BLOWING ROCKET

The Blowing Rocket was first published in June 1932, a tabloid publication that was printed each week during the months of June, July and August. After the final week in August it was to put to bed until the following June.

The late Senator C.V. Henkel, a seasonal resident of Statesville, started the paper, which was printed on the press at the offices of the Watauga Democrat in nearby Boone.

The only paid person on the staff was the editor, most summers brought in from the School of Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Other "reporters" contributed material on a regular basis.

Printed in tabloid format, the weekly Blowing Rocket consisted of anywhere from eight to sixteen pages of ads and mostly society news. The main focus was comings and goings at Blowing Rock major hotels, important visitors to town, and news about special seasonal events such as the horse show, beauty pageant, benefits and parties.

In the 1950's the newspaper began to be published in broadsheet, and on a year around basis. Instead of being a free publication, the price was set at a dime, and remained so intil the 1980's. It is interesting to note the The Blowing Rocket was the last newspaper in Amaerica, belonging to the National Press Association, to be sold for a dime - outlasting the Tombstone (Arizona) Epitaph who went to twenty-five cents in 1982. The Rocket followed shortly thereafter.

Today, over 70 years later, The Rocket is still published once weekly and sells for fifty cents per issue and is still available at both newstands and by subscription.