| Centennial Plans Scatter
Programs Over County By. L. F. Addington From The Coalfield Progress, March 15, 1956 The County Centennial Board of Directors at its meeting last Friday evening, announced that the All-County Band Festival, a part of the Centennial program, would be held at Big Stone Gap, Saturday, May 5. The Band Festival committee reported that the bands, some 400 members when combined, will parade through the town during the morning, go to the ball park for a combined concert in the afternoon, and stay in town for a social function after dinner. Rev. Lowell Hunt, of Norton, chairman of the ministerial committee, reports that the work on the union service program is progressing well. He says it is the aim of the committee to give every religious creed and race an opportunity to participate, either by active appearance or attendance. The details of this program will be available soon. The date will be July 22, Sunday afternoon. July 28 will be designated as Governor’s Day. Governor Thomas B. Stanley as accepted an invitation to make an address at the Wise Court House, at which time a painting of Governor Henry A. Wise, for whom the county was named will be unveiled and presented to the court. Governor Chandler, of Kentucky, has accepted the invitation to be present. Other governors will let officials of the Centennial program know soon, whether they can be present. Following the programs of the Governor’s Day, will be the Governor’s Ball, which is in charge of K. P. Asbury. In conjunction with the festivities a Centennial square dance will be held, too. The dedication of the new U. M. W. hospital in Wise, will take place in May, and the occasion will be in calendar of the Centennial. At Big Stone Gap a celebration will take place on the 4th of July. Also in this town the annual Singing Convention day, it is hoped, will be a part of the Centennial calendar. Labor officials are planning a big Labor Day celebration at Appalachia, and they say they will be happy to join hands with the Centennial program and make of it a climax to the long series of programs over the county. It is planned that the crowning of the Centennial Queen, be staged at Coeburn. This no doubt will be a highlight of the entire series of festive activities. Pound will give one day to a historical program and parades. They are now building a local museum of pioneer relics. And this would be good for each town to do also. The various garden clubs are interested in launching a campaign to beautify the whole county. It is hoped also, that some type of flower show may be scheduled before the festivities close. It can be said here, too, that all the women’s clubs heartily desire to join hands in this beautification project. Also they voice their enthusiasm in taking part, wherever they may be of service. St. Paul is contemplating a program which, like many of the features of the series, is incomplete, as yet. But it is certain that the Centennial Celebrations belongs to everybody. And in some way everybody can contribute, either in time, assistance money or encouraging the programs which have been projected. The Centennial Committee would have been pleased to have a session of the pageant, the chief feature perhaps of the Centennial in each town. But requirements of the John B. Rogers Producing Company for a central location, with stadium close by, a gymnasium floor and shelter in case of rain, narrowed the possibilities to one place, which fitted the requirements. That place as agreed upon, will be Norton. And suffice it to say, that the Norton city council as well as the civic clubs, long before this decision, voiced their desire to cooperate to the fullest, regardless of the town chosen as the pageant site. The pageant dates are July 23-28. And now, let us all join hands in making the entire program the best Wise County, as a unit, can put on. Let’s make people who come to visit old friends, or people who may stop over while touring the area, feel they are welcome and well entertained. Let us not forget that such a great undertaking requires advanced funds. The Board of Directors estimate that a budget of $10,000 will be necessary. It is hoped that this amount can be raised in the sale of stock. When the program is over, the stockholders themselves may decide whether they are to be refunded the amount of their stock, if sufficient funds are made by ticket sales to the events, have it pro-rated if there are not enough funds; or give it to charity. The Board of Directors has decided that funds, if any, above the amount raised by the sale of stock, will be used to help indigent children, through the welfare agencies of the county and town schools. Centennial Calendar To be revised weekly, as new events may be added, and corrections may be made in any dates: May 5 – All county Band Festival, Big Stone Gap May 12 – Dedication Wise Memorial Hospital, with Centennial theme. May 31 to June 1 – Wise County high school commencements with Centennial theme. July 4 – Centennial Celebration, Big Stone Gap July 20 – Crowning Centennial Queen, Coeburn July 21 – Crowning Centennial Queen, Coeburn July 22 – Countywide union religious service, with outstanding visiting speaker and big union choir. July 23-28 – Centennial Pageant, Norton Municipal Athletic field. July 28 – Governor’s Day, unveiling of painting of Governor Henry Alexander Wise, and Governor’s Ball. September 3 – Labor Day celebration, Appalachia, with appropriate program as climax to Centennial. ????? – Centennial program, St. Paul ????? – Singing convention, Big Stone Gap ????? – Railroad Day ????? – “Shave ‘em Off” day ????? – Centennial Welcome to Old Timbers, home for the celebration. A Big Welcome To Wise County Old Timers and Former Residents whether they live in nearby Kentucky or as far away as California. You Helped to Make Wise County What It Is Today - Come Back And Enjoy It – Look over the Wise County Centennial Program And Pick Out the Days You Will Want to be Back The Sooner You Come BACK HOME – And the Longer Stay – The Better Be Sure You Are Here For All County Union service July 22 Dr. J. N. Hillman, Speaker Old Timers Day, July 26, 27, 28 We Can’t Tel You All About It Here You Must Come and See For Yourself Get the Centennial Spirit – Whiskers and All You Will Thrill at the Centennial Welcome Wise County Merchants Extend BIG WELCOME TO OLD TIMERS and Former Residents Stick Around Awhile You’ll Get Young Again Big Stone Centennial Boosters Southwest Oil Company Coeburn Centennial Boosters Farmers Exchange Bank Buchanan Furniture Company Lone Star Service Station Lambert’s Pharmacy Coeburn Produce Company The Racket Store Crescent Printery Three Way Motel Lonesome Pine Drive-In Movie Lay’s Hardware & Furniture Company Federated Store Norton Centennial Boosters Cohen’s Holcomb’s Esso Servicenter Wise Insurance Agency Virginia Oil Company Southwest Distributing Company Norton Esso Station Old Dominion Power Company Hotel Norton Norton Insurance Agency The Jewel Box Greever Motor Sales Quality Distributing Company Liberty Café Royal Laundry Company of Norton Minor-Hagy Funeral Home Norton Grocery Company The First National Bank of Norton Poston’s Service Station Witt Motor Company Sharpe’s Office Supply Gulf City Service Station Norton Pharmacy Pound Centennial Boosters People’s Bank of Pound Pound Esso Station Federated Store and Men’s Shop Pangle’s Department Store O’Dell Funeral Home Pound Hardware and Furniture Company Mick or Mack Super Market Mullins Garage St. Paul Centennial Boosters St. Paul Coca-Cola Bottling Company Tri-County Tire Service Bolton Brothers (City Services, District) Deen’s Department Store St. Paul National Bank St. Paul Hotel Clinch Motors, Inc. Wise Centennial Boosters Wise Nash Sales The Esso Corner First National Bank of Wise The Inn at Wise Court House Perry’s Pharmacy Baker Funeral Home Gulf Service Center (Collins & Asbury) Beaty and Company J. A. Davis and Company CENTENNIAL CALENDAR April 12, 5 p.m. Big Stone Gap Post Office Program May 5 Band Festival, Big Stone Gap June 10 Singing Convention, Big Stone Gap June 16 2:30 Girl Scouts Meeting, High Knob June 30 Pound Parade July 4 Celebration, Music and Dance, Appalachia July 18, 2:30 p.m. Flower show, Wise, at Club House July 20 Crowning of Centennial Queen, Coeburn July 21 St. Paul Program – Old Time Music Festival July 22, 7:00 p.m. All-County Union Vesper Service, Norton, Dr. J. N. Hillman, Speaker July 23-28 Pageant at Norton Ball Park July 23-28 Artmobile Show over County July 25, 3:00 p.m. Old Time House Raising, Camp Bethel, Wise July 26 Barbecue, Country Club, Railroad Executives and guests July 27 Norton Flower Show July 27, 4:00 p.m. Film on mining, “Your Buddy’s Keeper.” Norton, J. I. Burton High School, free July 28, 3:00 p.m. Hon. Thomas B. Stanley and other governors will speak at Wise Courthouse July 28, 9:00 p.m. Governor’s Ball – J. J. Kelly High School The Pageant will be preceded each evening with a prologue. Prologue, July 23 Appalachia, music and presentation of town’s governing body Prologue, July 24 Big Stone and East Stone music and presentation of governing bodies, costume parade. Prologue, July 25 Coeburn, music, presentation of governing body, parade of Brothers of the Brush, Whisker Shaving contest Prologue, July 26 Pound, music, presentation of governing body, presentation of highest ranking railroad officials and guests present. Prologue, July 27 Norton, Wise and Miners Program, music, presentation of governing bodies, Bureau of Mines will put on a dust explosion show. Prologue, July 28 Introduction of Wise County governing body, St. Paul governing body and visiting State Governors. September 3 Labor Day Celebration, Big Stone Gap Other special events are being planned. Let us know of any programs which might be worked into the calendar. The Boy Scouts will participate each evening in doing honors to the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. U. S. Bureau of Mines will set up and supervise first aid station. July 26-28 Will be especially designated as “Old Timers’ Day.” |
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