Population
Greater Kings Mountain 10,320
City Limits 7.206
Ik* Igun for Greater Ting* Mountain U derived from
Mm 1(65 Xing* Mountain city directory census. The City
limits figure is from the United States census of 1950.
Pages
Today
VOL 65 NO 51
Established 1889
Kings Mountain N. C., Thursday December 22, 1955
Sixty-Fifth Year
PRICE FIVE CENTS
* * * * * * WWW WWW WWW WWW
Horvath Firm Takes Over Neisler Operation
Local News
Bulletins
L
i
BUILDING PERMIT
Building Inspector J. W.
Webster issued a building .per
mit Monday to Zeb Grigg to
erect a house on Stowe Street,
at an estimated cost of $3,500.
HOSPITALIZED
Frank Glass, owner of Glass
Grocery, is in Kings Mountain
•hospital recuperating from a
heart attack suffered Satur
day. He was reported Tuesday
toy his son, Don Glass, to be
improving, with a possibility
of being discharged from the
.hospital by the end of the
week.
TWO FIRES
Firemen answered two calls
this week, Fireman C. D. Ware
reported. Saturday, firemen
extinguished an autoJblaze in
a car owned by Jake Sipes.
Tuesday, firemen extinguished
an electric motor blaze at Mc
Curdy’s Cleaners and Laundry.
KIWANIS MEETING
The Rev. A. T. Quakenbush,
pastor of First Baptist Church,
will deliver the Christmas
message to the Kiwanis Club
Thursday night at 6:45 at Ma
sonic Hall. James W. Chasteen,
tenor, of Bessemer City, will
sing a number of Christmas
selections. William Herndon is
program chairman.
AT SUDIE’S
Mrs. E. H. Queen has joined
the staff of Sudie’s Beauty
Shop, according to an announ
cement toy Mrs. Andrew Jen
kins, owner of the firm. Mrs.
Queen was formerly employed
in Kinston, Tenn.
Lutherans Plan
Musical Event
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
will hold two special Christmas
services this weekend. Saturday
night at 11 the traditional Mid
night Musical with two robed
choirs, solos, anthems, pipe or
gan and chimbs, under the direc
tion of Gordon Beaver.
The bells will ring outside from
10:30 to 10:45. The organ preliide
will start at 10:45. Pastor Gerber -
ding will bring a brief Christmas
message.
Sunday morning at 11 o’clock
there will be special music, with
the sermon to be delivered by Dr.
E. C. Cooper.
The White Christmas service
was held last Sunday with a fil
led chapel and program by the
children. Gifts were brought for
Lowman Home, Children’s Home,
Lutheran World Action and local
charity.
Stores To Be Open
Later On Weekend
Kings Mountain merchants
will be open later than normal
ly this weekend for the benefit
of last-minute Christmas shop
pers.
Majority of Kings Mountain
stores will observe “Saturday
hours” on Thursday and Fri
day evening as well as on
Christmas Eve. This means
that most dry goods, variety
and jewelry stores will be open
until 6:30 or 7 o’clock, with
grocery stores staying open un- ;
til 7 and 7:3Q p. m. Furniture
stores and hardwares will be
open on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday until 6 p. m. Dixie
Home Store and A&P Super
Market will be open until 8
p. m. Friday night.
Horvath Official
Outlines Policies
McKee, Mauney,
Jackson Named
Managing Team
By MARTIN HARMON
Ernest V. Horvath, president oi
Massachusetts Mohair Plush Com
pany, reported last Friday morn
ing completion of the transaction
whereby Horvath textile interests
acquired the operating facilities
of Neisler Mills, Inc., and made
these announcements:
1) One new official has been
employed for operating the six
plant Neisler property. He is Wil
liam F. McKee, of Chicago, 111.,
Who will serve as controller.
2) Until employment of a gen
eral manager for the six-plant
Neisler property, the Neisler di
vision will be managed by a three
man committee, including Mr.
McKee and veteran Neisler top
men Howard B.‘Jackson and Paul
Mauney.
3) The Neisler brothers will
continue with the new organiza
tion in an advisory capacity.
4) Otherwise, the present or
ganization will continue.
5) The Neisler group will be
known as Neisler division of
Massachusetts Mohair Plush
Company, Inc., a Lowell, Mass.,
textile plant employing 800 per
sons.
6) Acquisition of the Neisler
property broadens the Horvath
offerings in the drapery-upholste
ry field, giving Horvath interests
facilities to produce and to sell
all grades of these products.
Here with Mr. Horvath last
Friday was Richard N. Stone,
a vice-president of the Massachu
setts company and controller
general for the Horvath enter
prises, which also include Dana
Warp Mills, Westbrook, Maine, a
plant producing high-count comb
ed yarns and a 100-loom weaving
plant at Salmon Falls, N. H., pro
ducing pile fabrics.
Mr. Horvath was explicit con
cerning the acquisition of Neisler
on matters of employment and
plant operation: “The Neisler
plants are in no wise competitive
with our other operations,” he
stated, but merely add flexibility
to the operation and broaden our
offerings in the fabric field to
include all price ranges. We have
no plans for bringing to Kings
Mountain, Ellenboro and other
Neisler plants a new group of em
ployees to run these mills. We
have no plans for removing from
Neisler plants the operations now
(Continued on page 12)
INSTALLED—Lester A. Harmon,
pictured above, was installed as
Master of Fairview Lodge No.
339 A.F. & A.E. at the lodge's
annuel installation services
Monday night. Harmon succeeds
Jimmy Simpson as Master of the
local lodge.
Masons Install
Officers For ’56
Fairview Lodge No. 339 A. F.
& A.M. held installation services
to install new officers Monday
night at the lodge hall.
Lester A. Harmon was installed
as Master of the lodge, succeed
ing Jjmmy Simpson.
Other officers installed includ
ed Thomas D. Tindall, senior war
den; Fred Weaver, Junior war
den; Denver King, treasurer;
James B. Simpson, secretary; and
George W. Mauney, trustee.
Postal Peak
Hit On Monday
Among the city’s most rushed
spots this week has been Kings
Mountain postoffice, Where 21,
536 pieces of mail were logged
through the cancellation ma
chines Monday.
Acting Postmaster W. T. Weir
and Assistant Postmaster George
Hord agreed Tuesday morning
that Monday’s total, including
the weekend pile-up was the
peak day and that daily totals
on Tuesday an£ thenceforth
would toe smaller, though still
much heavier than normally.
“We’ve kept up with it pretty
(Continued on page 12)
New Neislei Man Wiliam McKee
Is Native Brooklynite, Yaleman
William F. McKee, new mem
ber to Kings Mountain of the new
management team at Neisler
plants here and in South Caro
lina, is a Brooklyn-born Yaleman,
most recently from Chicago, a
professional controller who was
reared in the investment business.
Mr. McKee and veteran Neisler
mien Howard (Dad) Jackson and
Paul Mauney have been named to
the management committee in
charge of operating the Neisler
acquisition of Massachusetts Mcfc
hair Plush Company, Inc.
Most recently, Mr. McKee, who
has just joined the Horvath or
ganization, was secretary-treasur
er and director of Wilson Broth
ers, manufacturer of men’s ap
parel, and a director of Wilson
subsidiaries, Erno Shirt Company,
a Louisville, Ky., and Wright
Underwear, a New York subsidi
ary. In addition, he has served
as secretary-treasurer and direc
tor of Sheboygan Chair Company,
Sheboygan, Wis., parent company
of Wilson Brothers. He was asso
ciated with these enterprises from
1943-54.
Mr. McKee was graduated from
Yale University in 1927 with a
Bachelor of Arts degree. He is
married to the former Miss Joan
Armitage, of Garden City, Long
Island, and thtey have a 14-year
old son, William L. McKee, who is
described by his father as a high
school freshman with a heavy yen
for athletics who has already
shown promise as a football team
.'u.Jback,
Mr. McKee was reared a Pres
byterian. His wife and son are
Episcopalians. The McKee resi
dence currently Is in Willamette,
a Chicago suburb. The McKees
expect to move South when ac
commodations are located.
Mr. McKee Is an Elk and a
member of the Sons of the Ame
rican Revolution.
Several Firms
Expect To Pay
Holiday Bonus
Kings Mountain’s industrial
workers will begin holiday vaca
tions lasting from three days to
seven days this week.
Sevteral local industrial plants
are paying Christmas bonuses
this week as has been the custom
in past years.
Burlington Mills’ Phenix plant
distributed some $6,000 in Christ
mas money to its employees last
week, according to a rteport by J.
T. Latham, superintendent.
Craftspun Yarns announced
last week that its employees
would receive one-day’s pay as
holiday bonus, while Sadie Mills
will pay two per cent of yearly'
earnings for a bonus.
W. K. Mauney said Tuesday
that a definite decision on bon
uses had not been reached for
Mauney Mill and Bonnie Mill
employees. Mauney Hosiery and
Carolina Throwing Company said
that their workers would receive
holiday bonuses.
Kings Mountain Manufacturing
Company and Carlon Division of
Carlton Mills at Crowder’s Moun
tain, are paying banuses.
Many of the other local plants
will give candy, turkeys, hams,
blankets and other gifts to their
employees before closing opera
tions this weekend.
Business Holiday
Plans Aie Listed
Kings Mountain area citizens
were busy getting ready for
Christmas, this week and locking
forward to an actual holiday
and looking forward to a happy
holiday season.
Majority of citizens could look
forward to an actual holiday
and brief respite from the busy
pre-Christmas season.
Kings Mountain merchants
will close on Monday December
26, since Christmas comes on
Sunday this year, and textile
firms are taking varying holi
days from three days to seven
days.
First National Bank will fol
low the mercantile holiday sche
dule and observe regular bank
ing hours on Saturday,. The
city’s two building and loan as
sociations will close at noon Sat
urday, also re-opening the morn
ing of December 27. Dry cleaners
and Finger Laundry have an
nounced their Christmas holiday
schedule will conform with the
'merchants’. The city’s drug
stores will be open Monday on
Sunday-type or holiday hour
schedules only.
City Hall offices will suspend
operations at the close of busi
ness Friday and resume on De
cember 27, and the North Caro
lina Employment service office
will follow the same schedule,
Manager Franklin Ware an
nounced.
The Kings Mountain Herald
will be closed from noon Decem
ber 21 and will re-open Monday,
December 26.
i_
School Heating
Plan Changed
The Kings Mountain school
Board held its regular monthly
meeting Monday night at Central
school.
It was a short meeting with on
ly a few routine business matters
to come before the board.
Board Member Fred Plonk re
ported on the property the board
is buying adjoining Central
school. He said that the sale has
not beet} completed, but that it
would be after a survey of the
property is made. This land is
being purchased from Mrs. H. B.
Jones and Mrs. D. H. Houser.
This addition will be used to give'
more playground space for Cen
tral school.
The board decided to make a
(Continued on page It)
TO FILL THE STOCKINGS—Pictured above is a
small part of the toys that have been collected
-and repair*! by the Kings Mountain Police de
partment for distribution to children in indigent
homes in the Kings Mountain area. Many of the
toys were in perfect working order when re
&
ceived, but others have had a fresh coat of paint
and a few repairs to make some child happy on
Christmas morning. This picture was made in
the Kings Mountain Courtroom. The toys had to
be placed in the courtroom due to a lack of space.
St. Matthew's
Christmas Story
Now when Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judaea in the days
of Herod the king, behold, there
came wise men from the east to
Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is
born King of the Jewst for we
have seen his star in the east, and
are come to worship him.
When Herod the king had heard
these things, he was troubled, and
all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all
the chief priests and scribes of the
people together, he demanded of
them where Christ should be
born.
And they said unto him, In
Bethlehem of Judaea:for thus it
is written by the prophet,
And thou Bethlehem, in the
land of Jude, art not the least a
mong the princes of Juda: for
out of thee shall come a Gover
nor, that shall rule my people
Israel.
Then Herod, when he had pri
vily called the wise men, enquir
ed of them diligently what time
the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem,
and said, Go and search diligent
ly for the young child; and when
ye have found him, bring me
word again, that I may come and
worship him also.
When they had heard the king,
they departed; and, lo, the star,
which they saw in the east, went
before them, till it came and
stood over where the young
child was.
When they saw the star, they
rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into
the house, they saw the young
child with Mary his mother, and
fell down, and worshipped him:
and when they had opened their
treasures, they presented unto
him gifts; gold, frankincense and
myrrh.
And being warned of God in a
dream that they should not re
turn to Herod, they departed into
their own country another way.
(St. Matthew ft:l-U)
POWERS’ MOVING
The Ertle Powers family is
in process of moving into their
new residence which has just
been completed in Charlotte.
The new home is on Jefferson
Drive, off Providence Road.
The Powers have resided here
on Meadowtorook Road. Mr..
Powers is office manager of
Southern Radio Corporation at
Charlotte.
Baskets To Be Big
For Area’s Needy
Many Planning
Christmas Cheer
For Indigent
Christmas 1955 will probably
be the most bountiful Christmas
in the history of this country,
and the indigent families of the
Kings Mountain area will enjoy
its plenty better than in past
years.
Many of the town’s civic or
ganizations, churches and other
groups are working towards mak
ing Christmas a merry one for
everyone.
The Kings Mountain Police de
partment has collected some 400
500 used toys and repaired them
for distribution to children in
the needy homes. Thtese toys in
cluded bicycles, tricycles, dolls,
trucks and many, many others.
The Lions Club, as in past
years, has earned money to sup
ply approximately 23 baskets to
the blind persons of this area.
Thtese baskets will be distribut
ed Thursday evening, Richard
(Continued on page 12)
1956 City Tags
Are New On Sale
City auto Jicenses for 1956
went on sale at City Hall this
week.
For 1956, the city returns to
the familiar metal strip tag,
conforming in color to the 1956
North Carolina license tag. For
the past two years, the city has
used a window decalcomania
for its auto license. The metal
strip has black letters on an
orange background, with the
publicity line “The Historical
City” underneath the words
“Kings Mountain."
Price of the tag is $1.
City Clerk Gene Mitcham
said the tags are on sale both
at the clerk’s office and in the
police department office.
IN NEW HOME
The J. N. McClure family
moved Monday into its newly
constructed residence at 610
Crescent Circle. They had pre
viously resided on Phifer Road.
Mr. McClure is manager of the
Lithium Corporation of Ameri
ca works.
Christmas Came Eariy, And Twice.
Foi Di. and Mrs. Paul V. Nolan
A Kings Mountain couple
seeking to adopt a child and
wanting the adoption completed
in time for Santa Claus are now
the proud parents of fine twin
boys.
Mrs. Paul V. Nolan, wife of the
Kings Mountain doctor, was
calling to check on the arrival
possibility at the county welfare
department.
"Yes, we hope to do something
for you by Christmas,” the voice
on the wire replied. In fact, we
could do something now, maybe.
Would you adopt twins?”
After a hasty consultation with
her husband, Mrs. Nolan replied
that twins would be quite ac
ceptable.
The babies, three and one-half
months old, were brought home
last Wednesday and have been
named John Andrew and Tho
mas Lewis Nolan. Their nick
names are "Johnny" and Tom
my”, Mrs. Nolan said.
Distinguishing between the
two is no immediate problem for
the couple, the mother reported,
adding that one of the iboys,
Tommy, weighs three more
pounds than his brother, has
light “fuzz” for hair and blue
eyes. Johnny has brown hair and
darker eyes.
The parents reported that the
children sleep well, the mother
adding, “They’re real good ba
tbies.” But the diaper duty is
heavy
Mrs. Nolan, the former Miss
Anne Lewis, of St. Petersburg,
Fla., and Dr. Nolan, were mar
ried six and one-half years ago.
They have no other children.
The couple came to Kings
Mountain in mid-August, Dr.
Nolan having served four years
in the Air Force as a flight sur
geon and captain. D .. Nolan ir
associated with Dr. P. E. Hen
dricks in the general practice of
medicine.
Church Hites,
Family Dinneis
Feature Season
Kings Mountain will observe a
traditional Christmas, against a
background of high level business
conditions, nearfull employment
and working schedules.
Citizens are busy this week
catching up loose ends designed
to make a well-rounded and hap
py Christmas holiday, as child
ren await with painful anticipa
tion the arrival of Santa Claus
on his annual Christmas trek.
There will be holidays for most.
Already the city’s population is
swelled with arrival home of the
area’s college contingent, and
more will be arriving over the
weekend to spend Christmas with
kin and friend.
Since Christmas falls on Sun
day this year, every church will
hold special Christmas services.
St. Matthew’s Lutheran church1
and Resurrection Lutheran
church will launch the religious
services of the weekend with spe
cial musical programs on Christ
mas Eve and 11 p. m.
Christmas 1955 bids fair to be
ing history’s best here for the
needy. No less than seven organi
zations, including the police de
partment and civic clubs, are
planning Christmas gifts for the
needy, and virtually all churches
also have Christmas cheer pro
jects underway.
The chief piece de resistance of
Christmas Day will be the family
dinners, with Christmas trees a
light, toys and gifts spread about
the households, and a banner
spread designed to tempt the
palate of the most fastidious.
Christmas entertaining will be
at peak, with both private parties
and family-gatherings scheduled,
and, as traditionally, the season
has and will feature numerous
weddings.
Cloninger Held
f of Moss Theft
Alfred Hugh Cloninger, 21
year-old Gaston County man, has
been arrested and charged with
armed robbery in collection with
the robbery of Uncle Henry’s
Store two weeks ago.
Jack Moss, operator of the
Cherryville road store, was
knocked unconscious and the
store’s cash box was robbed of
about $75. According to Cleveland
County deputies Cloninger has ad
mitted the crime.
A preliminary hearing was held
Monday morning in Shelby’s Re
corder’s Court for Cloninger and
Judge Reuben Elam bound the
defendant over to Superior Court,
Bond for Cloninger has been
set at $1,000 and he was leported
still in jail Tuesday morning.
Cleveland ^Deputies Allen and
Colbert, along with Detective Ed
Groves, of the Gaston County
Sheriff’s department, arrested
Cloninger over the weekend at his
home in Gastonia.
Today's Herald Out
One Day Early
Today’s Herald is being* dis
tributed early, in conformance
with a long-standing practice
for the Christmas-week edition,
though the paper is dated as it
normally would be.
The extra day enables the
Herald staff and mechanical
personnel to have a slightly
longer Christmas holiday.
The edition is the largest
Christmas-week edition the Her
ald has ever published, contain
ing Christmas greetings from
the majority of Kings Moun
tain business establishments,
numerous advertisements from
merchants listing last minute
suggestions and arrivals for
gift - buyers, and special Christ
mas feature material, in addi
tion to the customary full con
tent of up-to-the-minute reports
on news events and regular fea
tures.
Next week’s Herald will ap
pear on regular schedule, get
ting newsstand distribution
Wednesday night, December 28,
and mail distribution on Decem
ber 29.
The Herald will re-open Mon
day morning, December 26.