Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Jan. 6, 1977, edition 1 / Page 11
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Cool Story by Qizabeth Stewart John Queen's colorful red and white windmills, their propellors whining In the breeze, dot the Ismd- scape of the comfortable home he and his wife, Daisy Barrett Queen, share on Shelby Rd. Mr. Queen's windmills number BOO-600 of varying sizes, are result of a hobby he began when he retired three years ago. His youthful appearance belles his 77 years. "The Lord's been good to me," said the silver-haired grandfather of eight last week as he showed us over his home, a sprawling double-wide mobile home which featitfes porches on front and back the length of the house, a master bedroom large enough fora klngslze bed, plus cabi nets and storage room, a second bedroom, two baths, Isu-ge llvlng- dlning room, kitchen and cozy den. Mr. Queen has built a shop and flower house In back, which In cidentally Is home of his beautiful black Sambo, a cat with white feet and shiny black mane. John started whittling 60 years ago as a boy In the mountains In Bimke County and learned the trade well from his father. He didn't really decide to get Into the business until after he retired. "I have to have something to do," he said. He hand carves the beautiful windmills using a hawk bill knife which belonged to his wife's late // • / f' • * Windmill Photos by Tom McIntyre husband, Arthur (Skeet) Barrett, and which has been in her family for a number of years. Some of the tools he uses are antique hammers and wrenches, all meticlously clean and organized In his workshop In back of the house. Most of the propellor blades for his mills he cuts 14 Inches wide and balanced perfectly. He prefers white pine for his handwork because It Is easy to whittle, runs well because It's lightweight, and won't rot out. He uses the best out door red and white paint available and has constructed windmills on almost every pole on his property encircling the fence, Interspering them here and there with beauti fully-constructed birdhouses In red I IJi-Si-. J.E. Queen gets comfortable in his old swing, one of the places he sits to create his windmills and white and centering the whole showpiece yard with a waterwheel he obtained In the mountains com plete with a motor, a gift from his wife and placed In a sunken bathtub which Is filled up with water. In the summer time the water runs out of the bathtub and over the wheel. A feature of the wheel Is hand, carved horses and a wagon which give the appearance that the water wheel is being pulled. Bird feeders, gourds, old-tlmey plows and other farm equipment painted In red also en hance the setting. The windmills are constructed well, perched on Iron poets, with their propellera turning with the wind. Mr. Queen was bom in a log house In the mountains but has called Kings Mountain home for most of his life except for a brief time he spent in Gastonia as a service station operator. His first bride was only 17 when they married and he recalled he and Mrs. Queen spoke their wedding vows, after eloping. In the "middle of the rotul In Burke Qounty" after he got the preacher to meet them there. Mr. Queen missed service In World War 1 although he passed the examinations. Peace was declared about the time he was to report for duty, he said. He rsilsed five children, Dan Queen, now of Oiwlotte, IwUla Huffstlckler of Kings Mountain, Linda Hamlltmi of Bessemer City, Jerry Queen of Pickens, S. C. suid Jean Mayhue of Wilmington. Daisy Bairett Queen had been a widow for four years when she met Mr. Queen, a widower. They have been married for seven years. Mrs. Queen Is mother of CapUUn Jackie Barrett of Kings Mountain Police Department tmd there are two grandchildren. Mrs. Queen said they decided to sell their much larger home, a beautiful yellow house nearby their present home, and move In the mobile home, which Is very com fortable and which combines Daisy's decorating good taste and furnishings from both their homes accumulated over the yearn. ITielr family's pictures are dis played prominently In the den and hall and also In the den are pictures of John Queen's horse which was his pride and ]oy and which ran In the pasture nearby. Mr. Queen said he Just a few of the hundreds of small windmills situated on Queen’s property west of Kings Mountain. loved horseback riding but decided to sell the animal after a bout with pneumonia. The home, which Is easily seen from U. S. 74 West near the KM Plaza, Is near the busy high way and he said he was afraid at sometime the horse might get too near the highway and be killed. Mr. and Mrs. Queen sire members of First Presbyterian Church. Some of his windmills he puts on the market. The larger models with dozen propellors or more take about three days to complete and are a bargain at US. He has also taken orders for birdhouses and feeders. ISs hobby has been a real blessing to him, says Mr. Queen, and something he enjoys and likes to share with others. In the summer months when their flower beds are ablaze with color and the yards are green, there Is nothing prettier than the sight of Queen windmills flying In the breeze and quite visible from the highway. "We really love It out here," says Mrs. Queen, who, although In terested In her husband’s hobby, has never Joined him In whittling and carving and fashioning the pretty things which delight young and old. Mirror-Herald Thursday, January 6,1977 Living Today Look For Flamingoes “This is my workshop," Queen said as he showed the photographer % where he keeps materials and tools for making windmill blades and decorations Is the robin the real harbinger of spring? Or Is It the crocus? Is It the seed catalogues arriving In the mall? Or could It be the flamingos? It Is flamingos In February this year, at least In Chsu-lotte, that will usher In the season of rakes and tillers, parties on the paUo and preparations for easy summer living. ITie rosy-pink birds that live year- round at the Rlverbanks Zoological Park In Columbia, S. C., will make their home from Feb. 36 through Mar. 6 In a special garden designed by the Zoological Park fbr the "Southern Living Show" at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart. As It has for the past 17 years, the Southern Living Show will be bringing Its visitors from across the South and as far north as New York. Robert E. Zimmerman, president of Southern Shows, Inc., which produces the annual event, says plans are almost complete for another breathtaking show sure to inspire people weary from the South’s coldest winter. "We've been thinking spring for weeks now and have already or dered over 6,000 tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and freezla for the gar dens." "In addition to these flowers,” he said, "the Individual nurserymen are nurtxirlng dogwood, tucaleas, rhododendron, fuscla and other plants Into bloom for the show. Only live plants are permitted In the gardens." Eighteen distinctive gardens are being deMgned and Installed by professional' nurserymen and landscapers and the Horticulture Club students from N. C. State University, Sandhills Community College and Forsyth Technical Insti tute. Exciting features will be built Into each garden — the flamingos In one, several gardens you can walk right Into, an Incomparably repro duced natural woodland, and con tainers of unusual cactus to accent a patio, to name a few. Hghllghts of this year's show, Zimmerman noted, will be a house spoiuored by Celaneae Oorp. with an entrance deck, three rooms off a hallway and a latticed patio deck and cabana. -oOo- Bryant Drier entertained his 8,000th visitor st "Grier Haven,” his home at Lake Montonla, New Year’s Eve. Special guests were HalUe and Charles Blanton, celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary, and Mr. and Mrs. A1 Moretz. Ihlrty guests were served hor- sdouvres, cookies, h^tcake and punch with party pick-ups from a festive table decorated In the holi day motif. Dancing, TV viewing of Guy Lombardo’s Times Square traditional party and toasting ths New Year featured entertainment. Party balloons and nolaemakers were distributed to guests. -oOo- HOSPITALIZED Roy Pearson, city recreation director, entered Charlotte Bye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital Monday for observation and treat ment.
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Jan. 6, 1977, edition 1
11
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