Out of Our Past: Long-buried copper box opened at Iredell Courthouse centennial (2024)

Ten years ago:

Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014

Record & Landmark

Fox Den Country Club has officially changed its name to Larkin Golf Club and updated the signs around the neighborhood and golf course to reflect the nomenclature. Stephen Rosenburgh, president of Fox Den Acquisition LLC, said the new name is unrelated to the stalled 1,000-acre Larkin mixed-used project nearby. He said he changed the name because he simply thought Larkin sounded nice. (8/27)

With Labor Day just around the corner, Jim Head is not preparing for a day off but is watching the weather in the hopes that next week will be mostly rain-free. Head, chairman of the Statesville Kiwanis Fair Committee, said the weather will decide how much money the charities that benefit from the 79th Iredell County Agricultural Fair will receive in a few months. Head, who is leading the fair committee for the 20th year, said he hopes this year’s fair will be rain-free, as it was in 2013. (8/28)

OLIN — Marquise Dukes attended football camps this summer at North Carolina State, his favorite college team, as well as South Carolina and Wake Forest. Maybe in a couple of years, the North Iredell junior will play on Saturdays at the next level. For now, Friday nights are where the action is, and the 5-foot-10, 160-pounder certainly wasn’t a no-show in the Raiders’ season opener last week. Dukes racked up 215 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries in the 42-28 win at Wilkes Central. (8/29)

Vinson Smith doesn’t want to hear excuses. “Don’t come in here, ‘Oh, no broccoli, Mom,’” the former National Football League linebacker told Troutman Elementary School students on Friday during an assembly about the importance of healthful living. “We’re going to eat good. We’re going to be friendly to each other. We’re going to exercise.” (8/30)

To many, Don Tilley was part superhero. They say he built the fastest Harley-Davidson motorcycle to ever race, the Lucifer’s Hammer. That he knows American roads so well he needs no map. That he’s the only man to spin Lee Petty around on a Mississippi highway. That maybe — just maybe — he can make your motorcycle fast just by looking at it. The owner of Tilley Harley-Davidson in Statesville for the past 42 years was a legend in the racing world. (8/31)

The first reaction folks may have when they see an occasion touting itself as the “second annual” installment is that its inaugural affair was worth repeating and that it earned its place as a regular undertaking. Such were the thoughts conjured when Troutman Mayor Elbert Richardson uncovered a premium list from the Second Annual Exhibition of what was then called the Troutman Community Fair. (9/1)

Obituary — Dr. Harold Dwight Blackwelder, 68, of Statesville, passed away Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014 surround his family. After his association with Animal Hospital of Statesville, Dr. Blackwelder built Statesville Bovine and Equine Clinic. To know “Dr. B,” as he was lovingly referred to, was to know a friend, a confidant and an outstanding veterinarian. Through compassion, knowledge and humor, Dr. B treated each client as if they were his only one. (9/2)

Twenty-five years ago:

Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 1999

Record & Landmark

A centennial celebration of the first cornerstone being laid for the old Iredell County Courthouse will be held this Saturday, Aug. 28, at 1:45 p.m. Behind the cornerstone there is believed to be a copper box containing several artifacts originally buried 100 years ago. Part of the celebration will be to remove the box and examine the contents, if any. The old courthouse, now the Iredell County Government Center, is located on South Center Street. (8/27)

Photo: Long-time employees honored — Mitchell Community College employees were recognized recently for their years of service to the college. These employees have a total of 365 years of service at Mitchell. Front row (from left) are Nancy Fields, Ellen Bedore, Lavida Harris, Betsy Yarborough and Priscilla Stanley; second row, Vicki Caldwell, Margaret Rankin, Laura Boyles and Carolyn Gray; third row, Sarah Davis, Ron Dabbs, Carol Johnson and Phyllis Bailey; fourth row, Arlen Bob, Don Moore, Jane Heymann and David Cole; back row, Dewey Waters, Hans Heymann and Paul Klaene. (8/28)

The long-awaited opening of the copper box buried 100 years ago in the cornerstone of the county courthouse finally occurred Saturday afternoon. Hundreds looked on, waiting to see what the box would contain. Gene Hall and Dean Leary, of Winecoff Memorials, used an electric saw to cut open the old-fashioned time capsule, the size of a small shoe box. After 14 minutes of sawing and cutting, the copper box, dark inside for a century, was opened. As its side was pulled back, the dull red pages of a Bible could be seen. (8/29)

Iredell County is one of 13 counties in the state to benefit from a $315,000 AmeriCorps grant. The grant was given to Habitat for Humanity by the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. The money will help low income families get assistance in building and reconstructing homes. With the help of AmeriCorps members and Habitat for Humanity volunteers, over one hundred homes are projected to be completed in 1999-2000. (8/30)

Photo: Statesville teens participate in page program — Bradley Podair (center back), a senior at Statesville High school, participated in the Governor’s Page Program for the week of Aug. 2 through Aug. 6. Jennifer Williams (first on the left, front row), a senior at North Iredell High School, also participated. The program provides students the opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge of the roles and functions of state government. Pages attend press conferences and commission meetings. (8/31)

For any small children without playmates or a rainy-day place to play, the Iredell County Partnership for Young Children (Smart Start) opened the Indoor Adventures cooperative playroom at noon on Tuesday. Best of all, the playroom comes with built-in little friends. The playroom in the partnership building at 132 E. Broad St. sparkles with primary colors and new toys. (9/1)

Statesville Mayor John Marshall has one word for water customers: conserve. Conservation should be a familiar practice for Statesville residents. Since Aug. 18, the city has been under a mandatory water restriction plan. On Wednesday, Marshall met with Joe Hudson, Statesville’s water and waste-water treatment director; Statesville City Councilman C.O. Johnson; Terry Gross, water treatment plant consultant from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The foursome gathered at the Pump Station on Redemption Road to discuss the city’s current water situation. (9/2)

Fifty years ago:

Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 1974

Record & Landmark

About five years ago, Statesville Little Theater members began thinking about the possibilities of building a new theater in Statesville, or expanding the present facilities at the Arts and Science Museum. The members began setting aside funds earmarked for a new building; but after five years, there is only $5,800 in the savings, and the condition of the present facilities is much worse. (8/27)

Mayor Thomas A. Fanjoy and John Jakob, Recreation Advisory Board chairman, have announced a change in construction plans at I-40 Municipal Park. The construction amendment, submitted by the City of Statesville to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic Resources Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, calls for deleting construction of four tennis courts, associated electrical systems and ground fencing from the I-40 Municipal Park site, and moving the construction to Caldwell Park. (8/28)

Three members of the Mitchel Community College Circle K Club attended the Circle K International Convention in Los Angeles Aug. 18-21. James M. Storie, faculty advisor for the Mitchell Circle K and chairman of the Carolinas District Circle K Clubs, accompanied Merrill Deal, president, Annette Johnson, secretary, and Susan Compton, treasurer, to the convention. (8/29)

Photo: WEST IREDELL CHEERLEADERS — These pretty young ladies will be leading the cheers from the sidelines during the West Iredell High School football games this year. Members of the Warriors’ cheering squad for the season include, first row, Donna Pendley; second row, from left, Carolyn White, Terri Burns and Jane Grant; third row, Caroline Bost, Mary Davidson and Tammy Massey; fourth row, Barbara Hedrick, Denise Morrison and Robin Davidson. (8/30)

Foxcroft Apartments, a new housing complex located just off Berkshire Drive, will soon be ready for tenants. Applications are now being taken for the 1-2-3 bedroom apartments and the townhouse units. The model apartment, which was furnished by Belk and Blackwelder’s of Signal Hill Mall, will be added to the Statesville Woman’s Club Tour of Homes which is scheduled for Sunday September 8. (8/31)

The ribbon at the fairground gates will be cut at 5 p.m. today, officially marking the opening of the 39th Annual Iredell County Agricultural Fair. Presented by the Statesville Kiwanis Club, the fair is geared to the theme, “Today’s Agriculture in Transition,” and will continue through Saturday. The gates will be open daily from 5 p.m. to midnight, and rides and shows will operate from 5 to 11 p.m. (9/1)

Seventy-five years ago:Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 1949

Daily Record

Mitchell College will open its doors on September 6 to the largest expected enrollment in its 93-year history. A 25 per cent increase in student enrollment is expected over last year or a student body of 325, according to President John Montgomery. Pre-registration at Mitchell is larger than it was ever before, all dormitory rooms have been reserved. (8/27)

The 51st Troutman family reunion was held Saturday at the Troutman historical building three miles outside of Troutman with over 300 relatives and friends attending. This was the 45th reunion since the Troutman historical association had been formed. The festivities began at 10 o’clock in the morning and continued until late in the afternoon. (8/29)

TROUTMAN — Iredell county’s largest school-Troutman-is expecting an enrollment of more than 850 students this year, Principal Carl Litaker said today. The school will open Thursday at 8:30 a. m., maintaining a shortened schedule Thursday and Friday with classes to go on their regular basis Monday. School buses will maintain approximately the same routes this year that they did last term. (8/30)

Two members of the Statesville fire department fought a fire at the Bluebird café for three and a half hours early this morning, but the café, with the exception of the kitchen, was almost entirely demolished. C. A. Gabriel and Bristol Holland received the fire call at 2:15 a.m. from Claude Sebastian, employe at the café who lives across the highway from it. The call was answered in the county truck. (8/31)

A new type double decker bus, only one of its kind on the road, visited Statesville yesterday on its way from the east to Carolina on its final test run. The bus, exhibited here by Queen City Trailways, embodies a number of new features heretofore unknown in this type of travel. Called “the Continental,” it has such features as lavoratories and rest rooms, a buffet bar where sandwiches and drinks can be bought, a communications system, with the driver, hostess service and loud-speaker radio service. (9/1)

The Statesville office of the U. S. Geological Survey reported today that the Yadkin river had the highest average flow of any month since August 1940, when the area had its worst flood in years. A flash flood was registered at the Wilkesboro station on August 15 and 16, with almost seven inches of rain. Statesville, during that period, had only two inches of rain. (9/2)

One hundred years ago:

Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 1924

The Landmark

The Statesville Public Schools will open Monday, September 1, at 8:45 o’clock. All pupils promoted to the High school will report at the High school building on Front street. Al pupils promoted to the seventh grade will report at the South school on Mulberry street. All pupils who attended other schools and are entering the Statesville schools this year for the first time will report at the Mulberry Street school on Friday morning, Aug. 29, at 9 o’clock, for classification. (8/28)

The fall term of Sharon High school will begin Thursday, September 4, and Mr. C. H. Cathey, principal, anticipates an enrollment of approximately 400. Last year’s enrollment was 225. The increase has made additional class rooms necessary and the auditorium will be used for that purpose. A new auditorium will be built at a cost not to exceed $10,000. (8/28)

Though two freight cars passed over his body, Mr. John Hagaman, 80-year-old Confederate veteran, escaped with only a few slight injuries. His escape from death is remarkable, local railroad men say. Even if a man lies still, he is likely to be mutilated by the brake rigging. Mr. Hagaman had the presence of mind to lie still and his small stature served him in good stead. (8/28)

The home of Miss Lilly Ann Jurney and its contents, with the exception of one bed, Union Grove township, was completely destroyed by fire Saturday. Miss Jurney was preparing to iron and had started a fire in the store. After starting the fire she had gone to a neighbor’s and the house caught fire in her absence. The loss is estimated at about $1,500, with $500 insurance. (9/1)

The board of county commissioners in regular session here this morning let the contract for construction of a bridge across Hunting Creek at Kennedy. The bridge, which will be known as Kennedy Bridge, will be erected at an estimated cost of $2,831. Work of construction will begin as soon as possible. (9/1)

The Statesville public schools opened this morning with an approximate total enrollment of 1,700 students, or an increase of more than 150 over last year. It is estimated that in the elementary grades alone there are more than 1,300 students, while in the high school there are enrolled 372 boys and girls. (9/1)

One hundred twenty-five years ago:

Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 1899

The Landmark

Mr. H. Clay Gaither, an experienced tobacco man and warehouse man, will have charge of the new leaf warehouse which Messrs. T. D. Miller and A. P. Barron are arranging to build. The fact that Mr. Gaither is to manage the warehouse is assurance that it will be well conducted and will be quite an addition to Statesville’s tobacco market. (8/29)

The building committee of the Associate Reformed church has decided to buy the material and have the new church erected under the supervision of Mr. W. J. Lazenby. They will not award the contract for laying the brick to Mr. W. E. Morrison, as previously decided upon. (8/29)

Mr. H. B. Bailey, of Woodleaf, Rowan county, has sold on the Statesville market this season seventeen loads of melons for which he received over $150. These melons came from 900 bills on a little more than one acre of ground. Mr. Bailey’s black-jacket water melons have a fine reputation here and bring a good price, and his handsome profit this year is an evidence of what can be done by supplying local markets with good melons. (8/29)

Mr. D. E. Turner, the efficient and popular deputy in the register of deeds’ office, will leave to-morrow for Mooresville, where he will go into the hardware business with Mr. R. H. Tomlinson. Mr. Turner is a young man of excellent habits and of fine business traits, and THE LANDMARK gladly commends him to the good people of Mooresville. (9/1)

Mr. W. M. Blackwelder, of Bethany, told THE LANDMARK yesterday that while on his way to town yesterday morning he saw something he never saw before—a white buzzard. He saw the buzzard in the public road near Mrs. Hayne Davis’ place, along with a number of other buzzards—all of them black except this one, which was white. (9/1)

Tuesday morning was dark and threatening, but this did not deter the men of the square and compass, who came from all parts of the county in goodly numbers to assist in laying the corner-stone of the new court house, until about 150 visitors were present. The procession was formed at the bank building at 2 p. m. with the Knights of Pythias, in full robes, in front, followed by the Junior Order United American Mechanics, the Odd Fellows, Royal Arcanum, Knights of Honor and the Old North State Band. (9/1)