October 29, 2007

Out of Our Past

Twenty-five years ago: Record & Landmark, Oct. 29-Nov. 5, 1982.

“About 75 to 100 people gathered at the new City Center yesterday afternoon for the grand opening of the Main Street office. Statesville was one of five cities in North Carolina selected for the program which encourages downtown revitalization within the context of historic preservation. Mayor John Kurfees introduced Hilary Greenberg, who is the local coordinator.” (10/29/82)

“The Statesville Greyhounds clinched the conference championship with a 16-0 verdict and ran their winning streak to nine consecutive games and increased their record to 5-0 in the league. It was the 25th consecutive win by Statesville over other teams within Iredell County.” (Statesville’s opponent was the West Iredell Warriors.) (10/30/82)

WBTV 3 schedule for Monday: “7:00 CBS Evening News 8:00 Square Pegs 8:30 Private Benjamin 9:00 M-A-S-H 9:30 Newhart 10:00 Cagney and Lacey 11:00 WBTV News” (11/1/82)

“Dr. J.C. Harris, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Garfield St., has been elected vice president at large of the General Baptist State Convention, Inc., of North Carolina. The office of vice president at large is the second highest office in the state organization and the elected official serves as chairman of the General Board.” (11/2/82)

“Iredell County voters soundly defeated a $22.75 million hospital bond issue and returned Sheriff LeRoy Reavis and County Commissioners Frances Murdock, William A. (Bill) Mills and B.W. Campbell to office. The large turnout reported throughout the day represented 60 per cent of the county’s 36,419 registered voters.” (11/3/82)

“It was 23 years ago that the Iredell County Planning Board was organized with J. Allen Knox of Statesville as the first chairman. At Wednesday night’s meeting of the board, Knox was saluted by fellow members after announcing his resignation due to increasing business and civic responsibilities.” (11/4/82)

Fifty years ago: Record & Landmark, Oct. 29-Nov. 4, 1957.

“Mayor J. Garner Bagnal and City Manager Herman Dickerson will go to Raleigh to present formal request for the extension of Monroe Street into a cross-town highway serving southern areas of the city. Mayor Bagnal described the project as ‘one of the greatest traffic needs in this town.’” (10/29/57)

“June F. Scarborough, president and treasurer of Scarborough Chevrolet Company, Inc., today announced the sale of the corporation to W.P. Howard and E.R. Bell. No sale price was disclosed. Howard will be president of the new corporation, which will be Scarborough Chevrolet, Inc. Bell will be vice president.” (10/30/57)

WBTV 3 schedule for Thursday: “7:00 Arthur Smith 7:30 Dr. Hudson’s Journal 8:00 O. Henry 8:30 Shower of Stars 9:30 Playhouse 90 11:00 Atlantic Weatherman 11:05 Late News 11:15 Sports Final” (10/31/57)

“City school officials were keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for a few days of warm, sunny weather over the weekend to help clear up some of the illness which is causing a record number of absences in the schools. Supt. A.D. Kornegay said this morning about 22 per cent of the total enrollment in the white schools was absent today. Kornegay urged parents to keep their children at home as much as possible over the weekend.” (11/1/57)

“Injuries and the flu were too much for Statesville’s Greyhounds to overcome and the Hounds dropped a 20-6 decision to Asheboro’s Blue Comets. The Greyhounds, with their power missing due to an outbreak of flu and several injuries to key personnel, gave it all they had but the Asheboro powerhouse was too much to overcome.” (11/2/57)

“Lt. Gov. Luther Barnhardt gave the address Saturday when the new radio station, WDBM, was dedicated in the Vance Hotel. Mayor J. Garner Bagnal and other local civic leaders, as well as officials from surrounding town, attended the dedication. Hugh Mitchell, local attorney, served as toastmaster.” (11/4/57)

Seventy-five years ago: Statesville Daily, Nov. 1 and 4, 1932.

Mooresville: “Two men and a girl, helpless in a spinning airplane, crashed to death about two and one half miles southeast of this city this morning at 8:45 o’clock. The dead are: Edward H. Byars, W. Earle Padgett, Miss Earleen Padgett. The plane, piloted by Mr. Byars, appeared from above a hazy fog and it seemed the pilot was seeking a landing place. The ship, a monoplane, went into a spin, nose dived and struck in the yard of a farmer, I.J. Arthur.” (11/1/32)

East Monbo: “Well, since the election is so near at hand, the subject of depression which has been discussed so much for the past three years, has taken a back seat for a brief period and yielded first place to politics. Some tell us that Mr. Roosevelt carries the key to the gates of prosperity and that they will be flung open like an oyster shell and prosperity will come forth draped in wine glasses and beer bottles. Won’t it be wonderful to emerge from a condition in twenty-four hours that it took years and years to bring about?” (11/1/32)

Eavesdropper: “You just can’t keep down holiday spirits. We are, of course, referring to Hallowe’en. With a heavy shower dampening the ardor of some of the younger folks, it was considered expedient to postpone the celebration until the following evening when quite a crowd of spooks, goblins, and mere spectators lined the streets to whoop and holler, etc. We walked by one car and two elderly ladies eyed us with something of a ‘take-off-that-false-face’ attitude, and we decided to call it a day and go home.” (11/4/32)

News of Statesville Colored People, James C. Caldwell, Reporter: “Morningside high was recently defeated by Oakland high of Lincolnton by the score of 6 to 0. Morningside was barely beaten in the last four minutes of play. Wiley McKee was the shining light for Morningside. Time and again this hefty youngster broke up Oakland’s plays before they were started.” (11/4/32)

One hundred years ago: Landmark, Oct. 29 and Nov. 1, 1907.

“The county high school at Harmony will open next Tuesday, November 5th. The school will be in charge of competent teachers and will continue seven months. All children in the school district and all children in the territory belonging to the school (the lines have not been defined who are as far advanced as the seventh grade will receive free tuition. Those in north Iredell outside of the district, who are far advanced as the seventh grade, will not only receive free tuition but will not be debarred on account of age.” (10/29/1907)

“Mr. G.A. Critcher has bought a handsome modern funeral car for his undertaking business.” (10/29/1907)

“Mr. R.H. Fleming, of Elmwood, has been appointed a substitute carrier in the railway mail service. Mr. Fleming has been the efficient correspondent of THE LANDMARK at Elmwood and the paper regrets to lose his services.” (10/29/1907)

“It was recently decided by the board of aldermen to supply the police force with better weapons and new pistols were ordered. This week the authorities received four large Smith & Wesson specials and the officers are now ‘totin’ guns’ with six-and-a-half inch barrels that will kill a man at long range.” (11/1/1907)

“The Livingston Avenue Baptist church, of Brunswick, N.J., has presented to the Sunday school of the First Baptist church of Statesville a handsome collection of books. Rev. and Mrs. C.A. Jenkins formerly lived at New Brunswick and Mr. Jenkins was pastor of the Livingston Avenue church.” (11/1/1907)

“There were a number of Halloween parties last night. The ‘Gay, Giddy Girls’ entertained in the old armory hall; Miss Maude Wilson entertained at her home on Mulberry street, and the skaters held a Halloween masquerade at the opera house rink; Miss May Morrison gave a party.” (11/1/1907)

One hundred twenty-five years ago: Landmark, Nov. 3, 1882.

“Davidson township can boast of having the oldest Democrat probably in the county in the person of Matthew Gibbs. He is or will be 96 years of age next May. He has voted at 18 Presidential elections, and been living to see 24 Presidents elected, and has voted the Democratic ticket very time, and says that if he lives to see the next Presidential election he will vote again the same way. KEROS.”

“We are glad to learn, from headquarters, of the continued success and prosperity of Simonton Female College. It has now the largest graduating class yet organized, and with a full corps of experienced teachers and with every department well represented, we can heartily recommend its advantages to all our people.”

“Chickens are 20c. apiece. It is as cheap to eat turkeys. Butter is worth 25 to 30 c. per pound and a cow won’t look at anybody less than a millionaire.”

“This is a very late fall. Wednesday was positively too warm for comfort.”