davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03

Batten the matches: he seen
it. That hog called ground
spied his shadow on the floor
of Lincoln yesterday.
So lay by the lOngjOhns and
keep the home fires burning;
there'lI be no spring ttra-la)
for six more weeks.
There was a sad and haunted
look on the face of the city
today: because at 1890 yeSter-
day morning, the mOnax NOR
mat. alias the grounding.
emerged from his Tor herr hi
bernacle. gazed insOlently at the
world round about. and started
at his Tor herr shadow.
Now, anybody with an edu-
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
RHYTHM MASTERS TO PROVIDE MUSIC E.
Big Open House, Barbecue
And Dance Set By VFWers

A combination Open House,
dance, barbecue dinner. and March
Of Dimes event is being planned
here by Shipp-Lockman Post l706.
Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Commander Jimmie Owens said
today that the date has not def
initely been set, but that the four
phase program will be held late in
April or early in May
The Open House will show oft
to the Lincoln public the VFW' S
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
Lbs Bandsmen Place Hiqh
At Gastonia Band Clinic

Lincolnton high school ban &
members placed high at the Gas
tonia District Band Clinic held in
Gastonia Friday and Saturday.
Four members of the local band
Joined 1913 band members from 35
other schools in central North
Carolina for the two-day clinic.
Seating positions for the 1872
piece clinic band we're assigned
after tryouts and tests by section
directors. The positions held by
Lincolnton band members were as
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
HE SAW THE BLASTED THIhG!
A Bouquet OF Briars> M. Monax!

across the meadows on airy toes.
The eyes of the nation yes
terday were OH the grounding,
and when he Tor she) emerged
from the burrOw and spied the
shadow. mighty wall of con-
sternatiOn arose from the East
ern SeabOard, swelled into
creScendO of despair over the
Mid Western plains, and trailed
off in a shivering moan across
the Rockies.
So. here's a bouquet of briarS
to the mOnaX mOrmat. and may
his tribe decrease like the coal
in the bin. May all his progeny
be shadow less, and may no
song quite reach him.
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
Correction! Local FHA
Office In Courthouse

The office OF the Farmers Home
Administrator should have read
as located in the Lincoln County
Court House basement instead of
the Post Office Building in Cas-
tonia. North Carolina. in the ar
ticle on Farm Production Loans in
Mondays paper.
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
Youths From Other Counties Will
Participate In International Weekend
Services At First Methodist Church

Saturday evening, after which
they will participate in program
relating interesting II ci d e n t S
which have happened to them in
connection with their coming to
the United States.
The visitors will participate in
the various Sunday school classes
on Sunday morning, and at the
11:00 o'clock worship service.
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
cAMPOREE, DISPLAYS, MAIN OFFICES
Lincoln Observes Boy Scout
Week Beginning Sunday With
A Seven-Day Demonstration

If some strange and youngish-
looking chief of police stops you
here Friday of next week and asks
directions to a fire-don't think
that Ben Sigmon suddenly has
discovered some elixir of youth.
1t will be a Lincoln County
Boy Scout - serving as honor
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
BY DEL LAZENBY

cation at all knows that, when
the grounding sees the shadow
OH Feb. 2, it's a clay-pipe cinch
the hyacinths are six months
away. In time. the grasses will
come back. the birds will sing,
but it will be the middle of
March before young mems fam
cies really start turning.
Had the grounding or
WOOdchuck or Woodstock
or Wood shaw or wejack
failed to perceive his Tor herr
shadow on yesterdays Candle
mas. it would have been fore
gone conclusion without doubt
that spring ttra-la) was on the
threshold of the year, tripping
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
FEBRUARY II, 13

international weekend will be
observed at the First Methodist
Church, Lincolnton, on Saturday
and Sunday. February 10, 18th.
The church will have as its
guests large group of young
people from other countries who
are studying in nearby colleges
and universities.
These young people will be en-
tertained at church supper on
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
VFWers Of 8 Towns Await
Big District Meet Slated
Here On Sunday Feb. 18th

so expected to be present are State
VFW Publicity Chairman Knight
and State VIEW Membership
Chairman Robert Miskelly of VIM
Ston- Salem.
Towns to be represented at the
district meeting include Lincoln
ton. Morganton. Newton. Hickory,
Statesville. Taylorsville, Valdese,
and MooreSville.
The meeting will convene at 2:30
pm and continue until 6 pm,
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03

new 100000 home on Laurel st.
The dance VII be open to the pub
tic, and those attending will be in
vited to contribute to the fund for
the fight on polio.
The Rhythm Masters, Lincoln
ton musical aggregation, will fur
lish music for the event.
The barbecue dinner will be
served beginning about $50 pm.
with the dance following about 8
Or $50 O'Clock.
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03

Scores of Veterans of Foreign
Wars from eight towns of this dis
trict will assemble in Lincolnton
Sunday of next week, Feb. 13, for
a big district meeting and barbe-
cue at the new $50 900 home of
Shipp-Lockman Post No. 1706.
The attendance will be confined
to VFW members and Auxiliary
members.
Tom Peeler of Morganton, dis
trict commander, will preside. AL
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03

follows:
Kay Smith, clarinet, first
place out of 80 clarinets: sgd
ney Robinson, flute. first place
out of flutes; Jerry Aiken,
French horn, third place out of
IL French horns: Bill Boyd,
trombone, sixth place out of IL
trOmbOneS.
The Saturday night concert was
attended by about 1000 people,
with approximately so persons
from Lincolnton attended.
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
HOUSE-WARMkG EVENT
WV Occupies New $4,000 Home

is entitled to wear one cap star
for each five members; thus, he is
eligible now to wear 20 stars on
er Cashion OF Cashion's ESQ Sta
ton, for his achievement of sign
ing up LOG members for the
Shipp-Lockman post. Mr.. Cashion
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
Need Seer~Tor
Re-ApprosioIOf
County Pro perty

right time to reappraiSe all the
county's property" Gates said,
due to the changeable cOndi-
tiOns since 1889 with much
property advancing in value
since that time, other depreciat-
ing" He felt strongly that the
present system of valuation is
out of balance. should be made
more equal; that real property
has not been appraised high
enough in comparison to that on
personal property valuations.
He pointed out that real estate
property is still being taxed on
the outmoded, appraised rates as
fixed in 1899, whereas all personal
is appraised on current
price rates. This low valuation on
real property, is was pointed out.
puts the county in bad way fin
ancially and the taXlisters have to
scramble to get enough taxable
property items on the books to
keep the county in operation.
The majority of the Lincoln
county commissioners, it is under
stood. are in favor of having the
reappraisal work done. They have
not committed themselves, how
ever on the issue and are said
to be considering means and me-
thods of how the work can be
done. The matter of the county
l,o tn
involved, and the utilization of
licensed appraisers.
TAX RATE RISE
The county now has one of
the lowest property valuations
i'm proportion to size and pOpu-
IatiOn of any in the state, and
one of the highest tax rates.
And. with the county now in
need, the tax rate probably will
be upped from the present S1.30
on the S10O property valuation,
The Times is told.
Under the law, with deferralS
for Lincoln county the past two
years, property reappraisal is
mandatory this year. And, it must
be done, unless there is another
postponement by amendment.
AS an example of the unequal
ness or unfairness of the present
real and personal tax valuations,
a Lincolnton man is reported pay
ing more taxes on a new car than
he does on the new house and lot
he owns.
PRESENT VALUATIONS
Valuation of Lincoln county
real property a year ago was list
ed at S19000,000 and personal
property around S11.000.000. Va
luations on the county'S real
estate property, some county Of
ficials are reported to feel, should
be much higher than the $19.000,-
600 figure and a reappraisal would
bring it up considerably - and
at the same time make lower
tax rate possible.
Our citizens are all interested
in the county's welfare Mr..
Gates said, "ano making it
better place for others. We've got
the property, as good as you'll
find anywhere, but have obsolete
values on it. But, we can't attract
new industry with low property
valuation which causes our tax
rate to be higher
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
Sen. Anderson
Dinner Speaker

RALEIGH - In U. S. Senator
Clinton P. Anderson of New Mexi-
co the Democrats of North Caro-
lima at their annual jefferson
Jackson Dinner here on February
5 will have a speaker of we'll
rounded authority.
ed. Note. A number of Lin
Continued on page eight
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
Drivers License Office
Open 5 Days Per Week

Effective Monday. February Z.
the drivers license examiner Of
flee in Lincoln courthouse will
be open Monday through Friday,
license examiner Thomas in
charge.
The office previously operated
on Monday, Tuesday schedule
only.
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03

AIRY chief for the day. For on
that day, the Boy Scouts of the
area will take over the reins of
city and county governments
and serve from morning to
night.
There will be a Scout holding
sway at the fire department. an
other presiding in the office Of
City Clerk 10y Heavier, one in
charge of the county health Of
ficeS, and right on down the line
and. regardless of your political
pull and affluence. don't give these
young officials any sass.
1t will be part of Lincoln's an
nual observance of Boy Scout
Week. which will place Weeklong
emphasis on the Scout movement
here next week.
CHURCH SERVICES
Sunday morning. most of the
Lincoln churches will call atten-
ton to the Scout program from
the pulpit. and, in many instances,
Scouts will be present in the con-
gregations in full uniform.
LincOlntOn merchants will CO.
operate with Boy Scout Week by
allowing the Scouts to have dis
plays in their store windows
throughout the week.
FRIDAY. of course. the Scouts
will administer the city and
county governments
And the observance will be CHI
NAKED on Friday by a camporee
on the court house lawn, begin
ming about 10 am. and continuing
into the afternoon. weather per-
mitting.
CAMPOREE
At the camporee, Lincoln scouts
will throw up tents, lay out their
camping paraphernalia, put on
demonstrations of first aid and
rope tying. otherwise demonstrate
the various aspects Of Scouting
and some OF them will prepare
their noon meals on the court
house lawn. The public has been
invited to visit the camporee for a
better idea OF what the Boy Scout
program has to offer the youth of
the community.
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03

There are 100000 Boy Scouts
who are members of $1,000 Boy
Scout Troops in America.
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
MORE IS NEEDED >.

Contributions to the Lincoln
county March of Dimes campaign
now total S3,460,00, Chairman
Charles Connor reported today.
All reports are not yet in from
volunteer workers and other pro-
jects. and the fund will be in
creased when these additional con-
tributions are received. Still to be
heard from are number of in
dustrial plants, and number OF
the schools.
The polio fund drive, however,
is still far short of the $500 quo
ia to this worthy cause through
various projects.
1t was announced by campaign
headquarters that no Mothers
March will be held in Lincolnton
this year. and those persons who
have been saving their donations
for the Mothers March are re-
quested to mail their contributions
to: March of Dimes. Box 301, Lin
colnton.
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03

Are Lincoln county's real and
personal property valuations too
low? And, should there be re-
appraisal Of all property to put
the tax system on more equal
basis?
To these questions. some coun-
ty officials say yes" To them,
the property valuations are far
too low, the personal property tax
payers are carrying too much of
the burden, and a property reap
praisal is needed now to get the
caunty'S tax structure on sound
er, more equal basis for all.
The state law requires a re-
appraisal of property every four
years. but none has been made in
Lincoln county since 1899, 16
years ago. Deferrals and post
pOnements. through amendments
to the appraisal law, have caused
this county to have no reapprai-
sal of property since 1899.
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
TWO PROJECTS

Contributions can also be
made on Saturday. February
5th, through the Lions club
"radiothon'', to be conducted
over radio station WLON. Tune
The Lincoln times., 1955-02-03
GATES IN FAVOR

X. b. Gates, tax supervisor,
thinks the property reappraisal
should come now. no more
pOstpOnementS. Some of the
commissioners. are said to feel
likewise. Il think now is the
Evening star., 1955-07-22

Luxury corpetno, from the famous Hordwick and
Moqee mills to be mode into roon-size rugs or Wo
to-woI Competing. Heavy bodied, long wearing quol-
ity Of rich beauty Woven on jacquard loom with
extra yarns woven into the back for ereoter duro-
bty Shadow effect eof design grey, ereen beige.
Not All colors in All Widths
Smyrna times., 1955-11-24
GIVEN FAREWELL DINNER
Joseph b. Churchman HonOred
With Dinner at The Granary

Joseph b. Churchman Honored
With Dinner at The Granary
A farewell dinner in honor of
Joseph B. Churchman, who is en-
tering the service this week, was
held at The Granary, Georgetown,
Md, on Friday, Nov. 18. Mem
bers of the immediate family as
well as employees of ]. E. Church
man & Son attended the surprise
event. Those attending included
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. e. Churchman,
Clayton; Mr.. and Mrs. John G..
Cooper, Smyrna; Mr.. and Mrs.
Horace Pugh, Miss Jane Pugh,
Leipsic; Mr.. John E. Poore, Mr..
Denny Cole, Mr.. Earl Timmons, of
Smyrna; Mr.. Charles E. Ford,
Clayton; and Mr.. Walter F. Muir
ray, Norristown, Pa. Young
Churchman has been associated in
his fathers business since gradu-
ating from John Bassett Moore
High School. He received many
fine gifts of luggage and leather
goods.
Smyrna times., 1955-11-24
ROTARY HEARS
MISS MATTHEWS
Tells of Travelling to Venezu-
ella and of Seeing the
Delta From Airplane
TELLS OF HOT WEATHER

The Smyrna Rotary Club had
as guest speaker Miss Bess Mat
thews, a member of the faculty
of the Smyrna Elementary School,
who had returned from trip to
South America. The program
chairman was William E. Mat
thews, Jr. Miss Matthews, who
was accompanied on the trip last
summer by Miss Ethel Rothwell,
of Wisconsin, sister of George c.
Rothwell, of Smyrna, told of trav-
cling to Venezuela, then to Belen
where they saw the Delta of the
Orinico River from the plane, and
took boat trip up the Amazon
lasting four days, and they noted
there were no mosquitoes. The
menu varied on the boat trip, she
said, but Accommodations were not
sumptuous. The natives seem ig-
norant of simple health rules;
business stops between IL noon
and pm. because of the heat of
the day, she stated. They were
met on their return to- Belem by
the u. S. Consul Coleman and
treated as a member of the FAM
lily. Among the many sights was
that of 600 acres of rubber trees.
They visited Rio de Janiero at
the time of the international eu-
charistic conference, and Travelled
to the top of Sugar Loaf Noun
tain. During a visit to San Paulo
they saw coffee growing and be-
ing processed. The legislative
building in Montivedeo they
thought beautiful structure and
most impressive. The visitors
noted a feeling of tension and un-
rest because of politics and saw
destruction caused by bullets from
recent uprisings. An interesting
street in Buenos Aires was called
Florida Street. They crossed the
Andes Mountains at $4,000 feet,
and the mountains gave the i'm
preston of watchfulness over San
tiago, Chile. In Lima, they en-
tered the museum of the Inca
period and found that the Incas
knew nothing of iron but used
copper alloy. In Las Paz the al
titude was so great that breath
ing was difficult. Miss Matthews
showed many souvenirs of the
trip. Howard Pletsch presided
and thanked Rotarians and other
citizens for their help at the time
of his recent disastrous fire at
his home.
Smyrna times., 1955-11-24
WOMEN HEAR
SCHOOL TALK
Mrs. Margaret O'Neill Elk.
plains How School Board
Arrives at Budget
TALK ON RE-DISTRICTING

Mrs. George Scout presided at
the November meeting of the
Smyrna Clayton Business and Pro-
fessional Women's Club Monday
night at The Wayside Inn when
two new members were welcomed,
Mrs. Eva Jones and Mrs. Kath-
crime Bulger. Mrs. Margaret
O'Neill, a member of the Board
of Education, Smyrna Special
School District, talked on public
affairs, touching first on the
school. Using the annual report
issued by the board as a basis,
she explained how they arrive at
the budget, how the money is
spent, and the problems. She
touched on the advantages and
disadvantages of re-districting.
Mrs. O'Neill told that the State
Board of Education has issued the
certificate of necessity for S240,-
900 for building appropriation for
an addition to the elementary
school, the district to pay $96,000
She also said that a referendum
would be held during this year.
The speaker has also served on
Smyrna Town Council, the only
woman to hold that post, and she
answered questions asked at a
previous BPW Club meeting, and
gave an explanation of the new
sewage treatment plant being
built by the town, and also the
widening and surfacing of Com
merce Street to be done by the
State Highway Department. Miss
Ruth Ellen Reihm, president of
the State Federation of BPW
Clubs, and member of the local
club, reported on the recent fed
Grafton tea attended by eight club
members. She also told of her
attendance at the tenth annivers-
ary of the United Nations as the
clubs International relations chair
man. Mrs. Mae Parker, past
president, and national security
chairman, reported on civil de-
fense conferece held at the VA
Hospital at Brack-Ex.
Smyrna times., 1955-11-24
PLAN FOR SD
DAY IN SMYRNA
Mayor Blendt Names John
w. Jacobs, Jr. Director
for Observance Here
REDUCE ACCIDENTS

Chief of Police John w. Jacobs,
Jr. has been named by Mayor
George M. Blendt as director of
Smyrna's participation in the OBJ
servance of SD Day, Thursday,
Dec. 1, which is sponsored by
President Eisenhower's Commit
tee for Traffic Safety. The pur-
pose of SD Day is to show that
motorists and pedestrians can re-
duce traffic accidents by their
own actions. Chief Jacobs and
Mayor Blendt both attended the
emergency highway safety meet
ing called by Governor ]. Caleb
Boggs which was held in Dover
on Tuesday. The program for
Smyrna as planned by Chief Jac-
obs will include his request to all
service clubs to devote a portion
of their meetings to safety; also
that the pastors of all churcnes
will spend some time putting the
safety theme across. 1t is his
plan, further, to dramatize the ef-
fort here by the use of signs and
posters, and he asks the coopera-
tion of all motorists and pedes-
trians to fulfill their moral and
civic responsibility for safety, and
that their efforts be continued 365
days a year. Governor Boggs' IL
point program was adopted, as
follows: 1. Maximum enforcement,
courteous but firm, of all law en-
forcement agencies; 2. That all
vehicle owners assure themselves
that tires and steering mechanism
CONTINUED on Page Seven)
Smyrna times., 1955-11-24
Clayton Lions Club Meet

Joseph McClements presided at
the regular meeting of the Clay
ton Lions Club on Nov. 16. Henry
Ennis was in charge of the pro-
gram and he presented James
Cooper, formerly of the U. S. Air
Force, who gave a talk on the
ways and means by which house,
hold furniture can be taken as far
as Alaska, or across the country
He also showed pictures to illus
trate his talk. 1t was announced
that Louis Caras would again
provide Thanksgiving dinner for
a large group of children. The
Clayton Lions will assist with
transportation, also help serve the
meal. Four members of the Mid
dletown Lions Club attended the
meeting.
Smyrna times., 1955-11-24
2 SPEAKERS AT
CENTURY CLUB
Rabbi Fabian of Dover, and
George w. Wright Address
Club Members
GROWTH OF EDUCATION

Three phases of American life
were presented during a program
of the Twentieth Century Club in
observance of Know Your Amer
ica Week. The speakers were
Rabbi Thor Fabian, Beth Shosom
Community, Dover; George w.
Wright, school superintendent;
and Andrew Christie, director,
Legislative Reference Bureau
Rabbi Fabian was introduced by
Mrs. Harold E. Wickham, presi-
dent. He said that the Thanks
giving celebration of early New
England colonists was based on
the Feast of the Tabernacles af-
ter the harvest, found in the Bible
and never before used by Chris
tians. He noted that the Bible
was the source of inspiration fol-
the Revolutionary period, and be-
cause of Biblical principles this
country has "grown to be the
strongest liberal state the world
has ever known" He said that
we should be mindful of the price
paid for our heritage. Mr.. Wright
was presented by Miss Mary Hol-
land. Tracing the growth of pub
lie education in America, the con-
Continued on Page Sikh
Smyrna times., 1955-11-24
Pfc. Thomas M. Kelley in Service

Pfc. Thomas M. Kelley in Service
Army Pfc. Thomas M. Kelley,
27, son of Mrs. Evelyn Kelley,
Massey, Md, is participating in
the largest joint Army-Air Force
maneuver since World War II,
Exercise Sage Brush, in Louisi-
ana. Some 10000 Army troops
are testing the latest concepts of
atomic, archaeological, chemical
and electronic warfare. The exer-
else will end Dec. 15. Private
First Class Kelley is regularly
stationed at Fort Benning, Ca,
with the 3rd Infantry Division.
He entered the Army in Novem-
ber 1854 and received basic train
ing at Fort Jackson, S. c. Kelley,
whose wife, Verna, lives in Clay
ton is a 1916 graduate of Galena,
(Md.) High School,
Smyrna times., 1955-11-24
Death of william S. wilson

Death of william S. Wilson
Smyrna was shocked and sad
dened when news reached here
that William S. (Bud) Wilson had
been killed in a motor accident
last Thursday night on Route 13,
north of Smyrna. A former resi-
dent of Smyrna and an active
member of the Smyrna Lions
Club, having served as a presi-
dent, he lived in Forest Brook
Glen, a suburb of Wilmington. He
was rehabilitation counselor for
the State Board of Vocational Ed
ucation. Funeral services were
held on Sunday afternoon at the
FAIRIES Funeral Chapel with the
Rev. Walter L. Beckwith, pastor
of Asbury Methodist Church Off
ciating. Interment was at Lake
side Cemetery, Dover. He is sur
vived by his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth
Attix Wilson; a son, John Attix
Wilson; his parents, and sister,
Mrs. Mary w. Gibb, Newark, Del.
A veteran of World War II he
served as Commander of the Dav-
id C. Harrison Post No. IA, Amer
ican Legion, Smyrna.