FOL dedicates 2007 calendar to John Cullars McCrimmon

The 2007 "Step Back in Time" calendar, produced by the Lincoln County Friends of the Library (FOL), is dedicated to John Cullars McCrimmon, a staunch supporter of the library. Pictured with the honoree is FOL President Shela Bentley.

When copies of the Friends of the Lincoln County Library's (FOL) keepsake calendar for 2007 arrived, John Cullars McCrimmon was shocked to learn that his photograph appeared on the dedication page.

The page contains the following tribute to McCrimmon:

"John Cullars McCrimmon is responsible for the beautiful genealogy room built onto the Lincoln County Library in 2005. He donated the bulk of the money to build this room which is named for him.

"He also provided the funds to create the McCrimmon-Cullars Computer Center inside the library. The center is named in memory of his father and mother, George Robert McCrimmon and Mary Kathleen Cullars McCrimmon.

"He is a lifetime member of the Lincoln County Friends of the Library and continues his generosity to the library by providing documents, information, and artifacts and by being on call to assist people who come into the library seeking genealogical information that pertains to Lincoln County.

"He is also a benefactor/lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

"John Cullars McCrimmon retired from the United States Army with the rank of master sergeant, having served in the infantry during World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. He was honored at a ceremony at Fort Benning, Georgia, along with 229 other combat infantrymen, for having served his country in three wars. His name is permanently displayed at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning. He received two Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in World War II and Vietnam.

"When you meet John Cullars McCrimmon, you will be impressed by his intelligence, his contemplative nature, and his ability to make sound decisions. He is devoted to Lincoln County and his heritage, which includes several prominent Lincoln County families. In 2000, he researched, compiled, and published 'The Cullars Family Ancestry Book.'

"He is a native son Lincoln County can be proud of."

As was the case in previous years, the "Step Back in Time Calendar" features vintage photographs and informative and sometimes humorous tidbits about people and places from Lincoln County's past.

The photographs appearing in the calendar were reproduced in such a way that they can be framed and enjoyed by all who appreciate Lincoln County history.

Appearing on the cover is a photograph of the 1925 Lincolnton High School Bearcats also known as "The Lincolnton Machine." In 1928, the team's name was changed to the Red Devils, but the new name was not widely used until the next decade.

The members of the 1925 team were Jeff Haley, Bill Hammond, "Tinker" Freeman, John B. Flanigan, Ralph Penland, Coleman Groves, Woodell Rodgers, Ben Fortson, Smith, Bud Bussey, Curry May, Leon "Tobe" Penland, Furman Crook, Newt Wright, Francis Fortson, Roy Smalley, Luther "Country" Williams, Clanton Walton, Broughton Colvin, Joel Teasley, Jones Hammond, Frank Gresham, and Coach Tutt Dunaway.

Also included in the calendar are photographs of:

.. "The Green Building." The two-story structure, which was located where the LCHS Athletic Department is now, was constructed in 1915 and housed Lincolnton High School for many years. It was scheduled for demolition in 1970.

.. Guests at a Valentine banquet held at Lincolnton Baptist Church in 1959. Among those present at the event were Miriam Richard, Faye Butler, Cherry McGill, Alma Tatum, Marcy Remsen, Bob Norman, Eddie Aycock, Deborah Smalley, Mickie Flint, Jan Scott, Marcene Poss, Irvine Moss, Joann Goldman, and Dwain Moss.

.. The West Side High School Class of 1969 posed in front of the capitol building in Washington, D.C. The class included Dorothy Freeman, Mamie Jo Elam, Ruby Mansion Moore, Ella Jane Brown Beard, Glenda Kennedy Norman, Marilyn Mason Smith, Marvin Jones, Roy Parks, Paul Blackwell, Frank Glaze, Roger Elam, Harold Dunn, Racie Zellars, and Joe L. Cobb.

.. An Easter pageant presented in 1960, featuring Charles Estes as Jesus. Other cast members were G.D. Talbert, Jr., William "Bill" Blackmon, Allen Poss, Joe Cooper, Thomas Dawkins, Billy Norman, Allen Holloway, Marvin Hammond, Talmadge Reed, Bernard Albea, Hugh McKinney, and William Ingram.

.. The Linco Theatre, which was located where City Pharmacy now stands. The page also includes a photograph taken at a fashion show held at the theatre in 1950. The models were Audrey Dawkins (Holloway), Faye McFerrin Butler, Myrtle Smalley Flint, and Faye Bodie Spratlin Freeland.

.. "Aunt" Sudie Sims at Pine Grove UMC with her 1940 "fishing car."

.. Downtown Lincolnton in 1918. The photograph features clothing stores run by Jack Busby and Walker and Will Groves; a business, possibly a market, operated by Cleve Ward; H.D. Bentley's grocery store, which boasted a telephone and a package delivery service; a barber shop run by Bill Mims; and Eunice Mims' pharmacy, complete with a soda fountain.

.. The Lovelace Hotel, circa 1919. The building had a two-story well that made it possible for water to be drawn from upstairs or downstairs.

.. Peachtree Street in the early 1900s. Pictured are businesses such as Blanchard Wright's grocery store, Farmers State Bank, Crawford and Breazeale Drug Store, Rees Oil Company, Wolson's Dry Goods, and Candler's Grocery. Moreover, Lincolnton UMC can be seen in the background.

.. The Remsen Homeplace. Walter Remsen, Sr. lived in this house with his first wife, Zita Bessman Remsen, and his second wife, Lottie Wright Remsen. Situated on Murray Creek Road, the house was condemned and torn down in the mid-1950s because the United States Army Corps of Engineers anticipated it would be flooded by Clark's Hill Lake when the Savannah River was dammed.

.. Leslie's Drive Inn. Located where Lincolnton Feed and Seed is now, the building was burned in April of 1992 in conjunction with a county-wide training session for firefighters.

.. Billy McFerrin promoting the movie, "Francis the Talking Mule," circa 1949. McFerrin was the projectionist at the Linco Theatre when the photograph was taken.

.. Members of the Lincolnton High School Class of 1956 during their tenth-grade year. Among those pictured are Iris Butler, J.C. Ashmore, Thomas Flanigan, Roselle Dunaway, Claire Penland, Matilda "Tilly" Ashmore, Patsy Holloway, Jimmy Martin, Alicia Norman, Carol McGee, Marion Deason, Leonard Tyner, Sheldon Kelley, Larry Pinson, Roy Guillebeau, Jack Bryant, George Maloof, and Gene Vinson.

The historical tidbits appearing in the Step Back in Time Calendar were first published in The Lincoln Journal or The Augusta Chronicle. A sampling of these tidbits is as follows:

.. Power came to Lincoln County on March 14, 1926.

.. 1950 - One of the loveliest parties of the season took place at the Lincolnton Clubhouse in February when Mrs. Fred Prater, Mrs. Walter Remsen, Mrs. Ben Ross, and Miss Leslie Ross entertained the members of the Variety Club. Mrs. Jim Workman presided during the business session and plans were discussed for beautifying the town.

.. Some of the women strutting about on high heels remind us of our boyhood days when we walked on stilts. We didn't wobble much worse.

.. 1923 - Mayor T.P. Mitchell ordered Policeman Lyon to make cases against all who kept their places open on Sunday for business, with the exception of drug stores for filling prescriptions or selling drugs. Soft drinks, cigars, cigarettes, or gasoline (except in an emergency) would no longer be sold on the Sabbath in accordance with state law.

.. 1947 - Work began on the installation of the lights for the football field that will give it a "light of day" effect.

.. 1922 - A sweet potato curing house is built in Lincolnton.

.. 1929 - The Red Devils had a perfect season. They won all of their games and were not scored on during the entire year.

The Step Back in Time calendar was compiled by Library Director Shirley Dawkins and Keats Thackston, assistant librarian.

Local residents and others who love Lincolnton are encouraged to drop by the library and purchase the 2007 keepsake calendar. The cost is $5 each.

The funds generated from the sale of the calendar will go toward various FOL projects such as updating the software on library computers and purchasing books for the Children's Summer Reading Program, DVDs for check-out, and books for adult readers.

Among those serving as sponsors of the 2007 Step Back in Time calendar are Mattison & Associates, Inc., the Mildred Estes Fortson Heritage Foundation, Inc., Lincoln Place Ace Hardware, Radio Shack, Crawford-Breazeale Drug Company, Direct Office Supply Brokers, Inc., Papa's Pizza To Go, Powell & Associates, Inc., Badcock Home Furniture & More, Rocky Branch Golf Club, Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Norman and Family, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Turner Realty, LLC, Soap Creek Lodge & Restaurant, B & R Seafood, Lee Builders, Inc., Broad River Realty, Fast Times Enterprises, Inc., Lincolnton Feed & Seed, City Pharmacy, Bell's Food Market, and Soap Creek Marina/Lincolnton Marine.