The Gaffney Ledger from Gaffney, South Carolina • Page 1

WI I I $4 lop AwjiiK I lciture.lditon.il. New. Sports, AdvcrliMMg I I 4b4-lM9 THE LEDGER AFFMEY A NEWSPAPER IN ALL THAT THE WORD IMPLIES. DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF CHEROKEE COUNTY. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 16, 1894 VOL 76-NO.

37 Gaffney, South Monday, May 11, 1970 STREET SALES 10 CENTS Historic Railroad Proposed as County Tourist Attraction This railroad has played an important historical role in the development of Cherokee County. As of this January past, the Cherokee Falls branch of the Southern Railroad no longer exists. My company wishes to preserve the railroad and put it back into service as a part of a historic and tourist attraction." joyed only a short life. The Southern Railway System purchased the line in 1902. About this same time the trestle was accidently burned thus ending the operation between Blacksburg and Gaffney, bringing an end to the tourist trade at Cooperville and Goat Island.

There are other historical facts pertaining to the area. Near the railroad are old silver and lead mines used both in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars for the production of bullets. People panned gold from Doolittle Creek, which the railroad crosses. The first textile factory was built in Cherokee Falls by a Mr. Deal in the early 1800's.

Many years the railroad hauled both raw materials in and finished products out. JUNIOR MISS AT NATIONAL PAGEANT-South Carolina's Junior Miss Vicki Moss of Blacksburg (left) admires a junior-sized version of her official car along with West Virginia's Junior Miss Ellen Bigony of Hinton, as the girls arrive in Mobile, for the 14th annual America's Junior Miss Pageant. During the national pageant week in Mobile, the two girls have been paired as guests at a "host" family's home. Each year 25 well-known Mobile families provide the host homes for the 50 Junior Miss contestants with two girls assigned to each home. Judging in the America's Junior Miss Pageant-which is not a beauty contest -is based on scholastic ability, personality and mental alertness, poise and personal appearance, youth fitness, and the creative and performing arts.

Pageant finals are to be telecast on Wednesday, May 13, in color over the NBC network from 9 to 10 p. m. (local time). Two Prisoners Escape From New County Jail Machines Looted Several vending machines at Gaffney High School were looted by thieves during the past week-end, according to Gaffney Police Chief Ernest Harrington. An undetermined amount of money was taken from the machines' coin boxes, and the machines themselves were heavily damaged, police said.

Thieves reportedly gained access to machines in the teachers' lounge by removing the door from its hinges. Flowers Taken Mrs. W. J. Woods of Austin Drive reported today that, for the third time in recent weeks, thieves have taken flowers and floral stands from a grave in Frederick Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Woods said she had placed flowers on the grave of Francis L. Jayson three times and three times someone has stolen them. Sheriff Julian B. Wright's office said that anyone caught would be prosecuted and asked for cooperation from any citizen who might have information concerning the thefts.

United Prayer Band The United Prayer Band will meet Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock at the home of C. J. Moss at 1 07 Walnut Street. The public is invited tc attend. Eastern Star Ruth Chapter No.

12, Order of the Eastern Star, will meet May 12 at 8 p. m. Initiation will be conducted. Members are reminded to note the change in meeting time. Social Security Call You can now telephone your social security office in Spartanburg from Cherokee or Union County by local service at no extra charge.

From Cherokee County dial 489-9363. From Union County dial 427-7520. Office hours are 8:45 a. p. m.

Monday through Friday and until 8 p. m. on Thursday. Awarded Scholarship John Michael Grant of Gaffney was awarded the Graves Scholarship in Music at the annual Awards Assembly at Newberry College Thursday, May 7. The Graves Scholarship was established in memory of Mrs.

Dorothy Jones Graves and Bob Graves and is given annually to a music major who has demonstrated fine character and. superior ability in music. Grant, a sophomore, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.

J. Grant, 403 12th Street, Gaffney. To Address Kiwanians J. V. Cannon of Spartanburg, president and general manager of the Blacksburg and Cherokee Falls Railroad, will address the ceiling and escaped through a skylight, according to deputies.

A passerby reportedly noticed the prisoners leaving the jail and notified authorities. Erwin had been arrested last January 26 and Lincoln High Students Walkout Spartanburg, (UPl)-Senior high students at the all-black Lincoln consolidated school walked out of class for the second straight day this morning to protest desegregation plans. Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputies are conducting a search for two male prisoners who escaped about midnight Saturday from the new County Jail, Sheriff Julian B. Wright said this morning. The escapees, both of Gaffney, were identified as Donald Erwin, 28, who was charged with breaking and entering and safe cracking, and Kenneth Pagliaroli, 19, who was charged with breaking and entering and grand larceny.

The escapees apparently took some steel bars from a light fixture within their cell after removing the fixture's cover with a spoon or some other instrument, deputies said. The two then used the bars to prize a lock off a door leading to a ventilation chamber in Draft Calls May Taper Off Despite Cambodia Recreation Board Members Named Cherokee District Recreation Commission appointments have now been made and the group is ready to undertake the operation of the county-wide program. Two members each, according to law, have been appointed by the County Legislative Delegation, the Blacksburg City Council and the Gaffney City Council. The six members will now appoint a seventh member to serve with them. Appointed from Gaffney are Barbara Price and John) Timmerman.

Serving from Blacksburg will be Paul Raines and Preston Cantrell. On the Commission from Cherokee County are. Rev. Sidney Norton and Hoke Parris. The first order of business for the group will be the election of officers.

Another item, as outlined in the bill which authorized the Commission, will be the drawing of lots for terms. Members are authorized to serve three-year terms except in the case of the first Commission. The bill calls for three members to serve three-year terms, two members to serve two-year terms and two members to serve one-year terms each. Under the terms of the bill, the Commission will direct the recreation program in Gaffney, Blacksburg and Cherokee County. The program has been operating under a temporary Commission appointed by a joint meeting of the delegation, the Blacksburg and Gaffney City Councils.

Bill Gibbons, who has been serving as chairman of the temporary Commission, said that the new Commission will officially begin their work Tuesday. Don Nelson is District jj Recreation Director. charged with breaking into Gettys Lumber Company and taking approximately $100 in cash and valuable papers from a safe there. Pagliaroli, who is formerly of Waterville, Maine, was arrested April 24 and charged with breaking into Alma Elementary School. Tarr, recently appointed successor to Lt.

Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, was asked whether the draft call might be higher because of the Cambodian operation. "My expectation at this point -I don't have any intelligence to go on-is that it will not be," he replied in a UPI "Washington Window" interview. "My understanding is that it is not a long time commitment but rather a short one.

Ultimately, I presume that a long-term commitment there or elsewhere would have an effect on draft calls. "But we anticipate that draft calls will be no higher through the remainder of this year Second Proof of Age Clinic on Wednesday By Sheila Hampton Woman's Editor "The purpose of the forming of the Blacksburg and Cherokee Falls Railroad, is one of preservation of American herit-i age, coupled with a sincere desire to channel tourists into the Blacksburg-Cherokee Falls area of South Carolina," J. V. Can- non of Spartanburg told the Cherokee Historical and Preser-i vation Society, Thursday night. According to Mr.

Cannon, who is president and general manager of the Railroad, the company would operate scheduled steam trains from an originating point (Blacksburg) to a destination point (Cherokee Falls). The train itself would operate on five miles of track leased from Southern Railway. The motive power would be a steam locomotive, operated under railroad rules and regulations. The coaches will be rebuilt cabooses, which will also comply with railroad safety regulations. In a brochure which he has written, Mr.

Cannon stated, "The Railroad hopes to be closely associated with CHAPS, since we both wish to restore some of the state's beautiful past. The Society plans to restore Cooperville, the onetime iron capital of South Carolina. This town is located at the vii i iiiv ill iv ww j.v River. Another attraction is Goat Island located between the end of the line and Cooperville, in the middle of Broad River. "In our plans, Goat Island is to be built again into a giant amusement park with a picnic area and selected other items to add to the enjoyment of RR passengers.

The Blacksburg and Cherokee Falls Railroad, working with the Historical Society, would be able to attract many visitors to Cherokee County. The line's depot in Blacksburg would be only a short distance from heavily-traveled Interstate 85 and the South Carolina Welcome Center." On the Board of Directors of the railroad are S. J. Workman, L. K.

Cannon, B. M. Pruitt and R. J. Skelton.

Honorary vice-presidents include J. A. Bistline, D. U. Harrell, W.

B. Clement, Bobby G. Moss, G. W. Blanton and J.

R. Lukianoff. The Blacksburg and Cherokee Falls Railroad Company, according to Mr. Cannon's brochure, is being capitalized at one hundred thousand dollars and said stock is marketing at ten dollars a share. Mr.

Cannon has compiled the following history in relation to the railroad: In the year 1886, a little town called Blacks' Station became the center ot operations tor a small railroad chartered in 1885. Today, we know this town as Blacksburg, South Carolina. The railroad was called the three C's, The Charleston, Cincinnati, and Chicago Railroad. The Barnes School of Telegraphy was established in Blacks' Station in 1889. In 1890, the railroad had completed 171 miles of track from Camden, S.

to Marion, N. C. Between the years 1890 and 1896 the three C's experienced financial problems and went into bankruptcy. The railroad was then reorganized as The Ohio River and Charleston Railway Company. The South Carolina Legislature authorized this line to construct track from Blacksburg to Spartanburg.

Rails were laid as far as Gaffney but under authorization, they never reached Spartanburg. The railroad was built across Broad River to Goat Island. Here the railroad developed a resort area, and special excursion trains would carry people to Goat Island for a day's outing. Patrons enjoyed boating, fishing, picnicking, dancing in a pavilion, and baseball flourished. Nearby, the ruins of Cooperville, the one-time iron capital of South Carolina, attracted many tourists of that day.

A spur line was built to Gaffney Manufacturing Company and the Victor Cotton Oil Company. Again, as in the past, this company had financial problems. Thus being bankrupt in 1898, the OR4.C RR became The Georgia and South Carolina Extension Railroad which en Mekong Waterway Cleared of Enemy School Principal Randolph Dawk ins refused to say how many students remained in class. There are 130 high school students at the facility. The students are scheduled to be transferred to all-white Dor-man High School in the fall.

They have presented a list of demands to school officials including presentation in the Dor-man student council and a change of the Dorman school colors. Paul Dorman, superintendent of district six, said trustees met Sunday night and made some concessions to the students. He said no meetings are planned in the near future. kept in Phnom Penh lest they be attacked going down the river. There were these other developments in the Allies' 10-front drive into Cambodia: U.S.

military sources speculated the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese have moved their "Pentagon" out of the Cambodian border area to a point outside President Nixon's 21-mile limit on penetration by U.S. troops. The headquarters, one of the prime objectives of the thrust across the border, has not been found. American troops turned up a 36-ton arms cache about 96 miles north of Saigon in what was described as one of the biggest discoveries of the war. Another five tons of weapons, munitions and supplies were found 69 miles northwest of the capital.

U.S. communiques showed at least 160 Americans killed in action last week. The final toll, expected to be more than 200 dead, should be the highest weekly death count in at least six months. It will be made public Thursday. The capture of Neak Luong by the Allies reopened the Cambodian government's main line of supply from Phnom Penh to its troops east of the Mekong River along the Cambodian border.

WASHINGTON (UPI) -Draft calls may taper off toward the end of the year, despite the new U.S. involvement in Cambodia, says Selective Service Director Curtis W. Tarr. Tarr also revealed the next draft lottery drawing for the 1970 crop of 19-year-olds probably would be early in July. to 6 p.

m. Wednesday, May 13, at the Health Department on S. Logan Street. According to R. D.

Derrick, District Manager of the social security office in Spartanburg, no public birth records are available for persons born in South Carolina before 1915. Persons born before such records were maintained must furnish other proof of age to establish entitlement to social security benefits. Since locating proofs may be difficult and time consuming, Derrick would like to help you obtain proof of your age now so you will not be delayed in receiving payments when you do reach retirement age. Representatives from Derrick's office will be at the proof of age clinic to assist you in getting the proof you need to prove when you were born. NEW CHEROKEEANS-The first College stop to admire a painting.

Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Tull of Canton, I is, A government military spokesman said the approximately 110 boats arrived in Phnom Penh at 5:15 p.m., apparently unopposed in covering the final 35 miles from Neak luong, the ferry crossing they helped capture Sunday.

South Vietnamese naval offi- By WALTER WHITEHEAD SAIGON (UPI)-An armada of South Vietnamese navy boats churned into the Cambodian capital at Phnom Penh on the Mekong River today, completing a 50-mile journey that cleared the international waterway of guerrilla troops. the Gaffney Kiwanis Club tonight at 6:30 at the Colonial Restaurant. All members are urged to attend. Lafayette Lodge Lafayette Lodge No. 330 AFM will hold a regular communication Tuesday, May 1 2, at 8 p.

m. Granard Lodge Granard Lodge 186 AFM will confer the first degree on a class of candidates tonight at 7:30 at the Masonic Temple on E. Smith Street. John Mullins, secretary, said all Masons of this or higher degree are invited to attend. Bloodmobile The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at the Blacksburg Community House from 11 a.

m. until 4:30 p. m. May 14th. Negotiator Leaves Paris PARIS (UPI)-North Vietnam's chief peace negotiator, Xuan Thuy, quit Paris for Hanoi today, but said he would return to the site of the Vietnam peace talks after consultation with North Vietnamese leaders.

"I am returning to Hanoi for work, to report to my government on the work of the peace talks in Paris, and on the work of our delegation. When I finish my work, 1 shall return. Thuy told newsmen at Le Bourget Airport before boarding a Moscow-bound plane. Thuy's pledge to return to Paris cleared up the mystery of whether North Vietnam was permanently recalling its crfl4 peace negotiator in protest against President Nixon's decision to extend the war int Cambodia. Are you between the ages of 55 and 65? If so, do you know your date of birth? How can you prove it? The Social Security Administration would like to help you in answering these questions at a special proof of age clinic from 2 CHAPS Observes Anniversary The Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society, celebrated its first anniversary Thursday night with a meeting at the Colonial Restaurant.

The single candle on the organization's birthday cake was lighted by Floyd L. Baker. Re-elected to serve as the Society's officers for another year were Jack Blanton, president; J. Wilmon Wright, vice-president; and Betty V. Stone, secretary-treasurer.

Named to the board of trustees were Mrs. W. A. Ham-bright and Mrs. Joe D.

Hamrick. Timken Couples Visit Here Limestone College is host at lunch to visiting personnel of The Timken Company who will later be living in Gaffney. Two different couples stopped each day last week for lunch at the college on their tour of Gaffney. This program will continue for several more days. William P.

Gordon, Vice President for Development at Limestone, states that the college is happy to welcome members of The Timken Company because Limestone is part of the community and vitally interested in-the development of Cherokee County. cials said the boats might go 10 miles farther up the river to Kompong Cham in their mission to carry aid to Vietnamese refugees and carry home those who want to go. Thousands already have boarded some boats for the trip back to Vietnam. The 30 American boats that set out with the government vessels last Saturday remained in Neak Luong, observing the 21 -mile limit set by President Nixon for American penetration into Cambodia. American advisers remained on the South Vietnamese boats.

The Allied surge up Southeast Asia's greatest waterway underscored the unannounced alliance that has developed between the new government of Cambodia and the government of President Nguyen Van Thieu in Saigon. Cambodian officials in Phnom Penh said the South Vietnamese marines who alighted from the boats and captured Neak Luong on Sunday have linked up now with Cambodian soldiers, thereby opening Highway 1 between Saigon and Phnom Penh. The Cambodians had been pushing toward Neak Luong slowly because of mines left by the fleeing guerrillas. The arrival of the South Vietnamese naval task force in Phnom Penh freed five freighters-three Panamanian and two Japanese-to set sad for the South China Sea after being $1 1 a i il lm two couples of The Timken Company to have lunch at Limestone They are, left to rieht. Mr.

and Mrs. Stanley Smith of Canada, and Ohio. (Limestone College Photo).