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LIFESTYLES
The Kings Mountain Herald | www.kmherald.net
November 21, 2012
Food, crowd welcome Main Street Director by BETH BROCK
NOLEN FAMILY AT EXHIBIT - Relatives of the late folk artist Lemuel Nolen stand before some of his paintings at an exhibition of his work in Lincolnton. Front row, L-R, Katlyn Wallace, Addison Wallace, Rosalind Nolen Welder, Lem's granddaughter; second row, from left, Danielle Nolen Collins, Paige Falls, Renae Nolen (in pink) George Nolen (in cap), Ginger Nolen Herndon and at end of the row in white, Marilynn Nolen; third row, from left, Jodie Nolen, Riley Nolen Wallace, Gary Nolen, George Nolen's nephew.
The life and art of Mr. Lem Kings Mountain people remember 'Mr. Lem', the late folk artist from Lincoln County and great-uncle of George Edward Nolen of Kings Mountain. Family members attended the exhibition of his paintings at the Lincolnton Cultural Center several months ago. The exhibit showcased 60 paintings from the most remembered and all time honored folk artist and was entitled, "Mr. Lem: the Life and Art of Lemuel Moore Nolen." The goal of this project was to spotlight the amazing work of Mr. Lem and to honor the memories that were created and shared with the people of Crouse. George Nolen, who attended the opening exhibition and reception, fondly remembers going to Uncle Lem's house to see his paintings. Lemuel Moore Nolen also painted a picture of George's mother, Rosa Lee Nolen. Other members of the family attending the reception were George's daughters, Ginger Nolen Herndon of Kings Mountain; Renae
Nolen of Gastonia; Renae's daughter, Paige Colvin Falls of Gastonia; Gary Nolen and wife, Jodie, daughters Danielle Nolen Collins, Riley Nolen Wallace and husband and daughters Katlyn and Addison Nolen of Kings Mountain. "Mr. Lem" began his career as the first male beautician in the state in the 1920s and opened a hair salon where he worked until his 70s. Lemuel focused on new hairstyles for women because he was aware there were no beauty shops in Lincolnton and the only shops of this type were in Gastonia and Charlotte. He opened his first shop in the back room of a barber shop and divided their two shops between men and women sections with a white sheet and the women had to walk past the barber shop to reach Nolen's beauty shop. Later he opened Nolen's Beauty Shop in Crouse. Lemuel wanted his shop to open early from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and you could get a permanent and back home before breakfast. After retiring from hairstyling, Lemuel Nolen decided to sell chickens. Then
his life headed in a completely different direction. While putting together a sign for his new venture, Nolen started painting a picture of a chicken scene of places he saw around town, homes he had been to and settings he had passed from his day to day travels. He would throw his completed paintings on the front lawn to dry - like a frisbee. Nolen was the tallest man in Lincoln County and relatives said he was a caring and loving man. Aside from working at his beauty shop, he also acted in several local plays until he passed away in 1977 and was also Grand Marshal in parades. He loved the youth in his town and took them out for Monday night movies in Cherryville. Born Oct 31, 1884, he died April 28, 1977. He was the son of Dr. Winslow Washington Nolen and Mary Ann Holland Nolen. He married Emma Beatrice Crouse on April 24, 1908. His art work received recognition in the book, 'Art in North Carolina: Episodes and Developments 15851970.'
Ask any longtime resident of Crouse about Lem Nolen and you're bound to get an answer almost as colorful as the man himself. Artist. Beautician. Chicken farmer. Avid walker. Sometime actor. Frequent jokester. He also wrote song lyrics. Nolen was all of these and more, say Kings Mountain Nolens. And while he gained national recognition as a folk artist and his paintings were displayed as far distant as museums in the nation's capital, Mr. Lem, as he was known locally, was still the man who gave many Lincoln County ladies their first perm. An exhibition catalog with pictures of some of Lem's paintings and works of other artists also contains a biography of Lemuel Moore Nolen. The exhibition event and catalog was a collaborative effort between the Crouse Community History and Photo Project and Lincoln County Historical Association and was held at the Lincoln Cultural Center in downtown Lincolnton.
The chefs at Robert Bolin owned restaurants in Kings Mountain prepared and served food specialties that are familiar items were hits with the crowd welcoming the newest member of the city staff at a reception Tuesday evening at Battleground Grill. Harris is the newlynamed Main Street Director . Kora Corey, Eric Pardo JAN HARRIS and Misty Messick, along j with Bolin, welcomed guests, along with mayor Rick Murphrey, mayor pro tem Rodney Gordon, and city councilmen Mike Butler and Dean Spears. The menu featured Pardo's Big E barbecue sliders and smoked chicken wings, Battleground's Firecracker Shrimp with sauce, blackened chicken pasta, and 238 Tavern's shrimp and grits and Tuscan chicken bites. The Tavern will relocate and expand into the Railroad Avenue property downtown once occupied by Battleground which closed recently after a year in business. 238 Cherokee Street will get a new name, "238 Cherokee Grille", and 238 employees will work at the new restaurant, expected to open by late December. Bolin had announced recently that the 238 Cherokee location will house an Asian-cuisine restaurant and could open as early as the end of January 2013, staffed by former employees of Battleground Grill.
photo by BETH BROCK
Misty Messick, Rob Bolin, Eric Pardo and Kora Corey, left to right, serve up specialties of Bolin's two restaurants at a welcome party/reception honoring the city's new Main Street Director, Tuesday night.
First Little Miss/Teen Preliminary pageant held The first official Little Miss/Teen Miss Kings Mountain Preliminary pageant was held Nov. 10 at the Kings Mountain Woman’s Club. The pageant was directed by Danyel Phelps of Shelby and is a preliminary to the Little Miss/Teen Miss North Carolina State Pageant held every year in July. The system has been around for over 25 years and has had title winners proceed onto winning titles such as Miss North Carolinas Outstanding Teen and Miss North Carolina and even boasts one previous Miss USA. Little Miss/Teen Miss Kings Mountain returned to this area under the leadership of director Danyel Phelps with help from numerous others in the community. Tracy Stillwell from Victorian Rose Studio was the official photographer and took the pictures. Adrian Hamrick, Erin Crow and Austin Phelps were instrumental in conducting the pageant. The pageant was co-hosted by Kings Mountain’s own Hailey Rotenberry, daughter of Lisa Hubbard who is a senior at Kings Mountain High School and is the 7-18 Miniature Majestic Miss North Carolina, the second highest title given at Little Miss North Carolina. Hailey also holds the titles of Teen Miss Shelby and overall interview winner and overall swimsuit winner. Not only were several of the Little Miss/Teen Miss North Carolina State Queens and their director Carolyn Marley on hand, but Cleveland County commissioner Jason Falls was the at-large judge for the pageant. The state queens present traveled from across
the state to assist in the pageant, including Baby Miss NC Stella, Little Miss NC Macie Miller, Junior Miss NC Savannah Henline, Majestic Miss Hailey Rotenberry and Grand Majestic Overall Winner Laura Little. The contestants competed in Up Close Appraisal or Interview, Beauty Competition, Sportswear, Swimwear and Talent. All competitors received a trophy and gift bag filled with toys, candy and other items, the age division winners received satin wrap banners, trophies, crowns, gift bags, money toward their state competition paid, photo shoot from Victorian Rose Studio and much more. The Overall Grand Majestic also won all of her fees to the Little Miss/Teen Miss NC state pageant paid in full, worth over $700. These ladies will have a chance to win over $10,000.00 at the annual state pageant in Lenoir NC. The age division winners were: Baby Miss Brieanna Bridges; Toddler Miss Addison Frazier; Miniature Miss LeAnn Hamrick; Tiny Miss Jasmyn Accor; Little Miss Natalie Wills; Junior Miss Ashlyn Stoker; Young Miss Mallory Harris; Teen Miss Allison Howell; Overall Talent Ashley Regans; and Overall Grand Majestic Rachel Mower. Baby Miss: Brieanna Bridges Little Miss./Teen Miss 7-18 Miniature Majestic Miss Hailey Alexis Rotenberry Little Miss/Teen Miss Shelby will be held in the spring of 2013. For more information, please contact Danyel Phelps at danyelwp@hotmail.com
Tour of Homes includes Kings Mountain residences Cleveland County Arts Council will sponsor the annual Holiday Tour of Homes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Also that day shoppers can enjoy the Handmade for the Holidays Art Gallery and lunch for $5 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Art Center. Artwork by local and regional artists will be available for purchase as gifts or to take home.
The six homes on the tour includes the home of Nancy and Jerry Clark at 106 Lakeshore Drive, Kings Mountain. The Moss Lake home of the Clarks, a traditional and European mix, was custom built 11 years ago. The Christmas decorations are an eclectic blend that the couple has collected over the years. All rooms of the house, except one, offer a view of the lake.
photo by VICTORIA ROSE STUDIO
Pictured are the winners in the Little Miss/Teen Miss Kings Mountain preliminary pageant held at the Woman’s Club Nov. 10.
Miss Merry Christmas pageant December 6 in Cherryville The Miss Gastonia Scholarship Association will host the Miss Merry Christmas Pageant on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Cherryville Community Building, 106 South Jacob Street. The pageant is an official event of the “Christmas Around Town� celebration sponsored by the Cherryville Chamber of Commerce. Girls 0-19 years from Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln and surrounding counties are eligible to enter. The competition features contestants wearing a holiday dress or outfit. Proceeds benefit the Miss Gastonia scholarship fund.
Your ‘Fruitful’ Tips with Jason Rhodes
1811 Shelby Rd. Kings Mountain 704.734.0420 Open: M-F 10-6:30 • Sat 10-5:30