in a hospital in New York city.
“Leap Year Proposal,”—there
it is on page four, for your
acceptance.
James Caudill, Burton Land
reth, Piney Creek, and Howard
Smith, of this community, accom
panied by their Agriculture teach
er, L. K. Boyer, of Piney Creek
High School, made a business trip
to Boone recently, to attend a
seed-judging contest.
Levon Church, Scottville, visit
ed Edna Rae Smith recently.
W. F. Pugh is ill.
Mrs. George F. Smith visited
Mrs. S. E. Smith Saturday.
Edna Rae Smith visited Irene
Twin Oaks
_ i
Twin Oaks, Feb. 5.-—Martin
Crouse left Friday by bus for
his home in Coatesville, Pa., after
spending a month with relatives '
here.
Mr, and Mrs. Mack Atwood
were called to Mount Airy Sun
day on account of the death of
Mrs Atwood’s mother, Mrs. Cen
ter, who was buried near Mount
Airy Monday.
Mr. and Mrs, Joe Bare have
moved into the house recently oc
cupied by Mrs. Stella York,. who
is spending the winter in Wash
ington, D. C. Mrs. Bare is ex
pecting to operate Twin Oaks
Switchboard.
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Morton,
Fries*, Va., spent the week-end at
Wm. E. Morton’s home.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Thompson,
Washington, D. C., called on
friends here Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Crouse i
and son, Farrel, visited friends
here Sunday night.
Sergeant Elmer Crouse, U. S.
Army, who has been stationed at;
Fort Hoyle, Md., for the past
four years, has been transferred
to Fort Knox, Ky., to train men. ;
Sergeant Crouse ( better known ■
here as “Red”) is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Monroe Crouse, Forest j
Hill, Md., and the grandson of
the late Haywood Estep, of Strat- i
| ford, N. C.
I A. G. Shores, of Winston Salem!
stopped with friends here Sunday. J
Among those visiting at the
‘home of Mr. _and Mrs. Joe Bare
I Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Reo
'Miller, Laurel Springs, Mr. and
Mrs, Carl Bare and family, Strat
ford.
Mrs. O. D. Hapner is spending
a few days with her mother, Mrs.!
iL. A. Jones, Scottville.
I W. H. Handy local merchant,
received a painful injury Monday
; afternoon when a heavy board
i fell from above his garage door,
striking him across the head.
Mrs. Mack Atwood returned
home Wednesday after spending
| a few days with relatives at Mt.
Airy following the death and
■ funeral of her mother, Mrs. Al
jbert Center.
Howard Wagoner, Robert Ev-i
i ans, and Howard Brown returned1
to CCC camp at Laurel Springs1
Sunday after spending the week-:
end with homefolks.
Ralph Redd has returned to the |
home of his mother, Mrs. VernaI
Redd after spending several ;
months traveling to various parts1
of the world.
Misses Louise and Ella Edwards i
visited friends here last week. !
Mrs. Clay Edwards was called I
to the bedside of her mother, Mrs.
Russell, Elk Creek, Va., last week.
Miss Zinna Crouse of Dobson
spent last week with her mother,
Mrs. Mary Crouse.
and Levon Church, Scottville, last
week.
Mrs. Charlie Osborn is recover
ing from a recent illness.
Better grab opportunity when
you can. See “Wake Up” on
page 4.
Federal Council
of Churches of
Christ in America
—recently issued a state*
ment opposing any perman
ent United States diplomatic
relationship with the Vati
can, but declaring a “strictly
temporary, unofficial’’ appoint
ment “may help to bring peace.’’
Myron C. Taylor recently was
appointed by President Roosevelt
's his personal representative to
Lhe Vatican.
Home gardens can
earn AAA cash
payments under a
—new practice added to the
N. C. program, and farm
families can earn payment
for planting one-tenth of an
tcre for each person in the
family, announces E. V. Floyd,
AAA executive officer. This is
-he only State in the. East Cen
tal region offering this.
A payment of $1.50 can be
earned by planting a garden con
usting of not less than one-tenth
of an acre per person, and pref
erably planted' as one unit. How
iver, not more than a one-acre
garden will be required pc-.r fam
ily.
The garden must be adequately
protested from poultry’ and live
stock. Good cultural methods
should be followed1 and proper
-teps taken to control insect pests.
Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes,
■orn, and field peas may be plant
'd elsewhere on the fai-m.
The recommendations of the
State AAA committee are that
rhree or more different vegetables
•1 all be; growing in the garden
".ch month for at least eight
months of the year. Not more
ihan one-fourth of the garden
Art's should be planted1 to any
one. vegetable at any one time
Floyd explained that this is in
line vith the change in the 1948
AAA p-ogram to encourage con
ervation practices not common
ly in use. on the majority of the
farms in the State. He called
gardens “human conservation.”
The home demonstration lead
ers, specialists arid agents, and
the Extension horticulturists are
largely responsible for having a
garden practice added to the
1940 pr .gram in North Carolina.
An American Dairy
Association was
formed in St. Paul,
—Minnesota, last week to
promote a national advertis
ing campaign for increasing
consumption of dairy prod
ucts. The Association will be in
corporated in Illinois with head
quarters in Chicago. It wdll func
tion as a parent organization to
co-operate with state dairy indus
try groups and national daily- in
dustry organizations.
To the Independence and
Galax Fire Departments:
Realizing how much your
coming meant in the saving of
my home from fire on the
night of Feb. 1st, I desire to
express publicly my sincere
thanks and appreciation.
Also, to the Spaita friends
who so loyally helped in the
same emergency I offer my
deepest gratitude.
MRS. D. C. REEVES
Sparta, Feb. 8, 1940.
Your Government...
how familiar are you with it?
The CONSTITUTION—4. At
what age do persons born in
the United States' become citi
zens of the United States?
5. Does the Constitution pre
vent Congress from infringing
upon the right of a citizen to
keep a gun in his house? 6.
Does the following phrase,
“Governments are instituted
among men, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the
P'flVPVriO/lM onnnn. i« il..