The Whitney Dam Story

NEW LONDON — On Sunday, July 19, Susan Goodman Sides from Salisbury will present “The Whitney Story” for the Historical Society and the Stanly County Museum. The program will be held at 2 p.m. at the New London Fire Station, 310 S. Main St. in New London.

Many people are familiar with the basic story of the Whitney Dam, the huge dam on the Yadkin River that was never completed. Many questions have been asked through the years about Whitney, and there are still many gaps in the answers.

A number of years ago, Sides began collecting postcards of the dam showing pictures of the dam under construction. The photos were intriguing, but Sides never felt she knew the real story behind the project and what happened to stop the construction just as it was on the verge of completion. Therefore, she has done intensive research to discover what really happened at Whitney.

Sides will share the results of her research and her views of Whitney. Program attendees will hear how the project started, the roles of E.B.C. Hambley and George I. Whitney, the living conditions of the laborers, many other elusive stories about the project and what happened at the end.

Susan Goodman Sides is from Salisbury and has always had a love of local history. She has a special interest in the E.B.C. Hambley house located in Salisbury and the impact Hambley had on that community. She has authored two books on the postcards of Rowan County. Sides serves on the Board of Trustees of Historic Salisbury Foundation, the Rowan County Historic Landmark Commission, and the genealogical Society of Rowan County. She is employed as Office Manager for John R. Crawford III, M.D.

The Whitney program is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is suggested as seating will be limited. To register call the Stanly County Public Library at 704-986-3755. To register online go to http://historicstanly.org and click on the Events Registration tab. If registering online be sure to click SUBMIT to complete the registration.

The New London Museum, located next to the New London Fire Station, is open on Sunday afternoons and will extend their hours on Sunday, July 19, so that those attending the Whitney presentation will be able to visit the museum following the program.

 

Center Stage Dance Company crowned national champions for third year straight

Submitted story

Dancers from Center Stage Dance Company in China Grove recently were crowned overall national champions for Encore DCS for 2015 for the third year in a row. The dancers traveled to Savannah, Georgia for the five day that concluded on July 1 with a Standing Ovation showdown between the top twelve routines for the competition. Competing for the $1000 cash prize and national print ad, were Center Stage dancers in The Few The Proud. At the end of the event, the dancers in The Few The Proud which featured every competition dancer from Center Stage were awarded the six foot trophy and prizes. The groups were judged based on entertainment value, star quality, technique and overall appeal discussed among the judges panel along with audience enthusiasm during their performance. The dancers were judged by a panel of judges from New York and Los Angeles during the event featuring over 750 numbers during the week. Over 45 studios from across the country participated in the event. In addition to winning the Standing Ovation Award for the third year in a row, the Center Stage number The Few The Proud received a diamond placement award in the highest level of competition in the elite level and finished as the top junior production for the event. The dance The Few The Proud was a great tribute to our military forces and patriotism prior to the July Fourth weekend complete with American flags and red white and blue confetti canon to accent the dazzling dancers on stage.

Senior soloist Dillon Stevens was first overall in the elite senior division with his tap and musical theater number to One Man Show. Stevens also received the high score of the event for all senior numbers in the solo, duet, trio and all sizes of groups dances receiving a five foot trophy and cash prize. Teen soloist Parker Stelmack was first overall in the teen elite super solo division doing two solos for the event. Stelmack performing a number to I Have Nothing, showcased her skills in lyrical and tumbling to take the top spot. Stelmack received a diamond placement award. Parker represented Encore for 2015 in four national dance magazines and all programs throughout the country as Cover Model for the year. Teen soloist Allyson Howard captured the top spots for all teen solos with her lyrical number Big White Room. Howard received the highest award getting a diamond award for her performance. Howard was also selected to the Dream Team for 2016 and will be featured on a promotional video representing Encore for the next year. First year soloist, Brianna Hargrove brought home the top honor of junior soloist for her lyrical solo I Will Be with a diamond award.

Center Stage soloist Madisyn Lewis received a $175 scholarship to an Encore Extreme event this fall in Columbia, SC. In the teen duet/trio division Center Stage took three of the top five spots all with diamond awards. Taking fifth overall were Hannah and Dillon Stevens dancing to Natural Born Talent. Finishing fourth overall were both Stevens along with Liza Eller performing a musical theater number to Money. Taking the second overall spot for duet/trios were Dillon Stevens and partner Parker Stelmack presenting a lyrical open number to Romeo and Juliet. In the petite division of dancers ages eight and under the Center Stage dance In The Mirror received the high score of the event for all dances petite division as well as a diamond placement award. The first year competition dancers in the jazz dance Pop! were selected as the most entertaining number in all of the petite division competition.

The junior small group The Fierce Five were chosen as the first overall spot for junior small groups with a diamond award. Also placing in the overall ranks were The Crush, Jacks Mix, and Hit The Road Jack. Three Center Stage numbers ranked in the top ten for large groups competitive division: Hip Hop 101, My Kinda Guy, and If I Stay. The junior super group of Let It Rain coveted the first overall spot for super groups receiving a diamond award. The junior elite large group The Loud Southern Crowd, was selected by the judges as the first overall dance receiving a diamond award, as well as ranking as the junior high score of the event for the highest level of elite competition. The teen group number Gravity finished in the top spot with a diamond award followed by another Center Stage number Choreographer’s Cut in the second overall spot for teen large groups receiving a diamond award as well. The senior group of Different finished in the second overall senior spot with a diamond award and the tap dance Republic ranked in the third overall spot. The senior super group Girls Night Out finished first overall for super groups with a diamond award and were also honored as the senior highest score of the event in the competitive division. Receiving diamond awards in the teen and senior division were the Center Stage dances of When Ya Talk, Song For You, Run, Echo, and Women Only.

The Center Stage parents presented a number in the 30-39 year old division for competition. This number Center Stage Parents Run This finished first overall in the 19 and over division, receiving a five foot trophy for their  performance. The entry fee from this number for over $1000 was donated to Dancers For Cancer charity.

The Center Stage dancers were accompanied to Savannah for the event by staff members Sydney Overcash, Katherine Harmon, Jonathan Matthews, Patty Hudson and Sandy Overcash. To view a many of the top numbers at national  competition visit www.centerstagedc.com