February 25, 2008
Out of our Past
Twenty-five years ago: Record & Landmark, Feb. 25-March 2, 1983.
“With an additional allocation of $4,500 approved by the Statesville City Council, the Rape and Abuse Prevention Group will now ask the Iredell County Board of Commissioners for the same amount in order to complete construction of the battered women’s shelter. Connie Tate, chairman of the prevention group, appeared before city council Monday and said the facility was $9,000 short in reaching its $41,000 goal.” (2/25/83)
“The South Iredell Vikings parlayed the homecourt advantage and a 75 percent shooting performance into a 72-68 victory over the Statesville Greyhounds Friday night that gave Coach Gary Sherrill and his club the Western Piedmont Conference tournament championship. This was the third meeting between South Iredell and Statesville during the six years of the tournament and the Vikings have won all three – including the 1978-79 finals and the semifinals last year.” (2/26/83)
“On Feb. 23, Vivian Harris from WBTV’s Top Of The Day show came to Thorneburg Hosiery Co. in Statesville to interview Vice President Lynn Thorneburg. Miss Harris remarked that with the new wave of active sports there is a new focus on the athletic hosiery industry. ‘The concept of the Thor-Lo Padded Athletic Footwear was developed with just that thought in mind,’ according to Thorneburg.” (2/28/83)
“The unemployment rate for January was up. Iredell’s figure rose from 11.7 per cent last month to 13.7 per cent. Mike Tavernese, manager of the local Employment Security Commission office, said the increase in Iredell County is ‘basically the seasonal pattern. There is a lot of seasonal hiring of employes who are let go after Christmas.’” (3/1/83)
“Covenant Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church congregation will dedicate its new educational building on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Covenant, located at the intersection of E. Broad St. and Greenbriar Road, has completed its third building program. The manse was built in 1965. Covenant was organized on Oct. 17 of that year. The congregation met in the manse until May of 1971 when the sanctuary was completed.” (3/2/83)
Fifty years ago: Record & Landmark, Feb. 25-March 1, 1958.
“City council last night voted three-to-two to repeal sections of the municipal code which prohibit the showing of movies on Sunday. A new ordinance was passed which restricts the showing of movies on Sunday to the hours 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. until closing. Councilmen were not in any mood for delay last night. The resolution presented to the council by Rev. Thompson Southall on behalf of the Statesville Ministerial Association for a delay pending further study was unanimously rejected.” (2/25/58)
“All five members of the Iredell Board of County Commissioners announced today that they will be candidates to succeed themselves, subject to the will of the people in the Democratic primary May 31. C.E. Fraley, Roy Troutman of Mooresville, Norris M. Blackwelder, Vance Wagner and J.S. Dobson, who were elected to the board in a spirited race in 1956, announced they will run as a group to retain their seats.” (2/26/58)
“Final court determination in the long-pending minimum wage case involving number of Southern textile mills will mean payments to many employes of the old Mooresville Mills organization, most of them at a plant in Statesville. Approximately $37,000 in payments, ranging from three cents to $250 will be distributed to about 300 employes.” (2/27/58)
“Approximately 50 business, civic and religious leaders met Thursday afternoon at the Vance Hotel where they voted to ask the Interstate YMCA Committee to conduct a preliminary survey to determine whether the people of Statesville should attempt to build a YMCA. Mrs. Sam Holbrook, who arranged the meeting yesterday, was asked by Mayor J. Garner Bagnal to appoint a committee to work with the YMCA group in conducting the survey.” (2/28/58)
“Troutman’s Bobcats gained a tie for the Iredell District Athletic Association boys title last night in a 60-43 victory over Cool Springs. The win postponed the opening of the IDAA tourney, originally scheduled for Monday night, in order that a playoff for the regular season title may be held. Iredell principals meeting this morning completed brackets, but pairings will not be completed until after the Union Grove-Troutman playoff Monday night.” (3/1/58)
Seventy-five years ago: Statesville Record, Feb. 28, 1933.
“The manufacturing plant of the Statesville Furniture Company was totally destroyed by fire Friday night entailing a loss that is estimated at around $475,000 and adding approximately 175 men to the list of unemployed here. The blaze was spectacular and attracted many persons from the country who joined the mass of Statesville citizens at vantage points to watch its progress. The explosion of containers for varnishes and other supplies kept up a rumble as of artillery fire.”
“Power and lights for Union Grove and vicinity are now practically assured as a result of the action taken at the meeting of interested citizens of the community with representatives of the Southern Public Utilities Company at Union Grove on Thursday night of last week. Reports from the meeting are to the effect that subscriptions for the use of current by prospective industries to be started in the near future have been obtained to sufficient extent to make the giving of a bonus or donation unnecessary. It was shown at the meeting Thursday that plans are already under way for a hospital, roller mill, handle factory and a machine shop to be established. A committee was appointed to confer with the Board of Education to ascertain what action will be taken by the board to secure the lights and power for the large high school and grammar school, now served by its own plant, which is inadequate.”
“The formal opening of The Goodie Shoppe, a new soda emporium operated by Joe Powell and Foy Moose and located in the old Rhyne drug company building will be held tonight. Refreshments will be served and there will be souvenirs for the children, including attractive novelties given through the courtesy of Belk’s Department store. The Silver Slipper Orchestra will furnish music for the occasion.”
“In the South Piedmont Lexington leads the boys with a perfect record of ten victories, no defeats. Statesville brings up the rear with no victories and thirteen defeats. Statesville had a good chance to beat Mooresville last Friday night, but the big fire seemed to get Statesville’s mind off the game, and Mooresville came from behind to win.” [No score was given.]
One hundred years ago: Landmark, Feb. 25 and 28, 1908.
“The Statesville Ministerial Association has discussed recently the question of Sunday observance. The whole matter is very clearly covered in section 2836 and 2837 of The Code. ‘On the Lord’s day, commonly called Sunday, no tradesman, artificer, laborer, of other person, shall, upon land or water, do or exercise any labor, business or work, of his ordinary calling, works of necessity and charity alone excepted, nor employ himself in hunting, fishing or fowling, nor use any game, sport or play, upon pain that every person so offending, being of the age of 14 years or upwards, shall forfeit and pay one dollar.’” (2/25/1908)
“There is a young couple in New Hope township who have a just cause for complaint against the observance of Washington’s birthday as a holiday by the rural mail carriers. Mr. Lee Brown and Miss Mamie Money, of New Hope, had arranged to get married Saturday night and sent in the application for the marriage license Friday expecting Register of Deeds Williams to send out the license Saturday morning. But the rural carriers did not make their rounds Saturday and consequently the marriage had to be postponed two or three days.” (2/25/1908)
“M.P. Alexander & Bro., grocers and meat dealers, have installed as small electric motor in their place of business on east Broad street which is proving a great labor-saver. At present the only work the motor does is to operate the coffee and sausage mills, but as soon as warm weather comes it will also furnish power for a number of electric fans. The electric power is coming into more general use every day. Quite a number of electric fans will be installed in different places before the hot weather and flies arrive.” (2/28/1908)
“Wm. Irvine Fayssoux, the young hypnotist, known as ‘The Boy Phenomenon,’ gave a performance at the opera house last night and will give other performances tonight and tomorrow night which demonstrate remarkable hypnotic power. Last night he threw one of his own subjects into a hypnotic sleep which will last 24 hours. This sleeping man can be seen in the show window of the Statesville Housefurnishing Co.” (2/28/1908)
One hundred twenty-five years ago: Landmark, March 2, 1883.
“The large safes recently bought by the county commissioners for the offices of the clerk of the Superior Court and register of deeds, have been received and, after much puffing and perspiration, have been placed in position in these two offices. The safes are 7 ½ feet high and weigh over 8,000 pounds each. They cost the county $650 apiece laid down here and put in the court house.”
“A citizen of Barringer township, this county, claims to have discovered a certain and perfect cure for cancer in its early stages. His remedy is a mineral, which he applies to the part affected, and which he claims has never failed to draw out every particle of the diseased tissue, leaving the sound flesh untouched.”
“The skating rink at the Cash Warehouse will be re-opened to-night, when floor and skates will be free.”
“The entire debt of the Methodist church, $1180, was paid yesterday.”
