Rutherford Weekly

OUR 23 rd YEAR • ISSUE NO. 14 • APRIL 9, 2015 RutherfordWeekly.com 828-248-1408 FREE FREE YOUR #1 ADVERTISING SOURCE YOUR #1 ADVERTISING SOURCE *Instant rebate offer valid on select models between April 1, 2015 and April 30, 2015 at participating dealers. Visit your local independent Husqvarna dealer for complete details. While supplies last. ACE EQUIPMENT ACE EQUIPMENT SALES & SERVICE SALES & SERVICE 828-286-9781 828-286-9781 126 Park Lane Dr., Rutherfordton 126 Park Lane Dr., Rutherfordton SPRING IS HERE AND SO ARE THE SAVINGS. SPRING IS HERE AND SO ARE THE SAVINGS. Check out the rebates on Check out the rebates on a wide range of products a wide range of products during during Husqvarna Days. Husqvarna Days. Article Provided By: Robin S. Lattimore, president, Rutherford County Historical Society Article Provided By: Robin S. Lattimore, president, Rutherford County Historical Society COUNTY'S PAST PRESERVED IN NEWLY-RESTORED FILM A film made in 1948 about Rutherford County has been newly- restored and will have a public premiere next week. "This is Progressive Rutherford County" will be shown Tuesday, April 14, at 7 p.m. at Retro Cinema 4 in Forest City. Tickets will be $6 for all seats. The 45-minute feature film highlights the industrial, commercial, educational, religious, social and civic life of the county in the late 1940s. The film was directed and produced by Don Parisher, one of the nation's leading independent filmmakers who had previously been under contract to MGM. Parisher often toured America selecting vibrant communities to film, and according to an article from 1948 in a local newspaper, filming was done from mid- October to the second week in November. The completed film premiered in Rutherford County in January 1949, and was shown at the Romina Theater and Grace Theater in Forest City, the Carolina Theater in Spindale, the Sylvan Theater in Rutherfordton and the Cliffside Theater in Cliffside. A surviving copy of the film remained in possession of the Littman family, honors of the Sylvan Theater. The copy sat for more than 60 years in Rutherfordton and at the family's home in New York City. In 2014, the film was donated to the Rutherford County Historical Society, who contracted with Nuray Digital to restore, stabilize and digitize the deteriorating 35-mm nitrate film. "The restoration and digitization of this vintage film is one of the most important preservation projects ever undertaken by the Rutherford County Historical Society," said Robin S. Lattimore, president. "The film is a remarkable piece of history that showcases so much of this county's rich industrial, commercial and social heritage. Thanks to Justin Zizes, Jr., for donating this historical treasure to the RCHS for preservation." The restoration and digitization project was coordinated by Lattimore, Lesly Bush and Phillip White. Copies of the film will be available for sale on DVD following the showing. DVDs will be $20 each and will be sold to help the Historical Society recoup the funds used to restore and digitize this archival film. This April marks the 80th anniversary of the Rutherford County Historical Society, and the premiere date for the film coincides with the formation date of the county, April 14, 1779. "This is Progressive Rutherford County" was fi lmed in 1948 and highlighted life in Rutherford County in the late 1940s. The fi lm was recently restored by a project by the Rutherford County Historical Society, and will be shown at April 14 at 7 p.m. at Retro Cinema in Forest City. Tickets are $6. The newly-restored fi lm also features a new DVD cover. HOME GARDEN & H D M D M R M R M AR AR O A O A E D M RD M R M R O ARD OME Section Section SEE PAGES 13-16 Pat Hardin has certainly seen changes for the libraries across Rutherford County. As library director for the past 42 years at Norris Public Library, Hardin said the library now offers much more than just books for people to borrow and read. "Changing technology has really pushed the library to change," she said. Now, in addition to paper collections, there are also ebooks, and access to the world via the Internet. "Our goal is still the same," Hardin said. "To get information to the people." "Unlimited possibilities @ your library" is the theme for this year's National Library Week, which is April 12-18. The national observance is sponsored by the American Library Association, and the weeklong celebration celebrates all the different aspects of what makes libraries special. Norris Public Library, which is the municipal library in Rutherfordton, is the oldest library located in Rutherford County. The library was formed in 1921, Hardin said. "When Dr. Henry Norris and his wife came through Rutherfordton on their honeymoon, it is said that she told him that 'This is where I'm going to build your hospital,'" Hardin explained. The Norrises, along with Dr. Montgomery Biggs, began Rutherford Hospital. Mrs. Norris' friends would send care packages to her, and those included books, Hardin continued. Mrs. Norris and her daughter used those to start a small library. The library moved locations several times over the years, and its permanent structure was built in 1933 as a Works Progress Administration project. The Rutherford County Library first operated a book mobile from this location as well, Hardin said. Hardin is still surprised when she encounters people who have never visited a library in the county. "You can use a library from the cradle to the grave," she said. "Our municipal and county libraries have been connected through the CMC Consortium since 1995, and one card gives you access to 10 collections." The Consortium, she said, allows for strength among the libraries. If you are searching for a specific book or topic and your regular library doesn't have it, chances are another one does. "We're all in it together," she said. "It's an exciting time for the libraries." A recent story time at the Norris Public Library was centered around the circus, and Vanessa Harbison led a group of preschoolers in pretending they were clowns and at an actual circus. County has been newly- xt week. will s ct a nd cal id- ford n at r in dale, d the opy of ttman py sat d at the herford ed with tize the s vintage The restora was coordin and Phillip be availab the showin will be sol recoup th digitize t marks t Rutherfo and the coincide the cou "This Count highli the la resto Coun show Cine The a n LIBRARIES OFFER MORE THAN JUST BOOKS IN 2015 LIBRARIES OFFER MORE THAN JUST BOOKS IN 2015 The Sylvan Theater in Rutherfordton premiered the fi lm in 1949, along with other theaters in the county. To Advertise Your Restaurant, Event Or Establishment Call 828-248-1408 or email advertising@ rutherfordweekly.com Publishes Next Thursday Reserve Your Space Today! To fi nd a drive near you call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org The need for blood IS CONSTANT! Every 2 seconds someone in the US needs a blood transfusion! 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