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Dade County’s Only Newspaper
VOLUME LV
DALLYIN' IN DADE
By MYRNA WcMAHAN
Charles Prince Reminisces ...
Today Charlie Prince sits in
his rocking chair in his little
home at Cole City and gazes
the woods around him. Color¬
ful memories cf the past are
awakened with each stirring
leaf.
The hanging shadows some¬
times appear to be man-shaped
and the cry of the katy-did oc¬
casionally takes on the sound
of clanking chains, for once
these same woods were a bee¬
hive cf activity. Around the
turn of the century, when the
coal mines were running full
blast, digging was done by con¬
victs leased from the state and
trapped by leg irons.
The legs irons were not suf¬
ficient to hold some of the pri¬
soners for Mr. Prince remem¬
bers several breaks that took
place. He recalls Gov. Joe
Brown, who as head of the
camp, would give begging pri¬
soners money against the ad¬
vice of his wife; he saw the
wardens often beat to death or
drown men for not completing
allottted tasks.
These incidents are among
many sharply etched on Char¬
lie Prince’s memory, for he was
a part of all this from the time
he was a small boy.
Bom in 1870
Born in 1870 en the Ledford
place two miles north of Tren¬
ton, Mr. Prince moved with his
family to a 147 acre farm at
Cole City shortly afterwards.
The coal mines were opened up
while he was very young, and
he remembers that there were
only a few people there to be¬
gin with. When the camp be¬
gan operatnig full blast, the
camp built up to include an in¬
firmary, hotel and commissary.
Mr. Prince went to the one-
room school there until he was
thirteen years old. Since his
father had died when Mr.
Prince was twelve, it was ne¬
cessary for him to help his
mother all he could, so he went
to work for Captain Reece who
was in charge of the whole
camp at that times.
Worked at Coal Mines
The young boy was put to
work at the “slope camp,’ one
of three mines. His first pay
checks amounted to $17.50 per
month and increased until he
was drawing high ch wages waees for for
that time, $35 a monte month, m in the tee,
first twenty-three months he
worked, he lost only two days,
and eventually he worked at
every job there until there was
nothing he didn’t know about
coal mining. He saw to it that
the the railroad railread cars cars were were loaded maueu at
the “ttr, tip house house” to to be sent down
the mountain on either the
broad gauge or the narrow
gauge railway. Some of the
c:al went to the iron works at
Rising Fawn by way of Shell-
mound, then up the Tennessee
River to Chattanooga, where it
was freighted down to the furn¬
ace.
He worked on all kinds of
machinery, even the locomo¬
tive, and drove a team for a
while. After the teaming job,
he spent five years caring for
37 head of mules at the slope
camp. The last work he did at
the camp was running a horse
engine pulling coal up from the
mines.
When the coal supply was
exhausted, the prisoners were
transferred to Durham, and
most of the papulation gradu¬
ally drifted away. Then Mr
Prince settled dewn to fann :
ing, eventually married Miss
Mary Virginia Hartline, who
has since passed away, and
raised several children. One of
his sons, Paul Prince, lives on
Devoted to the Best Interests of Dade and
THE DADE COUNTY TIMES. TRENTON, GEORGIA, THURSDAY JUNE 39, 1955
the farm now, and keeps an eye
on his dad, although the 85-year
old seems to be very capable of
lcoking QUt for himselL
Chickens and Deg Keep Him
Company
He keeps a shotgun leaning
against the plank wall of his
one-room house at all times. A
hound, the ticking of a forty-
year old clock and the cheeping
of thirty banty chickens run¬
ning loose in the yard help keep
him company.
His Bible and a little radio on
a bedside table are a lot of com¬
fort to an old man unable to
get around as he once did, and
listening to sermons spark up
an otherwise dreary day. A lit¬
tle food ccoked on a monkey
heater is enough to keep his
appetite satisfied, and when¬
ever he becomes bored, he looks
out the back door toward the
remains of the slope camp half
a mile aw r ay, and enough me¬
mories to fill a book become
alive for the remainder of the
day.
~ ___ . _ _____ . ____ __ 4
Dade County Fair
Set for Oct, 21-22
The theme for the Dade
County Fair this year will be
“Home and Community Activi¬
ties,” it was decided at .a meet¬
ing of the Fair Association
night. October 21-22
has been selected as the date of
the Fair, and i t was veted to
hold it as usual in the old skat¬
ing rink at Trenton.
During the meeting, Cleron
Kyzer was elected president of
the Fair Association, while T. S.
Renfrce was elected to serve as
secretary v, I/CAI y cmv-* and treasurer UJItaouiui.
All communities are urged to
begin making plans for both
the individual and community
exhibits. The latter must be
sponsored by some community
organization, such as improve¬
ment, church, PTA, 4-H, Farm
Bureau or Home Demonstration
group. Exhibits must represent
a well-balanced program of
every phase of community life,
and it was stressed that the ex¬
hibit not follow the activities of
any one organization, but ra¬
ther, include all c o m m u nity
groups. the
Plans Plans were were made indue to w set ^
livestock show and sale for the
first day of the Fair, Oct. 21.
The committee expects to
ca ttie en-
tered in the show.
Premiums will be awarded in
each class as usual.
A committee was appointed to
revise the cld catalogue in 01 -
riAr der to to mama include new classifica-
tions. They are Miss Naomi
Hubble home demonstration
, county
agent, L. C. Adams,
agent, T. S. Renfrce and W. L.
Fannin.
The following members were
asked to solicit ads for the cat-
alogue: T. S. Renfrce, chair¬
man, E. M. Parker, J. C. Her¬
man, W. G. Morrison, W. L.
Fannin, Walt Smith and Mar¬
tin Nethery.
The Tne theme tneme for mi the ^— school ex- —
hibits was ieft up to the school
principals. It was suggested
the county school
dent call a meeting of all prin-
cipals and to let them
on a theme.
Those present for the meet¬
ing were: Mrs. A. L. Dyer, rep¬
resenting the Home Demonstra¬
tion Council, A. L. Dyer
Miss Hubble, heme demonstra¬
tion agent, J- C. Billue, L. C.
Adams, D. E. Morrison, R. M.
Morrison, W. L. Simpson, Bill
Pullen, Hardee Price, Martin
Nethery, James Morrison, W G.
Morrison and the newly-elected
officers.
Miss Bess Cureton, Director
of the Dade County Welfare
Department, has announced
her retirement which will be
effective July 1. “Miss Bess,” as
she is affectionately known
throughout the county, has been
getting her records in order
after spending the past fifteen
years in unselfish devotion to
her work.
Mrs. Katherine Davis of
Rossville will succeed her as di¬
rector and will be assisted by
Miss I m o g e n e Blevins of
Durham as clerk. Mr.>. I avis
is well-qualified, having -been
assistant director in the Walker
County Welfare Department for
many years.
Miss Cureton has been iden¬
tified with welfare and social
wi:rk almost from the time she
received her master’s degree in
sociology and home economics
from the University of Alaba¬
ma. She had graduated pre¬
viously from Martha Washing¬
ton College in Abington, Va.,
with degrees in bachelor of
science and violin.
---- Following ° several years as a
teacher of history and , chemrs-
i try at Roanoke and Buena Vus-
Va.. Miss Cuietcn came back
in 1932 to her home in Rising
Fawn and cared for her father,
2nd Polio Shots
Set for July 5
Miss Fannielu McWhorter
said Tuesday that she had re¬
ceived polio vaccine for the se¬
cond program of injections, and
believes, along with county
health authorities, that the
first injections will still be ef¬
fective.
School children from the low-
e.r grades were given the shots
the latter part of April and are
scheduled to return to
Health Center to receive the
s econd injections beginning
July 5. School busses will pick
: u p children who do not live near
Health Center.
The schedule is as follows:
Davis School —Tuesday, July
5, 9:30 a. m.
Dade Elementary Tuesday,
July 5, 1:30 p. m
North Dade —Wednesday,
July 6, 9:30 a. m.
Rising Fawn — Wednesday,
j July 6, 11:00 a. m.
New Salem —Wednesday July
6, 1:30 p. m.
; Hooker —Friday, July 8, 10:00
a. m.
Lit i Jzzat Jo Jfn JfniEuaan
" I
Amidst the celebrating and good times of
this Fourth of July, let’s pause for a minute and
give thanks for the blessings of our independence.
The independence which our forefathers fought
and died for in 1776 and declared in our Declara¬
tion of Independence.
Let us each renew our pledge of allegiance to
the grandest Flag on earth . . . the Flag that re¬
presents Liberty and Justice for all.
Fes, it’s great to be an American . . . let’s
never forget it.
“MISS BESS” RETIRING
George W. Cureton, until his
death.
She then did ten years of so¬
cial work with the Merrimac
Manufacturing Co. in Hunt¬
sville, Ala., before coming back
to the county to work with the
Federal Relief Administration.
On July 1, 1940, she succeed¬
ed Miss Eleanor Culpepper as
welfare department director and
has worked untiringly in that
capacity since.
A luncheon honoring Miss
Cureton was given Wednesday
at Lacy’s Restaurant by her co¬
workers. Roy W. Moore county
school superintendent, acted as
master of ceremonies and ex¬
pressed the sentiments of the
entire group w hen he stated
that she would be greatly
mi-sed. He then presented her
with a gift from the courthouse
square workers, after which
Tommy Sims made photos of
the occasion. The luncheon ta¬
ble was attractively decorated
with red gladioli, nasturtiums
and ivy.
Tho e present were: Mes-
dames Catherine Morrison, An¬
nie Hale, Gracie Williams, W. F.
M rri on, Louise Wright, Clara
Mae Brandon, Virginia Konrad,
M. R. Wilson, Myrna McMahan,
Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Allison, Mr.
and Mrs. R. M. Morrison, Misses
F a n n i 1 u McWhorter, Naomi
Hubble and Belle Reeves, and
Roy Moore, John Murphy, Virgil
Jenkins, L C. Adams, A1 Webb,
I Jerry Pace, Ernest Stewart,
| Graham Hale and the hororee.
Mr and Mrs. Madd.x Hale and
T. R. Tucker, Farm Home Ad-
minstrator, were unable to at¬
tend.
Judge Davis Signs
Dade School Bonds
Judge J hn W. Davis returned
.
to the county Friday, June 24,
to hear civil cases which were
scheduled for the June term of
Superior Cour ..
; During the morning, the judge
heard the case of Elbert Haney,
who was charged with aban-
donment. Haney was sentenced
to twelve months’ probation on
the condition that he pay Mrs.
Haney $7.50 a month plus the
court costs of the case.
Judge Davis also signed the
school bonds, validating the is¬
sue which was voted cn June 4
in the county to provide neces¬
sary funds for the completion
of Dade County’s school build-
I ing program.
Published Weekly—Since 1901
NUMBER 24
4th OF JULY BARBECUES
Two barbecues will be held in
the county the 4th of July, it
has been announced. The New
Salem community will sponsor
a barbecue “with all the trim¬
mings” at the school with pro¬
ceeds to go toward making im¬
provements in the Methodist
Church. Everyone is invited to
come cut for some good food
and a good time.
Rising Fawn Barbecue
The customary Fourth cf July
Barbecue will be held a t the
Rising Fawn Community Park
again this year and from all re¬
ports, the fcod will be more de¬
licious than ever. Everyone in
the county is invited to come,
and if you aren’t sure just how
good it is, ask those who have
attended in other years.
Tickets will be sold at $1.00
for adults and 50 cents for
children. Serving will begin at
eleven and continue until three
Woman Killed in
A 49-year-old Tiftonia woman
fell to her death from a bluff
cn Lookout Mountain near
Plum Nelly Monday night, June
27, and was believed by Coroner
Tommy Sims to have died in¬
stantly. The dead woman was
Mrs. Anna Marie Hoilifield, who
was employed as a waitress.
Mrs. Hoilifield and a com¬
panion, Ralph Hardin, of Chat¬
tanooga, were sitting cn the
bluff watching car lights in the
valley, according to Hardin,
when Mrs. Hoilifield complain¬
ed of the cold. He walked back
to the car to get a wrap, and
upon his return, found no trace
cf Mrs. Hoilifield. He imme¬
diately notified a friend of the
pair, Grady Bradford, who con¬
tacted the authorities.
Sheriff F. C. Graham, Chief
Deputy Bill Norton and Coroner
Tommy Sims investigated the
accident and found the body
Welcome Rut
The Dade County 4-H Club
Council, recently sponsored the
erection cf road signs at the en¬
trances into the county on
main highways. Six of these
signs were purchased by the
Council and placed at the en¬
trances on highway 11 at Ten¬
nessee s ate line and Alabama
state line. Two signs were
placed at entrances on the Ala¬
bama line on Sand Mountain
and two on Lookout Mountain
—one at the Walker County line
and one on the Scenic highway
Services for Train Victims Held Sun.
Double funeral services were
held Sunday, June 26 for J. L.
(Fate) York, 64, and his step¬
daughter Paulette Quillian, age
7, who were killed Thursday
morning, June 23 at a little-
used Wildwood crossing by an
Alabama Great Sou hern freight
locomotive.
Revs. Charles Waid and M.
G. Kirk officiated at the serv¬
ices, which were held at the
Morganville Methodist Church.
Interment followed in Sarah’s
Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. York’s survivors are his
wife, Mrs. Fannie Mae Qullian
York; three daughters, Mrs.
Margaret Viola James, Battle
Creek, Mich.; Mrs. Audrey Mae
Hicks, Battle Creek, Mich, and
Mrs. Betty Jane Bramlet, Co¬
lumbus, Ga.; four sons, Wallace
L. York, Rt. 3 St. Elmo, Tenn;
James Dewey York, Battle Creek
Mich.; Joseph Wilbert York, St.
Louis, Mo., and Earl Vernon
York, U. S. Air Force, Pensa¬
cola, Fla. two sisters, Mrs. Al¬
ma Lloyd, Memphis, Tenn.; and
Mrs. Charlie Thompson Hene-
gar, Ala., and three brothers,
Abner York, Dutton, Ala., M. O.
p. m. The menu planned in¬
cludes barbecued pork, bruns-
wicY stew, slaw, potato chips,
pickles, all kinds of homemade
cake and cold drinks.
M. R. Wilson and Wiley Dean
are in charge o f barbecueing,
wi.h Mrs. J. L. Fricks in charge
of the brunswick stew.
The committee met recently
to map out plans for the affair,
which is well attended each
year by friends from near and
far. Thjrse attending the meet¬
ing were: Mr. and Mrs. J. L.
Fricks, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Har¬
rison, Mr. and Mrs. Wiley Dean,
Mrs. W. H. Kenimer, Mrs. R. C.
Thomas, Mrs. W. L. Fannin and
Mrs. M. R. Wilson. Others on
the committee who will serve
but were unable to attend the
first meeting are: Mrs. Myrna
McMahan, Mrs. Belva Fricks,
Mr. and Mrs. Hershei Dean, Jeril
Cooper, Jr., Taylor Castleberry
and Jimmy Ball.
about 11:30 p. m. The woman
had follen about 125 feet. The
wrecker cable, which was used
to lift the body, was 150 feet
long and the officers reported
that all but about 20 feet of the
cable was used. Tommy Sims
directed operations from the
fcot of the bluff, wrapping a
quilt around the body befoje
securing it with rore and the
cable. Bradford, Bobby Ren-
froe, Johnny Shavers and Ho¬
bart Wilhite assisted with res¬
cue operations.
Mrs. Hoilifield was taken to
the Trenton Clinic where she
was found to be dead on arri¬
val. Death was reported caused
by a crushed skull and internal
injuries. The body was then re¬
moved to the Tri-County Hos¬
pital where an autopsy was
scheduled Tuesday a t the re¬
quest of the woman’s son, John
W. Russell.
near the Lookout Mountain Ho¬
tel.
The County Council was for¬
tunate in securing the cooper¬
ation of Sen. John H. Wilkins,
who is highway maintenance
patrolman in Dade County.
Sen. Wilkins furnished posts
and assisted the 4-H members
in erecting the signs.
The 4-H Clubs in Dade Coun¬
ty appreciate 4 he fine support
they receive from Ordinary R.
M. Morrison and County School
Superintendent Roy W. Moore.
and O. D. York, Chattanooga.
Paulette Quillian is survived
by her mother, Mrs. York, one
sister, Miss Barbara Quillian of
Wldwood, one half sister, Mrs.
S. A Frame, Salt Lake City,
Utah; and a number of uncles
and aunts, including Luther
and Sidney Hayes, Wildwood,
and Mrs. Beulah Lee Forqster,
Wildwood.
Ralph Simmons
New Davis Coach
David O. Chumley, principal
of Davis High School, has an¬
nounced that Ralph Simmons
of Chamblee, Ga., has signed a
contract for the 1955-56 school
term as athletic coach.
Coach Simmons comes to the
county highly recommended. He
graduated from Piedmont Col¬
lege with a B S. degree and
secured his master’s degree
from Peabody College. He is
certified to teach in the social
science field.
He has been line coach at Ce-
dartown High School in Cedar-
town, Ga. for the past three
years. He is married and has
two children.