This feature mines the McDowell news archives for what was going on this week in local history.
Fifty-one years ago this week, the Pilot Club of Marion purchased eight steel bathtubs to be distributed to people in the community who did not have inside plumbing. For most residents, getting up and taking a nice warm bath or shower in the morning is routine. But there were still people in McDowell County in 1975 who could not afford that “luxury.” The Pilot Club decided to do something about it. In this photo, Pilot Club members examine the bathtubs at McDowell Agriculture Supply. They were (from left to right) Virginia Burnette, project coordinator; Kathryn Cowan, Pilot Club president; Michael Gibson, director of the McDowell County Department of Social Services, which distributed the tubs; and Mrs. Joe Comerford, a member of the community service area of the Pilot Club.
The Gent Shop in Marion offered good deals on “quality menswear and furnishings.”
During the week of June 30, 1975, First Sgt. Silas Blankenship of the Marion Police Department is shown displaying the city’s emblem which was worn by all Marion police officers and firefighters on their uniforms as of June 1975.
The House Theater in Marion presented this classic science fiction thriller movie from Walt Disney Productions.
Sgt. Larry S. Buchanan of the N.C. Department of Corrections pointed to a small gate latch, 1 inch wide and 3/16 of an inch thick, which was straightened to permit 10 inmates to escape from the McDowell County Unit. Prison officials said the men used a 2-inch pipe to straighten the latch. The chain, visible in the photo, was not on the gate at the time of the escape.
Deputy Clerk of McDowell County Superior Court Betty Bowman administered the oath of office to the new McDowell County Board of Elections. Appointed by the state board, local board members were (left to right) Dean Wall, a Democrat, and two Republicans, Bill Rowe and Carroll Corbett.
During the week of June 30, 1975, Fred Knot, dairy specialist for North Carolina State University, held the head of a young calf while Emilie Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Jackson of Old Fort, trimmed the animal at the annual 4-H Calf Show at the McDowell Agricultural Center on N.C. 226 South. Approximately 29 4-H Club members and their leaders were on hand for the occasion.
New officers of the Marion Lions Club posed for a photo at the Marion Community Building just before being installed by Zone Chairman Wayne Honeycutt of Rutherford College. The new officers were (front row, left to right) Finley Norris, third vice president; Johnny Freshour, second vice president; Ralph Holden, first vice president; and Phillip Brooks, president; (back row, left to right) Marion Bullman, treasurer; Zone Chairman Wayne Honeycutt; D.C. Buckner, Lion Tamer; Jack Kirstein, secretary; and Jim Greene, director.
Staff Sgt. Bill Pressley, law enforcement officer in McDowell County, gave instructions to an MP going on patrol. Pressley and other members of the 109th MP Battalion had the military police responsibilities for approximately 4,500 Army National Guardsmen during the two-week annual summer training at Fort Pickett, Virginia.
Neill McGeachy, head basketball coach at Wake Forest University, was shown at McDowell High gym as he demonstrated some techniques at handling the basketball to former MHS player Lynn Warren. Forty boys attended that week’s basketball camp. McGeachy was known around basketball circuits as one of the finest teachers of ball handling. This was one of the first of two one-week camps for boys ages 8 to 15. The second camp would begin on July 7, 1975.
Grand opening ceremonies were held in Marion for the Pizza Place. A free air conditioner was given away as part of the grand opening. Located near the city limits, the new pizzeria would be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday. A noon buffet would be served each day which would include pizza and salad. Twelve different ingredients were offered and pizzas would be arranged to suit the customer.
McDowell Tech President John Price (center) talked with Pfeiffer College Financial Vice President Wallace Martin (second from left) as the two schools attempted to work out a student transfer program during a recent visit by Pfeiffer College officials to the McDowell Tech campus. Others participating in the discussion of the proposal were (left to right) Warren Knapp, assistant vice president at Pfeiffer; Martin; Price; Ed Newman, dean of students at McDowell Tech; and Dr. John Haesloop, academic vice president at Pfeiffer.
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This feature mines the McDowell News archives for what was going on this week in local history.
This feature mines our archives for what was going on this week in local history.
