Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1927-01-27
News of a Week
At Blowing Rock
New School Buiiiing Should Be Com
munity Centhr, Says Expert;
To Cost About $35,OOO
By RUPERT GILLETT

oio"liS NUN, jail. LO-JOnn y.
Blair, state superintendent of school
buildings, grounds and construction,
who was here last week to inspect the
five-acre site for Blowing Rock S
proposed $4,000 consolidated school
building, envisioned for Blowing
Rock a building of beauty, which can
serve as school, community center
and public library combined.
Blowing Rock" Mr.. Blair said,
has wonderful opportunity to
build here structure that will be a
credit to this part of the state
Although he did not bring any
model plans, Mr.. Blair said the
building he had in mind would have
about twelve rooms for the public
library and other branches for COM
munity center.
Immediately after Mr.. Bl;.ir's de-
parture, Q. f. Herman, architect of
Hickory, was here looking at the site
in preparation, presumably, to pre-
pare bid nthe building.
According to Smith Hagaman,
county superintendent of education,
however, bids will not be called for
until the legal tanglc in the way of
financing the project can be removed.
This must be done by the legislature.
Mr.. Hagaman conferred last week
with G. c. Robbins and S. j. Stutz of
the Blowing Rock board relative to
the materials for the proposed build
ing. No decision was reached, but
three materials were discussed prin-
cipally-brick, tile and stone.
No preference was expressed as to
material, but several citizens, who
were asked their opinion, preferred
stone as being more harmonious with
the mountain landscape. The prin-
cipal objection to stone, it was said,
is the expense.
Annexation Bill Introduced
Word reached here Saturday that
Thomas H. Coffey, Watauga county
representative in the general assem-
bly,, has introduced in the house his
bill for the annexation to the corpo-
rate limits Of Blowing Rock of May
view Park and Green Park.
Because of the large number of
public improvements that have been
completed since the last summer sea-
son, and because these improvements
can be extended to these two COM
munties if they are annexed, the bill
is expected to pas easily.
The bill will add nearly a square
mile TO Blowing Rocks area, large
proportion to its summer population,
and $SOO,000 to its tax valuations.
Fire Siren Installed
The siren of the Blowing Rock fire
alarm system was placed on the tow
er Friday and work is almost COM
pleted on wiring and installing the
alarm boxes. The Blowing Rock
Power and Light Company installed
the system without cost to the town,
and will donate the power to oper-
ate it. The siren is of the latest de-
sign. and, it is said, can be heard
ten miles away.
The new fire station is rapidly
nearing completion. The outside has
been finished, and carpenters this
week were rushing the interior work.
Meanwhile the fire truck is being
kept in the Blowing Rock garage.
DR.. B. B. Dougherty, president OF
the Appalachian Normal school at
Boone, was here for few hours last
Monday, and then he and Mayor
George Sudderth departed for Ra-
|, leigh. Mr.. Dougherty did not an
pounce his mission, but it was pre-
sumed that he went to confer with
the budget commission, which met
the heads of state institutions last
week. While here, Prof. Dougherty
said the Normal will soon erect new
dormltOry 1of girls anu IhaI IL WIN
be paid for out of the $5,5OO,OOO
bond issue now pending before the
legislature for buildings for state in
stitutiOns
In line with other improvements
which Blowing Rock is making for
what is exepcted to be its greatest
summer season, the Blowing Rock
Light and Power company will erect
this spring a steam generating plant
as an auxiliary to its water power
plant on the Watauga River below
Shulls Mills The steam plant will
have a capacity of 200 horsepower.
The water power plant generates 400
horsepower. 1t is the intention, said