Johnson City Press from Johnson City, Tennessee • 5

JOHNSON CITY PRESS-CHRONICLE Sunday Jun 8 1969 Peg 5 City Hall background Centennial History month The Old Stage Road: a trip with history Commission works hard on next fiscal budget -j stopped to njoy the hos By ANN HUL (P-C Regional Writer) Squibbliiig By GERALD SQUIBB I would like to take this op-poptuiujy to explain to my thousands1' even millions of readers who have phoned dropped in telegraphed and written me letters wanting to know why I stopped writing this column Honeys I stopped just hit a detour a financial one Since you asked I might as well tell you what I have been doing with my spare time lately if1' 1 I have been trying to borrow money to enlarge mv far-flung enterprises For example the past four weeks I have spent every second I could in the offices of a local bank trying to get a large chunk of the green I finally got it but I had to crawl across the floor with a bone in my mouth and hand it to Mr Boyer It all started when I walked into the bank and was ushered into the inner sanctum There sat sUely eyed Mr Boyer and hard eyed Mr Black I mean his eyes are hard all the time only when you mention borrowing money Any-hows I was seated across from them Mr Boyer was pecking on his desk with a forefinger as if he wanted me gone iif a hurry and Mr Black took out a score card and went over his last golf (That I bet is one place you any-interest-to the property owners to balance the budget It came through quite clearly in the meetings in the efforts of the commissioners on the budget that they are tryi to live within the framework incoming revenue Reaction The city commissioners are presently trying to get the city school officials to speed up central purchasing warehousin and inventory Supt Howari McCorkle said some of his people were to the by the inference in going with a new program that they were buying efficiently It was made clear In the meeting to McCorkle and several of the school board members that no question is reflected on Integrity but only that the commission is seeking ways to increase efficiency through business management techniques Since all other departments of the city have had to undergo the intense scrutiny of the commission and since the city school system is a -department of city government there is no reason hewed logs old country stores and bams signs of a community that has prospered for years almost at the end of the Old Stage Road now If you want to continue retrace your route to Highway 81 Take Hairetown Road follow it to Gray (this road comes close to that of the old route but doesn't follow it exactly) At Gray take the Airport Road to Blountville and to the second beautiful tavern Old Deery Inn built in 1786 by William Deery Mrs Joe Caldwell world traveler writer historian craftsman mother and collector owns the long brick building now It operated as an inn unt 1930 Famous men who stopped here include Andrew Jackson James Polk Andrew Johnson the Marquis de Lafayette and Prince rLouis Phillipe If you complete the tour probably be a tired traveler almost as tired as the folks who bumped in coaches over the old stage road pitality Across the road stands the original brick 'spring house The log slave cabin is still in the yard Closeby the tavern is the Leesburg Presbyterian Church built in 1818 An old graveyard stands in back of the church Across from the church is Leesburg Road If you want to take a sentimental sidetrip another old graveyard stands close to the highway In it is the grave of a spldiefr who was killed in the war orl8i2 CpI Richard Humphrey a member of Company Fourth Virginia Military About a mile further along on the right is a field where Yankees camped during the Civil War The road signs mark the area as Yankee Gamp Road Residents say Northern soldiers camped in the open fields during the Civil War Two Yankees died in camp and are buried there those living the area say All along the 2V4jmile stretch are cabins made' from hand yoit go for a drivethis afternoon why not relive the stagecoach journey travelers' made in East Tennessee 150 years ago? Take a drive along the Old Stage Road which once wound its way from Abingdon to Knoxville as itjeurved through the forests and farms You can retrace part of the route that ran from Leesburg to Blountville see two old famous inns frequented by presidents and royalty the campground occupied by Yan- kee soldiers during the Civil War and old churches log houses and ancient graveyards Begin your tour in Jonesboro where you will take Highway 81 Stay on 81 until you see a sign guiding you to the'Devault Tavern one of the main stops on the road once running to Knoxville through Blountville Jonesboro Greeneville Newport and Dandridge By BILL JENNINGS The city commission has spent long grueling hours this past week the tax in preparing the next cal budget City Recorder Calvin Guthrie long employed in city service said that in his experience he has never seen a commission give a budget such intense scrutiny Breaking with the custom of past commissions the pres- ent one allowed 1 newsmen tend the budget a tion meetings In past budget preparation has been held in executive session It can be reported from first hand knowledge that the commissioners gave even the most insignificant items careful attention -to separate what City Manager James Mosier terms from The preliminary-process- of i preparing a budget- can be Jong and tedious as this reporter can testify after sitting with the commissioners well past midnight as they discussed and questioned budget requests by city departments in an effort to determine actual needs and set priorities For the first time in recent memory has a city commission asked officials in the school sys-tem foappear before them to explain requests for expenditures The school -budget-is the laret itemnhe totsl budt in- and usually gets the largest yearly increases Fiscal Upgrading The commissioners are apparently aiming toward tighter business managements every department of city government including the schools The intense analysis of-the Press-Chronicler Mountain Empire Activities Art Rwce Museum ETSU Johnson City Centennial exhibition through Sept 7 Rpbert Hasselle Sculptor through June 29 Reece Museum i Collects Graphic Art through June 18 Drama Barter Theatre Abindgon A sophisticated comedy involving love and divorce in Nassau Tuesday through Friday at 8:15 Saturdays at 5 pm and 9 pm and Sundays at 7 pm Olde West" Dinner Theatre Road Loves A heartwarming comedy Dinner at 7 pm and curtain 815 Centennial Special Drama enacting Johnson past Sunday at 2 30 on grounds of the Tipton-Haynes House and at 4 pm at Milligan College Little Theater Johnson City begins Tuesday-Saturday at 8 15 Fashion Department Store-t-Five generations of wedding gowns on display Begins today Department Store Display of antiques Begins Monday General Interest Appalachian Speedway Kingsport Racing every Friday at 8:30 pm Sports-man Speedway every Saturday at 8 30 Bristol Caverns on 421 miles southeast of BristoLOpen Children under 7 free Guided tours Doe River Gorge Hampton Family recreation complex including old steam locomotive denies camping fishing horse-ack riding Rocky Mount Johnson City on 11-E First capital of the -Southwest Territory-Daily-tour Rhododendron Gardens Roan Mountain Beautiful purple blossoms in full bloom covering the 6327 foot peak of the massive Roan Largest display of Rhododendron to be found anywhere Boone -and Blowing Rock Restored steam locomotive Travel into recreated era of wild Indians masked outlaws dance hall girls general stores blacksmith shops Grandfather Mountain TTS 221 at Linville Highest Mountain the Ridge-Visitor Center and Mile Swinging Bridge Farmer kills wife children At the sign take a left and you will be orf the "Old Stage Road The road is a Vk mile stretch running through Leesburg one of the oldest communities in Washington County If you listen carefully-you nvay hear the clomping of hooves as they carry thirsty travelers to the Tavern The brick inn with its graceful lower and upper front balconies was built in 182ny Frederick Devault The origins1 bar and record'bdokZjemam unchanged in what is now the living room of the present occupants Mr and Mrs Edward Devault Jr Andrew Jackson was a friend of the and frequently there should be anv resent- manf if tha mlai ment of the interest in school operations Not one of the' commissioners said anything was wrong only that they were looking in every corner attempting to save money When Mosier instituted new techniques inside the departments of city government a lot of employes were unhappy and complained But many thousands of dollars were saved and there is less now Re-sults are what counts and if the commission can suggest ways to boa rdrY hwo increase efficiency it should not Maybe at first they didn't like the changes but after a period of trial it was founds they worked and money has been saved The city manager said he is trying tqrreatp a fi5cal Sltua' tion in city government that will see natural growth take care of natural yearly cost increases Mosier commented that this commission is not just talking about efficiency and savings in government-but they-are--actively working to ensure that it is so be resented Mosier praised the city employes for their cooperation as nis tightly controlled spending program started showing re-sultS-He commented feel much credit should be given to our city employes for he cooperation and conscientious ef-budget by the commission "in- tort they have given hold dicates they take very seriously expenditures to a minimum DeYAWRN commented is no Intention on my part to embarrass the commission we have no complaints with the city and it would he fine of needed money were! forthcoming from the county He noted that Johnson City pays more taxes into county government than it gets back Mosier and some of the commissioners said they resented any inference that the city government is its in support of education It was brought out in discussion that as a result of the report published by the group that citizens have been approaching the commission with charges tne city is down in financial support of city McCorkle said he doubt that Johnson City puts more money into certain categories than does Kingsport But he said the final analysis we must compare the level of all local support and that makes Kingsport ahead of Johnson Mosier 7 the impre has been left with many people that Johnson City is dragging feet $50 per student in education support McCorkle said that was not the intended impression of the published report and one he sent to the commission -with the same information The commissioners made it clear that they are not going to interfere the school programs But it was also obvious that the budget requests rmate rppiwi-t0 receive- the sameTntense-anal-ysis as all other city departments in future spending programs The budget will be ready for printing at the first of this week There is no 'doubt it will be balanced Criminal Court 4 murder cases on Carter docket (P-C EllMtwthton lurxu) ELIZABETHTON A new criminal judge David Torbett will open court here Monday Four murder cases are list-ed on the docket: Sherry Wat- kins Range Richard Harmon and -Juanita Burgess Shepard and Roger Dale Reed New cases on the docket are: William Bill Davit violation registration law Clauda Arrowood driving while under the Influence of an Intoxicant? Phyllis Carter vJohnny Stair Charlea Larkin forgeryt Rogrr Dale Rob-arts driving whil ondar the Influence of an intoxicant assault with an auto mobile failure to stop for blue light and siren Improper registration and driving after revocation Harold Raney breaking and entering Basil Piarce breaking and entering Carl Anderson eontrlbutionfo delinquency of (there counts) William Collins $istol with gomg Ford Holdren felonious assault intent to commit murder Thurman Blevins hit and run leaving ecene with driving -while Roark drunk driving Juanita Burgess Shepard murder Leonard Shell destroying private property Gaffirtd-fr PresnelT driving while under the infly nee of an intoxicant Clarence Ritchie public drunkenness David Peeks drunk and disor-detiy eenduc-t Jamee WimL Frazier larceny of pistol George But ler Markland carnal knowledge of female age 15 Roger Dale Reed murder Fleenor Rosenbaum shoplifting Billy Ray Moyers felonious assault Donald Burl Richardson hit and run driving without license resisting arrest Burl Richardson larceny of truck Vernon Estep possessing still parts James Dean Stout possessing still parts Clyde Garland Sr contributing to delinquency of minor arson and destroying private property Luther McClellan larceny of personal property from Jep Hunter uniform reciprocal Johnny 1C Ritchie public drunkenness Me Nabb uniform reciprocals The third the treaty of Sycamore Shoals ne-gotiatedwith theCherokee March 19 1775 under which Transylvania was acquired from ri the Cherokee Continue on Tenn L67 Elizabethton Carter County was cut off from Washing-ton County in 1796 The county was named for Landon Carter after a two-session discussion in the legislature the town was named Elizabeth after the wife of Landon Carter Eliza beth McLIn Carter- in A798 The name was lengthenedlo Elizabethton soon after Com tinue through Elizabethton On the grounds of Grace Baptist Church and the Harold McCormick Elementary School are Boone Trail markers Continue to Hattie Avenue where the Covered Bridge crosses Doe River princinal 'Mr Black) You notice I keep throwing those in because this is Be Nice To Your Banker Week Capitalist We howdy-ed and shook hands and I gave them my sad story how if I had a certainsum of money I could really be walking in tall cotton because I was now the proud owner of a truck new asked Mr Boyer not model is asked the seconcT half of this monev- lending pair knowexactly but it uses solid tires and look at the money save right there and besides I have to buv licenses but once they both said it as in one voice I can get a license that says on it asked Mr Black is a sort of it have a dump bed it has a flat bed but taken care of that got my-self-Two dozen old wash tubs and bushel baskets and all I have to do is to fill them up and when I get to where I am going dump them over the side better this way anyhow nothing to tear you have Vloader to fill those pots and queried" Mrr Boyer but I have a 1-armed man who is the fastest thing ever seen with a Peck Peck Peck went the finger The score card came out again There was dead silence in the room and then Mr Black cleared his throat and asked in what I took to be an interested if amused voice: Wage Saving much do you pay this cents an hour "You know the standard rate is $160 so look at-the money I save How do you get' away paying him 80 Because he only has one arm much do -you asked Mr Boyer need $1721 cents 77 to have a wheel for the truck and you buy them A man I know said he could saw off a tree trunk and- make me one said we could nail an old (See SQUIBBLINGS Page 30) Frederick DeVault a rtW stop on eastern route Abingdon Virginia to Nashville Route ran through Btountvllle Jonesboro Greenevitte Newport Dandridge to RnwIUe The original bar remains the building today unchanged Old Stage Road begins here The Johnson City Association has been actively lobbying for increased financial support of the city school program particularly for increased wages The organization published a report showing that the average per student expenditure per pupil in Johnson City less than-either Bristoi -and Kingsport But Mosier produced figures to show that Johnson City contributes more than Kingsport in BEARDSTOWN HI (UPI)-A farmer undergoing psychia-tris treatment killed his wife anefthree children with ashot-T gun Saturday and then took his-" own life police said bodies of James Dick 38 TRAFFIC BLOTTER Accident for June 1 -Driver Involved William Cole 401 Mary St and David Carden 206 Whitney St on Tennessee Street Thomas Davis 2336 Brook lane and-lreneP-Harvell 700 Locust St at the intersection of Market anrl niuisinn Streets WEMORIAFHOSPITAL-Discharges For June The total number of patients was 245 Visiting hours are from 2 to 8 pm daily Mrs Leona Aiken Kingsport Mrs Dollie Archer Jonesboro essZESSS DeVault Tavern jt sAti fi 4 I i support of all difference in-giving Kings- minor carrying acmed with assault CFIfton his wife Katherine 32 Linda 8 James 3 were found in-their small white frame house their obligation to every dollar of the money Improved efficiency of operation particularly in central purchasing and warehousing has enabled the city this year to give approximately a seven per cent increase in employe salaries while at the same time cutting the overall budget about one per cent from last year This does not include the schools Neither the commission Mosier have even inferred that the schools are not operating efficiently but Mosier and the commissioners all agree that new -management techniques must be explored to try and get even better use of the city taxpayers dollar For example Mosier says he has saved the city thousands of dollars management TnsLnf the savings have come changes-in management that-has resulted in re- ductlonsiif burchasesbjr moee intensive -bidding -competitive pricing and central purchasing: inventory andwarehousing Mosiet-says the saving: materials can be used to give employs mere- money This year Mosiqr explained even with the reduced city department operating budget between $300000 and $350000 in salary increase have been granted got to explore every possibility for stretching the Mosier declared It came out in the budget briefings that the' mission does not forsee a tax increase on ing to a tradition handed down froriTthe Taylor family to the Hon: Cole Williams (this property is' the location for the first pageant-to-be pre-- sented on SundayTJune 8 Time of presentation is approximate ly 2:30 pm) to junction-of US 19 and Tenn 67-Turn right on Term 67 First Court of Washington County on the left is the historical marker noting that on February-23 1778 6- miles His Baby Girl Black Rt 5 Mrs Bertha Blevins Unicoi John Breeden- 605 Nunnaly Randy Brown Elizabethton Sharon Collins Jonesboro Deborah Coooer Unicoi Mrs Rosie M-Crowe 61 Hillcrest John Falls Rt 2 Robert Fink 1001 Barton Mrs Cuba Ford 2204 Greenwood -jiiVsT-ETtima 'Grant Limestone Ann BGribbins ETSU Kenneth Henley Erwin Johnnie Hill Greeneville" tVl2Sr Mrs Margaret Honeycutt bethton William Lr Lancaster 1217 Ridgeway Johns A Lane Erwin Ray McCall Jr Bristol Farnum McKinney Bakersville N-C Nat McKinney Rt 2 Mrs Joyce M-Mitchell 328 Love Mrs Joyce Neal Jonesboro Mrs Glenna A and baby boy Neill Mohawk Mrs Ollie Oakes 822 Main Mrs Elsie Orr 112 Poplar Mrs Velda Rodgers 2003 Indian Rd Mrs Cora Shoun Elizabethton Mrs Marjorie Shupe Mountain City Mrs Sarah Slonaker Rt 4 Brett Tiller Lebanon Va DwytwrE Tiller Lebanon Teresa Tiller Lebanon Va Mrs Susan and baby girl Townson 2104 Myrtle Dallas Troutman Jonesboro Mrs Dora Frye 1713 Orlando EMERGENCY CALLS City Fire Department No calls Jonesboro Fire Department No calls Wife reading completed in-come tax form: the idea of charging my beauty treatments off as a 4 Kt 'S' 1 ml: '4' 'i i VS 7 AisSfc i about miles norlheasnF this Cass County community The- body-of-Debra- 9-was found in a ditch about 200 yards up a blacktop road where she was apparently killed while trying to flee Cass County Coronej- Richard Pugh said Dick apparently shot family about noon Saturday just after they had sat talking with a neighbor on -the front lawn Tour route listed for area historical sojourn born herr inT1819-he-aitended just inside the city limits of Elizabethton is the marker designating the site of a powder mill 100 yards upstream at a falls Here Mary Patton made 'powder for the soldiers northeast-a t- the-home-of-Col4who- ent- to Kings- Mountain atTHgfter-per Srtroent expenditure is because Sullivan county contributes more- to Kingsport city schools than does Washington County Tor Johnson City schools Kingsport also receives more state money than does Johnson City for school operations McCorkle prompted statements when ne noted that Johnson City is spending less for education than competition Bristol and Kingsport He and Female Insfitute'Tiere oh land given by Joshua Williams Josephus Hopwood of Kentucky purchased the school in 1875 renaming-it -in-1882 -Milligan Collegeafter Milligan of Transylvania College Ken tucky Return to Tenn 67 Powder Branch-on the lefi Oct- 7-4780- Michael Hyder signer of the Halifax Petition in 1776 lived here and is buried on the hill to the left of the stream Continue on Tenn 67 On the right is a marker designating Sabine Hill built in 1818 bv Polly Patton Taylor widow of General Nathaniel were Governors Robert and Alfred Taylor Continue on Tenri 67 across Gap Creek Sycamore Shoals Monument A bronze plate on the side of a three-sided rock bears the inscrip-tionsi in by John SCvier Bonny arid Sycamore Shoals Chapters of DAR to memory of those patriots who assembled here on way to Kings Mountain under Sevier Shel-bv and Campbell Sept 25 The second side of the monument notes the location of Fort Watauga The first fort built west of the Alleghenies 1770 Washington Academy and Princeton University graduated from Annapolis Naval Academy and was 1' 1 the Volunteers In 1862 hejed a raid into East Tennes-see The house remains in the Carter family Return to Main Street Old PresbyteriarT Church built about 1837 on the left side of Main Street' Turn left at the church to Academy Street turn right down Academy-Street 1 Buffield the stones on-the marker iri fronf Andrew Taylor Abraham Hen-1 ry and Reuben Thornton were Continue to Broad Street left on Broad Street and 321 Continue on Broad and turn right onto Tenn of the Academy on the left side of Academy Street are a part of the foundation of the original Academy established Sept 13 1806 Major George Duffield was chairman of the board trustees were Nathaniel Taylor' George Williams Alexander Covered Bridge 4he bridge Doran and John Greer in 1807 onel Charles Robertson on the east branch of Sinking Creek was held the first court of the newly formed County of Washington North Carolina Continue on 67 Turn right at Store and follow the road bearing left (the back route to Milligan College) Home of Alfred A Taylor governor of Tennessee 1921-1923 The house was bought by Alfred Taylor about 1890 and added orihjTliim The oldest With June as History Month inJohnson Centennial his- toricaL sites will be observed Mrs Carter Coleman chair-j man of the June theme reports that the following tour will be held today Pageants will be held along the route Mrs Coleman says TOUR NO 1 Johnson City to Total mileage approximately 22 5 (The tour as- originally planned includes travel from Elizabethton through Valley Forge and Hampton to Roan Mountain and return a distance of approximately 60 miles This portion has been omitted in the interests of time) Points of Interest Leaving Hotel John Sevier travel south on Roan Street Roost on the left the home -of Robert and Alfred A Taylor William Graham built the house in 1890 Robert Taylor bought it in 1892 and named it His brother Alfred A Taylor bought it in 1900 living Mere until 1903 Continue on 19 and 23 Tipton-Hayes Bonument on right side of the highway erected during sesqui centennial in 1946 A dirt road directly beside the monument leads to the Tipton-Haynes House presently being restored as an historical landmark Daniel Bpone had one of his camps beside a on this tract during 1760-1769 accord over the Doe- River was built in 1882 at a cost to the county of $3000 for the bridge and $300 added for appraches Cross the bridge to Main Street and turn left Large Rock Boulder on turn 19E Street part of the house dates before the Revolutionary War The house is still owned by the Rob-ert Taylor family of Knoxville Continue oipto Milligan CoFptions: lege anpi tupn left at the Crossroad through the Milligan east monument 1909 Kate Courthouse the boulder marks Watauga Old Ifiplds site vof an Indian village where the Watauga Association was formed in 1772 being the first place west of the Alleghenies where men joined together in near Green Hill Cemetery a marker oft the right of the highway designates the Upton family cemetery which stood the homesite of Samual -Tipton (1752-1833) and Susanna (1767-1853)- -written compact' for civil fdiers of all wars from the Rev-" olution -to -World War I are' buried here The cemetery is about miles from the 'highway on the toad leading (See TOUR ROUTE Page SO) government and for of their ideals of liberty Turn right Alfred Moore Carter Home Samuel Powhatan Carter was The-second pageant of Sun- day June 8 will be given at Milligan College times of presentation will be 3:30 pm and 4 pmA rrrr Milligan College is built on the site of Buffalo Creek Christian Church organized in 1830 In 1867 the Rev Barker established Buffalo Male preservation I Vhere'theYankeescamped '1 T'r7 i 4.