Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PAGE FIVE FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1941 THE NEWBERRY SUN TRADE DAYS ARE Bargain Days at Scott’s THE "RICHMOND” tire Valley Refugees Have Heartaches Clinch River People, Ousted by TV A. Not Yet Reconciled to Their New Homes RUGGED TREAD "RICHMOND” Rugged Tread Tire, a sturdy, rugged tire with exceptionally attractive appear ance—priced to meet the keenest competition, but built to deliver utmost safety and satisfaction. RIBBED TREAD Built of the same sturdy con struction as the "RICHMOND” Rugged Tread Tire, except with four wide, solid running ribs to eliminate shimmy on knee- action cars, and deliver long mile age on high-speed, low-slung cars. The Town’s Best TIRE Bargains Merchandise You Can Depend Upon — . . u , PRICES YOU CAN’T BEAT SHOP AT SCOTT’S This Week-end Sure SCOTT’S Auto Supply If it weren’t for memories, the peo ple who were forced from their beloved Clinch River valley by the rising waters of the TVA’s Norris lake, perhaps could find complete hap piness in their new homes. But the nostalgic longing for old friends and familiar scenes has cre ated a major problem in the resettle ment of families who lived in the first river basin to be developed by the authority in its vast program of regional planning. Most of the families have moved to better farms. Their economic situa tion is sounder and social conditions have improved with the coming of electricity and modem conveniences. And yet . . . there is no real con tentment because of the nagging memories. This much I found in talking to the people five years after they left the land which their forefathers cleared from the wilderness. They had their roots deep in the soil of their old homesteads. But they can never re turn. Wrench for Oldsters For the oldsters, it was a terrific emotional wrench to be tom from their homes. They are the ones who have suffered. The younger ones had no strong ties and for them the move didn’t matter a great deal. Some are still bitterly resentful, but most of them have accepted the change philosophically and while the sentimental pull is strong, they rea lize their condition is better and that there is a brighter future ahead for their children. The authority, it is general agreed, usually paid generous prices for the land. Whenever possible it tried to reach a settlement with the landown er by negotiation. When this method failed, the agency turned to the courts for condemnation. Technically, the TVA was clear of responsibility for the valley inhabit ants after they were paid for their lands, hut the authority in coopera tion with the University of Tennessee, helped the people relocate in their new homes and to become adjusted to strange environments. Most of the families moved to nearby counties. Some scattered into Kentucky, Ind iana, Illinois and Ohio. Meet Annually In a spirit of “Auld Lang Syne”, the valley people have formed an or ganization and each year they meet near the lake covering theit old homes to renew acquaintances. Occasionally, a few meet in the general store here to talk with C. R. Stooksbury, who operated a store in the basin. The storekeeper is a wise little man with a keen insight into the lives of his customers. “We of the old generation will never get used to the change,” he mused in the warmth of a pot-bellied stove. “But I expect it was for the best. “Another generation and it won't matter. While we old ones don’t like it, we won’t be here long. Of course, it was mightly hard to leave our homes our churches and our ceme teries and move to new places. TVA Paid Well “Did you ever see a hog turned out from a muddy pen to high, dry, clean ground? He’ll go back to the old muddy pen every time if he can. We’re something like that. We can’t forget the old place, even if it wasn’t as good as the new. “Mind you, I’m not criticizing TVA. They paid us well for our land. I think it’s a fine thing and doing good for the people. I’m for it and always have been. I’ve got electric lights now and an electric refrigerator, an elec tric ice-cream freezer and a washing machine and lots of conveniences I never had before. “Still I can’t say I like the new place better than the old.” But while Stooksbury was able to accept the change with philosophic resignation, there was bitterness in the voice of patriarchal Ras Linde- mood as he sat before an open fire in his little cabin in the Brushy valley. He had received about $11,000 for his 400-acre farm in the Clinch valley. Can’t Raise Crops “I wouldn’t have sold it for $50,- 000,” he said. “I can’t raise any crops in this country. It’s too hilly.” “On my old place, I could raise 300 bushels of wheat or oats and 300 bushels of ’taters, but I can’t do it here. The land’s poor and mostly hillsides.” The old fellow nodded before the fire and then apologized: “I lost so much sleep sittin ’up with the sick when I was young that I get sleepy real easy.” The fire glowed warmly. I had been told by many people the fire had burned in an open hearth for more than a century and had never gone out since it had been carried into Tennessee by his grandfather from Wytheville, Va. .Question of Cemetery “I can’t rightly say that’s true,” Ras said. ‘My folks used to make fire striking steel against flint and then in 1879 my mother bought her first box of matches. She kept a little fire to draw out the bad air in the house at bedtime. Fire’s just fire and there ain’t no use to keep it burnin’ all the time. Another farmer who remained un reconciled to the changes in the val ley was white-haired 1 Mannie Miller, who threatened for a time to take his clan to Brazil and start a colony as many Southerners did after the War Between the States. ■Mannie had many a wrangle with the TVA’s agents and one centered about the removal of the Miller fam ily cemetery. Mannie suggested that the TVA leave the graves untouched but attach bouys to the gravestones to mark the cemetery on the water’s surface. The TVA vetoed the sug gestion. New Farm Practices 1 Finally, Miller moved his family to Middle Tennessee. The University of Tennessee h&s kept in touch with the Clinch valley refugees through its relocation de partment supervised by Pat Kerr, a genial East Tennessean who has helped relocate 2,260 farm owners and 1,293 tenants who lived in Anderson. Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger and Union counties . This alone was a Dig task, as 17,765 people or 24.9 per cent of the valley population were affect ed by TVA’s land purchases. Most of the families, the investr- gators found had spent their entire lives on the farms purchased by TVA. There were few mortgages on their lands. Most of the farmers had to change their farming practices. The soil, in 88 per cent of the cases, was differ ent from the Clinch valley soil. “This of necessity means that their entire farming system must be chang ed to meet the conditions of the new types of soils,” Kerr said in a report of the studies by field agents. “With the exception or the social readjust ment this change will be the hardest to make. It cannot be done quickly.” And only time can case the heart aches pf the old-timers. Hampton Plantation JUST KIDS —Tomorrow is Far Aw&yl Carter POULTRY SALES GAINING Columbia, March 30.—The sale of more than a half million pounds of poultry and eggs bringing $70,000 to 8,000 South Carolina farmers during the past three months is shown in preliminary reports of cooperative sales, says E. H. Talbert, marketing specialist of the Clemson college ex tension service. These figures on cooperative sales, Mr. Talbert states, are larger than for the same period last year, which indicates that more farmers are turning to poultry raising as a means of additional cash income and that the quality is gradually improving. These figures represent only a por tion of the total for the state, be cause of the poultry industry is widespread on 90 per cent of the farms of the state and a big portion of the total is sold by farmers dir ectly to consumer. “To handle these sales, daily buy ing stations and regular poultry routes are established over* South Carolina so as to put a market with in a reasonably short distance of every farmer that has a surplus,” the marketing specialist explains. AMERICAN LEGION MEETING The American Legion Auxiliary will meet Thursday afternoon at four o’clock at the home of Mrs. E. B. Purcell. Mrs. Neal Workman, Mrs. Butler Holmes, Mrs. V. J. Ivivingston, Mrs. T. M. Fellers, and Mrs. P. K. Harmon will be associate hostesses. The program will consist of two parts: Child Welfare Work, Mrs. O. J. Wilson, Education of War Orphans, Mrs. A. J. Bowers, Jr. Each member is asked to please bring a stamped Easter or Mother’s Day Card. The veterans have ex pressed a desire for these. Those who have been reading the press accounts of Dr. Rutledge’s lat est book, “Home by the River”, will be interested in the following story of Hampton Plantation, his ancestral home. “Hampton Plantation, whose two thousand acres spread along the southern banks of the great Santee River in coastal South Carolina, has a just claim to its fame. In this old plantation land, it has always been the mother plantation, and is said to be the only one still occupied by the original family. For Hampton has been in Rutledge hands since 1686. “From this house, the British Col onel Banastre Tarleton stole the par ish Bible and prayer book. It served as the headquarters of General P’ran- cis Marion, the Swamp Fox of the Revolution. Here lived Edward Rut ledge, the Signer and John Rutledge, the able Governor of South Carolina. In 1791, when George Washington made his first tour of the South, he stayed at Hampton. The great live oak in front of the house which on his advice, was not cut down, is still standing. Its trunk now meas ures ten feet in diameter. “These majestic walls were built in 1730, and remain today, steeped in historic traditions. Restored by the patient labor of its owner, Hampton stands in the lush and verdant coas tal lands, gleaming white and lovely, peopled with rich memories — an American shrine, a vivid memorial to all that was best ,in our colonial and ante-bellum life, now the gracious home of Archibald Rutledge, who tells its story in “Home by the River.” “Archibald Rutledge spent his boyhood at his ancestral home. After many years absence he returned to Hamp'ton to find it deserted, save for seven tattered but loyal negroes, themselves descendants of the old slave families. He decided to restore the 209-year-old house and live in it again. “He tells the story of its restora tion, of the treasures he unearthed in the silt-covered cellars, of the task of replacing one of the columns, the work of repainting and refinishing the ballroom, and the other steps in this labor of love. Poet and natural ist, he gives us, too, his fascinating observations of the wild life about Hampton. “To read this book is the next best thing to going to Hampton in person. Devotees of colonial houses and fur niture, lovers of romantic history, garden lovers, and lovers of a rich and beautiful English prose will all revel in these pages.” The citizens of Newberry are eag erly looking forward to hearing Dr. Rutledge when he comes here to lec ture on May 22. MT. TABOR LUTHERAN PARISH Rev. D. M. Shull, Pastor MT. PILGRIM: Saturday, 3:30 p. m., Women’s Mis sionary Society and Children of the Church. 10:00 a. m., Sunday School, Mr. B. O. Lovelace, Superintendent. , 11:00 a. m., The Service. 7:45 p. m., Vesper Service. This will be the first of the Holy Week Ser vices which will continue each even ing at the same hour through Friday. Sermon topics will be based on the theme: “Faces About the Cross.” On Thursday evening the Lord’s Sup per will be administered. MT. OLIVET: 2:30 p. m., Sunday School, Mr. H. C. Martin, Sui .rintendent. 3:30 p. m., The Service followed by council election. MT. TABOR: 10:00 a. m., Sunday School, Mr. J. W. Ballentine, Superintendent. The public is most cordially invited tc worship at all our services. ACTIVE SUPPORT TO PARITY IS URGED Johnson Says Russell Bill Will Add 60 Million To Cottop Farmers’ Income Memphis, March 29.—Oscar John ston, president of the National Cotton Council, urged today “strong and ac tive support” by cotton fanners for an amendment increasing the fed eral parity payment appropriation. The amendment, proposed by Sen ator Russell, Democrat, Georgia, and accepted by the appropriations com mittee, would increase this year’s parity fund from $212,000,000 to $362,- 000,000 and next year’s to $300,000,- 000. Johnston, en route to his Scott, Miss., homefrom Washington, said approximately $60,000,000 would be added to the cotton farmers’ income from the 1941 crop by the increase. “I cannot emphasize too strongly,” he said, “the importance of the Rus sell amendinent to the farmer. Es pecially is their strong and active support needed throughout the next few days while this amendment is on the floor of congress.” Miss Constance Armfield was the weekend visitor of Miss Macie Davis in Clinton. Free Hat! We will give free a $3.00 Society Club Hat with a Curlee $25 Suit, Friday, Saturday or Mon- day, April 4, 5, 7. Clary Clothing Company Two Festival Orchestras Tommy Tucker and Mai Hallett En gaged to Play at Festival Two nationally known orchestra leaders, Tommy Tucker and Mai Hal lett, will bring their orchestras to Charleston for the two dances to be held during the Eighth Annual Azalea Festival. Tucker will play for the Corona tion ball, April 25, and Hallett, will play for the Azalea Ball, April 23, opening day of the festival. Both dances will be held in the newly completed County hall in upper King street, adjacent to the M. Rutledge Rivers Junior High school. In announcing the selection of the orchestras, Mr. Ehrhardt said “we are bringing two nationally known dance bands for this year’s festival.” The committee announced that the price of admission for each dance will be $1 per person. It was pointed out that County hall would hold many more couples than the fair building and the reduced price is possible. Tucker, who is introduced as “It’s Tommy Tucker Time” on the national radio networks has played for the leading events throughout the coun try. He recently completed a suc cessful theater tour which began at the Strand theater in New York. Other points on the tour included Oriental theater, Chicago; Lyric theater, Indianapolis; Roxy theater, Atlanta, and the Windsor in New York. Amy Arnell, brunette singer, who has been on the radio programs for several years, will be here with the orchestra. Others featured are Don ald Brown, baritone; Kerwin Somer- ! ville, “The Man Who Goes Around”, and “The Voices Three ana the Voices Five”, with the glee club unit. Tucker is an exceptionally talented musician, playing an accordian and the violin in featured numbers. SMYRNA H. D. CLUB The Smyrna Home Demonstration club met in the home of Mrs. L. Clayton Boozer with Mrs. George B. Boozer and Miss Elizabeth Boozer as joint hostesses with Mrs. Boozer on March 21. Meeting called to order by the president. Devotional was conducted by the president. She used a passage of scripture bearing on the helpful ness to others and self improvement. The gleaner brought the meaning of Easter, the general theme of which was, be helpful at all times. Make new beginnings every day. Miss Counts discussed “Fix Up, Clean Up” and some of the ways and means by which one may accomplish these. She also gave a very interest ing picture Study telling how to judge a good picture. Then she explained the “Cotton Stamp” and the import ance of living at home. ATTEND CUP RACES Among the Newberrians who Jour neyed to Camden Saturday for the Carolina Cup races were Mr. and Mrs. Claude Sanders, Mr. and Mrs. G. K. Dominick, Mr. and Mrs. Sloan Chap man, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Griffith, Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Brown, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Hutto, and Mr. and Mrs. Dave Hayes. Poster being displayed by the local State employment office in connection with a Nation-wide effort to register workers for defense jobs. Those being asked to register are the unemployed and those employed workers who have skills needed in certain defense industries but are not using such skills in their present jobs. This does not include anyone now working in aircraft manufacturing, shipbuilding, machinery manufac turing, or machine shops.