North Carolina Newspapers

VOL 66 NO. 9 Established 1889 Kings Mountain, N. C., Thursday, March I, 1956 bixtyoixth Tear I IMV/L r i T t UCIN I O Kings Mountain's Reliable Newspaper 1 P Pages IQ Today Population Greater Kings Mountain 10.320 City Limits 7.206 Ik. fkgur* lot Grsatsr Tlggi Mountain t> d»i..d from Km IMS Kings Mountain city directory ctnstm The City Unsits figuie Is Irons tbs United States oonsus el 1S50. Religious Census To Be Conducted Sunday Red Cross Drive Begins Thursday Kings Mountain Campaign Quota S5.545 Minimum Annual appeal for funds for the Red Cross is scheduled to be gin in Kings Mountain Thurs day. Goal of the campaign is $5,545, Janies E. Herndon, Jr., chairman of the fund raising organization said Wednesday. Committee organization has (been completed and Mr. Herndon noted that many workers would begfn canvassing and soliciting of city businesses and individu als this week. The quota is set, Mr. Herndon continued, as the minimum re quired for operations and any thing short of it eliminates some of the work that the Red Cross does in Kings Mountain. “Everyone is urged to make a gift this year,” he added. Over $24 million was expended in disaster relief by Red Cross organizations last year, Mr,. Herndon said, via all chapters and in aid to disaster sufferers. The Red Cross has assisted local area families when homes were destroyed by fire and has assist ed veterans of the Korean con flict and World War II. Red Cross keeps parents in contact with servicemen when emergen cies arise as one of its many home service activities. “The Red Cross is a service or ganization and not a welfare or ganization, Mr. Herndon added. He pointed out that value of blood donated to North Carolina patients through the Red Cross iblood collection program last year would have a market value, if sold, of more than $1 million. Mr. Herndon said that major networks would launch the cam paign in radio and television ap peals and said that Radio Station WKMT had scheduled Red Cross programs during the campaign. Chairman Herndon invited cit kens to note a progress display in the windows of Local Loan & finance company on Mountain street. The display, prepared toy Mrs. John L. McGill and Mrs. J,. A. Neisler, contains antique toys, some used toy local citizens some 50 years ago. One of the toys, Mrs. Neisler noted, was purchas ed toy an area family In 1776. Progress during the drive is to toe posted regularly in the exhi bits. A farm house scene togeth er with soldiers, a liberty toell, eagles, flags, and other scenery make up the exhibit. Clubs Returning To Woman's Club After six years of convening at Masonic Dining hall, Kings Mountain's three male civic clubs are planning to return to the Woman's Club. Two civic groups, the Kings Mountain Kiwanis club and l Kings Mountain Lions club, have voted to contract with the Woman’s Club for meeting place quarters and the Kings Mountain Junior Chamber of Commerce board of directors approved the proffered arran gements Monday night. A Jay cee spokesman said the board action would be presented to the club for approval at next week’s meeting. Under terms of the contract arrangements toeing made, the men’s civic clubs will continue to employ Mrs. I. B. Goforth, Sr., as hostess, with contract clause providing no change of hostess without prior agree ment of both the Woman’s Club and the particular civic clubs. The clubs will pay rent at the rate of $10 per meeting night. The contract provides that 60-day notice toe given be fore any contract can toe abro gated. Renewal options are provided. Terms of the arrangement were reported to the Lions club Tuesday night (by President Gene Timms. The contracts are to be effective April 1. CANDIDATE — Hazel B. Bum gardner, veteran county com missioner. will seek re-nomina tion in the Mag 26 Democratic primary, according to announce ment yesterday. . H. B. Bumgardnei Seeks Be-eiection To County Post Hazel B. Bumgardner, veteran Democratic county commission er, announced Wednesday he would seek re-nomination at the May 26 Democratic primary. The Kings Mountain poultry man is the first county commis sioner to announce he will seek re-election. However, all the incumbents are expected to make similar an nouncements in the near future. Other members of the all-Demo cratic board are Z. Vi. Cline, chair man, Fitzhugh Rollins, John White, and Knox Surratt. In announcing his candidacy Mr. Bumgardner said, “I feel I am better equipped to serve the people of Cleveland County today than at any previous time due to the experience I have obtained in my prior service on the board of county commissioners. I ap preciate deeply the support gi ven me toy the voters of the coun ty in the past and solicit this support in the coming primary.” Mr. Bumgardner first became a member of the board of com missioners by appointment, when the board membership was ex panded to five. He was re-elected in 1952 and in 1954. A native of this community, he is a son of the late Ed Bum gardner. He is a member of Cen tral Methodist church and a Lion. He is a former employee of Neisler Mills. Neislei To Offer Homes For Sale The C. E. Neisler family, which retained its residential realty holdings when it sold its several textile plants, will offer its hous es for sale in the near future. C. E. Neisler said the Neisler Brothers, Inc., family-owned suc cessor corporation to Neisler Mills, Inc., will offer the houses first to present occupants and sec ond to employees of Neisler Mills now living elsewhere. In Kings Mountain, Neisler-ow ned houses to be offered for sale Include approximately 25 at Pau line mill and 50 to 60 at Mar grace' mill. Mr. Neisler said surveying is now underway by Drew Real Es tate Company, of Anderson, S. C., which he described as one of a few firms specializing in the sale of residential realty owned by in dustrial firms. The Drew firm will also appraise the houses to determine values, and. when this work is completed, will open an office in the community and will contact each employee. Mr. Neisler said employees will be offered the houses “on very liberal terms." 325 Churchmen To Collaborate In Sunday Count A total of 325 Kings Mountain are churchmen will collabo rate on Sunday artemoon in con ducting a religious census of the Kings Mountain area. J. Ollie Harris, chairman of the census committee, said 325 lay men, representing all churches of the community, will conduct a two-hour survey on Sunday, be ginning at 1 o’clock, in an effort to list the church affiliation, if any, of each and every citizen of the area. Mr. Harris estimated that 2,000 homes will be visited by the two-man teams and he urged all citizens to remain at their resi dences until 3 p. m,- Sunday after noon. “We expect to complete the work in two hours, and we hope all citizens will cooperate in speeding the work,” Mr. Harris said. The census is under sponsor ship of the inter denominational Kings Mountain Ministerial asso ciation. Mr. Harris said the census-tak ers will convene for lunch at the Woman’s Club at 12:15 p. mr., shortly after the regular Sunday morning church services. At 12:45, the group will adjourn to Central Methodist church for cen sus - taking assignments and be on the job by 1 p. m. A facsmile of the information card to be used by the census takers is printed in today’s edi tion of the Herald. Mr. Harris asked that all citizens be prepar ed to answer the questions, both for themselves and for their children. Bloodmobile Here Monday The Red Cross D'.oodmobile will come to Kings Mountain Mon day for a one-day visit and will re ceive donors at the Woman’s club from 11 a. m. to 5 p. m. Goal of tlje collection is 200 pints of blood. Mrs. J. N. Gamble, executive secretary of the Kings Mountain chapter, pointed out that the goal of each visit is 125 pints but only 135 pints had been collected at two recent visits of the blood col lecting unit here. The Red Cross, Mrs. Gamble added, organizes blood centers to collect blood and blood products and makes it available to those needing it, provides blood to hos pitals and physicians on regular basis, provides blood without cost to the recipient, provides blood and blood products to the armed forces and national defense re serves as needed, and,encourages research that discovers more uses of blood and blood fractions to make collection, processing, dis tribution, and use of blood more efficient. SAFETY DEMONSTRATION PLANNED — Wenzell Morris, safety engineer for Nationwide Insurance, will demonstrate here Tuesday that it is impos sible to “stop on a dime." Hell let students at Kings Mountain High School drive the demonstra tion car above to see how quickly they can stop at 20 mlles-an-hour. The three revolvers on the bumper will fire to mark the pavement when the driver (1) sees the stop signaL (2) slams on the brakes, and (3) brings the car to a dead stop. High Schoolers To Participate In Salety Test Students at Kings Mountain high school will pit their driving i skills against time in a series of tests here Tuesday, Chief of Po i lice Hugh A. Logan, Jr., announc ed yesterday. Several students will drive a specially equipped demonstration car at 20 miles per hour and make emergency stops. Other students will measure the stop ping distances. The tests are designed to dis prove the notion that a car can "stop on a dime,” Chief Logan said. The car is equipped to measure stopping distances accurately. An emergency signal light is mount ed on the hood and three revol vers are • fastened on the front bumper. Aimed straight at the pavement, the guns fire bullets of yellow paint to mark points at which drivers (1) see the emer gency signal, (2) slam on the brakes, and (3) stop the car. The automobile is supplied by Nationwide Insurance. A safety engineer rides beside each driver and operates the equipment. Th engineers have staged simi lar demonstrations before some 5,000 school assemblies in the eastern United States. The demonstration will take place on Ridge street in front of Central school, shortly after a 45 minute assembly. Wenzell Morris will be the saf ety engineer conducting the de monstration. Hold Not Running For Board Post; Other Political Notes Reported Zeno Hord, Waco farmer, told the Herald Wednesday that he will not.be a candidate for the office of county commissioner in the coming county Democratic primary. Reports had indicated that Mr. Hord would run for the office now held by Hazel B. Bumgard ner. However, Mr. Hord said Wed nesday, “You have too good a man down there, and I will not be a candidate in the coming elec tion.” Mr. Hord, the father of Mrs. Sam Collins of Kings Mountain, is a former member of the Cleve land County Hospital Board of Trustees from No. 5 Township. An un checked political rumor in county circles was that For mer Commissioner Ben P. Jenk ins would seek to regain his seat from John D. White, who defeat ed Mr. Jenkins for the District 5 spot in the Democratic primary two years ago. The county commissioners will seek nomination on a county-wide basis this spring for the first time since 1961, result of a change in the election procedure enacted by the 1955 General Assembly. A bill Introduced by the county delega tion and endorsed by the county commissioners provided that the five commissioners be nominated on a county-wide basis, rather than by voters in the particular districts. However, the district residence requirement was re tained. The new arrangement ia the same as the City of Kings Mountain method of choosing city commissioners. Other political developments of the week included: 1) Appointment of George Thomasson as Kings Mountain area manager for Ralph Gardner, candidate for Congress from the 11th district. 2) Word from State Senator Robert Morgan, of Shelby, that, if re-elected, he would seek election by the Senate as speaker pro tempore. 3) Calling of a Republican pre cinct meeting for Thursday night at City Hall. Basil Whitener, of Gastonia, who also seeks the Democratic nomination for 11th district Con gressman, was scheduled to speak at the Lions club here Tuesday night, but found subsequently he had a conflicting engagement. He was reported in Kings Mountain Monday night in conference with District Manager Jack White and Hal D. Ward, a Whitener suppor ter. Thomasson Named Gardner Manager Lawyer To Direct Kings Mountain Area Campaign George Thomasson, Kings Mountain lawyer, will manage the Kings Mountain area cam paign of Ralph Gardner, who seeks the Democratic nomina tion for 11th district Congress man. Announcement was made yes terday by Candidate Gardner, who said he was very pleased to obtain the assistance of the Kings Mountain attorney. The Democratic Primary will be held May 26. Mr. Thomasson was quick to predict victory for his candidate, both at Kings Mountain area pol ling places and through the dis trict. “The Gardner name is well known and respected," he said, “and Ralph Webb Gardner meas ures up to it." ‘Mr,. Thomasson, a Kings Moun tain native, opened his law of fice 'here in August 1952, after ob taining degrees from Davidson college and Duke university law school. He served three years in the army during World War II. He is a son of Mrs. Charles F. Thomasson and the late Mr. Thomasson, a member of First Presbyterian church, a Lion and a Jaycee. Mrs. George Thomas son is the former Marion Arthur. Mr. Thomasson is currently so licitor of city recorder’s court. Open House Set At Military Park Kings Mountain National Mili tary Park will hold open house Saturday cemmemorating the 25th anniversary of federal legis lation establishing the park as a federal military shrine. Ben Moomaw, park superinten dent, said the full park staff will be on duty all day Saturday and will endeavor to show all visitors “how the park operates.” "All areas and facilities will be open to the public and the park staff particularly invites all citi zens of the surrounding area to visit the park and to inspect its grounds and other facilities,” Mr. Moomaw said, On Sunday, a park staffman will.be at Cowpens, S. C., Nation al Battlefield site, which was chartered by Congress 27 years ago. The Cowpens facility is un der management of the Kings Mountain park organization. MANAGER — George B. Thom assoa. Kings Mountain lawyer, will manage the Kings Mountain area campaign oi Ralph W. Gardner for the Democratic nom ination for 11th district Congress man. TWO FIRES Kings Mountain Fire depart ment answered two calls this week according to a report toy Warren Ellison, city fireman. Friday, firemen were called to West End Grocery, Sheltoy road, to extinguish a grease pit fire; and Wednesday, February 22, firemen extinguished a grass blaze on Sims street. Statement Ends Long Speculation As GOP Cheers President Eisenhower said at his press conference Wednesday morning he would be the Repub lican standard-ibearer again if the convention nominated him,. The announcement brought an end to the speculation which be gan last September when the President suffered a heart at tack and bore out indications of the past three weeks that the President would seek re-election, his heart attack notwithstanding. The President was to make a television address Wednesday night at 10 o’clock, in which he was to list his reasons for mak ing the decision to seek/re-elec tion. It was to be carried via Sta tion WB-TV Charlotte. The President’s decision fol lowed heavy pressure from GOP leaders to continue to lead the party, a statement by Dr. Paul \tyhite, Boston heart specialist, that the president was physical ly fit to seek the office again, and constant predictions from GOP leaders during the past two weeks that Eisenhower wofild again lead the ticket. The announcement produced joy . throughout the nation and in JCings Mountain among Re publican enthusiasts. One called the Herald to say, “Thi Democrats have a long time to wait, don’t they?” Nomination of the incumbent by his political convention is re garded as a mere formality. Thus the re-nomination of President Eisenhower at San Francisco’s Cow Palace late in the summer is expected to take no longer than the formalities require, which will include the nomina ting and seconding speeches and the calling of the roll. [Tony Anthony Much Improved A head operation performed on seven-year-old Tony Anthony last Thursday was reported Wed nesday to have ibeen successful. Tony, the young son of Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Anthony of Shelby road, was struck by an automo bile nearly three weeks ago as he crossed the highway near his home after leaving a stopped school bus. The operation, performed at Charlotte Memorial Hospital, was to remove pressure brought to bear on the brain by his head injuries. Relatives of the Anthony fam ily said Wednesday that the boy’s condition is greatly impro ved, and that he will probably be released from the hospital in the near future. Thomas G. Bowen of Forest City, driver of the car that struck young Anthony, was fined $50 and the costs of cfourt in Cleve land County Recorder’s Court Friday for passing a stopped school bus. Another charge of reckless dri ving against the driver was nol prossed by the state. Highway Patrolman D. W. Spratt told the court that Bowen stopped and rendered all possi ble assistance to the injured boy. He also said Bowen told him that he did not know the law requir ed him to stop when meeting a stopped school bus. Neisler, Crattspun Adjust Wages To Comply With New $1 Minimum Many Kings Mountain indus trial employees, who work for businesses in interstate com merce, are getting pay increases as a result of the March 1 effec tive date of the federal law set ting minimum pay at $1 per hour. Actually, majority of firms ef fected by the change have al ready instituted the pay scale changes to put their rates in con formance with the new law. Neisler Mills division of Mas sachusetts Mohair PluSh Compa ny, the community’s largest em ployer, posted a notice at their plants this week informing em ployees that the minimum wage had become $1 per hour effective the week of February 26. Paul Mauney, Neisier executive, said the wage change would add an estimated nine percent to the company’s Kings Mountain pay roll. The Neisler notice read: . . Beginning the week of February 26, 1956, all persons on Neisler payrolls will receive a minimum of $1 per hour. Other rates above the minimum have been adjust ed according to skill and merit. Each person should see their su pervisor for their individual rates. ‘This increase will be effective in the pay received March 8, 1956.” Bonnie Mills will not be great ly effected .by the change, Jacob Cooper reported. Only four em ployees were at base rates and of these, three were at rates a bove the previous 75 cents mini mum, he added. Craftspun Yarns, Inc., like Neisler, made wage adjustments effective February 26. The few employees under the $1 per hour figure were raised, and rate ad justments aggregating about three percent were made for higher-rated employees. At the same time, G. C. Kelly, Craftspun official announced, the company upped benefits of employee paid hospitalization benefits. Hospi talization costs are shared by 1 the company and employees. RUNNING — President Dwight D. Eisenhower said at his press con ference Wednesday morning he was willing to seek re-election. The picture above is a 1952 cam paign pose. Knitting Firm Expects To Start Operations Soon Kings Mountain Knitting Com pany, Inc., will start operations within the next week. This was a report given Friday by Mollis Altholz, president of the company. Mr. Altholz was in Kings Mountain over the past weekend to inspect the progress made on the company’s Kings Mountain plant. Prior reports had indicated that the plant would have been in operation iby now, but Altholz said a delay in obtaining power facilities had delayed opening. The president, a New York res ident, said that Paul Opinsky would be in charge of the local operations, and reported again that local laoor would be used in the plant wherever possible. He added that experienced knitters would have to he brou ght in to train workers to oper ate the knitting machines. Mr. Altholz said this was the company’s first venture in North Carolina, hut said that he has been in the textile business in New York since 1919. “We will probaibly use aibout 30 employees on a two-shift ba sis to start,” he said, ‘‘but hope to go to three shifts as soon as we can train our personnel.” The company maintains sales offices in New York City. The Kings Mountain plant will man ufacture iboth plain and fancy knit goods used for underwear, pblo shirts, and blouses, the pres ident said. GOP Meeting Thursday Night A meeting of the West Kings Mountain Republican Precinct Committee will be held at City Hall Thursday night at 7:30 o’clock, W. A. Williams, chair man, has announced. Business to come before the meeting will include the election of new officers, and nomination of delegates for the county con vention to be held in Shelby March 3 at the county courthouse. Williams is urging all persons interested in local Republican party activities to attend this meeting. Record Utility Bills Blamed On Weather City office employees are ex pecting a hard time from utility customers beginning Thursday. Bills for city utilities set ano ther high record for the billing which customers will receive March 1, and the city office folk say, “Blame it on the weather.” Normally the February bills total highest in the year, but, due to foul weather which first hindered meter reading and, second, sent the meter-readers oft to line ren-dr duties, the March 1 bills reflect four addi tional days of service. The total will be for 34 days, rather than 30. “It’ll balance up. ' Assistant City Clerk Joe McDaniel says,” for next month’s bills will re flect four days less service or a 26-day reading.” The grand voial tpr water and power service for the bill ing is $27,133.87, up some $2, 000 over last month’s total, Mr. McDaniel reported.