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Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville
Volume 78 • Issue 39 • Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Warriors fall to Ironmen 14-19 Red Raiders victorious over A.C. Reynolds ...7A
Street renamed to honor Chief Henson
Works of ‘Mercy’ ALAN HODGE alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Ever since the first Sisters of Mercy got off the train at the Belmont depot on Sept. 1, 1892, members of their organization have been an integral, influential, and important part of life here and in the surrounding area. Today, the Sisters of Mercy tradition of helping and educating others is still alive and well and the grounds and buildings of the former Sacred Heart College campus on N. Main St. that serve as their nerve center is still a hive of activity and energy for betterment. Even though Sacred Heart College closed in 1987, that didn’t stop the Sisters of Mercy from fulfilling their work. “The campus is very active,� said Sister Mary-Andrew, coordinator of Sacred Heart Convent and archivist. “It is always evolving.� The history of the Sisters of Mercy in Belmont is a long one. The first Sisters came here at the request of the Benedictine monks at Belmont Abbey. With help from the monks, the Sisters bought a plot of land across from what would be US 74 where they built a home, Sacred Heart Convent, and a
Photo by Alan Hodge
Tony Henson, Gina Henson Davis, and Dawn Henson Lemmond are seen with the new street sign near the Brook St. Soccer Complex honoring their father, former Belmont Police Chief the late Tommy Henson. By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
For over three decades ending with retirement on April 29, 1992, the late Tommy Henson served as an officer and then chief of the Belmont Police Department. Now, his long and steadfast service has been recognized by the city council with the renaming of Fifth St. in his honor. Last week a new sign went up proclaiming Chief Henson Drive. The stretch of pavement is right beside the new Soccer Complex that’s being built on Brook Street, meaning that in the near future, thousands of soccer fans and other folks will see Henson’s name. Henson’s law enforcement career and family life exemplify what a “good man� should be. He was hired for the police force by (the late) mayor Lawrence Brown, on April 15, 1959 and in January 1968 he received the North Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association Membership Certificate. On July 1, 1969 he was promoted to Sergeant. In 1970 he was presented a diploma from the late Mayor Calvin Ballard from the Institute of Applied Science of Chicago, Illinois where he studied. The diploma was granted in Scientific Crime Detection, embracing studies in finger printing, police photography,
firearms identification, principals of criminal and civil investigations, modus operandi, and identification of handwriting and identification of typewriting. Also, NC Congressman Jim Broyhill wrote a letter in his own hand congratulating him and expressing best wishes. He included the newspaper clipping for Henson to keep. The Rotary Club cites a member of the Belmont Police Department in recognition of the outstanding work the department is doing. He was officer of the month in April 1973. In the letter the Rotary Club acknowledges him as the only licensed detective sergeant qualifying as a fingerprint expert in the police department. In 1988 Belmont chose a new police chief, and Lt. Tommy Henson was made chief by a unanimous council vote. Also in 1988 Belmont Optimist Club presented Chief Henson with a plaque for distinguished and dedicated service. Chief Henson started the program to assist elderly citizens of Belmont. Henson would have his men check on shut-ins, who could also give the department a call if they needed anything. This program still exists today. Chief Henson was also instrumental in getting one of the first telephone recording devices, which made Belmont one of the first small communities to implement such. Billy Joye was Belmont mayor during Henson’s tenure as chief. “Tommy Henson and my Dad served together for almost 30 years in the Belmont Police Department,� See HENSON, 5A
school called Sacred Heart Academy. By 1909 the school had become Sacred Heart College. In 1935 it was a junior college and by 1966 was a senior college. Other facilities that were on the Sacred Heart property in days gone by
were an orphanage for girls (closed in 1926), a boys’ day and boarding school known as St. Leo’s that operated from 1910-1962 where Queen of the Apostles is currently located, and Sacred See WORKS OF MERCY, 5A
Lending a hand It’s just what folks in Cramerton do By Alan Hodge Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Anyone who was in Cramerton when floodwaters inundated portions of the town on July 28 will never forget the rising brown tide and how people helped one another cope. Last week, the owners of Cramerton Drug Co. on Eighth Ave., on the banks on the South Fork River, showed folks they hadn’t forgotten the assistance they got from volunteers in sandbagging the store and thereby saving the establishment from serious water damage. Putting their heads together, Cramerton Drug owners Preston Guy, Wayne Farris, and Lee Isley came up with the idea of a Cus-
Photo by Pat Rooney
Volunteers helped pile up and later remove sandbags from in front of Cramerton Drugs during the July 28 flood. The drugstore held a Customer/Community Appreciation Day last week as a way of saying thanks. tomer/Community Appreciation Day and invited every-
one in town to the drugstore parking lot for free hotdogs,
chips, drinks, and Krispy See CRAMERTON, 6A
Belmont Fall Pagan Pride Day coming to Festival set Stowe Park September 28 for Oct. 12 By Alan Hodge
Alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Belmont’s oldest festival, the Belmont Fall Festival, is drawing near as it will take place Saturday, Oct. 12, in Stowe Park and on Main Street. Celebrating its 26th year, the festival offers citizens a time to enjoy the beautiful autumn we experience here in eastern Gaston County. As many as 100 vendors will be set up to entice the festival visitor to buy handmade jewelry, handbags, or maybe something for your pet like a dandy scarf. Some vendors want you to learn more about their agency’s services such as make-up, books, kitchenware, or home improvements. Yes, and some vendors will lure you to try their funnel cakes, hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, candy apples, nachos, See FALL FESTIVAL, 3A
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Photo by Alan Hodge
This statue on the campus of the former Sacred Heart College shows Sisters of Mercy foundress Catherine McAuley (1778-1841) and symbolizes the importance she placed on education.
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“Come with an open mind and heart. Don’t judge us before you see us.� That’s what event co-organizer Chris Annon of Belmont says about the upcoming Piedmont Pagan Pride Day slated for Stowe Park on Sept. 28, expected to draw hundreds of participants and spectators. The event’s theme is “Education, Activism, Charity, and Community�. The stated purpose of the event is “the advancement of religious diversity in the greater Piedmont community of North Carolina and the elimination of prejudice and discrimination based on religious
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beliefs.� Piedmont Pagan Pride Day has been held at various venues in Gaston County for many years including three years at Biggerstaff Park in Gastonia. But this is the first time its come to Belmont, and some folks are asking just exactly what will take place and why. Annon and others who will be participating say that rumors of devil worship and such are way off base. “We are not scary witch people,� he said. “I drive a truck, not ride a broom. There is no devil in what we believe. It’s all earth-based and we believe in nature and how it works.� Other event organizers include See PAGAN PRIDE, 6A
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