January 28, 2008

Out of our Past: Jan. 28

Compiled by Bill Moose

Twenty-five years ago: Record & Landmark, Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 1983
“The unemployment rate for December in Iredell County was 11.9 per cent, down from 13.5 per cent in November. Of a labor force of 38,880, a total of 34,260 were employed, while 4,620 were unemployed.” (1/28/83)

“North Iredell High’s varsity basketball teams rolled past Mooresville High School in both ends of a Western Piedmont Conference basketball twin bill. Coach Danny Davis’ North Iredell lassies were 47-36 winners in the opener and Coach Chip Weddington’s boys snared a 83-73 triumph in the night cap. The win for the Raiderettes climaxed what Coach Davis termed the ’best week of my coaching career’ as his girls rolled past Statesville, Lincolnton and Mooresville in a trio of home games.” (1/29/83)

“Iredell Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees held its annual meeting Sunday. Gordon P. Scott, Jr., chairman of the long-range planning committee, explained that his is a new committee developed after the defeat of the bond referendum. In the past month, the committee has considered various building and financing alternatives.” (1/31/83)

“In a called meeting Monday night, the Troutman Town Board of Aldermen decided to sell $160,000 of its $235,000 general obligation bonds to Farmers Home Administration. Town taxpayers approved $235,000 in general obligation bonds in the general election in December 1980 to be used for improving the town’s water system.” (2/1/83)

Photo: “H.S. (Bill) Kennedy, who retired recently as director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, receives congratulations and a resolution of appreciation from Joe Troutman, chairman of the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. Kennedy was commended for his ’long and dedicated service’ of more than 29 years.” (2/2/83)

“The Tri-County Mental Health Complex Area Board of Directors agreed on the wording and date of presentation of a plaque for the Bagnal Home in Statesville to honor the late J. Garner Bagnal. The halfway house for alcoholics was named for Bagnal shortly after its opening in 1977. Inscription on the plaque will read, ’Mr. Bagnal gave 13 years of dedicated service to Tri-county MNC as chairman and board member, 1969-82.’” (2/3/83)

Fifty years ago: Record & Landmark, Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 1958
“City council voted Monday night to hold a public hearing February 10 on the petition of the Statesville Theater Corporation for permission to hold Sunday movies. Mayor J. Garner Bagnal told the council that he planned to suggest that six representatives from opposing sides of the issue speak for their particular group when the hearing is held.” (1/28/58)

“Four new driver education automobiles have been received here by the County Board of Education. County schools have offered driver education courses for the past seven years. At the beginning local automobile dealers loaned cars for this work and three years ago, at the suggestion of a dealer, the board decided to purchase the cars. This was the first county in the state to purchase its own vehicles.” (1/29/58)

Photo: “The light snow which fell in Iredell County yesterday afternoon left a fluffy white blanket of beauty. Although the snow was not heavy enough to stick on the streets and sidewalks, branches of trees and shrubs were covered.” (1/3058)

“Three commissioners yesterday estimated that a new US 64-70 by-pass now under construction west of Statesville will damage the William N. Alexander property $40,595. Alexander was forced to move his house September 1, 1957. It was situated directly in line with the highway. If the Highway Commission refuses to pay the damages, the case will be tried in Iredell Superior Court.” (1/31/58)

“It was Harmony all the way. The Bobcats had only one lead, a slim 29-28 margin in the fourth period. Harmony, slowing it down in the late minutes, had a 30-29 lead. Troutman fouled and Janet Johnson sank the foul shot that clinched the 31-29 victory with six seconds remaining.” (2/1/58)

“Wayne Franklin, county agent, renewed his request for a county agriculture building this morning when he appeared before county commissioners with his regular report. The board assured the county agent that it would give some thought to the matter.” (2/3/58)

Seventy-five years ago: Statesville Record, Jan. 31 and Feb. 3, 1933
“Down at Purcell’s Drug store there’s a life-size cardboard cut-out representing a pretty girl with some sort of advertising message. Most of the time she stands just inside the entrance. T’other day one of her attendants started to change her position just as a certain soda fountain sheik approached the bar. He was all courtesy as he removed his head-gear and held the door for the lady’s egress. He was astonished to see a man’s arm creep around her waist and lift her bodaciously from the floor, and he’ll never forgive Griffin the giggle that was started at his expense. It was related too, how Fleet Scroggs, who mixes the medicines at the store, opened the store early the first morning after the lady came, and thought maybe he was in the presence of a hold-up girl.” (1/31/33)

“Troutman pulled two red hot games from the fire Friday night when the boys and girls’ teams of Hiddenite went down to defeat before the onslaught of the Troutman basketeers. The girls game ended with a score of 27 to 16 in favor of Troutman while the Troutman boys scored 19 points to 12 for Hiddenite.” (1/31/33)

“Mrs. D.S. Conway, city librarian, makes a suggestion that should meet with the approval and hearty co-operation of every citizen of Statesville. It is her observation that more persons are making use of the library than ever before; that our people with time hanging heavily on their minds, are finding pleasure in the commendable use of books. The library, for obvious reasons, has not been able to add books to its shelves in sufficient volume to meet and hold the interest of those who would continue to come to the library for helpful recreation. Why not collect the books that have been laid aside in the home and give Mrs. Conway a ring. She will be glad to send for them and put them to good use.” (2/3/33)

“Yesterday was groundhog day, and those doing the obeisance to his majesty, have abundant reason to lay in a full supply of fuel and refrain from discarding their long undies yet awhile.” (2/3/33)

One hundred years ago: Landmark, Jan. 28 and 31, 1908
“Statesville is somewhat of a railroad center. Yesterday there were four passenger trains at the station at the same time and last Thursday there were two passenger trains, four freights and the local shifter on the yards at the same time. Traffic was so badly congested that two of the freight trains, going in opposite directions were delayed here about an hour before the tracks could be sufficiently cleared to allow them to pass.” (1/28/1908)

“Misses Jessie Setzer and Ethel Austin entertained quite a number of friends at a ’Leap Year Party’ Friday evening at the home of Mr. Charles Setzer, on Armfield street. The most interesting and amusing game of the evening was the leap year proposal contest. Miss Nellie Steele won the prize for the best proposal.” (1/28/1908)

“A January thunder storm, with a downpour of rain, was a feature of the weather Sunday evening.” (1/28/1908)

“The residences of Mr. J.K. Morrison, Dr. C.B. Mott and Mr. W.H. Allison were entered by burglars early yesterday morning. Nothing was missed from Mr. Morrison’s home. Dr. Mott lost a gun and Mr. Allison a purse and a watch. All the houses entered are in east Statesville, the residences of Mr. Morrison and Dr. Mott being but a short distance apart. The residence of Mr. Allison is some distance away.” (1/31/1908)

“Misses Flynn and McIntosh, the nurses who will have charge of the Billingsley hospital, arrived last night. The hospital building is being refurnished and the institution will be ready for business next week.” (1/31/1908)

“Mrs. J.T. Raymer, of Shiloh township, reports that she has a Jersey cow for which she paid $50, that is a record-breaker. During the past three months Mrs. Raymer has sold 125 pounds of butter, made from the milk of this cow, besides the butter used by her family and another family which she supplies.” (1/31/1908)

One hundred twenty-five years ago: Landmark, Feb. 2, 1883
“While the people of every other town in the State have been stuck in the mud for the past six weeks, those of Statesville have gone along comparatively dry-shod. For this we have to thank Col. Sharpe and Col. Walker. They made us good streets and sidewalks of rock and gravel, and the natural drainage being good, we are not cursed with mud, that is upon the principal streets, as are our brethren in other towns.”

“The old Carolina hotel building has been turned into sort of a tenement house. Two or more families live in it and numbers of young men have rooms in the building. With the entire ground floor occupied and all these rooms up stairs rented, the Messrs. Wallace Bros., who now own the building, report it is making more money than at any previous period in its history.”

“Mr. J.H. McElwee is making preparations to resume the manufacture of his widely and favorably known brand of smoking tobacco, the ’Yellow Rose.’ No stock for this tobacco was raised last year, and the supply of Yellow Rose in the hands of dealers has been exhausted.”