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Herald's history series: Sylva's Bicentennial Park is dedicated July 4, 1976

Sylva's Bicentennial Park is dedicated July 4, 1976
Bicentennial Park To coincide with the nation's Bicentennial, the Jackson County Bicentennial Park and Ronnie Childress Memorial Fountain were dedicated in dual ceremonies Sunday, July 4, 1976. Following the prelude of "The Star-Spangled Banner" performed by the Western Carolina University Music Department Brass Ensemble, Dr. John Bunn, pastor of Sylva First Baptist Church, gave the invocation.
Bruce Wike, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, told the nearly-full courtroom where the dedication was held due to rain that, "I can think of no time when so many people have been so enthusiastic and eager to see the natural loveliness brought out in the form of a park."

Major contributors were:

  • Polly Fuller, chair of the civic beautification committee.
  • Jackson County for concrete work.
  • Town of Sylva for parking area.
  • Landscape department of N.C. Department of Transportation and Gary Parrott, Western Carolina University landscape architect for consultation and advice.
  • Southwestern Technical Institute for labor on the stone wall.
  • Sylva-Webster High School masonry class for labor on the fountain stone.
  • Sylva-Webster High school agriculture class for preparing soil for the flower beds.
  • Jerry Cooper for grading the lawn.
  • Jim Haskett for furnishing labor and materials for seeding lawn.
  • Tuckasegee Valley Nursery for 100 shrubs and 10 dogwoods.
  • Jackson County Beautification Council and Sylva Garden Club for plants.
  • Charles Mason for planting.
  • Harrison Construction Co. for large stone with park name.
  • Shields and Sons memorial Service for preparing the stone.
  • Twentieth Century Club and the American Association of Retired Persons for cash donations.
  • Bradley and Bradley Lumber Company for mulch.
  • Town of Dillsboro for set of flags.
  • Sylva and Cullowhee Kiwianis for maintaining flags and raising cash.
Editor's note: This is the weekly installment of a review of our back issues as The Sylva Herald and Ruralite celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2001.

Back to Archive: 06/28/01.