Herald's history series:

A Normal Day In Sylva?...But Was It Really?

From The Sylva Herald - July 24, 1969

And in all the ages man has looked at the silvery moon, whether writing poetry or music about it or planting crops by it, so many have never looked so intensely together.

The time 4:18 p.m. EDT Sunday, July 20, 1969; Neal Aldrin Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrip, Jr., landed on the Sea of Tranquility aboard "Eagle" while a third astronaut, Michael Collins, orbited the moon aboard the command ship "Columbia."

The time: 10:56 p.m. EDT Sunday, July 20, 1969: Armstrong placed his foot on the lunar surface; followed by Aldrip.

The time: 1:54 p.m. EDT Monday, July 21, 1969: Moon's first two human visitors departed or rendezvous with the command ship and scheduled splashdown in the Pacific Thursday (today), bringing with them rocks and soil samples.

The time: About noon Sunday EDT: many in Jackson County joined millions across the United States and throughout most of the world watching in armchair comfort unveiling of history on TV screens as the day wore on into evening and night and morning of Monday, watching live telecasts of Armstrong first placing foot on the moon, of Armstrong and Aldrin doing their many chores on the rocky surface.

The time: Monday: One flag flew on Main Street in Sylva, at Professional Drug; another on Walnut at the Post Office. President Nixon had declared Monday as a day of participation, and the post offices and Federal offices were closed. Governor Scott also declared Monday a holiday and state offices here and across North Carolina were closed. County offices at the courthouse also were closed as part of the participation. Business in downtown Sylva appeared at a normal pace for a summer day.

In sidewalk talk, coffee break chats, phone calls, business greetings, on-the-job conversations, the focus was on the great technical achievement and storied lunar journey.

As all agreed on the wonderment of it all, neither the young, the old nor those in between know what it may really mean in years to come.

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: 12/06/01.