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50 Years Ago in Burke County

Vivian Murray

Published: November 3, 2008

Jim and Dan Simpson are brothers and attorneys who share the same office space. They are alike in many ways except politics. Dan is a Republican and Jim is a Democrat. Jim was telling the coffee drinkers that he had a dream that Burke County was going to go in a landslide for the Democrats. Dan snapped back that he did not have a dream but a nightmare.
n The State Magazine selected Sen. Sam J.Ervin as one among the "Ten Most Interesting Tar Heels."
n J. Gordon Queen, "dean" of The News Herald's staff, has turned to full-time reporting. He has been the linotype operator machinist in addition to writing a column. He will swap his linotype machine for a typewriter.
n Blanche Abernathy received a bag of 45 silver dollars from Drexel Knitting Mills to mark the completion of 45 years of service. Robert Walker and George Seitz also presented her with a diamond studded pin with "45" on it.
n Burkemont Coffee Shop is under new management and is serving delicious, home-cooked meals. Marshall Daves is the manager.
n Sidelights at the Courthouse voting booth: Mr. and Mrs. N. M. Patton looking over their ballots...Mildred Cobb and Mabel Arney busy as bees…a woman seen crawling under the ropes and heading for a booth.
n The engagement of Mary Seagle to Richard Oxford has just been announced.
n Tom Cornwell of Cornwell Drug said there is no truth to the report that he removed his soda fountain because of the "coffee club" meeting there since Morganton Grill moved off main street.
n The Rev. John D. Smith pins the "God and Country" award on Eagle Scout Wayland Plaster. This award is one of the Boy Scout's highest honors.
n Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Kirksey won an all-expense paid trip to Bermuda furnished by the Philco Corporation.
n The Community Follies, under the auspices of the Morganton Junior Woman's Club, is being presented. The Sultan is W. A. Hord Jr. and beauties Mrs. Frank Bowers, Mrs. Claude White, Mrs. Ray Sigmon and Mrs. Clarence Crouch surround him.
n The 1958 Olive Hill graduates now enrolled at Johnson C. Smith University are Bobby Michaux, Walter Teddy Largent, Judith Hawthorne and Clara Mae Tate.
n Local photographer Carl Webb was photographing the beautiful First Methodist Church and The News Herald's staff photographer was photographing Carl.
n Mr. and Mrs. Jink Franklin and Mrs. Dock Franklin motored to Myrtle Beach on a fishing trip.
n Bits from J. Gordon Queen: Brenda Simmons dressed as a real "hant," walking stick and all, while her younger sister was a little devil…Joyce Powell, Becky Powell, Margaret Tolbert and Frances Burns doing the new-fangled cat talk…Christmas pretties are already being displayed…years ago Morganton had eight passenger trains daily and now only four…little Sherry Duckworth with a pretty doll made from a Coke bottle…Ralph Clarke of Morganton Grill fame, showing customers a "morning after" coffee cup that had two handles…a pretty girl wearing devil-red tight-fitting britches…overheard from a guy — he was drunk and when the dog started barking at him he got down on his knees and started barking back at him…Barry Breitenbach and Mickey Poteat walking out North Sterling slurping at their soda drinks…Sen. Sam Ervin telling that he quit smoking on the 16th of May, 1940 at 11:20 a.m.…the Assembly of God parsonage on Summit Street was built by a former pastor, the Rev. R. O. Brown…at one time there was a huge pile of junk right where the Community House stands…an old hound dog trotting out North Sterling Street with a large slice of bologna in his mouth…early risers on all election grounds…fall-like weather abounds.

50 Years Ago in Burke County is submitted by Vivian Murray, a volunteer with the History Museum of Burke County.