davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-21
A MERRY CHRISTMAS

Next week people throughout the world
will pause to celebrate Christmas, the
1939th. anniversary of the birth of Christ,
whose coming signified peace on earth,
goodwill to men," Europe feels little of this
today, but here in America most of us will
probably celebrate the Yuletide season in
the usual way, by exchanging gifts greet
ings, entertaining, going to church, and
participating in other holiday activities.
Those of us who enjoy good health and
the average amount of happiness and pros
perity, have an opportunity of observing
Merry Christmas, by spreading some of
the glow in the shadows, by helping or by
cheering some of the others who are not
so fortunate. For like Scrouge, we will al
ways find that by spreading the Christ
mas spirit, the flame will shine all of the
warmer within ourselves.
Here in America, as nowhere else on
earth, we commercialize Christmas, and it's
observance means big business; but so long
as this is not too strongly emphasized, and
if we still commemorate the birth of the
Bethlehem Child in the true spirit, we see
no harm in our observance For one of the
typical American characteristics, which
has meant much to the success of the ma
ton, as we'll as to individuals, is practical
sense of values and the appreciation of ma
terial things, in the quest OF life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness
Even though we sometimes receive gifts
which are not exactly to our own choosing,
we must remember that every gift repre-
sents thought and an effort on the part of
some one This alone should make us hap
by. To us, one of the pleasant parts OF
Christmas is opening cards and reading
greetings from friends near and far. 1t re-
news feeling of warm fellowship, that
gladdens ones heart Many times messag
es come from those we have not heard
from since the Christmas before, and for
this reason, their greeting gladdens us all
the more.
Whether it be simple card bearing a
Christmas wish, or gift, Christmas gives
every one the opportunity of expressing
to friends and neighbors our appreciation
of fellowship and association throughout
the entire year. To the business firms of
Ashe county, to the subscribers of the pa
per and all others with whom we have had
such pleasant associations during the past,
the entire staff of The Skyland Post ex-
tends all good wishes for a very Merry
Christmas!
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-21
CHANGING HIGHWAY NUMBERS

What effect the recent changes in num-
bers OF North Carolina highways will have
upon the future construction and mainte-
nance OF roads in this county is still mat
ter OF debate, but we are inclined to be-
ieve that certain of these revisions NAV be
ultimately harmful to our best interests.
The section of the former highway num-
Der 10 from Warrensville to the Tennes-
see line, on which construction has been
under way for some time and which is still
far from completion, will probably be the
road that might suffer most by the chang
eS.
The new number given to this section
only extends from Laurel Springs to JEFF
terson and thence to the Tennessee line.
while the old one, number Is, extended
from near Gastonia to the same point,
distance of over one hundred miles.
Naturally there is more argument in ia
Vor OF finishing a road of that distance
that connects with two states, Tennessee
and North Carolina, than there is for lust
a road that begins and ends in Ashe coun
ty.
For years highway officials and politi-
clans have been promising to re-grade and
surface sixteen from Warrensville to Ten
nessee and work on it has been progress
sing splendidly for the past year or more.
But, there are still around twelve miles
that are yet to be completed
On the other hand, the highway from
Jefferson to the Virginia line, via Crunp
Ter and Grassy Greek, which is to bear the
number OF 10 under the revision program,
IS hard surfaced all Of the way.
VINO is responsible for the numbering
revision and why was it done? The chang
es were made by the State Highway Com
mission and Chief Engineer w. V. Baise
said they were made principally to length
en- the distance that motorist may travel
through the state on a road marked with
one number.
we do not question the value or logic of
that argument, but we do seriously uues-
ton its truth as applied to highway num-
Der 10. BY changing it in this county from
the tennessee line to the Virginia line &C.
tually shortens the distance of number
10 by around II miles instead of length
ening it.
What then is the other motive or rea-
son involved? Frankly, we do not know
and Ashe county officials state that they
had no advance notices of such changes.
II district highway officials and MIR.
Gordon Hackett, our highway commission
er for this district knew about them and
approved them, they made no public an
nouncements
This revision, although innocent as it
may seem, may have some hidden motive
behind it insofar as it relates to certain
Ashe county roads and notably is.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-21
RESOLUTIONS OF
RESPECT
BROTHER MANLEY BLEVINS
WHO DIED DEC. 9, 1899.
IN MEMORY OF

BROTHER MANLEY BLEVINS
WHO DIED DEC. 8. 1889.
Once again death has summon
ed Brother Odd Fellow, and
the golden gateway to the Eter-
nal City has opened to welcome
him to his home. He has COM
pleted his work in ministering
to the wants of the afflicted, in
shedding light into darkened
souls and in bringing JOY into the
places of misery, and as his re-
ward has received the Plaudit,
well done" from the j. Supreme
Master.
AND WHEREAS, The all wise
and Merciful Master has called
our beloved and respected Bro
Their home;
AND WHEREAS, He having
been a true and faithful Brother
of our Mystic Order, therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That Jefferson
Lodge, No. SO I. 0. 0. F. that we
tender to the family of our de-
ceased Brother our sincere con-
dolence in their deep Affections
and that a copy of these resolu-
tons be sent to the family and
one copy be recorded in the
minutes of this Lodge.
There's nothing terrible in
death;
IT'S but to sast our robes away,
And sleep at night without a
breath
To break repose till dawn of
day.
T. E. PARKER,
REX MORTON,
B. H. RICHARDS,
Seal Committee.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-21

will be held here at the Skating
Rink and a shooting match will
take place at Smethport Saturday
afternoon.
The weather here this week
has been exceptionally warm,
but snow will probably fall for
the Yuletide.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-12-21
EPISCOPAL WORKERS TO
BE AT GLENDALE SPGS

It was announced this week
that Cadet John Thomas of New
York city, and Mission Sister
Pearl Morris, also of that place
would arrive here Friday with
others to visit Glendale Springs
Mission during Christmas.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
Jenkins Wins
Saturday 2O-5

With very little offensive power
and a ragged defense, Clintwood
played its poorest game of the
season against the strong Jenkins
nine on the local diamond last
Saturday afternoon. When the
last Clintwood batter flied out in
the ninth the most weird per-
Torrance in the history of recent
Clintwood baseball was brought
to a close. The 20 to 5 score in
favor of Jerrkins wrote into local
baseball records probably tn e
poorest performance ever staged
by Clintwood players in recent
years.
Starting the game with a make
shift lineup, and with Jake Smith.
minus his usual effectiveness, on
the mound, Clintwood permitted
Jenkins to take the lead on few
hits and several errors in the first
three innings. However, the locals
fought back and in the third in
ming scored three runs on sue
cessive hits. A near-riot broke
loose in the last half of the third
inning when "Buck' Friend, UNI
pire, called Poole safe at home on
a close play. Jenkins packed up
bats and balls to start their re-
turn trip to Kentucky but after
much persuasion by company Off
cials from Jenkins they went back
into the game to score 16 more
runs before the game ended.
Although the locals made sew
eral hits their poor defense nulli-
fed all efforts toward winning the
encounter. A total of 10 errors
was chalked up against the Clint
wood players, and each player
contributed his good turn for a
Jenkins victory.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
Squirrel Season
Opens Oct. lst

Beginning this year, the squir-
rel season will open October l.,
instead of September 1, and will
continue to and including Deem
Der 80.
This act was deemed necessary
because of the increasing scarcity
Of squirrels and because they are
easily slaughtered while feeding
upon hickory nuts in trees during
September.
With the increase in population
and the consequent increase of
hunters, armed with shot-guns.
and the cutting Of timber for COM
mercial purposes that have fur
nished food for squirrels in the
past, it is certain that they will be
exceedingly rare within a few
years.
Sportsmen consider this section
suitable for deer, raccoon, rab-
bits and game birds and will con-
centrate their efforts along this
line in restocking hereafter. 1t is
understood that the National For
est Service will lead the way in
this movement when all prelimi-
nsries are cleared away and prac-
tically all Of the southside of Cum
berland Mountain comes within
the jurisdiction of the Govern
Enent.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
Coons Find The Going Hard

Living on the fat of the land
undoubtedly is a thing Of the
past, or Dickinson County may be
a poor place to practice this
method of living. We are forced
to think thusly by reports coming
from Pound River section to the
effect that the coons released late
ly by the Coon Club face starva-
ton because they have not learn
ed to rustic for themselves. or be-
cause there is little less than
nothing for them to feed on.
The reports say that the home
of a man by the name of Moore
on Bearpen was invaded by two
starving coons in search of grub.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS
HOLD MEETING HERE

Last Saturday the high school
teachers of Dickinson County met
at Clintwood for their first con-
ference of the year. Teachers of
various subjects met in groups
and brought in reports for consid-
Grafton of the entire group at the
close of the meeting. Complete
plans for a county high school
track and field meet were APP
proved. This meet is to be held
at Clinchco in mid-September,
and plans for county school fair
at Ervinton were discussed at
some length. Preliminary plans
for the county literary meet and
music festival to be held later in
the school year were discussed.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
Cackling Hen
Leads Mother
to Body of Son

According to reports reaching
here Friday, Thurman Whitaker,
IS years old, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Smith Whitaker, living at Phipps
near the Wise-Dickenson line,
took his own life ON Thursday of
last week with revolver.
The parents of the deceased, it
was said, were at the pasture
milking when they heard a shot
in the woods near the house. Mr..
Whitaker was somewhat dis
turbed, as he recalled that his son
had taken a pistol with him when
he left the house, Mrs. Whitaker
heard a hen cackling some dis
lance away and went to look for
the nest, and found the body of
her son lying with bullet
through his head.
Domestic trouble was thought
to have been the cause Of the
suicide. He is survived by his wife
and one or two children.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
SECOND STORY WORKER
COMES TO TOWN

Mrs. Ernest Nylander reported
to law enforcement officials on
last Friday the theft of sterling
silverware from her apartment at
the home of Howard Clark. Ac-
cording to Mrs. Nylander she last
noticed the silverware in it's place
on Monday of last week. Several
times during the week both she
and her husband were way from
home at the same time Mr.. and
Mrs. Clark were absent, and,
doubtless, the thief, who must
have been very familiar with the
location, entered during their alb
sence. The silverware was valued
at two hundred and fifty dollars.
and no clues as to the identity of
the thief or disposition of the
stolen property have yet been un-
earthed.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
SMITH REUNION AT
NORA SEPTEMBER 3

The fourth annual reunion of
the Smith family will be held at
the Ervinton High School Build
ing, at Nora, Dickinson County,
Virginia, on Sunday, September
3, 1889. An interesting program
will be given-speeches by promi-
nent men and music. Picnic lunch
will be served on the grounds.
Each family should bring a bas-
ket lunch. Exercises will begin at
1000 a. m.
All are cordially invited to at
ten and meet old friends again.
Thirty thousand Smiths went
across to fight in the World War.
Three thousand of them were
John Smiths and 1900 of them
had wives named Mary.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24

One of the animals Was so in
sistent that Moore was forced to
use club of such size an weight
that the worst happened to the
coon. The other one left during a
busting down with a good sized
brush. The animal killed was said
to have looked more like an over
grown black house cat than a
coon. It's tail was covered by
short hair instead of being bushy
and reached from the place of at
tachment to it's head. The other
was. a plain gray coon. Both ami
mails were said to have been so
poor that you could count every
rib they had.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
HEAD OF COON CLUB
MAKES WRITTEN APPEAL

E. E. Wright, President of the
Dickinson County Coon Club, has
issued a written appeal to all
members of the organization to
aid in every way possible in pro-
tecting game animals and birds
during the closed season and to
use every effort to see that hunt
ers comply with the laws relative
to the taking of game during the
open season.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24

Memorial services for the wife
and child of Bulger Stanley will
be held at the Stanley Graveyard.
near the Robert Stone place in the
South of the Mountain, on the
next Saturday and Sunday. The
meeting will be in charge of the
Dunkard Church. Among the min
listers who are expected to take
part are Reverends Hicks, Sluss.
and Dutton. Dinner will be served
on the grounds Sunday. Those
who have relatives buried there
have been cleaning up the grave
yard this week.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
Throng Gathers
or SWindall
Memorial Sun

The Memorial Meeting at the
Little Zion Church of the Old
Regular Baptists last Sunday was
attended by one of the largest
crowds ever to assemble for such
purpose in Dickinson County. The
meeting was in memory of Elder
John Calvin Swindall, pastor of
the Little Zion Church for more
than forty years. By nine o'clock
the people began coming in: the
members of the little flock of the
church, the visiting members of
the Baptist faith, the curious, and
the politicians. At least, nearly
two thousand people were present
The opening song was given in
the church. Then the congrega-
ton adjourned to a grove where
the services continued for nearly
three hours. Elders Richmond
Stanley, Hi Maynard, and Hayes
Maynard of the Union Association
preached. The text was on The
Faith of Abraham. Eloquently,
the speakers likened the faith of
the departed leader to that of the
Hebrew patriarch. The history
Of the Union association was re-
viewed, and it was shown that the
deceased elder had taken the larg-
est part in shaping that history.
The preachers declared that the
"speckled bird'' of the Scriptures
was symbol of the Old Regular
Baptist Church and that call the
other birds of the air are against
her,
For more than forty years Ell
der Swindall was moving spirit
of the Union Association. He was
one of the ministers who took part
in the division of the Old Baptist
Church in 1894. The split be-
tween two doctrines had been
growing for several years and the
two groups drew apart at meet
ing in the Open Fork Church. The
point of doctrine involved was
that Of absolute predestination.
Since that time Elder Swindal)
preached almost every Sunday
and is said to have visited every
church in his association and car
ried messages to sister associa-
tons in Kentucky, West Virginia.
Ohio, and Tennessee. For many
years he was automatically elect
ed as moderator Of his association.
Two members joined the church
during the service - Mrs. Carrie
Short and Ted Swindall, daughter
and grandson respectively, of Ell
der Swindall, and were baptised
at the conclusion of the services.
The informal manner of an
Old Baptist m e tt n G prevailed
throughout. All candidates for
county offices were present, and.
according to information, shook
hands until their elbows screaked.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
CORRESPONDENTS

Correspondents are wanted at
Skeetrock, Haysi, Clinchco, Sand
lick and other large centers in the
county. The paper will be sent
in exchange for this service. Your
letters should be mailed Monday
to make that weeks paper.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24

Excited, very likely, by TIL e
story that a coon had attacked
Mrs. Baker a week or so ago, a
man in the Cumberland Mountains
killed another coon near his home
last week. He says that the ami
NAL approached his house with the
See page 2
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24

Mrs. George C. Sutherland &C.
ocmpanied by her daughter, Rosa
lie, who has spent the last two
weeks visiting relatives in Gin
wood, returned to Grundy on Sun
day.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24

Let Charlie Deloach tell them
This has been the best crop year
in Dickinson County since 1881.
Among all the tales of bounteous
harvests, that of Charlie leads all
the rest. He dug, to hear him tell
it, five bushels of potatoes from
one hill. Five bean vines on Char
lies place attached themselves to
a beech tree, and now the tree is
bent with a harvest Of beans. Be-
fore he could tell another, Mrs.
Deloach came along, and Charlie
moved meekly away.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24

Gerald Wise, Supervisor of the
Virginia Workshop for the Blind
at Charlottesville, is recovering
we'll at the Dickinson County Hos
pital from an operation for acute
appendicitis. Mr.. Wise came to
Dickinson Co unity to interview
prospects for the Workshop. He
was seized with such acute pain
that he passed the town Of Clint
wood and went three miles beyond
before he realized where he was.
He has interviewed Jerry Stanley,
the blind boy from Brush Creek,
and will see Walter Kiser and AL
ma Kiser of Sandy Ridge. These
blind persons are prospects for
training in trades that will make
them self-supporting.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24
Thru The Week

We are no other than a moving
row
Of magic shadow shapes that come
and go
Round the sun-illumined Lantern
held
In Midnight by the Master Of the
Show. OMAR.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1939-08-24

Local sheriffs report the incar-
ceration of II law violators in the
county jail from Clintwood and
vicinity over the weekend.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Normo-GobIe
Co-Storred

Easily one of the surprise"
films of the year is M-G-MS
Idiots Delight" which for the
first time stars Clark Gable as
a song-and-dance man and
Norma Shearer as an exotic
blonde.
The new film, which will follow
"Jesse James," the current at
traction at Loew's Palace The
ater, reunites the top-flight stars
in roles which are the most
unique of tn cir individual
careers.
Gable sings and dances as an
itinerant vaudeville performer
wandering across the face Of
Europe with a troupe of beauti-
full girls. Norma Shearer has
her first ultramodern role in
some time as the sophisticated
weet h cart of a munitions
Croesus.
Idiots Delight" is M.G-M's
important and much heralded
production of Robert Sherwood's
Pulitzer Prize play.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28

| CLOCK

CAPITOL Binnie Barnes,
Thanks for Everything"
11:10 a. m, 1:50, ABS. 7:20,
10 p. m, 12:45 a. m. Stage:
Roscoe Ates, 1885, $40, $40,
9:05, 11:45 p. m.
PALACE-Tyrone Power, Ran
dolph Scott, Jesse James"
1855 a. m, 2:20, 4:45, 7:10,
9:35 p. m.
COLUMBIA-Merle Oberon,
Gary Cooper, Cowboy and
the Lady" 11:15 a. M. 1:2O.
3:25. $50, 7:35, $40 p. m.
EARLE - John Garfield, A n n
Sheridan. They Made Me a
Criminal" 11:1O a. m, las,
4:25 7:20, 9:1O p. m. Stage.
1855. 3:35. $50. 9:10 p. m.
METROPOLITAN - Joan Blon-
dell, Pat O'Brien, "Off the
Record" 1925 a. m, 1870.
1885. $40, 7:45, $50 p. m.
RKO KEITH'S M Margar
Lockwood and Paul Lukas in
The Lady VanisheS. 11:45
a. m. las, 3:45. 5:45, 7:45,
GAS p m.
B E L A S C Beethoven
Sonata" 2:40, 4:30, 6:l5, 8,
GAS p m.
LTTLE-Deanna Durbin, 100
Men and a Girl" II a. m..
12:45. 2:35. 4:20. sos. 7:45,
$40 p. m.
TRANS-LUX-News and shorts,
10. 11:45 a. m, 1890. 1:45,
3, AIS. $50, 6:45. 8, 9:15.
10:45 p. m.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Pat O'Brien in of the Record
At AttheMetr0DOIitQn

"Off the Record" a story
which combines newspaper
thrills with gangland and the
straight and narrow" is show"
ing currently at Warner
Brothers Metropolitan with Pat
O'Brien and Joan Blondell fea-
tured with Bobby Jordan, one OF
the ablest of the younger play"
erS.
Joan has a daily column. Pat
is a star reporter and they are
very much in love, but Pat does
not think much of her proWesS
with the underworld and kids her
quite a bit about her inability
to nit on a real story. She rusheS
in one day with the best lead in
many months but fails to i'm
press either her boy friend or
the less susceptible city editor,
but she's really topped it with q
pickup on the towns world
biggie, who resents having his
secrets headlined.
So in the cleanup, a kid and
his less-deserving brother take
the rap and Joan's conscience
says when she realizes that the
youngster will spend the next
three years in a reform school
unless she can make a home for
him, which she promptly does,
convincing Pat that she cannot
hope to find contentment unless
she gives the kid break. The
kid is suspicious but they handle
him in a straightforward man.
ner and in the end he is CRATE
full for their interest and bids
fair to make a regular fellow,
which is conceded worth a
The Washington times., 1939-01-28

feather in the caps of Pat and
Joan.
It's interesting, well told and
has plenty of action, while one
sometimes wonders at cast Sc
lections. Pat and Joan DO we'll
enough in a film which proves
that the play is evidently the
thing. Young Jordan does a
fine piece of work in a role
which calls for display of prac-
tically all emotions.
Short subjects include a
Charley Chase comedy which
isn't very funny, musical revu-
cite spotlighting the Lucas Or
chestra, and True Adventure"
told by Floyd Gibbons. and a
newsreel which gives the peril
nent points in the Louis-Lewis
bout which ended so abruptly.
K Y.
The Washington times., 1939-01-28
Young Star Lives
In the Dollhouse

frankie Thomas. jr.. likes to
be in the doghouse. In fact. he
lives in the doghouse.
The "doghouse' is his own pri-
vate establishment at the rear
of his parents home. 1t is a
three-room cottage consisting Of
sleeping quarters, workshop and
combination kitchen-dinette. It's
a mans house. It's Frankie's
own private property.
Though the young Warner
star calls it the doghouse, he is
never sent there for punish
ment. He uses the cottage to
entertain his fellow workers in
Nancy Drew, Reporter" and to
house his favorite books. record
ing machine. broadcasting set
and all the things nearest his
17-year-old heart.