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Thursday, September 26, 2019
Keith Edwards
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Volume 85 • Issue 39
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Good news for great people! • Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
092619
“Lifetime of Experience”
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Remains of Korean War MIA from Cramerton coming home By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
The remains of Cramerton native and Korean War U.S. Army MIA Earl Duncan will soon be coming home. Duncan was reported missing on December 2, 1950 during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. The battle, called the largest of the Korean War, was part of a larger campaign against Chinese Communist and North Korean troops and happened in what is now North Korea from November to December 1950. Duncan’s family received a call, ironically on Sept 11, from the U.S. Army saying that his remains were currently in a facility in Hawaii where they had been brought from Korea and identified. The next step, which should
happen soon, will be to bring them home for a service with full military honors and burial in Gaston Memorial Park. Several of Duncan’s relatives, including brothers Howard and Sam, and sister Elsie Duncan Loftin, gathered last week to reflect on Earl’s life and how the news of his return had impacted them. According to his siblings, Earl was born on November 2, 1927 one of six children of Fronia and Prosey Duncan. He went to school at McAdenville Elementary then went to work in the weave department of Burlington Mills. Earl joined
Korean War MIA Earl Duncan’s siblings Howard Duncan, Elsie Duncan Loftin, and Sam Duncan are seen holding a picture of him and the medals he received for his service. Photo by Alan Hodge
Earl Duncan the U.S. Army in 1948 and was part of the 32nd Reg., 7th Division at the time of his death. Elsie recalled good times the family had when they were growing up. See KOREAN WAR, Page 2
Stowe Park getting major upgrade By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
The front entrance to Stowe Park in downtown Belmont is getting a major rework, Work has been going on for a couple of weeks on the precipitous old concrete staircase and embankment leading from the central S. Main St. entry point to make it safer and more attractive. City of Belmont public works director David Isenhour explained just exactly what’s being done. “For years the steep slope at this embankment
was worn and used by kids riding their bikes down the slope and wearing it out,” Isenhour said. “We added the decorative fence along the sidewalk to eliminate this problem several years ago and we added some ground cover and shrubs to try and keep the embankment from washing completely out. This didn’t hold up and it became covered in weeds and overgrowth. The City decided to contract with the builders of the Fighting Yank and recently the new Stowe Park water fountain. This contractor will build two – tiered
walls on each side of the new steps. These walls will be benched and curved and will match the fountain and Fighting Yank with the same stone work. It will have up lighting the same as the fountains and Yank as well. There will be specialized ground plants of various varieties and the new area will have irrigation. The steps will be tiered as well and have flag stone steps and terrace’s along with inserted lighting within the steps. It’s long overdue and will enhance the beauty of Stowe See PARK, Page 4
John and Jennifer Church giving their vision for Chronicle Mill another go By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again. That old adage certainly applies to the saga of husband/ wife team John and Jennifer Church and their years old attempt to bring adaptive reuse to the 117 year old Chronicle Mill in Belmont. Last Monday the pair held an informational workshop at TechWorks in Belmont to show their latest, and perhaps last, ideas for turning the huge, red brick, edifice to bygone textile days into upscale apartments that will blend a nostalgic feel with every modern amenity. Located on Catawba St., the 110,000 sq. ft. Chronicle Mill was built in 1901 by R.L. Stowe and other investors. Workers who laid the bricks for the imposing threestory structure earned $1.75 for every thousand they put
John and Jennifer Church are launching one last effort to realize their vision for the 100+ year old Chronicle Mill in Belmont. They are holding an architectural rendering of how the mill will look if they are successful. Photo by Alan Hodge down. Timber and other lumber used in the building cost $13 per thousand board feet delivered to the site. The mill’s name was chosen to
Every Fri. & Sat. Night Till November 2nd!
honor a Revolutionary War patriot from Gaston County, Major William Chronicle, who had lived near the mill See CHRONICLE, Page 6
OPEN HALLOWEEN NIGHT Thursday, Oct. 31st