This feature mines the McDowell News archives for what was going on this week in local history.
Fifty-two years ago this week, the Marion – McDowell Merchants Association held the annual Sidewalk Sale in downtown Marion. Each member merchant conducted a three-day sale in front of their business in the downtown. Among the prizes to be given away at the sale were a Hotpoint dishwasher, a Kingston by Brothers sewing machine and a Hotpoint clothes dryer. In this photo, Dean Wall (left), president of the Merchants Association, and Ramson Bledsoe (center), chairman of the Promotions Committee, are shown as they inspect the appliances at Shuford Furniture. Lena Shuford (right) was the operator of Shuford Furniture.
McDowell County’s new recreation program offered something for everyone, including horse lovers. John McKinney (right), a member of the McDowell Saddle and Bridle Club, taught a class in horsemanship as part of the Summer Recreation Program. The classes were taught at the Saddle Club’s show grounds on N.C. 226 South.
During the week of July 28, 1974, day camping at the Pleasant Gardens Baptist Church took on an unusual look as children celebrated a special week of “Frontier Days.” Dressed as their forebears must have dressed, day campers hiked through the woods, studied Bible stories and frontier life and built forts. Approximately 30 small children participated in the program each day.
An official with the N.C. Secondary Roads Council met with members of the McDowell County Civic Association about street and highway problems within the West Marion community. According to West Marion leaders, numerous accidents have occurred in that area of the county due to speed, lack of visibility and drainage problems. Following a review, the state official said he would have the district engineer meet with West Marion leaders about the problems and through a joint effort come to a solution.
The Marion Jaycees ran advertisements in The McDowell News featuring an outstanding card of wrestling action scheduled for Aug. 8.
A program for the removal and disposal of junked cars started in McDowell County. Sponsored by the McDowell County Health Department through a grant from the N.C. Department of Human Resources, the program allowed residents to get rid of abandoned vehicles without cost. This photo shows a tow truck from the Health Department hauling away an old car.
Firefighters and spectators survey the damage to a boiler room at Drexel Heritage Furniture Co. after an explosion ripped through a dust collector located on top of the standalone building on the west side of the plant. One man was injured in the blast but he was released from Marion General Hospital.
The Wagon Masters Square Dance Club held its annual exhibition dance in the parking lot of the Lady Marian Plaza Shopping Center. More than 300 spectators and dancers were on hand for the event. Guest dancers from Buncombe and other surrounding counties took part in the exhibition dance.
Barbara Rabb (right), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Rabb of Marion, was the winner of a 25-inch color console television given away by the McDowell Arts and Crafts Association. The fundraiser was held to generate financial support for the Artrain, a national art exhibit that traveled the nation by rail. The Artrain was scheduled to visit Marion Aug. 28 through Sept. 3 in 1974. At left in the photo was Margaret Hartley, president of MACA, and at center was Elizabeth Morphy, who drew the winning ticket.
The Marion Civitan Club sold tickets for an excursion train ride on the Clinchfield Railroad later that fall. The Clinchfield Special on Oct. 20 would leave Marion and go to Erwin, Tennessee, and come back the same day.
The Garden City Drive-In presented the action-packed movie “Challenge” featuring Shelby filmmaker and actor Earl Owensby. Some scenes in this movie were filmed in McDowell County, including downtown Marion.
The Harvest Drive-In in Marion offered this delicious steak dinner for customers.
The Mecklenburg County Council of the Boy Scouts of America announced plans to build a 1,088-acre camp in the Dysartsville section of McDowell County during the next two years. An 83-acre lake would be the centerpiece for this new Boy Scout camp.
The Garden City Drive-In advertised it would soon show another movie with a connection to McDowell County. “Where the Lilies Bloom” was filmed in nearby Watauga and Avery counties and one of the leading actors in the movie was Matthew Burrill, who was from Marion.
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This feature mines our archives for what was going on this week in local history.
This feature mines the McDowell News archives for what was going on this week in local history.
This feature mines the McDowell news archives for what was going on this week in local history.
This feature mines the McDowell News archives for what was going on this week in local history.
