INSIDE... Stanley Vineyard ........... 3 Distillery up for award ... 4 Obituaries .................... 5 Sports .......................... 6 Pigskin Picks ................ 9
Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville
Volume 79 • Issue 40 • Wednesday, October 1, 2014
75¢
KaBOOM! Playground to be built, and dedicated Oct. 4 More than 200 volunteers from MetLife and MetLife Foundation , Gaston County Family YMCA, organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the Belmont community will join forces on Saturday, October 4, to build a new playground at Stowe Family YMCA. The design is based on children’s drawings created at a special event in August. The project is part of MetLife and MetLife Foundation’s ongoing commitment to serving the greater Charlotte community. The Stowe Family YMCA sits between two cities that have been burdened with high unemployment, low income levels and high obesity rates among their children. Parents, boards, members and community would embrace the opportunity to provide a fun, safe playspace for children
to grow, explore, imagine and create. The playground will be the 22nd built by MetLife Foundation and KaBOOM!. Through this partnership, more children will have the joyful childhood filled with play they deserve. MetLife Foundation supports KaBOOM! in promoting and protecting a child’s right to balanced and active play at home, at school and in the community. Event schedule: 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Kick-off ceremony and volunteer deployment 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Best viewing of playground construction 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Final construction phase and adjustments 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate new play area
Grace and Olivia Michael had a great time at Mount Holly's Art and Music Festival. More festival photos may be found on page 8 of this week’s Banner News. Photo by Alan Hodge
Goshen Presbyterian Church Fighting Yank celebrates 250 years of service rededication set for Oct. 4
By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The first church organized west of the Catawba River, Goshen Presbyterian, is getting set to celebrate its 250th anniversary. The festivities will begin at 5pm on Saturday, Oct. 11 with a barbecue and presentations on the history of the church. The event will continue on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the 10:30 worship service. Lunch and music will follow. RSVP at www.goshenpca.com Currently located at 380 Woodlawn Ave. in North Belmont, Goshen Presbyterian can trace its roots back to 1764 when local Scots-Irish and German pioneer immigrants got together See ANNIVERSARY, pg 5
This is Goshen Presbyterian as it appears today at 380 Woodlawn Ave. in North Belmont. This sanctuary was completed in the mid-1950s and still serves the congregation. Photo by Alan Hodge
Do you know where the missing plaques are? By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The program for the Oct. 4 rededication of the Spirit of the Fighting Yank WWII memorial statue in Stowe Park has been set. The event will begin at 11am with a welcome by former Belmont mayor Richard Boyce. Presentation of the colors will be by South Point High School JNROTC color guard. The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by area Boy and Girl Scouts. The South Point High marching band will
perform the National Anthem. Three patriotic songs by South Point High chorus will follow. The City of Belmont welcome will be delivered by Mayor Charles Martin. Remarks will be made by Bill Richard, NC American Legion State Committeeman. Richard Boyce will introduce keynote speaker NC Gov. Pat McCrory. The closing prayer will be delivered by Rev. Kenneth Alexander. The Gaston County Sheriff Dept. honor guard will fire a volley followed by Taps. Gene Rhinehart and James Reeves will unveil the monument. Seating will be limited so bring a folding chair if you need one.
The Mount Holly Historical Society is trying to solve the mystery of what became of a large plaque honoring the town's WWII veterans. “There was at one time a group of plaques honoring and remembering Mount Holly veterans,” said Garrie Brinkley. “It stood where Wells Fargo now has a driveway on Central Avenue in the downtown area. Apparently it was torn down when the bank bought up the property and built the current branch. Somehow, the plaques disappeared and have never been recovered.” Several historical society members have searched high and low for the plaques, but without success. However, a picture of it does exist. “Once we discovered the picture and started asking around, we were told in could be at various locations, including the attic of First Baptist Church,” said Robert Black. “We did inspect the attic and roof area, but found nothing. We then started asking various veterans and veterans organizations if they knew
These plaques honoring WWII veterans from the Mount Holly area once stood on the corner downtown where Wells Fargo Bank does now. Members of the Mount Holly Historical Society are trying to determine what became of them. MHHS photo
where it could be located. People remembered seeing it during the war, but no one remembers who took it down, where it would have been stored. We had a lot of people spreading the word and investigating garages, attics, basements, etc. but to no avail. It is like it
disappeared into thin air. To think that someone would have thrown it away makes me ill!” If anyone knows the fate or whereabouts of this very important piece of Mount Holly history, call Black at 704827-8331.
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