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WATER SYSTEM OUTGROWN—Th* water supply for Edenton has not been In
creased in 37 years, while demand has nearly doubled since 1955. Mrs. Janet Boswell,
secretary in the Electric 5t Water Department, is shown in right photo checking the
amount of water stored in the 300,000-gallon tank at left. Attempts are being made
to maintain a 250,000 gallon supply. However, this is taxing pumps which must run
almost continuously at two wells. Extended hot weather could make the water supply
here critical.
Water System Is Taxed
The old supply and demand theory
has caught up with the Town of Eden
ton waterwise, that is.
At peak times water is being used so
rapidly that pumps must operate on a
near 24-hour basis in order to keep a
safe supply of water in the single 300,-
000-gallon tank serving Edenton.
Several times last summer the water
(Che |Jnhlic Parade
Time For Action
Reports that the Town of Edenton
water system is being taxed to the criti
cal stage should alarm area citizens to
the point of action. This community has
experienced unprecedented growth in the
past few years while most facilities have
been added to, not expanded.
Edenton and Chowan County are now
getting the first taste of the expense of
progress. While at first it might prove
less than palatable, this can be proper
seasoned to make it digestible.
Nearly every citizen who meanders
along The Public Parade enjoys the
fruits of the healthy economic condition
found here. Therefore, they should be
willing to step up and foot their share
of the bill.
In addition to an expanded water,
sewer and electrical system, a new hos
pital is needed and open ditches need
closing. Low cost housing is a must as
is a rejuvenated recreation plan.
The play-as'-you-go system is jnost de
sirable. However, when the times de
mand otherwise, this must be abandoned
and a more logical approach taken.
While our neighbors vote bonds for
$36,000 projects, and enjoy the improve
ments while paying for them, it has
been the policy here to wait until suffici
ent cash was in hand to do the work.
Bond issues, while the roughest route,
are the most ‘ sensible. And those who
enjoy the music should be willing to pay
the fiddler.
Unwelcomed News
Announcement this week that R. J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company will close
down the plant operations of its Avoca
Division came as a complete surprise.
To say it was a bit of unwelcomed news
to those who meander along The Public
Parade would be putting it mildly.
Although Avoca is located in neighbor
ing Bertie County, a pretty healthy share
of the payroll found its way into Cho
wan. Many of the 40 permanent em
ployees, -as well as the nearly 100 others
who worked at Avoca during the harvest
season, lived on this side of the river.
The payroll, however, will be but one
void left in this community.
Reynolds sent high caliber manage
ment to the Avoca operation. .The de
parture of such people as J. D. Barnhill,
division manager, Aubrey Davis, and
others, will be felt on the local scene.
The Winston-Salem based tobacco firm
has a tremendous investment in the
Avoca operation. It is hopeful that
Continued on Page 4
Rains Welcomed
The soaking rains over the weekend
were welcomed by Chowan County
farmers and pushed the rainfall total
for the first 10 days of July to 2.56
inches.
J. H. Conger, Sr., veteran weather
observer here, recorded 1.84 inches in
the 24-hour period from Saturday after
noon until Sunday afternoon. Most of
the rain, Conger said, fell during heavy
showers early Sunday morning.
The first third of July saw almost as
much rainfall as was recorded during
the entire month of May. Conger meas
ued 2.91 inches then.
Rainfall in June, which farm officials
say saved much of the crop, was re
corded by Conger, at 4.07 indies.
lr*> - '-as >• - •» v% ‘
supply was so low that it neared the
critical stage. There would not have
been sufficient water available to fight
a major fire, authorities say.
The water supply of the Town of
Edenton has not been increased since
the early 1930’5. There have been con
stantly increasing demands for water
and it has now reached the point where
something must be done, says Supt. R.
N. Hines, Sr., of the Electric & Water
Departments.
Speaking about the need for immedi
ate steps to increase the supply of water,
Supt. Hines pulls no bones. “We just
can’t postpone action any longer. We
have got to do something to make sense
with the people as well as ourselves.”
The department, pumping from two
wells established decades ago, attempts
to maintain a supply of 250,000 gallons
at all times. However, Supt. Hines
points out that at times there is little
more than a “stand pipe” full available.
While this summer there has been no
extended period of hot weather, the su
perintendent says just three days run
ning would create such a demand for
water it would be impossible to main
tain a safe supply for emergencies.
Recent industrialization along with
more homes, businesses and air condition
ers as well as a general increase in usage
Continued on Page 4
Lewis Is Installed
As Lions President
George Lewis was installed Monday
night as president of Edenton Lions
Club, being elevated from the position
of first vice president.
Lewis, vice president of Peoples Bank
& Trust Company here, and the slate of
new officers were installed by Immediate
Past District Gov. W. Herbert Hollowell,
Jr., of the Edenton club.
The new president succeeds Dan
Reaves, who has served for the past
year.
Lewis has been a member of the club
for six years and has participated in
numerous club projects and other ac
tivities.
Other officers for the 1967-68 club
year include:
Leo Katkaveck, first vice president.
E. L. Hollowell, second vice president.
Gene Perry, third vice president.
W. J. Taylor, secretary-treasurer.
Burley Niblett, lion tamer.
Bill Easterling, tailtwister.
Warren Twiddy, Henry Cuthrell, R.
W. Leary, Jr., and Hiram Weeks, mem
bers of die board of directors.
FIRE STATION TO BE DEDlCATED—Dedication and open house at the
i handsome new Edenton Fire Station, located at the corner of North Broad. Street
M and Park Avenue, will be held Sunday, July 23. Plans for the event, which clim
axes more than 25 years of planning, are being made by Fire Chief W. J. Yates,
0 ! Councilman-at-Large J. D. Elliott and W. B. Gardner, town administrator. Mayor
John A. Mitchener, Jr., and other town officials will participate on the program.
f Details will be announced next week.
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Reynolds Will Close Avoca
farm Operation August Ist
tO :
.5 u ‘ J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
•S e announced that it plans to close
I the plant operations of its Avoca
a o ion, which since 1963 has been ex
§ 2 tenting with the production of flav
i w " s for use in tobacco manufacturing.
The plant equipment will be maintain
ed in a stand-by status for future use,
and agricultural experiments to improve
the yield of the crop, which has been
grown on the farm and under contract
by local land owners, will be continued.
During the peak summer season, Reyn-
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Volume XXXIV. —No. 28. Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina 27932 ' Thursday, July 13, 1967. Single Copy 10 Cents
Local Group
Given Funds
For Projects
Historic Edenton, Inc., was given
$36,000 by the 1967 General Assembly
for continued restoration of three historic
sites here and to take initial steps to
ward establishment of a visitor center
museum.
The group had asked for $50,000.
W. B. Gardner, chairman of the Board
of Directors, said the funds will be spent
during the coming months as follows:
Barker House, $5,600 for restoration
and painting.
Cupola House, $7,650 for work on the
second and third floors.
Iredell House, $15,871 for restoration
and repairs.
The remainder of the money will be
available to begin work on establishing
the visitor center-museum at the Barker
House.
Rep. Philip Godwin of Gatesville and
Rep. W. T. Culpepper, Jr., of Elizabeth
City, supported the Historic Edenton bid
in the General Assembly.
In 1963 the General Assembly appro
priated $24,100 for the Cupola and
Barker houses. Then in 1965, the three
sites were given $31,200.
The group is working towards effici
ently presenting a centralized Edenton
program and Gardner said further steps
will be taken to establish the visitor
center-museum.
Chancel Dramas Scheduled July 20
First Presbyterian Church here will
be the scene July 20 for the presenta
tion of two chancel dramas by the Min
isterial Association of East Carolina Uni
versity in Greenville. The program be
gins at 8 o’clock.
“He Came Seeking” by Mary Hamlin,
and “The Sandbox” by Edward Albee
are the two dramas being presented with
actors being drama majors at ECU.
There will be a social hour following
the productions.
Rev. Warren Nance, pastor of First
Presbyterian Church, said while the
Presbyterian Churches in this area are
olds employed 135 in the Avoca Division.
There were 40 fulltime employees.
James D. Barnhill, Avoca Division
manager, said local farmers were ad
vised the first of this year that following
the harvest of the 1967 crop, in mid-
July, the growing contracts would not be
renewed.
Barnhill also said that most of the
regular farm employees will not be af
fected by the plant closing, and that the
company is offering employment in
Winston-Salem to all regular employees
ALASKA BOUND—Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Kehayes and son, Martin, leave soon
for Minlo. Alaska, where the young Episcopal rector will be the priest in charge of
St. Barnabas Mission. The Kehayes' recently visited his parents. Mr. and Mrs. E. P,
Kehayes, 103 Pembroke Circle, prior to departing for his new duties.
Kehayes Couple To Serve Alps Hans
By Kate Bufjlap
Even as a small boy, Tom Kehayes
had dreamed of some day going to Alas
ka and now the dream has come true.
Tom, an ordained Episcopal minister,
his wife, Kristin, and infant son, Martin,
will leave in a few weeks for Minto,
Alaska, where he will be the priest in
charge of St. Barnabas Mission.
Minto, a small settlement of 200 In-
sponsoring the plays, this is but one of
six denominations that are working to
gether in this project.
He explained that the purpose of the
project is basically threefold: to demon
strate the use of drama for the com
munication of the Gospel; to encourage
united community endeavors; and to
gather research data on reaction to chan
cel drama performances.
“This should be a very worthwhile
and rewarding experience,” he said, “and
we hope that all who are able will plan
to attend and share in the entertainment,
fellowship and worship that it will offer.”
displaced when the local plant operation
is terminated.
Barnhill indicated that the company
intends to continue its tobacco experi
mental program. Tobacco crop experi
ments to date have been concerned with
variety testing, cultural practices, and
mechanical harvesting and curing devices
and procedures.
Barnhill also stated that Avoca would
continue the experimental growing of a
variety of agricultural crops, in coopera
tion with the U. S. and N. €. Depart
ments of Agriculture.
dians, is situated on foe Tawana River,
about 50 miles from Fairbanks.
The Kehayes family will live in a two
room house, one room upstairs and one
down, heated by a wood stove, the wood
being chopped by Tom himself, about
10 cords a year.
Minto, with an average temperature
of 28 degrees, getting sometimes as low
as 60 degrees below zero, is accessible
only by air or water, so all their pro
visions must be bought on a long range
plan, including food, with the exception
of fresh meats brought in by the hunter.
The nearest hospital is situated at Fair
banks, however, since Kristin Kehayes is
a registered nurse, she will be able, with
the aid of Short Wave Radio Public
Health Service Instructions, to take care
of all minor illnesses occurring in the
settlement.
To most of us, this seems like a big
and perhaps terrifying enterprise, but
the young Kehayes family, with their
implicit faith in God and belief that
these are His plans, do not seem at all
skeptical or frightened by their plans
to serve in this remote part of th<*
world.
Farmers To Vote
On 4 Questions
Farmers producing peanuts, cotton and
tobacco in Chowan County will join with
others throughout North Carolina Tues
day in an important referendum.
Tar Heel cotton farmers will be asked
to vote on the collection of up to 25
cents per bale in 1969 through 1973 to
keep the N. C. Cotton Promotion Asso
ciation in business.
Peanut farmers will be asked to vote
on the continuation of a two-cent-per
-100-pound assessment on peanuts for
1968 through 1973 crops.
For tobacco farmers, the two votes in
volve acreage-poundage marketing quotas
and price supports and the continuation
of Tobacco Associates.
Voting will be from 7 A. M., to 7
P. M., Tuesday in the following places:
“A” Community—ASCS Office.
“B” Community—Earl Smith’s Store.
“C” Community—H&H Grocery.
H. O. West, ASCS Office Manager in
Chowan, said allotments here for the
three crops involved includes: Peanuts,
6,255.3 acres; cotton, 2,806.7 acres; and
tobacco, 463.37 acres.