Another
bird for the Memorial Building
Rutherford County Sun
December 7, 1922
Mr. James Blanton and others went about ten miles above
Rutherfordton to hunt Thanksgiving day and as they were returning
a large hawk or mountain eagle had caught a full grown Rhode Island
cock and was making Thanksgiving meal of it when Mr. Blanton interfered.
The hawk flew to the top of a tall pine and Mr. Blanson (sic) returned
to his car for his gun and shot the bird. He brought it home and
Mr. B. E. Roach sent it to a taxidermist to have it mounted. The
bird measured fifty-four inches from tip to tip of its wings when
spread.
Rutherford County Sun
February 1, 1923
The large hawk, or Mountain Eagle killed by Mr. James
Blanton on last Thanksgiving day has been mounted and is on display
in the lobby of the Memorial Building.
The other
stuffed raptor that watched over the Memorial Building lobby
was shot in 1920 while trying to make off with
a small pig.
Courtesy Don Bailey