davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-10-25

, Although smoke could be seen pour
ing from the windows, door cracks,
and any other means Of exit, the fire
men had difficult. task of locating
the blaze. The front doors were soon
unlocked by cashier Stevenson, but it
was impossible to go very far inside
due to the suffocating smoke. En-
trance was made through the coal
shute, but no blaze could be found.
Finally, the exits for the smoke be-
ing enlarged by windows and doors
being thrown open, the fire was dis
covered in the basement where it had
made considerable progress in con-
Stunning the joists of the floor above.
Water was then brought into use, and
this soon subdued the flames. But a
great deal of damage was already
done to the Directors room, the cash
ier's room, and to the walls and cell
ing Of the front room.
Just how the fire originated is not
known; neither is just the spot where
it started definitely decided, altho'
il seemed to be in q closet in tina
basement. The heating apparatus re-
manned just as it was left the night:
before, and check-up on the electric
wiring does not show any defect. Al
this writing, the amount of loss has
not been ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS still
working on the case. -
The fire seems to have been dis
covered simultaneously by two per-
sons: night-officer Andrews and Clar-
ence Winslow, a negro waiter at the
Hotel Pocomokea Both heard the
burglar alarm, which was in some
way set off, about the same time. Of
ficer Andrews made his way along
Market street to the bank; and Win
slow rushed across the vacant lot on
Market Street, and the two almost
met at the bank.
%Mr. Andrews sent in the alarm and
the fire Department was soon on the
scene. A vigorous and intensive
search was begun for the blaze, and
no water was thrown until that was
found. This principle of freight
ing, if always adhered to would save
much property, as, no doubt it did for
the bank. The firemen deserves much
credit for the way they handled the
serious threat.
Business of the bank was not inter-
fered with. The vaults were intact
and while the walls of the front part
of the building were streaked with
SCOT mixed with moisture, nothing
was damaged by heat or actual burn
ing. The bank was opened up next
day, and the interruption; if any, was
very brief. Whatever loss sustained
was fully covered by insurance.
Thus a possible great disaster was
averted, and Pocomoke was reminded
of such conflagrations as occurred in
1888, 1892 and 1922, and were thank
full for an escape from similar one.
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-10-25

Mr.. and Mrs. Grover Birmingham
had as their guests last Weekend:
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles E. Birmingham,
of Baltimore, Miss Mabel Powell, of
Chincoteague, Va, Miss Gladys Clogg
and Mr.. Cleveland Birmingham, of
Philadelphia, Pa.
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-10-25

Mrs. Harry Whyte is vacating the
brick building on Second Street, fac
ing Willow, which she has conducted
for some time under the name of the
"Whyte House,, and is moving to her
former residence on Second Street,
which is also known as the Whyte
House.
Evening star., 1940-04-13

nearly every part of the house, but
somehow it never occurred to us be-
fore to mention the subject of damp
ness in chimneys. Yet we are told
that waterlogged chimney breasts
and damp chimneys are a source of
much complaint and people are puz-
zled as to how to cure the i'll.
Chimneys in homes burning gas
seem to be particularly susceptible
to chimney dampness, because gas in
its combustion gives off moisture,
and when the weather is cold out
side the dampness can condense
into water that runs down the inside
of the chimney and saturates the
soft bac cking-up brick used in CHM
neys.
What to do? There is a treatment
suggested by makers of water
proofing and dampproofng COM
pounds. It's good deal of trouble,
but if a trickle of water down a
chimney is present it's worth while
First, treat the flue on the outside
with transparent waterproofing
material. This material has to be
spread on the same wall that con-
meets the inside wall of the f1ue, so
it can penetrate to the inside brick
of the f1ue. 1t won't change the tex
ture of the outside wall and it keeps
outside moisture from penetrating
the brick.
Then use coating of DAMP
Evening star., 1940-04-13
Middle Atlantic BuiIdina
Increases for March

March residential building con-
tracts advanced the Middle Atlantic
States valuation nearly $4,000, 900 be-
yond the February level. This activ-
ity brought about a small net gain
for building in Eastern Pennsylvania,
Southern New Jersey, Delaware,
Maryland. the District and Virginia,
says j. T. Little, the district manager
of Dodge Reports. Non-residential
work fell of heavily from the pre-
vious total
Residential contracts awarded in
the six-State area during March
called for work and materials valued
at $20,141 900. The classification
gain was rs per cent: In February
the residential total was at $11,-
499, 900.
Non-residential work dropped of
according to the contract indica-
tions, to $9,518,0OO from February's
corresponding $18,027, 900.
Dodge Reports reveals that the
total building contract valuation for
the month was $29,659,0O0, just
above the preceding $29,526,000.
Evening star., 1940-04-13

proofing compound on the inside
walls OF the f1ue. This acts to draw
the dampness already in the brick
out. Then a second coat of damp
proofer is applied giving the first
coat plenty of time to dry and after
that you can redecorate If needed.
OF course the inside coating must
be applied on virgin surface, which
means that paint or wallpaper must
be removed, if room walls are af-
fected by the chimney dampness.
The dampproofer itself should be
used, mixed with Is per cent naph-
tina, as a prime coat for casein or
water paints, with two days allowed
for drying before the paint is ap-
piled. Before using casein paints
for finishing coat, the dampproofed
walls should be washed with vine
gar.
Both the transparent waterproof
Evening star., 1940-04-13
Special New Paint
Resists Weatherinu
And Retains Color.
Dompproofine Chimney
Much Simpler by
Latest Method
BY DOROTHY DUCAS and
ELIZABETH GORDON.

Are the shutters on the outside Of
your house faded? Have you been
saying to yourself or your spouse:
Guess we'll have to do them over
this spring." Then it is time to
look around for the right paint, the
kind that will freshen up the ap-
pearance of your house and keep it
that way for some time.
Paint that is used for shutters,
sash, trim and other outside wood
work has to be rich and durable.
The action of sun, rain and wind
can take the color out of inferior
paint very quickly. Be sure you get
the kind of paint that is made for
this purpose
One such paint we have been look
Ing at is compounded by a patented
process which is said to give good
hiding power and lasting gloss. This
process breaks up the pigment, or
colorlng matter, in the paint into
very fine particles, which are uni
formly dispersed in the vehicle, or
liquid part, OF the paint. No filters
are added, Filters, say these makers,
have no value as pigment, and may
cause early fading of the paint. The
purpose of filters, as a substitute pig
ment, is to increase the body of the
paint; in this special process paint,
however, it is done with sufficient
finely ground pure pigment instead
This paint should be thinned with
not more than a quart of linseed oil
and turpentine in equal parts, added
to one gallon of the ready mixed
paint. 1t can be used with less thin
ming, depending on the brushing
consistency. Its covering capacity
on smooth surfaces, such as shutters.
Is about $50 square feet per gallon,
two coats.
The paint costs $40 gallon,
$125 quart and rs cents pint, in
green, blue or special bright red;
$405 a gallon, $l.15 a quart and rs
cents a pint in creams and white;
$3.75 gallon, $110 quart and 10
cents a pint in brown, dark red,
gray and black. Cheaper when
bought in larger quantities, OF
course.
Dampproofing the Chimney.
We have discussed dampness in
Evening star., 1940-04-13
Be Ready for Fire.

Be Ready for Fire.
Escape from fire In the home is,
happily, acknowledgment neces-
sity. But escape, when 1t is neces-
sary, Is so very important tina, most
householders feel 1t is well worth
while to be prepared for it.
The major problem is escape from
an upper floor. In an emergency,
If the stairs are impossible, this
means escape through a window.
And for most Of us the old standby
of knotted sheets is too complicated
and untrustworthy a device to be
considered reliable. Therefore-a
fire ladder.
Fire ladders are on the market
which make escape from a second
floor, or even third-floo window
easy and safe. We've run across two
lately. One is made of woven,
weldless lock link steel chains, to
which are attached half-inch steel
rods, 13 inches long at intervals of
13 inches, held in place by gall
vanized steel washers. This lad
der is kept in a metal case which is
fastened to the floor directly be-
meath a window The case acts as
an anchor for the ladder when it
is thrown out Of the window for
use.
The other ladder. made of a series
of parallel seamless steel plates
which overlap at 1ls-inch hard ma
pie rungs and alternately fold in
and out, like an accordian, is an
chored by means of an extension bar
which is fitted against the inside
of the window sill; thus it is porta-
BILE. This bar collapses into small
enough space to fit inside trans
parent container in which the whole
apparatus is kept, but opens out wide
enough to At any window sill Sc
curely. The folding joints of the
ladder are a special feature: They
are screwed firmly into the ends of
the rungs and equipped with a
ratchet that prevents opening
further than a 180-degree angle.
The connecting chain between ex-
tension bar and ladder joints Is
long enough to permit ample ex-
tension over the window sill, even
if it is an unusually wide one, so
Evening star., 1940-04-13

that the ladder will hang perpen-
dicularly and close to the side Of
the building.
The steel chain ladder comes in
lengths ranging from 20 feet to 100
feet, costing from $3.50, including
the case. up to $50. A 2O-foot lad
der Is quite long enough to afford
escape from second-story window
IN a private residence, even when
measured from the floor inside the
room, up and over the window sill.
The jointed steel and maple rung
ladder costs $22.5O for a two-story
ladder, measuring 15h feet; $50 for
one meant for third-story use, which
measures Is feet.
Evening star., 1940-04-13

Madeira is shipping more hand
embroideries to the United States
than to any other country.
Italy plans to increase its coal
production to 10000 tohs this year.
Evening star., 1940-04-13

(F0r further information about
products described here, write
the Misses Ducas and Gordon, 23O
West Forty first street, New York
City, and inclose stamped, SELF
addressed envelope.)
Evening star., 1940-04-13
Old Formulas Used

The National Parks Service, when
painting Civil War guns and gun
carriages for exhibition purposes in
military parks, uses the old paint
Evening star., 1940-04-13
formulas - given In Onion md
Confederate ordnance manuals.

China purchased sos 900 worth
Of American airplane equipment
in q recent month.
Evening star., 1940-04-13

er and the dampproofer for inside
walls come in pint, quart. half gal
Ion and gallon sizes. The water
proofer costs from 80 cents q quart
to s. . gallon; the dampproofer
from IS cents pint and $1.20 a
quart to $3.50 q gallon.
Evening star., 1940-04-13

Dampproofing the Chimney.
We have discussed dampness ir
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04
Public Is Invited To Hear
Finals In Ashe County High
School Debating Fri. Night

Should the federal government
own and operate the railroads?
That's a question of vital in
terest in Ashe county now, as
well as throughout the nation.
Tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock
in. the courthouse, this far-reach-
ing question will be debated by
the cream of Ashe county's high
school debators'', and the public
is cordially invited to attend.
c. j. Rich, Jr. and Mary Lynn
Johnson. Jefferson high schools
affirmative team, will debate
against Josephine Weaver and
Mae Kilby, of the Lansing high
school, in the final round.
Jefferson had the only affir-
native team in the county to win
out in the first rounds.
The Lansing negative team won
out last Wednesday night in the
semi-final round here at the West
Jefferson high school. Six other
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04
April Term Criminal Court
To Start On Monday, April Is

The one week April term of
Ashe county superior court for
the trial criminal cases will COM
mence on Monday, April IS, with
Judge Zeb v. Nettles, of Ashe-
vile, slated to preside.
The jurors drawn by the coun-
ty commissioners for the term
are:
H. L. Goodman, Chestnut Hill;
Edward Howell, Helton; Dent
Pennington, Helton; Shade Bare,
Jefferson; ]. F. Lewis, North
Fork; Ed. w. Miller, Obids; G.
B. Waddell, Walnut Hill; Lee
Woodie, Horse Creek; Mont Lip
ps, Pine Swamp; L. L. Pierce, Old
Fields; H. r. Vannoy, West JEFF
ferson; Gray Rotten, Clifton;
Lester Jones, Clifton; Luther
Snider, North Fork; Lloyd Nc
MILAN, Chestnut Hill; Gwyn
Houck, Old Fields; Waite r
Knight, North Fork; Tom john
son, Obids; H. D. Williams, Obids;
Paul Greer, Clifton; A. B. Price,
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04
Wade Eller To
Head Hospitals
Drive For Funds
$4,000 More Is Needed. Work
Started On Surfacing Road
In Front Of Building.

Wade Eller has been elected as
chairman of the Ashe County
Hospital Associations finance
committee to head a drive to raise
at least 100000 more in cash to
complete construction on the hos
pital building.
This action was taken at a
joint meeting of the finance and
building committees held last
Saturday night. The drive will
get under way Immediately.
Under the sponsorship OF the
State Highway department, work
of regarding and surfacing the
road in front of the hospital was
started during the past week. This
road will be "a feet wide and will
extend from highway to high
way"
The citizens of Jefferson are
now working on plans to submit
a WPA project for a new water
system and committee, compos-
ed of B. D. Barr, Roy Badger,
and Sanitarian Webster was ap-
pointed to make a survey with
the state engineer to determine
the best ways and means Of get
ting water to the hospital.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04

teams participated in the semi
finals.
These teams were: West Jeffer-
son, represented by Nena Bell
Barr and Ruth Greene; Jefferson,
Edith Coward and Thomas Shull
] o h n s ton; Fleetwood, James
Baldwin and Katherine Houck;
Nathan's Creek, Bobbie Hurt and
Martha Shepherd; Riverview,
Christina Eller and Dana Eller;
Elkland, J. B. Miller and Mary
10 Bledsoe.
The judges were Prof. George
VanHoy, Mrs. Ruby Mcmillan
and Langdon L. Scott.
This is the second year that
the Jeffersons Rotary has spon-
sored debating in the high schools
of Ashe county. Last year the
Fleetwood team won out over
Elkland in the finals.
Medals are given to the four
finalists and trophy goes to the
winning school.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04

North Fork; Walter Pennington,
Jefferson; G. w. Taylor, West
Jefferson; Dan Perkins, Creston;
D. L. Shepherd, Clifton; w. I. Lit
tie, Jefferson; Fred C. Ray, Old
Fields; D. A. Miller, Obids; Clark
Blevins, Peak Creek; w. w. Nc
MILAN, Chestnut Hill; E. H. Bak-
er, Obids; Willard Grogan, Elk;
James Carpenter, Horse Creek;
c. H. Bare, Peak Creek; c. J.
Roark, North Fork; Paul Garvey,
Chestnut Hill.
Extra jurors drawn for this
term, to be approved by the pre-
siding Judge:
Guy Teaster, Grassy Creek; G.
c. Shepherd, Grassy Creek; ]. D.
Mcneil, Jefferson; J. c. Burkett,
West Jefferson; S. H. Stanley,
Clifton; r. A. Shoemaker, Wal
nut Hill; J. w. Neal, Jefferson; G.
B. GRAPHICAL, West Jefferson De-
wey Hunt, Peak Creek; J. B.
Gentry, Old Fields; S. H. Watson,
Pine Swamp; J. L. Wyrick, JEFF
ferSOn.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04
New Presbyterian
Preacher Coming
To Ashe County

Rev. Carl H. Stark, Jr., who
will graduate this spring at the
Union Theological Seminary in
Richmond, will become a CO.
worker and fellow pastor of
Presbyterian churches in Ashe
county, it has been announced.
He will be stationed at Lansing
and will hold services in the Lam
sing Presbyterian church each
Sunday and will preach at Giles
pie, Foster Memorial and the out
posts.
MIR. Stark is a native of
Chicago, but when, he was only
small boy his parents moved to
Florida where they have lived
since that time.
He expects to arrive in the
county about the middle of May.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04

Highway l62 Is
Being Surfaced
Newly Surfaced Road To Ex-
tend to Greenwood Via
HeltOn To Va. Line.
WORK STARTED FRIDAY

Surfacing work which was be-
gun last Friday, on highway 1872
at Lansing which will extend to
Greenwood through Helton, is
going forward. This 9 miles Sec
ton, when completed, will fur
nish an outlet to Marion and
Southwest Virginia. I
In discussing this much need
ed new road, State Highway
Commissioner Gordon Hackett, OF
North Wilkesboro said yesterday
that it would not interfere with
the work on the New River road
zone bit''. II consider the New
River road the most important ir
my district right now" he said.
The completion of this road
from Lansing through Helton is
sponsored by the State Highway
and Public Works Commission;
the money for which was sci
aside out of a recent surplus, by
Governor Hoey, and does not in
terfere with other road work in
this section.
It is interesting to note that
this road has been scheduled for
a number of years but that work
has been delayed on it from time
to time. In 1921 it was first in
cluded in the group of roads tc
be built from county seat tc
county seat to state lines. But
this Helton road was taken of
and the Grassy Creek road put
on this schedule. In 1927 Heltor
withdrew from the fight in favor
of the new road.
The road, however, was regrad.
ed and resurfaced to Lansing il
1881 and grading work through
Helton was completed in 1888. Its
completion at this time will give
the people of the county anc
particularly in the Helton section
a much needed thoroughfare.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04
West Jefferson
Town Election
Set For May Z
Registration Books Open Sat-
urday. Election Officers
Are Appointed.
COWARD WON'T RUN

The election of officers for the
town of West Jefferson will be
held here on Tuesday, May Z, it
was ordered Monday night at
special. meeting of the board of
aldermen, in accordance with
the law.
At that time the voters of West
Jefferson will elect five alder
men and a mayor to serve for
the next two years.
No new registration was Or
dered, but the registration books
will be open each Saturday for
the next four Saturdays and Sat-
urday, May 4, will be challenge
day.
The following were appointed
to act as election officials: F. B.
Jones, registrar; B. B. GRAPHICAL
and c. S. McNeill, judges.
No candidates have announced
for office, but it is understood
that the present board members
will seek reelection. Rufus Col
ward has stated that he will not
be a candidate for reelection as
MAYOR.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04
James A. Farley To Dedicate
Boone Post Office Next We'd
Many From This County Elk
pected to Attend and See
Postmaster General.

A large number of people from
this county are planning to at
tend the dedication of the beauti-
full new post office building in
Boone next Wednesday morning,
April 10, and to see and hear
Postmaster General James A.
Farley, who will deliver the prin-
cipal address.
Interest in the visit of the high
postal official and Democratic
leader has been increased since
his hat is definitely in the ring
as candidate for the Democratic
nomination for presidency.
Mr.. Farley will dedicate a post
office at Canton on April 9 and
will arrive in Boone around 1890
o'clock Wednesday morning.
The city of Boone will be gaily
decorated for the big occasion
and elaborate plans are being
made to give the postmaster gen.
eral an enthusiastic welcome.
He will be introduced by Con-
gresham r. L. Doughton. That
afternoon Mr. Farley will dedi-
cate the post office at Statesville
and attend a rally of young
Democrats of the ninth district.
A cordial invitation has been
extended to the people of this
county to attend the dedication
service.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04
BE SURE TO READ
"HEARTS WALKING"

Beginning in this weeks
Post. is a thrilling new mo-
dern romance, "Hearts Walk
ing, by Mrs. Harry Pugh
Smith.
How much does money
count among friends? Janet
Phillips was beginning to find
that after finishing high school,
that some of the old "gang"
were to snub her, and that
even her best beau was being
attracted by money and So
called social position.
Mrs. Smith works out this
uroblem i'm a modern manner.
Her story is one which keeps
YOU interested from beginning
f. end. Start it today, you
@on't want to miss a single is
sue.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04
Big Anniversary Celebration
To Be Staged At CCC Camp
AtLaurel S springs Tomorrow
Public Cordially Invited To
Attend, Eat Lunch and
Drive Over Scenic.
DOUGHTON TO TALK
(By Staff Writer)

LAUREL SPRINGS, April g.
Plans for "Open House" marking
the 7th anniversary of the Civ
ilian Conservation corps Friday
have been rounded into shape by
Camp NC-21 at it's location on the
Blue Ridge Parkway near here.
Families and friends of enroll
ees, as we'll as all other interested
persons in Northwestern North
Carolina, are cordially invited to
come out and join in the festivi-
ties. Numerous excursions are
planned to show the public
around the camp and over the
Parkway on which the boys are
doing landscape work. Lunch will
be served to visitors outdoors.
Congressman To Speak
An invitation to Congressman
Robert L. Doughton to speak at
l o'clock that day and inspect the
camp and Parkway has been ex-
tended by the camp personnel.
Recognizing his deep interest in
the CCC and particularly this
camp" Captain William Baker,
company commander, said yester-
day, 1--WE feel that any program
here would not be complete with
out his presence" Already civic
leaders from Allegheny, Ashe,
Wilkes and Surry counties, the
area comprising the homes of
most of the CCC enrollees, have
accepted invitations to come and
bring their friends.
Company 1920 was organized at
Statesville in 1885, with Is col
ored men, who were relieved a
few weeks later by an advanced
cadre of Is white men from
Maysville. The company re-
manned there until September 20,
1888, when it was moved to- its
present location at Laurel
Springs.
Continued on Page Eighty
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-04-04
HenlOck Woman
Died Saturday
At Age OF 99
Would Have Reached Century
Mark If She Had Lived
Until June ii.

Mrs. Celia Osborne, of Hem
lock, who lacked less than three
months of being a hundred years
old, died at her home last Satur-
day evening.
Mrs. Osborne, the wife of the
late Noah Osborne, was born on
June IA, 1910, and had she lived
until June ii, of this year, she
would have passed the century
mark.
It is thought that perhaps she
was the oldest living person in
Ashe county. Up until only a
short time ago, she had been &C.
tive. Her death came as the re-
suit Of kidney trouble.
Mrs. Osborne was the daugh-
ter Of the late Mr.. and Mrs. Andy
GRAPHICAL. She was born and
reared in this county.
Funeral service was held Tues
day afternoon at the home by
Rev. MIR. Farmer and burial fol-
lowed in the family cemetery. A
large crowd attended.
She is survived by eight child
rem, six sons and two daughters.
They are: George, John, Dance,
Johnathon and Billie Osborne,
Mrs. Will Hall, Mrs. Duke Nicho-
las and by one brother and sister,
David GRAPHICAL and Mrs. Alvin
Calhoun.
Last year Mrs. Osborne raised
a garden and was making plans
to have another one this year.
She walked without even the use
of a cane.