April 07, 2008

Out of our Past

Compiled by Bill Moose

Twenty-five years ago: Record & Landmark, April 7-13, 1983.
“Statesville residents who call for an ambulance in the event of a medical emergency may find, beginning today, that a Statesville fire truck arrives at their house first. Members of Statesville Fire Department joined the county’s First Responder program today.” (4/7/83)

“The long-awaited computerized tomography scanner arrived this morning at Iredell Memorial Hospital and will be installed in a newly renovated area on the ground floor. Total cost of the project is $700,000.” (4/8/83)

Photo: “Mom & Pops Restaurant in Signal Hill Mall is now undergoing renovations and will be closed from 3 p.m. Sunday until April 16. Restaurant officials said that plans include a 15-foot salad bar with over 50 items available, a new serving line and, on the exterior, garden windows.” (4/9/83)

“Rep. J.P. Huskins of Iredell has introduced a bill extending the Statesville city limits northward along a segment running from I-77 on the east almost to the Alexander Railroad on the west. ‘I have been informed by city officials that almost everybody involved in the proposed annexation is in favor of it, but I would like to hear from anyone who strenuously objects. I would not want to impose a hardship on anyone if it can be avoided.” (4/11/83)

“The Statesville City Board of Education voted Monday night to approve a 1983-84 budget proposal calling for just over $1 million in capital outlay. Dr. Ben Carson, superintendent, explained that $528,000 of the proposed capital outlay budget is earmarked for the addition to Statesville Senior High School, which will provide space needed when the ninth grade is moved to the high school.” (4/12/83)

“Coach Doyle Mintz’s Statesville Greyhounds erupted for five runs in the top of the eighth, the first extra inning, and posted their first win of the 1983 baseball season in defeating North Iredell, 10-5. Todd Gabriel went the distance on the mound and recorded the pitching win.” (4/13/83)

Fifty years ago: Record & Landmark, April 7-12, 1958.
Union Grove: “All records were broken at the 34th renewal of the Old Time Fiddlers convention here Saturday night. Pierce VanHoy, who acted as master of ceremonies in the gymnasium, estimated there were over 2,500 paid admissions. A total of 190 performers, representing 47 bands from North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee competed.” (4/7/58)

“School problems and Citizens For Better Schools greeted the Board of County Commissioners again this morning. ‘What are you going to do about the City School Board’s request for $159,500 for capital outlay funds this year?’ Stuart Coffey, chairman of the
Citizens Committee, asked. Chairman C.E. Fraley said, ‘it is the intention of this board to appropriate this sum if possible.’” (4/8/58)

“The Unity Green Hawks won their second game of the season over Happy Plains of Taylorsville, 19-3 yesterday. The winning pitcher was Ray Parker. Outstanding for the Hawks was Robert Tenor with a triple, scoring two runs ahead of him. The Unity Hawks played their first game last Wednesday, also with Taylorsville, winning it by 11-1.” (4/9/58)

“Henry P. Mozeley of Charlotte, district manager for the Pure Oil Company, announced today that J.C. Kivett has purchased the local distributorship from J.C. Edwards. The distributorship will operate under the name of Kivett Oil Company and offices will be located at 701 North Jackson Street.” (4/10/58)

“Iredell Credit Union, now located at 634 South Center Street, will hold open house today and tomorrow, April 11 and 12, when its many friends are invited to see the new office. The credit union was organized March 19, 1946. The officers are Alvin L. Morrison, president; T.V. Mangum, vice-president, and G.F. Dalton, secretary-treasurer.” (4/11/58)

Photo: “Members of the Iredell County Board of Elections, who were recently appointed by State Board of Elections, are shown here being sworn in by Clerk of Court Carl G. Smith. Taking the oath are Miss Floy Wilkinson and Boyce Gibson, Democrat members, and A.B. Raymer, Republican member.” (4/12/58)

Seventy-five years ago: Statesville Record, April 7 and 11, 1933.
“County Agent A.R. Morrow, after close observing gives it as his opinion that the average peach crop in Iredell county will be only 10 per cent of normal. Pears and apples seem to be safe, Mr. Morrow says.” (4/7/33)

Eufola, route 1: “A very good crowd was in attendance at both the afternoon and evening services at New Bethany church Sunday. Rev. Mr. Payne advised his audience at the evening service to vote against the beer bill now before our Congress. This was voted unanimously. Senator Land was immediately notified of this step which was taken and advised to use his interest in the matter in behalf of the church.” [The writer was referring to a bill legalizing beer sales which would be approved. E.M. Land was an Iredell Senator.] (4/7/33)

“The Central girls won a fast baseball game over the Barium Springs girls last Monday on the Central diamond by a score of 23to 29. Central got off to a good lead in the first inning by scoring 8 times while Barium saw only four tallies. Sarah Millsaps’ home run in the first with the bases loaded gave the home girls a getaway that the visitors were not able to overcome.” (4/7/33)

“Salary checks for the Iredell county schools and the Statesville and Mooresville schools for the sixth month of the present school term are now being prepared in the office of County Superintendent J.H. Gentry, for distribution this week, but will be about one-third less than the usual monthly payments. County school officials have just been notified that the State Director of the Budget has only made available 95 per cent of the funds allotted by the State Board of Equalization for the support of the six months term. Twenty working days constitute a month for teachers, janitors, truck drivers and other school employees, but the salary checks soon to be available will be equivalent only to fourteen days’ pay.” (4/11/33)

“Mr. S.C. Morrison has been awarded the contract to rewind the 300 H.P. generator which supplies the electric current for the community of Banner Elk. This contract was given Mr. Morrison because of his satisfactory work on similar generators at the New River Light and Power Company at Boone two years ago.” (4/11/33)

One hundred years ago: Landmark, April 7 and 10, 1908.
“The Home Bakery, W.S. Johnson, proprietor, which has been moved from Morganton to the building on south Center street formerly occupied by the steam laundry, will be ready for business in a few days. The bakery machinery will be operated by electric power.” (4/7/1908)

“An addition 20x20, two stories, has been built to the building occupied by the Iredell Pepsi Cola Bottling Works, on Meeting street. The addition is to accommodate the increased business of the bottling works, which is changing the power used from gasoline to electricity.” (4/7/1908)

“The management of the Gem theatre has received and put in operation a pretty electric piano, which is a great improvement on the talking machine which has furnished the music at the theatre.” (4/7/1908)

“Considerable frost and some ice Saturday morning further endangered the fruit crop, but the higher temperature since gives ground for hope that all is not lost.” (4/7/1908)

“The first electric fan for Statesville was installed at the Statesville Drug Co.’s store this week. Another comfort and luxury – made possible by electric power – which will come into general use this summer.” (4/10/1908)

“Prof. D. Matt. Thompson returned yesterday from Marion, where he went Wednesday to attend the mid-year missionary meeting of the Western North Carolina Methodist Conference in session there. He represented Board Street Methodist church.” (4/10/1908)

“A big wedding at the colored Baptist church Wednesday night was the principal social event in the colored society circles this week. The principals of the occasion were Robert L. Hallman and Carrie May Watts.” (4/10/1908)

“The physical culture class at the college, Miss Sullivan, director, will give a competition this afternoon from 3.30 to 4.30. The ladies – and the ladies only – are invited to be present.” (4/10/1908)

One hundred twenty-five years ago: Landmark, April 13, 1883.
“The weather having at last gotten favorable for handling tobacco, our warehouses have had fine breaks this week. So full were the floors of the Farmers’ Warehouse, Tuesday, that an enlargement of the building is contemplated, this not having been by any means the first time all of its available space has been filled.”

“John Murphy, the colored barber, left, yesterday morning, for Gaston county, having gotten an assignment as storekeeper at the distillery of Hoffman & Rhyne, colored distillers of the county named.”
The prettiest thing in town, excepting the women, is Mr. J.F. Van Pelt’s clover lot on Broad street.”

“By this do we know that the spring time has come, gentle Annie: the festive house fly has waked up and resumed business at the old stand.”

“Who are you for mayor?”