From The Randolph Guide – Feb. 17, 1960

Winter brought Randolph County four inches of snow over the weekend and then glazed over the downy flakes with a hard crust of ice that forced curtailment of many activities and brought an unexpected holiday to school children.

The first flakes were spotted about 3 a.m. Saturday and by daybreak more than three inches had fallen. More snow, sleet and freezing rain soon brought hazardous driving conditions that paralyzed traffic on all but the major highways.

Before improvised snow plows could be moved into action, traffic other than cars with chains was at a standstill.

Both Asheboro City and Randolph County school systems declared a holiday for Monday. City schools were back in session on Tuesday after a day of warmer temperatures melted snow and ice from roadways. County schools remained closed Tuesday because of icy secondary roads.

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Randleman’s newest professional building on Commerce Square was extensively damaged by fire Sunday afternoon as flames swept through the offices of Dr. M.D. Keith, optometrist, and Dr. L.O. Farlow, chiropractor.

There was no immediate estimate of damage to either the new brick building or to its contents.

Police Chief Wade Harris turned in the fire alarm about 4:40 p.m. Sunday when he noticed smoke seeping through the back wall of the building. It was believed that the fire had been smoldering for at least two hours prior to its detection.

Fire Chief Worth Greeson and volunteers of the Randleman Fire Department answered the alarm in freezing temperatures and some four inches of snow. The Fire Department is less than 100 feet away. Firemen, using fog nozzles, put out the blaze with a minimum of water, using only water in the pumper truck tank.

The fire is believed to have originated in a furnace room. Extensive damage was reported to the inside walls, ceiling and roof.

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Snow and ice kept the boys from making their rounds last Saturday, but come this Saturday morning some 120 Little League Baseball enthusiasts will begin their candy sale in Asheboro.

The door-to-door sale is to benefit the Little League Baseball program. Under sponsorship of the Asheboro Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Tar Heel Little League, baseball boosters hope to build a first-class Little League Baseball Park, complete with lights, chain-link fence and bleachers.

Henry T. Maddux Jr., coach of Fayetteville Street School and chairman of the Jaycee committee, will direct the candy sale, utilizing boys who played Little League baseball last season and boys of the 9 to 12 age group who hope to play in summers to come.

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Billy Robinson, president of Explorer Post 527, was honored this week when he was selected as General Greene Council’s sole representative to attend a luncheon with ges in Raleigh on Saturday.

The luncheon is planned as the governor’s tribute to Scouting’s golden anniversary.

Billy, age 16, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Robinson of Asheboro. He has earned the Eagle award and is one of a limited number of Scouts who have earned the God and Country Award.

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Norman D. Newsom, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nick L. Newsom of Rt. 4, Asheboro, is scheduled to return to San Diego on Feb. 16 aboard the destroyer USS Shields after a five-month tour of duty with the Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific.

– Compiled by Larry Penkava from archives of The Randolph Guide