Out of Our Past: Girl Scout Little House gets go-ahead; runaway horse, rattlesnake scare in the news (2024)

Ten years ago:

April 16-22, 2014

Record & Landmark

Mayor Costi Kutteh presented a plaque to Margery Turnipseed in recognition of her service on the Statesville Board of Adjustment that began with her appointment as an alternate member in 1987 and culminated with her recent retirement as chairwoman. Turnipseed said she only missed one meeting in her more than 26 years on the board, and attributed that to a broken ankle. (4/16)

TROUTMAN — Lake Norman seized a stranglehold on first place in the North Piedmont Conference. Cami Couch scored in the fifth minute Wednesday, and the Wildcats never trailed en route to a 5-0 victory over South Iredell. South Iredell (11-3, 8-2) needed a win to move into a share of first with the Wildcats (13-2, 10-0). (4/17)

Photo: SUIT UP AND LEADER UP — Cool Springs Fire Department Cpt. Robert Lovell (right) helps East Iredell Middle School chorus teacher Nichole Tilley try on the fire gear that the volunteer fire department showed students during the school’s biannual Community Speaker Day. Community leaders, including Iredell-Statesville Schools Superintendent Brady Johnson, spoke to students about what leadership means to them and how they are a leader. The program is a part of East Middle’s Leader in Me program. (4/18)

In observation of Child Abuse Prevention Month, a number of Iredell County’s child-welfare agencies and nonprofit organizations have come together to hold the Children’s March Against Child Abuse at 11 a.m. Monday, April 28. Supporters of the cause should wear blue shirts and gather at the circle at Mitchell Community College, where organizers will provide marchers with blue pinwheels-the symbol of child abuse prevention- to carry during their journey through downtown Statesville. (4/19)

A year after his death, a dream of local jazz legend Jim Calabrese is finally coming true. Statesville is holding an event for Jazz Appreciation Month. On Saturday, April 26, Twisted Oak American Bar & Grill will host Jazz Night. The Charlotte-based Southern Fried Jazz band — led by trumpet player Don Edwards, who once backed Louis Armstrong — and several local musicians headed by Phyllis Vanhoy are scheduled to perform. (4/20)

Three years ago, One United was just an idea. But this weekend, the Mooresville competitive cheerleading gym will compete for a world championship. Last weekend in Nashville, Tenn., One United All-Stars & Tumbling’s Senior Co-ed Level 5 team — competing in the category this year for the first time — earned a bid to Worlds by delivering, improbably, their best routine of the year in their last chance to make it to what is considered cheerleading’s Super Bowl. (4/21)

The YMCA of Northwest North Carolina honored the Statesville Family YMCA’s adult and youth volunteers of the year for their service to strengthen the foundations of the community at the organization’s 125th annual celebration on March 27. The YMCA of Northwest North Carolina honors adults who demonstrate exceptional volunteerism and consideration toward others with the YMCA Strong Award. Jim Scruggs was selected by the Statesville Family YMCA. (4/22)

Twenty-five years ago:

April 16-22, 1999

Record & Landmark

Photo: Mitchell spring court — Following years of tradition at Mitchell Community College, the student body has elected the 1999 Spring Court and will crown its Queen at a special program. The program will be held at noon on Monday, April 19, on the College Circle. The public is invited to attend. From left on the front row are Krista Tilley, Ernessa Sapper, Kelly Thomas, Spring Queen; Tomeka Smith, Maid of Honor; Anna Simmonds and Shana Dumond; Second row, Teresa Clem, Angela Hartness, Ashata Hayden, Karis White, Laura Durham and Yessenia Gonzalez. (4/16)

A trip to the corner grocery store changed Harlie Wilson’s life. But his tragedy, and the work that followed, helped give victims of crime a voice in government. U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno will honor Harlie, and his wife, Ruth, Monday with the 1999 National Crime Victims Service Award. The Wilsons are two of eight people from across the nation receiving the Justice Department’s highest honor. (4/17)

Heard about the train wreck in Statesville that made national headlines. How about the city’s reputation for producing the best liquor around. Those are some of the topics covered during a drive around Iredell, courtesy of Travel Net Tours of Statesville. Local historian Mac Lackey, serves as tour guide. A group of approximately 25 people loaded the bus at the Statesville Police Department last Tuesday evening, and headed for a five hour tour of Iredell County’s history. (4/18)

Ed Hillers is a firm believer that music can touch a person’s soul. He says he has witnessed its effect on people’s emotions while entertaining at local nursing centers and churches. His computerized keyboard plays 32 instruments simultaneously. A classically trained violinist, Hillers, a native of Fort Worth, Tex., describes the shows he does as “a combination of music, pet therapy, and humor.” (4/19)

When Stephanie Clark throws, a shriek usually follows. Mostly it’s Clark that does the yelling — call it a release of tension or an explosion of controlled energy — but if you listen closely, you might hear gasps of awe from opponents not looking forward to having to top Clark’s intimidating feats. Perhaps it’s not the event that her opponents aren’t serious about. It may be that after Clark throws, the other girls just resign themselves to second place. (4/20)

Ready to give up some green for the green? That’s what James “Jamie” King Hill Jr. and Rick Gregory of R. Gregory Jewelers say folks will be doing at the jewelry store, starting Friday. Hill, a 35-year-old treasure hunter of Hiddenite, will be selling some of his emeralds for the first time. The Jolly Green Giant, an 88-carat emerald Hill recently unearthed, will be up for bid. (4/21)

After 416,479 miles, “Old Charly” won’t be hitting the road anymore. The 1987 Harley-Davidson Tour Glide was traded in buy owner David Willet for a brand new Electra Glide Ultra classic Harley-Davidson motorcycle Wednesday. Old Charly is becoming a part of history because it has the most mileage documented on a Harley-Davidson Evolution original engine. Willet, of High Point, bought the Harley-Davidson in Statesville from Tilley Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership. (4/22)

Fifty years ago:

April 16-22, 1974

Record & Landmark

Frances Andrews, an eighth grade student at Oakwood Junior High School, was named Statesville city schools representative to the Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel spelling bee Friday, after defeating eight other students for the city spelling crown. Runner-up in the contest was Jimmy Tomlin, a fifth grade student at N.B. Mills School. (4/16)

Photo: PORTRAIT PRESENTED — The Student Council of South Iredell High School, on behalf of the student body, Tuesday presented a portrait of Principal Harold L. Waters to the school to be hung in the school library. Waters has resigned effective April 17 to accept a position with Herff Jones Graduate Services. Displaying the portrait for Waters are Karen James, student council vice president; and Joe Collins, president of the council. The faculty held a dinner Monday night to honor Waters for his eight years of service as a principal at the school. A plaque was presented to be left in the school, and a smaller plaque and silver serving tray were given to Waters. (4/17)

Gary Sherrill, pageant chairman for the 1974 Carolina Dogwood festival, today announced that Sheri Elaine Davis, Patricia Ann Sigmon and Paula Elaine Wood will be among the 11 contestants vying for the title of Carolina Dogwood Queen this year. (4/18)

Instant Printing Service on N. Tradd St. has, according to owner and operator, Herbert S. Weintraub, became the second print shop in the state to put a fully automated printer and collator into operation. Weintraub explained that his system consists of an offset press and a 52 pocket on-line collator. The on-line collator, which is the unique feature of the system, automatically stacks or arranges the pages of a book or pamphlet in proper sequence. (4/19)

Art students at Mitchell Community College have a mixed media display on exhibit at Signal Hill Mall. The show includes sculpture, paintings in oils, acrylics and watercolors; and drawings. Arrangements for the show were made by Marie Holman and Don Moore of the college art faculty. The display opened Thursday. Moore also has a show of his personal work at Herman Gallery throughout this month. (4/20)

The North Iredell Raiders ripped West Rowan 9-1 in a North Piedmont Conference game Friday afternoon. It was the first win of the season for Coach Danny Davis’ Raiders. Wendell Ireland struck out three and walked five while pitching a five-hitter and hurling the Raiders to the triumph. North Iredell banged out 13 hits in the game with Dennis Elledge leading the way with a perfect four-four-four while Steve Barker, Ireland and Teddy Mac Jordan paired hits. (4/22)

Seventy-five years ago:

April 16-22, 1949

Daily Record

Statesville Lions today announced plans to start a fund for a high school football stadium by sponsoring a circus here Saturday, April 30. All proceeds from the club’s share of the gate will go to a school student fund with which athletic officials hope to build a football stadium in the hollow to the south of the present senior high school building on North Center street. (4/16)

Members of the Ney Memorial association yesterday dedicated a memorial plaque at the old session house at Third Creek where the famous Marshal Ney of France is supposed to have taught school. The old building has been brick veneered to preserve it and yesterday the plaque declaring that Peter Stewart Ney — believed to be the French marshal under Napoleon — taught there was dedicated. (4/18)

Three hundred workmen will converge on the Ellis farm near Scotts at dawn tomorrow and before the day is over, weather permitting, they will have installed improvements totaling about $9,000. They will be doing it as a part of the Better Farming Methods day, sponsored by the Scotts Grange and local farm and home agents. In every corner of the 140-acre farm, something will be going on and County Agent Roger Murdoch is expecting between 5,000 and 10,000 people to come to see this latter-day miracle. (4/19)

Mrs. Sam Watts entertained a large number of children on Saturday afternoon at an egg hunt. After the hunt games were played and Mrs. Watts invited the youngsters into the dining room where delicious refreshments were served. The table was centered with colored eggs. Mrs. Willard Overcash assisted Mrs. Watts in serving. Lillies, iris and narcissus were used in the decorations. (4/20)

Photos: THE MIRACLE OF ELLIS FARM — While thousands watched in amazement, the S.J. Ellis farm and home near Scotts underwent a radical change in appearance yesterday. Three hundred men and their machines were there to take part in a Better Farming Methods day sponsored by the Scotts Grange and they remade the home and countryside. Daily Record Photographer Max B. Tharpe was on hand to take these pictures to show some of the activities. In the picture at left, county school students discuss the transformation and painters rush their jobs to completion. In the center top picture, a panorama shot gives some idea of the crowd on hand, and this was just a segment of the population present. Center, bottom, shows spectators watching a tractor in action as it plows one of the fields. In the background, men can be seen moving a chicken house to a new location. At the right, more students watch while work continues on the home and on a new well. Schools in this section dismissed students who wanted to come see the Miracle on Ellis Farm. (4/21)

At a meeting of the building committee of the Girl Scout Little House held Wednesday at 5 p.m., six bids were opened with C. F. Little being awarded the contract. His low bid was in the amount of $5,900. The building will be 24 feet by 60 feet. It will have a large recreation room, kitchen, and rest room upstairs. (4/22)

One hundred years ago:

April 17-21, 1924

The Landmark

One afternoon recently Mr. J. E. Tharpe called at the home of Mr. Pink Eagle, three miles east of town, on business. Finding no one at home, he went up to the porch to write a note to leave, when the dog, guarding the porch, made an extremely hostile move toward him. Jumping back, Mr. Tharpe was in the act of stepping on a large rattlesnake, already coiled to strike, when he jumped some more. The snake was killed. (4/17)

Showing mid-season form, Statesville High school trampled Salisbury High by a score of 6 to 0. Statesville connected for 12 safeties, while not a single Salisburian fathomed Lefty Gilliam’s delivery. This midget southpaw crowned himself with glory by twirling a no-hit, no-run game. He was ably supported by his team mates’ fielding. Gray, Wasson, Little and King did most the slugging for Statesville. (4/17)

Statesville, R-3, April 19 — On Wednesday, April 30, there will be a reunion of former students, teachers and patrons of the Ostwalt school at the school building on East Monbo road. There will also be an old time Exhibition on an outdoor stage; string music; public dinner; recitations, songs and plays; talks by two of the former teachers; a baseball game and a night program. (4/21)

The consolidation of county schools according to a county-wide plan with the entire valuation of the county supporting the education of every boy and girl was advocated this morning at the annual county commencement exercises at the court house by Mr. George Howard, State director of school organizations. (4/21)

One hundred twenty-five years ago:

April 18-21, 1899

The Landmark

Mr. Aleck Vaughan’s horse ran away yesterday afternoon, starting at Steel’s foundry and running north with Mulberry street until it reached Water street, where the buggy to which it was attached was wrecked. Mr. Vaughan and Mr. Jo. Huie were in the buggy when the horse started. Mr. Huie got out early in the game and Mr. Vaughan got out at the hill at Mr. Logan Stimson’s. Neither was hurt. (4/18)

About 6 o’clock Thursday evening Maurice, three-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Godbey, started on a tour of exploration, riding a fiery stick horse. He was missed in about half an hour and search for him was begun. Nearly everybody in the immediate vicinity participated in the search. The child was not found, as the story books would have it, asleep in the depths of the forest, with his head resting on a big black bear for a pillow, or just on the brink of an awful precipice, but after having rambled around over a mile or so of forest paths he came out in the road and went up to a neighbor’s house, still riding his fiery steed, and on being asked, told his name and his destination and was kindly sent home. (4/18)

Mr. N. B. Mills, who bought a one-third interest in the opera hall lot (the vacant lot corner Center and Broad streets) as the sale of the Van Pelt property Tuesday, paying there for $1,600, subsequently bought another third interest in the same lot from Col. S. A. Sharpe for a similar amount. Mr. Mills now owns two thirds of this valuable property, the remaining third being owned by the heirs of the late Col. J. S. Miller. While no definite plans have been made it is almost certain that a building will be erected on the lot this year, and the prospect is good that the entire vacant space known as the “burnt corner,” which has for so long marred the appearance of Statesville, will be covered with handsome buildings within a year. (4/21)

Mr. W. M. Cooper has had city water turned into his block of buildings on Center street. Quite a number of private residences have made water and sewer connections and it is expected that most of the business houses will do so during the coming summer. (4/21)