The Granite Tablet Volume 8, Number 1 A Publication of the Granite Falls History Committee March - April 2020

HISTORY IN THE MAKING COVID-19

During December 2019 and January 2020, life in Granite Falls went on as usual with most people unaware that a disease caused by a new coronavirus on the other side of the world in Wuhan, China would drastically alter their lives beginning in mid-March. It was not until mid-April that news reports revealed suspicions that China and W. H. O. (World Health Organization) had been downplaying the threat, now known as COVID-19, short for

coronavirus disease 2019.

While this pandemic was beginning, Congress and members of the news media were preoccupied with the impeachment of the President of the United States. After his acquittal in the Senate, the chief topic quickly moved to the 2020 Presidential Election and the upcoming primaries and caucuses - especially those held on Super Tuesday, March 3rd. North Carolina was one of 14 states holding its primary on that date, and local residents headed to the William B. Shuford Recreation Center to make their voices count.

About the same time, word of the virus had made its way into everyday conversations. At first, there was little alarm since coronaviruses have been around for years. By the second week in March, circumstances had changed dramatically. President Trump declared a National Emergency, the NBA cancelled its games, and the Town of Granite Falls stopped all group activities (adult card games, civic club meetings, exercise classes, etc.) at the Rec Center. On March 14, Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order preventing mass gatherings of 100 people or more and suspending public schools for two (2) weeks. With less than 24 hours notice, pastors of larger churches scrambled to video sermons and post them to Facebook. On March 15th, the town closed the William B. Shuford Recreation Center. On March 17th, the Governor issued an order effective at 5 p.m. the same day directing bars and restaurants to shut their dining rooms and serve their customers only by carry out, drive thru, and delivery.

As the virus spread, officials took further action. On March 18th, the town closed all municipal buildings to the public except by appointment to take care of necessary business. Bill payers used the drive thru

window at town hall. While residents could still use the walking trails, tennis courts, and playgrounds, the outdoor restrooms were closed. On March 23rd, the N. C. Governor closed schools until May 15th and reduced the size of gatherings to 50 people. In addition, he directed the closure of businesses requiring personal contact (barber shops, hair salons, gyms, etc.). On March 27th, he issued Executive Order 121, effective at 5 p.m. on March 30, 2020 that closed businesses his administration deemed “non-essential” and ordered everyone to stay at home unless it was necessary to leave. The order also forbade gatherings of more than ten people. The Rec Center closed everything except the walking trails.

During the week ending April 4th, Walmart in Granite Falls began to restrict the number of people allowed in its facility. On April 9th, the Governor issued an Executive Order requiring other businesses to follow suit in order to restrict the number of customers to 20% of the posted occupancy rating or to 5 customers per 1,000 square feet.

On April 23rd, Governor Cooper issued Executive Order 135 extending the stay at home order through 5 p.m. on May 8, 2020. Then on April 24th, he ordered schools to remain closed through the end of the year.

“Wash Your Hands, Roger!”

As the disease progressed, medical authorities began to sound like the Lava Soap commercial from 1985 in which a little boy was repeatedly told, “Wash your hands, Roger!” People were also told to wash hands for at least 20 seconds using hot water and soap to kill the virus. If soap and water were not available, people could use hand sanitizer. It was also important to disinfect surfaces. Not surprisingly, panicked buyers soon emptied store shelves of soap, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies.

Stores Needed George Whipple

Oddly enough, toilet paper also disappeared from store shelves. While some people bought it to resell for profit, others used more because they were at home more. Instead of cute bears telling us to “enjoy the go,” stores needed Mr. Whipple to tell us, “Don’t squeeze the Charmin!” Facebook

Granite Falls Walmart on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 showing shopping carts used to manage the number of customers entering the building

Trends was one of the hair salons

shut down by Executive Order 120

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McKissick Associates

FROM “THE GRANITE TABLET” (January - February 2018)

AT THE MUSEUM: The Granite Falls History and Transportation Museum featured vintage advertising memorabilia during the month of January.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: During the month of February, there was a special tribute to the Burgess Chapel Church Foundation with photos, a choir robe, oral histories, church bulletins, etc.

NATIONAL QUILTING MONTH: The Granite Falls History Committee presented its first People's Choice Award for Quilts to Betsy Lail during a reception held Sunday, March 25, 2018 at the Granite Falls History and Transportation Museum.

FAMILY STORIES WORKSHOP: In preparation for updating Etched in Granite, the Granite Falls Historical Association sponsored a two-part Family Stories Workshop. Conducted by Metaleen Thomas and Jeanie Robinson, the first class was held Saturday, April 14th at the museum. Part II of the course was scheduled for June 9th.

(ETCHED IN GRANITE continued on page 3)

Updating Etched in Granite 2018

GARDEN CLUBS NEWS March 2020 Yard of the Month

The Granite Falls Garden Club has awarded the March Yard Of The Month to the home of John and Karen Settlemyre on South Main Street , Granite Falls, N. C. While other lawns were coming out of winter hibernation, this lawn was already lush green and well manicured when it was chosen. Club member Teresa Jackson made the presentation. (photo provided by Barbara Ross)

users posted many funny memes with a toilet paper theme. One depicted a sign suggesting that The Terminator could tell us where to find toilet paper - “Aisle B, Back.”

Social Distancing

During the COVID-19 outbreak, someone coined a new term - “social distancing” after medical officials urged people to stay at least six feet away from each other to avoid passing the virus to other people. Stores even marked their floors to show the appropriate space to maintain.

With travel restricted, Facebook contacts and other social media became important means of staying in touch with each other. On April 2nd, Nancy Reece Alexander of Granite Falls set up a group on Facebook called “Red Ribbon” that encouraged people to pray for one

another. She invited members to put up a red ribbon on their doors or windows to symbolize the Lord’s protection of us during the COVID-19 crisis. It also commemorates Easter when Christ shed His Blood for us and Passover when God saved the Israelites. The group quickly grew from 500 members on the first day and spread across the nation to over 50,000 members in less than two (2) weeks.

Postponed, Cancelled, or Changed

Due to the Governor’s shutdown orders, organizers had to postpone or cancel special events.

Special Exhibits at the Museum: Quilt owners picked up their quilts before the stay at home order became effective on Monday, March 30th. Barbara Ross posted photos on Facebook so the public could view them. The Granite Falls History Committee cannot meet in person until the orders are lifted so plans to have a wedding gown exhibit in June are on hold.

Historical Association Projects: The Pinecrest Mapping Project is on hold until next year. Mark Jackson made an aerial video of the cemetery, but the school closure kept students in Marc Dula’s class from drafting a map and students in Matt Ingram’s class from going to the cemetery to gather information

President Linda Crowder is now working on year 2020 for Etched in Granite, Volume II. She plans to have a special section about COVID-19 and invites the public to send her information to include.

Dining with the Demons: There will not be a DWTD in 2020. The next one will be Saturday, May 1, 2021 at the Caldwell Fairgrounds.

Town Council Meeting: Members of the Granite Falls Town Council held a virtual meeting on Monday, March 29th at 3 p.m. The public could participate via phone or

Zoom.

Caldwell County Schools Hall of Honor: The school system had to postpone the induction of Dr. Carmen Teague, George Crowell, the late Tom Capshaw, and the late George Petrie, Jr. into the Hall of Honor to a later date.

Family Treasures

FROM THE KITCHEN OF Opal Austin Richards Potato Salad

6 medium potatoes 1 small jar sweet salad pickle cubes 8 hard cooked eggs, diced 2 large tablespoons mayonnaise 1 medium onion, chopped salt to taste 3 stalks celery, chopped pepper to taste

Peel, dice, and cook potatoes. Mix in remaining ingredients, including the pickle juice. Serve hot or cold.

MEET A FIRST RESPONDER AND HIS WIFE Mr. and Mrs. Glen Richards

Glen Colan Richards (8/29/1938 - 4/25/2003) was born in Granite Falls to the late Joe Sanford and Katherine Annas Richards. He

graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1956 and from Lenoir – Rhyne College in 1960. After graduation, he taught at Gamewell High School (later Gamewell - Collettsville). In addition to teaching, Glen was a photographer and a volunteer fireman with Sawmills Fire Department. When he found out Gamewell Fire Department didn’t have enough fire fighters during daytime hours, he recruited student volunteers and established the Student Fireman Program. This program was so important to the community that it continued when the school merged into West Caldwell High School.

In addition, Glen worked part time as the Civil Defense* Director for Caldwell County and attended special classes to learn about being prepared in the event of a nuclear disaster. He quit teaching when offered the fulltime position of Emergency Services Director. During his tenure there, he helped establish two fire departments. Glen became an emergency medical technician and volunteered with the American Red Cross as a first aid and CPR instructor. He was also a member and past captain of the Lovelady Rescue Squad and served as secretary/treasurer of the Caldwell County Firemen’s Association. He received several awards for his service to the emergency services in Caldwell County.

After he left the county, Glen went back to teaching school. He taught first at The Patterson School and later worked for Caldwell County Schools. While teaching at South Caldwell High School, his health began to deteriorate, and he took early retirement. However, he continued to make pictures and shoot/edit video.

Glen married ELois “Opal” Austin from the Patterson Community on November 27, 1964, and they made their home in Granite Falls. She worked in the healthcare industry until assisting Glen became a fulltime job. Opal graded his papers, went with him to wrecks and fires, worked at fundraisers for the organizations they supported, helped him create beautiful fair displays and parade floats to promote safety issues and worthy causes, kept track of thousands of negatives, and handled the bookkeeping for their photography studio. She passed away on July 10, 2002 from cancer, and Glen died less than a year later on April 25, 2003 from end stage renal disease. (written by his sister, Linda Richards Crowder) * Note: On the Federal level, the duties of the Office of Civil Defense were assumed by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) in 1979.

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CALDWELL COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME: The Granite Falls History Committee set up a Hall of Fame to honor persons from Granite Falls who have been inducted into the Caldwell County Sports Hall of Fame.

FROM “THE GRANITE TABLET” (May - June 2018)

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER: The Granite Falls Town Square was the site of the annual National Day of Prayer program on May 3, 2018. Rev. Tom McDonald, Jr. of Concord Baptist Church coordinated the event which began at noon.

FROM “THE GRANITE TABLET” (July - August 2018)

SPECIAL EVENT: Burgess Chapel Church Foundation hosted an Open House on Saturday, September 8, 2018 so that the community could see the renovations that enabled the historic church to continue its ministry into the future.

FROM THE MAY 2018 TOWN NEWSLETTER

ART IN THE PARK: The Band Country headlined the annual Art in the Park Concert held Downtown on Monday, May 21, 2018 beginning at 6:30 p. m.

FROM “TABLET II” (November 2018)

GRANITE FALLS WOMAN OF THE YEAR: The Granite Falls Women’s Enrichment Association named Mary Jean Glass the Granite Falls Woman of the Year

for 2018. She received the award for her athletic accomplishments, military service, and continued faithfulness to her church and community. Mrs. Glass graduated as the Valedictorian of her class at Freedman High School, After attending Johnson C. Smith University for two years, she served in the U. S. Air Force for three years before going into banking. After retiring from First Union National Bank and Bank of Granite, Jean joined the Unifour Senior Games in 2007 and started winning medals as a part of the 75+ Basketball Team.

(ETCHED IN GRANITE continued from page 2)

The Granite Tablet is a publication of the Granite Falls History Committee, which manages the Granite Falls History and Transportation Museum. The museum is located in the historic home of Andrew Baird, an early settler. The building is the second oldest residence in Caldwell County. The Baird House was built around 1795 with additions made over the next hundred years. The house remained a residence until 2001 when the owner sought permission to have it burned down due to the high cost of maintenance. Recognizing the historical significance of the building, the Town of Granite Falls purchased the home with the intentions of turning it into a museum. With the help of a grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and hours of hard work by dedicated people, the vision became a reality. The Granite Falls History and Transportation Museum held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on January 18, 2007. Visit us on Facebook under “Granite Falls History and Transportation Museum.” Our website is www.granitefallshistorymuseum.org.

Granite Falls History and Transportation Museum - 107 Falls Avenue, Granite Falls, North Carolina 28630 - Phone: 828-396-2792

Committee Chair: Dr. Caryl B. Burns Vice Chairman/Newsletter Editor: Linda R. Crowder

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OH MOTHER OF OUR LEARNING Long May Thy Presence Be - We’ll Pray to Keep Thy Portals Wide for All Posterity

Work continues at Granite Falls Middle School. These photos were made Sunday, March 29, 2020