March 10, 2008

Out of our Past

Compiled by Bill Moose

Twenty-five years ago: Record & Landmark, March 10-16, 1983.
“Lightning struck a large pine tree behind the property at 222 N. Mulberry St. during the electrical storm which hit Statesville Wednesday evening. The tree, described by workers on the scene as looking as if it had exploded, destroyed sections of a fence on the property of Mrs. Jean Shafer. Some debris was found as far away as N. Kelly St., about 185 feet away.” (3/10/83)

Photo: “Col. Henry H. Nicholson (Retired), N.C. National Guard Surgeon, has been awarded the N.C. Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award granted by the State of North Carolina to National Guard members who perform distinguished meritorious service to the state. Nicholson is a native of Statesville.” (3/11/83)

“The Mooresville Board of Education heard a series of pleas Friday night that reorganization of grades in the school system be delayed until after in-depth planning is completed. Under the reorganization plan, the ninth grade will be moved to the high school and a middle school for grades six through eight will be established.” (3/12/83)

“In 1979 Margaret Carter and Nickie Haithcox wanted to help out their friend, Louise Carter, who husband had just passed away. Her friends thought it would be a good idea to meet at her house once a week to do a little quilting. Almost four years later, there are 13 women who are members of the club.” [They called themselves the Wild Goose Patchwork Club.] (3/14/83)

“The daily business of making ice cream at Mooresville Ice Cream Co. has changed. William Avery Sloop, plant superintendent for the past 25 years, retired from the company this month, but will not be a stranger to the place he worked for a total of 46 years. He served during World War II as a member of an anti-aircraft unit with the U.S. Army in Europe.” (3/15/83) “North Iredell residents can expect to have a new place to dispose of garbage in the coming months. County commissioners voted Tuesday to enter into a 10-year lease with Mrs. Kathleen Campbell for one acre of land on the north side of NC 901 between Union Grove and Harmony that will be developed as a solid waste collection site for North Iredell.” (3/16/83)

Fifty years ago: Record & Landmark, March 10-16, 1958.
“The Ninth Congressional Republican Convention, meeting in Statesville Friday afternoon, failed to name a candidate for representative from this district. The convention named a five member committee which was instructed to confer with state and national party officials at the state convention. Hugo Kimball, Iredell member of the committee, said this morning the committee has not completed it works and has no announcement at this time.” (3/10/58)

“Troutman’s Bobcats, who dropped three of four meetings to Union Grove as the Tigers picked up the Iredell District Athletic Association regular season title, salvaged part of the glory in the IDAA when they downed the Tigers in the tourney finals, 54-45. Coach Bill ’Keyhole’ Jones’ Celeste Henkel sextette staged a brilliant comeback to nip Cool Springs, 76-74, in two overtime periods last night at the Statesville High School Gymnasium.” (3/11/58)

“Firmly stated resolutions and blunt demands were hurled at member of the Board of County Commissioners last night by nearly 400 citizens interested in better schools in Statesville. Board Chairman C.E. Fraley asked the people if they would be willing to go on record as being in favor of tax increase to finance a stepped up school building program and a standing vote was almost unanimous.” (3/12/58)

“Trash underneath the Kid Sharpe Billiard Parlor, 110 East Broad Street, caught on fire early this morning but firemen said damage was ’very slight’ Firemen theorized that it started from a cigarette which had fallen through a crack in the floor.” (3/13/58)

“The Statesville Chamber of Commerce announced today that Graybeal, Inc. has decided to locate its new plant in Statesville. The firm will occupy the 15,000-square-foot Ashe Building on Wise Street and will manufacture upholstered furniture.” (3/14/58)

“Statesville will get its East Statesville Junior High School, at least part of it. The board worked on construction plans last night and by deleting some of the interior finishes, it finds it will be able to let the contract for the amount of funds now available.” (3/15/58)

Seventy-five years ago: Statesville Record, March 10 and 14, 1933.
“According to the consensus of opinion of local banking officials, the three Statesville banks will remain closed for the balance of this week and probably one or two days next week. The thought was expressed that upon the expiration of the four day holiday the banks could re-open, but this cannot be done until the Federal Reserve Bank in Charlotte opens.” (3/10/33)

“The four south Statesville churches have arranged special services of prayer for the Divine guidance and blessings upon our national and state governments and for our people in this time of stress and discouragement. The first of these services will be held Thursday afternoon at Race Street Methodist church, conducted by Rev. Rev. E.C. Carson.” (3/10/33)
Clarksbury news: “Farmers were glad to welcome the fine weather for plowing and they made use of it too. Gardeners will have to wait until the weather is right. There is a time for all things, a time to plant and a time to reap seed; time and harvest is promised until the end of the world.” (3/10/33)

“At a special meeting of the Statesville Merchants Association called yesterday morning by President Harry Padgett to decide what action to take on the sales tax question, the members were advised to send Governor Ehringhaus individual telegrams expressing their opposition to any sales tax whatsoever, and instead advocating cutting the State budget to the bone before asking for a sales tax.” (3/14/33)

“Having announced myself as a candidate for a member of the City School Board, I shall give to our schools my interest and thought to the very best of my ability. My only promise is to meet each problem as it arises, having in mind always the best interest of our children, so far as our financial circumstances shall permit. I fully appreciate and understand the financial embarrassment which confronts us at the present time and shall heartily co-operate with the authorities to regulate our school term so as to meet our present situation. MRS. R.M. RICKERT.” (3/14/33)

One hundred years ago: Landmark, March 10 and 13, 1908.
“Work has resumed on the Anderson portion of the Patterson and Anderson block. The work on the first floor of the building, which will be occupied by the Merchants and Farmers Bank, will be pushed to completion as early as possible.” (3/10/1908)

“The county commissioners are asking for bids for the construction of about two and a half miles of macadam road. If the contract can be let a section of the Taylorsville Road will macadamized by the State farm.” (3/10/1908)

“A Statesville man found a $100 bill on the street Saturday and so far nobody has inquired about it. Bills of that denomination are not common and ordinarily the loss of one would be expected to create interest.” (3/10/1908)

“Mr. W.H. Coffey, who manages a shooting club in Olin township and has a large area of land leased for bird hunting, returned yesterday from Washington (N.C.), where he spent a few days hunting ducks with Mr. C.H. Fuller, a millionaire sportsman, of Pawtucket, R.I.” (3/10/1908)

“To the Public: By request of the board of school commissioners, the mayor and undersigned committee went to the graded school building Tuesday morning, with a view to investigating the conditions of the buildings and the modes of exit in case of fire, and after thoroughly going over the buildings with the board of school commissioners, we have no comments to make, except that, so far as we could see, everything has been done to make the children as safe as possible under any circumstances. H.P. GRIER, Mayor. W.T. KINCAID, C.M. STEELE, W.L. GILBERT, Committee.” (3/13/1908)

“Yesterday afternoon the two-year-old daughter of Policeman and Mrs. W.H. McKay was attacked by a big chicken rooster and severely cut about the head and face. Mr. McKay was in the yard and the little girl, who was attempting to help her father carry kindling, fell down. Immediately the rooster sprang on the child and raked her viciously with his claws, inflicting a number of cuts on her head and face.” (3/13/1908)

One hundred twenty-five years ago: Landmark, March 16, 1883
“The smell of smoke arrested the attention of one of the salesmen in the store of Messrs. Irvin & Co., Tuesday afternoon. Investigation showed a lot of waste paper in the cellar on fire and the cellar was full of smoke. By prompt action the fire was extinguished without any damage having been done. The burning paper was in close proximity to a pile of sacks and a kerosene tank. The origin of the fire is a mystery, but if it had gone undiscovered a few minutes longer we wouldn’t have had as much town as we have now.”

“Another of the oldest houses in the town is being razed. This is the house on Tradd street between Broad and Ridge avenue, the property of Mr. Solomon Stimson, which was until lately occupied by Capt. R.M. Allison. The memory of no living man runs back to the time when this old house was built. It yields now to the inexorable law and sightlier houses will replace it.”

“Mr. R.L. Steele, formerly of this place, will move his photograph gallery from Salisbury to Statesville in a few days.”