Marion Progress

The educational development of Crossnore, the sacrifice, labor, disappointments and successes that were all a part of the development of the backward Avery county community, were outlined before the Marion Rotary club here Friday by Mrs. Mary M. Sloop, business manager of Crossnore, who since 1911 has directed the work there.

Mrs. Sloop and her husband went to Crossnore in 1911 to practice medicine. "A little dilapidated building, near the tiny store, did duty as a church, Sunday school room, school house, and magistrate's court, and these two buildings with a few dwellings in sight, comprised the village of twenty-three inhabitants" was her description of the town at that early date.

Overcoming suspicion, superstition and the independence of the people of the community, Mrs. Sloop directed the building of Crossnore around the school that is today well known for its progressiveness.

Mrs. Sloop told local Rotarians how much of the money used in building Crossnore and its school was derived from the sale of old clothes.

As the result of complete community cooperation and help from the outside Crossnore now has a school that offers a complete educational service to the people of that section she said.

J. L. Woody, a teacher at the Crossnore school, was a guest at the Rotary meeting. The program was under the direction of Paul O. Nafe.