HOME OF FORMER SLAVE STILL STANDS
Friday, October 20, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
STARTOWN -- The skeleton of a rusted mattress leans in the corner of the antiquated wood cabin. Upstairs, two dressers haphazardly stand in the middle of the master bedroom, the drawers strewn across the floor.
The tin roof, built with the house in the late 1800s and preserved to near perfection, has kept out the rain, the snow and summer's harsh sunlight for more than 100 years.
Now, it catches golden and orange leaves falling from the trees in this thickly wooded plot of land less than a mile off Joe Johnson Road in Catawba County, where The Dart hit last week.
But for more than 100 years, the roof - and the house it covers - have stood, witnessing the changes that have marked those years.
Jim Saine, a banker from Startown, started buying land in the neighborhood, including the cabin, because it was easily accessible to his wife's job in Newton and his job in Charlotte. He moved to a house across the street from the cabin 14 years ago.
"I've often wondered about the stories this house could tell," he said. He already knows many of the stories:
Former slave Octavia Shuford, who was born Octavia Powell in Catawba County 19 months after the Civil War erupted, bought the 18-acre property from J.E. Johnson in two separate purchases in 1905 and 1914, according the original deeds.
One portion of the property, about 10 acres, was sold to Octavia for $150, Saine said. The property markers, the deeds show, began "at a dead and down locust on the east bank of a branch" on one tract and at "a dead black oak" on the other.
Octavia's parents plucked cotton on nearby land, and even after the war had ended, she continued to pick the crops with her husband and their children for decades, said granddaughter-in-law Sarah Shuford of Hickory.
Octavia and her husband, Albert Shuford, were in their 20s when they began building their wooden home not long after they got married, Sarah Shuford said. They chopped trees from the woods and carried water from the nearby spring.
"How in the heck did they have the knowledge to build a house like that at their age?" she said.
As the Shuford family grew, they expanded the original two-room structure into a four-room cabin, which included the kitchen. Electricity came after the end of World War II, Saine said.
Sarah Shuford, 84, remembers "Mother Octave" cooking grand meals in the kitchen, many of which she would share with neighbors and friends.
After dinner, she said, the family would gather in the parlor and would dance as Gracie, one of Octavia's seven children, would play the pump organ.
"Some of them would be barefooted and would have to wash their feet before they'd go to bed because their feet got so dirty from dancing," she recalled.
As the children got older, they began to leave Catawba County for jobs elsewhere in the county, Shuford said. Some stayed nearby, but opted for more modern homes than the cabin.
So, when Octavia died on Nov. 20, 1946, she left behind a cabin full of her things and a lot of memories. Shuford and Saine said no one has lived in the house since then, but thick and tattered canvas curtains still hang from the kitchen windows. The carcasses of an old refrigerator, rusted tin cans and a metal stove stand nearby.
"I don't know what a Victor Junior is," Saine said of the pastel white and blue stove standing in the middle of the room, "but it looks like it's in pretty good shape."
Saine said he thinks it's incredible that the cabin is so well-preserved after more than 100 years of wear-and-tear and six decades of abandonment.
He walks around the cabin, pointing out the stone chimney climbing the side of the building. Saine found some extra pieces of rock, he said, and is saving the slabs in case he chooses to restore the cabin after he retires.
Shuford said she hopes he does. "I'd love to see it like it was one more time."
The Point of the Dart
The idea behind the Dart is simple: We're looking for the kind of news the media don't usually report. We throw a dart at a map of one of the counties in the Catawba Valley, and we'll write about what's happening at that spot. We hope this feature will bring out stories that too often are ignored and will help you meet some of your neighbors in the region.
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and may not be republished without permission.
10/20/06
Police say 85-year-old was killed after driving wrong way
Friday, Oct. 20, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
LENOIR A man was killed Wednesday after he drove his pickup truck into oncoming traffic in Lenoir, police said.
Richard Harris Graham, 85, of Lenoir turned out of the driveway from his Harper Avenue office shortly after 5 p.m. and into the path of a Ford Explorer, said Lenoir police officer David Ingle. Graham died before officers arrived, Ingle said.
The driver of the Explorer, 21-year-old Sheena Dean Nelson of Lenoir, was treated and released from Caldwell Memorial Hospital on Wednesday. Police are still investigating the wreck.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
LENOIR A man was killed Wednesday after he drove his pickup truck into oncoming traffic in Lenoir, police said.
Richard Harris Graham, 85, of Lenoir turned out of the driveway from his Harper Avenue office shortly after 5 p.m. and into the path of a Ford Explorer, said Lenoir police officer David Ingle. Graham died before officers arrived, Ingle said.
The driver of the Explorer, 21-year-old Sheena Dean Nelson of Lenoir, was treated and released from Caldwell Memorial Hospital on Wednesday. Police are still investigating the wreck.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
10/18/06
Incumbent, challenger for sheriff have debate
HARRIS STRESSES DRUG FIGHT; CLARK EMPHASIZES COMMUNITY POLICING
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
LENOIR -- The bright yellow "Reelect Gary Clark" signs and the patriotic red, white and blue "Elect Terry Harris Sheriff" posters have dotted Caldwell County roads for months.
But with Election Day just three weeks away, the candidates for sheriff debated for the first time at a Monday night forum hosted by the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce.
Clark, the Republican incumbent sheriff returning to the polls for a shot at another four years, and Harris, the former Granite Falls police chief, faced off during the nine-question debate at the Broyhill Civic Center.
While both candidates agreed on the general characteristics necessary for a good sheriff - integrity, honesty and financial accountability - their opinions on drug crime and community policing differed.
Clark, who has touted his tough stance on drug dealers, argued that nearly 80 percent of all crime in the county can be attributed to illegal drug use, particularly methamphetamine use.
"Meth is slowly decreasing," he said. "(But) we need to continue to look at that problem in our county."
Harris, meanwhile, said focusing too intently on narcotics arrests doesn't always allow deputies enough time to respond to other crimes, such as larceny and breaking and entering.
"We cannot get caught up in just enforcing drug laws," he said.
Harris also emphasized the value of community policing, which encourages officers to live in the same community where they work, and said he would require all deputies to live within Caldwell County.
He said the policy would not only help lower crime rates but likely reduce turnover in the Sheriff's Office as well.
Although Clark did not disagree with the idea of community policing, he does not require deputies to live in the county and said finding qualified officers is his staffing priority.
"We need to look for the best people irregardless of where they're from," he said.
The debate lasted more than an hour, but many of the more than 150 county residents gathered at the forum said they knew beforehand which candidate will get their vote next month.
Lenoir resident Jerry "Whitey" McCall said it is Clark's emphasis on drug-related crime during his first term that he thinks has singled out the Republican as the strongest candidate.
"We don't want to back-up to where we were four years ago," McCall said. "We want to go forward."
Harris supporter David Seagle, also of Lenoir, said he thinks the Democrat's community policing plan gives him the extra edge.
"He's going to bring back employees that live in Caldwell County and keep the money here," he said.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
LENOIR -- The bright yellow "Reelect Gary Clark" signs and the patriotic red, white and blue "Elect Terry Harris Sheriff" posters have dotted Caldwell County roads for months.
But with Election Day just three weeks away, the candidates for sheriff debated for the first time at a Monday night forum hosted by the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce.
Clark, the Republican incumbent sheriff returning to the polls for a shot at another four years, and Harris, the former Granite Falls police chief, faced off during the nine-question debate at the Broyhill Civic Center.
While both candidates agreed on the general characteristics necessary for a good sheriff - integrity, honesty and financial accountability - their opinions on drug crime and community policing differed.
Clark, who has touted his tough stance on drug dealers, argued that nearly 80 percent of all crime in the county can be attributed to illegal drug use, particularly methamphetamine use.
"Meth is slowly decreasing," he said. "(But) we need to continue to look at that problem in our county."
Harris, meanwhile, said focusing too intently on narcotics arrests doesn't always allow deputies enough time to respond to other crimes, such as larceny and breaking and entering.
"We cannot get caught up in just enforcing drug laws," he said.
Harris also emphasized the value of community policing, which encourages officers to live in the same community where they work, and said he would require all deputies to live within Caldwell County.
He said the policy would not only help lower crime rates but likely reduce turnover in the Sheriff's Office as well.
Although Clark did not disagree with the idea of community policing, he does not require deputies to live in the county and said finding qualified officers is his staffing priority.
"We need to look for the best people irregardless of where they're from," he said.
The debate lasted more than an hour, but many of the more than 150 county residents gathered at the forum said they knew beforehand which candidate will get their vote next month.
Lenoir resident Jerry "Whitey" McCall said it is Clark's emphasis on drug-related crime during his first term that he thinks has singled out the Republican as the strongest candidate.
"We don't want to back-up to where we were four years ago," McCall said. "We want to go forward."
Harris supporter David Seagle, also of Lenoir, said he thinks the Democrat's community policing plan gives him the extra edge.
"He's going to bring back employees that live in Caldwell County and keep the money here," he said.
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and may not be republished without permission.
Dad won't be charged in death, authorities say
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Authorities do not plan to file charges against a Burke County man who ran over and killed his 3-year-old son Saturday.
Mark McCloud was pulling his pickup truck out of his driveway Saturday morning, when his son, Hunter McCloud, ran to say hello to his father, said Detective Jody Price of the Burke County Sheriff's Office.
McCloud told deputies he saw his three sons, including Hunter, playing beside their trailer home before checking his rearview and sideview mirrors and backing up, Price said.
McCloud then heard another son scream and stopped the truck, Price said. He found Hunter lying beneath the vehicle.
Price said Hunter died at Grace Hospital about 1:30 p.m.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer
Authorities do not plan to file charges against a Burke County man who ran over and killed his 3-year-old son Saturday.
Mark McCloud was pulling his pickup truck out of his driveway Saturday morning, when his son, Hunter McCloud, ran to say hello to his father, said Detective Jody Price of the Burke County Sheriff's Office.
McCloud told deputies he saw his three sons, including Hunter, playing beside their trailer home before checking his rearview and sideview mirrors and backing up, Price said.
McCloud then heard another son scream and stopped the truck, Price said. He found Hunter lying beneath the vehicle.
Price said Hunter died at Grace Hospital about 1:30 p.m.
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and may not be republished without permission.
Man missing from care center shows up in sheriff's yard
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
A missing man wandered into the Burke County sheriff's yard Monday as deputies searched for him nearby.
Officers began looking for Calvin Lowery, 56, of Mecklenburg County not long after he disappeared Sunday evening from Morganton's McAlpine Adult Care Center, a psychiatric facility where he was being treated, said Sheriff John McDevitt.
McDevitt joined the search Monday morning and went home to change clothes around 3 p.m. He had been home only a few minutes, he said, when his daughter told him there was a strange man in the driveway.
McDevitt said he instructed Lowery to stop approaching the house and lie down. When Lowery ignored the sheriff's commands, McDevitt said he used pepper spray to subdue him.
"He's from Charlotte, so he didn't know who I am," McDevitt said. "For him to show up at my house is kind of unusual."
Lowery was uninjured, McDevitt said.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
A missing man wandered into the Burke County sheriff's yard Monday as deputies searched for him nearby.
Officers began looking for Calvin Lowery, 56, of Mecklenburg County not long after he disappeared Sunday evening from Morganton's McAlpine Adult Care Center, a psychiatric facility where he was being treated, said Sheriff John McDevitt.
McDevitt joined the search Monday morning and went home to change clothes around 3 p.m. He had been home only a few minutes, he said, when his daughter told him there was a strange man in the driveway.
McDevitt said he instructed Lowery to stop approaching the house and lie down. When Lowery ignored the sheriff's commands, McDevitt said he used pepper spray to subdue him.
"He's from Charlotte, so he didn't know who I am," McDevitt said. "For him to show up at my house is kind of unusual."
Lowery was uninjured, McDevitt said.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Father won't be charged in death of child, authorities say
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
Authorities do not plan to file charges against a Burke County man who accidentally ran over and killed his 3-year-old son Saturday.
Mark McCloud was pulling his pickup truck out of his driveway Saturday morning, when his son, Hunter McCloud, ran to say hello to his father, said Detective Jody Price of the Burke County Sheriff's Office.
"The little boy was a daddy's boy and ran to get into the truck," Price said.
McCloud told deputies he saw his three sons, including Hunter, playing beside their trailer home before checking his rearview and sideview mirrors and backing up, Price said.
McCloud then heard his other son scream and stopped the truck, Price said. He found Hunter lying beneath the vehicle.
Price said deputies were on the scene as paramedics gave the child CPR. He said Hunter died at Grace Hospital about 1:30 p.m.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
Authorities do not plan to file charges against a Burke County man who accidentally ran over and killed his 3-year-old son Saturday.
Mark McCloud was pulling his pickup truck out of his driveway Saturday morning, when his son, Hunter McCloud, ran to say hello to his father, said Detective Jody Price of the Burke County Sheriff's Office.
"The little boy was a daddy's boy and ran to get into the truck," Price said.
McCloud told deputies he saw his three sons, including Hunter, playing beside their trailer home before checking his rearview and sideview mirrors and backing up, Price said.
McCloud then heard his other son scream and stopped the truck, Price said. He found Hunter lying beneath the vehicle.
Price said deputies were on the scene as paramedics gave the child CPR. He said Hunter died at Grace Hospital about 1:30 p.m.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
Connelly Springs man charged in stabbing in vehicle
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
A Burke County man was stabbed early Tuesday morning, and another man was charged in the incident.
Randy Fender of Drexel was stabbed in the chest with a knife about 2 a.m. after getting into an argument while driving with another man, according to a press release from the Burke County Sheriff's Office.
Robert Camara Harris, 30, of Connelly Springs, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious bodily injury, the press release said.
Deputies initially responded to Grace Hospital in Morganton, where Fender, 52, was being treated, according to the Sheriff's Office release. Fender was expected to recover, the release said.
Fender, who was driving, told deputies that his passenger led him to a deserted portion of Butler Hill Road, according to the release. Fender said he and the passenger began to argue and he asked the passenger to get out of the vehicle, authorities said.
According to the release, Fender said the passenger then pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the right side of his chest.
Burke County sheriff deputies and officers from the Drexel Police Department found Harris about 30 minutes later on Zion Road near Drexel, not far from where Fender said he was stabbed. Harris was in a car that had been reported stolen in Drexel, the release said.
Harris was being held Tuesday at the Burke County jail on a $2,500 bond.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer
Staff Writer
A Burke County man was stabbed early Tuesday morning, and another man was charged in the incident.
Randy Fender of Drexel was stabbed in the chest with a knife about 2 a.m. after getting into an argument while driving with another man, according to a press release from the Burke County Sheriff's Office.
Robert Camara Harris, 30, of Connelly Springs, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious bodily injury, the press release said.
Deputies initially responded to Grace Hospital in Morganton, where Fender, 52, was being treated, according to the Sheriff's Office release. Fender was expected to recover, the release said.
Fender, who was driving, told deputies that his passenger led him to a deserted portion of Butler Hill Road, according to the release. Fender said he and the passenger began to argue and he asked the passenger to get out of the vehicle, authorities said.
According to the release, Fender said the passenger then pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the right side of his chest.
Burke County sheriff deputies and officers from the Drexel Police Department found Harris about 30 minutes later on Zion Road near Drexel, not far from where Fender said he was stabbed. Harris was in a car that had been reported stolen in Drexel, the release said.
Harris was being held Tuesday at the Burke County jail on a $2,500 bond.
All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER and may not be republished without permission.
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