Population Greater Kings Mountain 10,320 City Limits 7.206 III agure let {treater Tinge Mountain It derived from tfta IKS Kings Mountain city directory census. The City limits figure Is Irom the United States census ol 1950. Sixty-Fifth Year Pages Today VOL 65 NO 51 Established 1889 Kings Mountain N. C. Thursday December 29, 1955 PRICE FIVE CENTS Neil 0. Johnson To Manage Foote -< Local News Bulletins HAS OPERATION John Rudisill, principal of Bethware school, underwent an operation Wednesday morning at Charlotte Memo rial hospital. LIONS DIRECTORS Regular monthly meeting of directors of the Kings Moun tain Lions cluto will be held Thursday night at 7 o’clock at the office of Dr. N,. H. Reed. LIONS TALK PROJECTS Members of the Kings Moun tain Lions club held an infor mal meeting Tuesday night, discussing a series of possible ^projects and charitable plans for the New Year. BUILDING PERMIT Building Inspector J. W. Webster issued a building permit Thursday to T. F. Brid ges to erect a house on Sipes street, at an estimated cost of $6,500. METER RECEIPTS City parking meters retur ned $252.76 for the week end ing noon Wednesday, Decem ber 21, and $236.50 for the week ending Wednesday, De cemoer 28, according to Gene Mitchem, city clerk. Off-street meters accounted for $48.76 and $52.52 of this total and street meters brought in $204 and $183.98, he reported. Negio Injured In Holiday Shooting A pre-Christmas party at the home of Mrs. Pink Crawford on U. S. 29 South of Kings Moun tain last Saturday morning resul. ted in the shooting of a colored man and the arrest of another Negro and his wife. According, to a report by Sher iff Haywood Allen, a group of Negroes had gathered at the home for some holiday festivi ties Friday night. During the course of the party, Mrs. Georgia Rice Bert and her husband, Var nell Bert got into an argument. Mrs. Bert wetn Into the home of Mrs. Crawford and got a gun. She was trying to get a shot at, her husband when the gun went off and the bullet struck G. R. Adams, another Negro, in the right chest, the sheriff said. Adams is in Kings Mountain Hospital recovering from his wounds. Mr. and Mrs. Bert were arrested and charged with as sault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Both are free under $500 bonds. The Sheriff said the trial is pending. Adams’ condition is not thought to be serious. Prizes Await Winner O! 1956 Baby Derby Who will be Kings Moun tain’s first 1956 new arrival? Whoever it may be, time will only tell, but several Kings Mountain firms are ready to salute the new arrival with gifts. A complete list of the firms and gifts awaiting the first stork passenger are listed on page 6 section one. Rules for participation in the stork derby contest are: 1. Winning baby must be born in this area. 2. Parenis must be residents of this area. 3. Exact time of birth must be specified in writen statement by attending physician. 4. All applications must be received at the Herald by Jan uary 9. 5. In the event of a tie, a ward will be distributed at the discretion of the committee in charge. Delaware Man To Assume Post At Foote Plant Neil O. Johnson, curently tech nical representative of Hercules Powder division of E. I. DuPont deNemours, Wilmington, Del,., has been appointed general manager of Foote Mineral Com pany’s Kings Mountain division. Mr. Johnson’s appointment was confirmed late Wednesday afternoon by John Donahey, of Philadelphia, Pa., chief of pub lic relations for Foote, by tele phone to the Herald. Mr. Johnson is a graduate of Colorado School of Mines, is married and has a daughter. He will succeed James E. Cas tle, who resigned in October to join International Mineral and Chemical Company, Chicago. Mr,. Johnson is expected to join Foote next week, Donahey said. E. iR. Goter, assistant general manager of the Kings Mountain plant, has been serving as act ing manager since the resigna tion of Mr. Castle. Police Aided 71 Needy Families The Kings Mountain police de partment distributed toys, food and clothing to 71 needy families in this area during the Christmas season, Chief Hugh A. Logan, Jr., anounced Wednesday. Many used toys were collected by the police and fire depart ments, and repaired for distribu tion. Many busintess firms donated items to be auctioned off to raise money for the*food and clothing. This project was one of several that were conducted by civic and other organizations to aid the needy families of the Kings Mountain area at Christmas. Hill Returns To Silver Dollar H. A. Hill, well-known restau ranteur, announced Wednesday he had resumed ownership and management of Silver Dollar Grill on Grover Road. For the past year the restau rant has been operated under lease by Mr. and Mrs. George Lublaneski. Mr. Hill, who owns the building and equipment, will continue to use the establishment’s familiar trade name. Mrs. Hill will be as sociated with him in the opera tion of the business. During the past year, Mr. Hill has been insimilar work in Gas tonia and Charlote. He operated Silver Dollar Grill for eight years prior to his leasing it to the Lu blaneski's. gamble at home John E. Gamble, who has been a patient at Kings Moun tain hospital since ‘becoming ill several weeks ago, returned to his home on W„ Mountain street Tuesday. Building & Loans Paying Record High Dividends Totaling $46,403 Kings Mountain’s two building & loan associations have declar ed year-end dividends on savings accounts totaling $46,403.64. Officials of both Home Build ing & Loan association and Kings Mountain Building & Loan asso ciation termed the six-month de claration “new records.” Home Building & Loan associa tion dividends on savings ac counts will total $26,756.09, A. H. Patterson, executive vice-presi dent, said Wednesday. He noted that dividend checks on full-paid stock would be mailed this week end, while dividends on optional savings accounts would be credit ed. The December 30 payment brings to $51,211.55 the total of dividends paid by the association during 1955. Ben H. Bridges, secretary-trea surer, of Kings Mountain Build ing & Loan association, said his firm would pay dividends at De cember 30 totaling $19,647.56. Of this total, $10,037.53 will go to holders of full-paid shares, while $9,610.03 will be added to the ac counts of optional shareholders. The December 30 payment of Kings Mountain Building & Loan association will bring to $36,714.88 the payments for 1955. Both associations declared di vidends at the rate of three per cent. Dividends by the two associa tions during 1955 amount to $87, 926.43. Horvath Names J. W. Milam To Sales Post J. W. (Mike) Milam, former Kings Mountain citizen, has been named sales manager for the up holstery and drapery fabric sec tions of Massachusetts Plush Mo hair Company’s Neisler division. Ernest Horvath, president, an nounced the appointment Wed nesday. Mr. Horvath announced that that George Weber, former secre tary-treasurer of Neisler Mills Company, ass'ets of which were obtained by Horvath interests in the purchase of Neisler Mills, would continue as chief adminis trative officer in the New York selling organization and would have full charge of yarn sales. Allan Julian, former president of the sales company has retired. Mr. Milam has been on the New York company’s sales staff since January 1949. Prior to that time, Mr. Milam was associated with Plonk Brothers & Company and was for many years manager of Dixie-Home Store here. He served in World War II as a naval offi cer aboard aircraft carriers ope rating in the Pacific ocean areas and when released held the rank of lieutenant-commander. In Kings Mountain, Mr. Milam was active in Central Methodist church, the Kings Mountain Lions club and Kings Mountain Mer chant association. He is a former president of the Lions and Mer chants organizations. Butlei Escapes, Still At Large Bill Butler, Kings Mountain man, walked away from a honor grade crew at the Spindale prison camp on December 21 and is still at large. Butler, one-time cafe operator here, had been convicted for is suing worthless checks and had been sentenced to 10-months on the roads. Two other prisoners were with Butter when he escaped. One of the men, Gene Allen of Spindale, has been recaptured, according to the camp superintendent. Cleveland County authorities have been notified to be on the lok-out for Butler and for Lonnie Carswell, pt Morganton, who es caped with him. Bpth Allen and Carswell were convicted for violation of the pro hibition laws. Butler has served about 30 days of his 10-month sentence whfen he escaped, the superintendent re ported. Monday To Be Betail Holiday Majority of Kings Mountain retail stores will 'be closed next next Monday, January 2, in ob servance of a delayed New Year's holiday, dictated by the fact New Year’s Day comes on Sunday. All stores will be open for the full day on Wednesday, however. The retailers will resume their customary Wednesday* afternoon half-holiday on January 11. Financial firms will also be closed on January 2, a legal holi day, and will also close at noon on next Wednesday, January 4. The Kings Mountain Herald will operate on regular schedule. Drug stores will also be open on regular schedule. Books Are Closing On Eventful Year Neisler Sale, Sunday Movies, Prosperity, City Politics Among Top Kings Mountain Area News Events oi '55 Kings Mountain will close out the books Saturday at midnight on a news-filled year. Some of the major events were one-time happenings, while others wlere continuing situations. Among the major news events were: Sale of Neisler Mills to Hor vath textile interests. The high school football team’s winning of the conference cham pionship. The Sunday movie issue. Publication of Kings Moun tain’s first city directory. City politics, featuring the re election of Mayor Glee A. Bridges and majority of the incumbents from Bridges Administration I. High employment throughout 1955. Expansion of the mining indus try, including opening of the new Lithium Corporation of America plant, launching of operations of Carolina Mines, Inc., and en trance into the lithium field here of Basic Atomics, Inc. Opening of the U. S. 29 by-pass south of Kings Mountain. Cut-on of city natural gas ser vice. The year brought its share of good deeds and bad deeds, plea sant tevents and tragic ones. Numerous accidents resulted in death of area citizens, including R. F. Elam, Willie Ramsey, Sam my Moore, Arnold Moore, and Le roy Oates. Tommy Gurley, of Newton, died in an auto accident, and four people were killed in a head-on crash on the road since become the Highway 29 by-pass. Fire destroyed David’s Baptist church. Well-known citizens removed by nonflccidental death during 1955 inci 'ded J. A. Walker, Ras tus B. Dixon, R. H. Hord, J. Cal vin Plonk, J. W. Layton, A. E Clinte, S. S. Weir, O. T. Hayes, Sr. and Mrs. C. T. Cornwell. Former citizens claimed by death includ ed W. F. Thomson, Mrs. J. R. Cline, Herbert J- Plonk, and Miss Katie Garrett. Following is a monthly summa tion of the major headlines ap pearing in the Kings Mountain Herald during the pe«t 12 months: JANUARY— Cut on date for natural gas schteduled for January 14; 143,694 visitors sets military park record here during 1954; Lithium Corpo ration about ready to begin opera tions of new plant; J. C. Bridges installed as Kiwanls president; Postmaster Blakely resigning po sition effective January 15; Har ris, Neisler named Red Cross chairmen; New Lithium plant be gins operations, expect annual payroll of $1 million; First Na tional Bank president sees good year in 1955; Burlie S. Peeler, Jr., named Jaycee Young Man of Year for 1954; First big snowfall in years blankets Kings Moun tain area; Central Methodist Church opens educational build ing; Neisler leases Double Shoals mill; Merchants elect Sam Col lins president; City gas service in augurated: stroupe Drug to open; Many activities scheduled for be nefit of polio drive; DAR Chap ters to unveil marker at Long Creek; Weir "named acting post master in Kings Mountain. FEBRUARY— Mercnants may organise in dustry Development firm; Kings Mountain area job total is at 18 month peak; Gas customers now total 20; Dr. W. L. Pressly heads library board; Jaycees Invite civic club aid for recreation; Retailers hold annual banquet; Carpenter reports city tax bills 83 per cent; in before penalty date; Hendrick resigns city clerk post, Joe Mc Daniel actingjderk; Theatre man ager asking for Sunday movies; Kiwanis to hear Billy Joe Pat- | ton; Building and loan elects i White, Summer as new directors; | Welch baby dies of suffocation; I Rites to be held for Rev. C. R. Baxler; Herald to build new building on South Piedmont; Min isters oppose movies on Sunday; George W. White first to file for city office; Negro officer wounds Sammy Boyce following attack; Fire levels Bethware church; Bridges, Fulton, and Grantham file notices for re-election, Pear-1 son seeks Ward 2 post; Mrs. | Lynch will not offer; Gene Mit cham is named city clerk; Dr. Harbison and Dr. McMurray open new offices; Woman’s Club fash ion show set; Recreation body asks civic clubs to accept plant . expansion tasks; Gault Brothers | begin new building. Patterson and Ellison seeking Ire-election; Red Cross sets goal of $5,220 in 1955 campaign; Tutor may ask for Blue Law vote; Foote Mineral to appeal trial examiner's ruling in “unfair la bor practice” dispute; City direc tory census job progressing; Wright, Pearson and Hayes seek ing city offices1 Wreck injuries fatal to Thomas Gurley of Cher ryville; Blue law matter set for May 10; Hospital addition bids to tal $191,019; Collins opposes Ful ton in Ward 1; Ford is third can didate in Ward 4; Henry Neisler named president of country club; Phone service maintained as CWA walkout continues; Bill Jonas elected Jaycee president; Webster seeking school post; Quinn youth dies in Hawaii plane crash; Phone communications sit uation unchanged as strikers stay out; Kings Mountain Hospital au dit for 1954 shows profit; A. W. Kincaid files for re-election; Paul Lions to conduct Broom-mat sale Ledford enters Ward 4 contest; to aid blind; Phone service here normal as strike goes into 17th day. APKIL— Kings Mountain preparing for Easter observance; church ser vices, holidays feature celebra tion; City may adopt curfew or dinance; proposed law would re strict those under 16; Wright fa vors free curb, gutter with Powell cash; A&P building to begin soon; City thinks gas revenues for 1955-56 will total $93,953: Salk polio vaccine to be given here April 22, 483 children to get se rum; Examination for postmas ter is called by civil service; Bell, Greyhound strikes effect local re sidents; Myers enters Ward 2 race; Mrs. Jacob P. Mauney is chairman of cancer appeal; Ol land Pearson, candidate for ma yor, lists platform: City board checking on legality of curfew law; Mauney Hoisery starts ex pansion; Ward system in school voting may be scrapped, board approves change proposal of Mrs. Lynch; Three more candidates file, contests exist for all posts at city hall; City curfew law ruled not legal: Lathem resigns recrea. tion post; School board re-elects Barnes for two years; Air Force orders Dr. James H. Lane to du ty; Dr. Nolan to join Hendricks; Doug Salley named city recrea tion director; Lloyd E. Davis seeks Ward 2 post, new candi date brings field to 20; Telephone strike enters 46th day. MAY— Mayonal candidates total 4 as Still is last minute entrant; First Baptist buys Davis property, Cherokee street lot is sold for $10,000; School board candidates have no opposition; Kings Moun tain cancer fund drive goes over the top; Pilot plant knitting ope rations will begin at Craftspun Yarns: Bridges, Patterson, Elli son, Grantham re-elected; Col lins upsets Fulton as Bridges is landslide victor; Bobby Early, spelling champion, is off for Washington; Ledford may ask for runoff election; Hayes is top man; Lions elect Gene Timms president; Legion elects W. D. Morrison commander; Polio vac cination program is halted; Tho mas Howard Jenkins dies of auto mobile accident injuries; Hayes, Ledford vie for votes in board runoff: Merchants ready for Dol lar Day; City board holds its first meeting; School Board re names Kincaid chairman; Gro ver Graduation services for 16 seniors set; Guard Unit sets open house; Hayes wins Ward 4 com missioner seat; Mayor’s job may be full-time; Chief Logan’s fate in doubt; Kings Mountain High School graduation to begin; Tele phone strike ends woikmen re turn to jobs; Dog quarantine stans June 1. JUNE— Carolina Mines to launch opera CotMnued On Page Eight Santa Claus Pay Reached $45,000 Here Kings Mountain's manufactur ing plant operators, playing San ta Claus to their workers, put at least $45,000 into circulation in the city last week. Burlington’s Phenix plant paid $6,000 in holiday bonuses to its employees. Craftspun Yarns paid bonuses totaling $3,000; while Sadie Mills paid a two per cent of yearly i wage bonus. Mauney Mills handed out ap proximately $7,000, while Mauney | Hoisery bonuses amounted to a bout $8,500, and the other Mau | ney plant, Bonnie Mill, paid out j some $3,300. These bonuses a mounted to two and four per cent of yearly wages. Kings Mountain Manufacturing Company lemployees collected some $5,000 in holiday bonuses; while the workers at Horvath’s Neisler Division plants received approximately $7,500 plus other gifts from the owners. Many of the other plants gave gifts of turkeys, hams, blankets and candies in addition to the cash bonuses * 75 Families Got Christmas Aid The combined efforts of the Kings Mountain Jaycees, Moose Lodge and American Legjon Post made Christmas a happier affair for 75 families this year accord ing to a report made by K. E. Morrison. Morrison, one of the officials in the “Buy-a-can-leave-a-can” drive, said that the 75 families were all given baskets containing food worth $10 or more depending on the size and needs of the fami ly Pete Barkley, local grocer, matched dollar for dollar all cash donations received. Morrison said that $125 was received and that Barkley added another $125 in merchandise. Grocery stores, toy stores and the grammar school in both Kings Mountain and Bessemer City were coperating with the threle clubs in this Christmas re lief drive. Morrison added that the three sponsoring clubs would like to extend their thanks to every citi zen in the two cities who helped make the drive a succes. New Year Shooters To Be Here Dec. 31 The New Year will come in with a bang in Kings Mountain. The New Year Shooters from Cherryville will journey to Kings Mountain this year to welcome the arrival of 1956. These shooters, who have been carrying out this old German tradition for many years, will be herb on December 31 from 11:30 until noon. They will probably shoot on Railroad avenue, D. M. Black, one of the group’s spokes men, said. Sidney A. Beam, who will soon be 83 years old, will be the speech cryer again this year. Uncle Sid ntey has been crying the New Year chant for 64 years, and has not missed a year since 1908. Uncle Dock Shull is another old-timer with the shooters. Un cle Dock says he has been firing with the group for the past 63 years. The Cherryvillie shooters travel throughout Gaston County and its surrounding area each year fir ing their old muskets and chant ing a greeting to the coming year. ONE FIRE Kings Mountain fire depart ment answered one call this week to extinguish a grass fire Monday on Dilling street. Community Ready Foi Traditional Welcome To Bright New Year '56 Old Man 1955 is fast running out of days, and the babe 1956 is just around the corner. Festivities celebrating the new arrival are being planned throughout the nation. Many parties and other festivi. ties on the local secne are sched uled. The Country Club is plan ning a buffet supper and party to begin at 9 p. m. December 31 and innumerable private parties are set. The year 1955 will be remem- 1 bered by local folks as one of j the most prosperous in the city’s history, and high hope is being held for 1956. Peace, prosperity and health will be the wishes of the day, and many local tables will bear the traditional black-eyed peas and hog jowl, as well as traditional Sunday dinner fare, following New Year Days church service. Tax Listing Chore To Begin Tuesday KIWANIS SPEAKER—Dr. R. C. Grier, pastor of the ARP church of Greenville. S. C., will address members of the Kings Mountain Kiwanis club at their Thursday night 'meeting at Masonic Din ing Hall. Dr. Grier is the former president of Erskine college and well-known in Kings Mountain, having many times filled the pulpit of Boyce Memorial ARP church. The club convenes at 6:45. Horvath Writes Neisler Workers The president of Massachusetts Mohair Plush Company, new owner of Neisler Mills, addressed a message to each employee last week. Ernest V. Horvath wrote his new employees in a letter accom panying their pre-Christmas pay checks. "I think you should know more about the new owners of the mills. People generally fear and distrust things or other people that are unknown to them. I would like to tell you something about ourselves and the way we operate. “I. We own and operate a number of textile mills in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hamp shire, and we have been in this business for a great many years. "2. We know that no mill can be successful without the com plete cooperation of all its peo ple. “3. It has always be’en our policy to improve the conditions of our people within the limits of the finances of each mill. Our policy has been to share the suc cesses of the mill with the peo ple who contribute to its success. “It is our sincere hope that in 1956 we will get better acquaint ed with each other and with our mutual problems and that each of us will earn and merit confi dence in the other. Let me wish you and your fami lies a Happy, Healthy and Pros perous New Year.” W. P. Bumgardner Will Be Ordained William P. Bumgardner will be ordained as a Baptist minis ter at a special ordination ser vice on Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Oakview Baptist church, according to announce ment by the pastor Rev. C. E. Oxford. Rev. E. O. Gore, a former pas tor of the church,will ipresent the charge to Mr,. Bumgardner, who has been called to fill the pulpit at Gamble Hill Baptist church, anew church on Gastonia high way. City Will Mail Forms In Eiiort To Speed Work City and county tax listing will get underway here Tuesday at City Hall, with the city hav ing adopted a new method of tax listing designed to save time for citizens. City Tax Supervisor C. E. Car penter said this week special tax listing forms are being mailed to 'both individuals and business firms. It will be possible for the citizens to fill in their own blanks, sign them, have them witnessed and return them to City Hall either in person, or by mail. “We feel the new system will be of much help to many people and will enable all of us to dis pense with the long waits which arc sometimes necessary when the tax lister has to go over each item on the long form,” Mr. Car penter stated. He said the system has been used with success in Mecklen burg County. Conrad Hughes, tax lister for Number 4 Township, will be at City Hall too, in order that citi zens may do both listing jobs at one time. The listing will be underway from 8:30 a. m. to 4:30 p. m. daily except Saturdays, through out the month of January. On Saturdays, Mr. Hughes will be at Carley Martin’s store in Gro ver to accommodate citizens in the Grover area. The tax listing officials noted that state law requires all citi zens to list their personal pro perty for taxes, including autos, dogs, cameras, furniture, radios, television sets, jewelry and other valuables, while business firms are required to report their in ventory, equipment additions, fixture additions and other as sets. Realty is already on the tax books. However, transfers should be noted as should new con struction, it w^s noted. The law also requires that men between the ages of 21 and 50 list for poll taxes. The word of the tax listing of ficials was, “List your property early." “It’s always hard to prevent a last-minute jam-up,” they added. _ Loan Film Plans Opening Here A new loan and finance com pany, Local Loan and finance Company, Ine., has announced plans for opening an office in Kings Mountain. The new firm will ibe located at 146 Mountain street, in the building formerly occupied by Whitley Fa'bric Compjyay. The exact opening date hq anounced, but it is ex firm will open next weeS Ford Sides, Jr., of ShelbJ of the company’s incorpori will be manager of the local «i fice. The company will special ize in personal loans ranging from $10 to $100, Mr,. Sides said. Other incorporators of the company include Mrs. G. F. Sides and Mrs. Frances Bridges, both of Shelby. Deodline Saturday For Award Nominees Saturday will be the last day for filing nominations for the Kings Mountain Junior Cham ber of Commerce “Young Man of The Year” award, Ed Smith, chairman of the project, said yesterday. Mr. Smith said several nom inations have already been re ceived. The Jaycees annually honor Kings Mountain’s “Young Man of the Year”, as chosen by a secret committee of citizens. The awa,d will be made and announced next month. Nominations should be filed with Mr. Smith in person, or via mail, to’Postoffice Box 109, Kings Mountain,.

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