A cold drizzle drove citizens inside Town Hall to celebrate Hayesville, North Carolina’s centennial on March 11, 2013.
Rev. Bob Abel, co-pastor of Hayesville Presbyterian Church, gave the invocation.
The VFW, George Lee American Legion, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts posted flags. Lee Holland sang the National Anthem.
Kenny West, representing Congressman Mark Meadows, presented plaques to Mayor Harrell Moore.
Folks flocked to a display of Hayesville’s history in the former Town and Country Drugstore located on Sanderson Street. The exhibit spurred memories of our past.
I recall my family always went to Hayesville on Saturday. The town was lively during the 1950’s.
Mama shopped at Tiger’s Store. My brother, sister, and I got a soda and ice cream at Booth’s Drug Store. Then we explored Evie Crawford’s Dime Store.
Daddy would visit Cutworm Phillips’ country store. Old-timers perched on the “loafer’s bench” and spun tales in front of the People’s Store.
Lastly, Mama took my siblings and me to the library in the old courthouse on the town square. We checked out arm loads of books and traveled beyond the confides of the Blue Ridge Mountains through reading.
Our town will always hold a special place in my heart. Hayesville!
--Brenda Kay Ledford
Copyright, 2013.
CHORES
Home from trading eggs
at Cutworm Phillips' store,
the farm wife emptied
flour into the bin,
cut an apron from the sack.
Her husband unwrapped
a moon pie, drank an RC Cola.
The brush broom swishing,
he swept red dirt,
rows straight as arrows
across the front yard.
Like a ghost,
a white-tailed deer
appeared from the pine thickets,
nibbled Queen Pippin apples
and left tracks in the dirt.
--Brenda Kay Ledford
This poem is from BECKONING, a poetry book by Brenda Kay Ledford published by Finishing Line Press, February, 2013. This book is available at the Clay County Chamber of Commerce or online at: www.finishinglinepress, or www.amazon.com.
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