THE HARRIS HERALD
Only Negro Newspaper in
Rutherford County.
HE HUtRIS HERUD
RUTHERFORD COUNTY
Population 45,577.
Agt'lcuUural Manufacturing
Center.
Summer resorts.
VOLUME 2 — NO. 1
HARRIS, NORTH CAROLINA, NOVEMBER, 1946
SUBSCRIPTION $1.00 PER YEAR
PUBLISHED MONTHLY
HERALD OBSERVES FIRST AHNIVERSARY
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if it it it it
it it it it it
it it it it it
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Dr. Charles S. Johnson Elected President Of Fisk University
FIRST NEGRO TO
SERVE AS HEAD
OF THIS COLLEGE
Has Been a Member of the
Faculty of Fisi for
Some Years
SUCCEEDS WHITE
For Ihe first timp in its lon^
)ii.5tory, Fisk univer,sity, located
at Nashville, Tenn., and one
among the outstanding universi
ties in the United States, has
elected a Negro pre.sident. His
name >.s Dr. Charles S. Johnson.
Dr. Johnson has been for a num
ber of years. a member of the
faculty of Fisk university and for
the past several years head of the
social science department of Fisk.
Dr. Johnson wa.s chosen among
a group of distinguished .A.meri-
cans to go to Japan to help for
mulate and establish the educa
tional system of Japan. He has
also been elected to go to Europe
to a great meeting-.
The election of Dr. Johnson as
president of this important and
progressive educational institution
.succeeding Di-. Elsie Thomas,
white, is another .strong link in
the educational chain of America.
Congratulations and be.st wishes
to Dr. Charles S. Johnson, an
American educator and leader.
NEGRO CAPTAIN
AMONG GRADUATES
liiileigh Man Receives Com
mission at Carlisle
Barracks
Carlisle Barracks, Penn.—Cap
tain Elliot M. Johnson Negro in
fantry officer, was among the 1.J5
officei-s who received diplomas
from Secretary of War Robert
P. Patterson at the graduation of
the third class of the army infor
mation school here on Nov. 6.
Secretary Patter.son spoke to
the cla.ss which for twelve weeks
had pursued courses in army pub
lic relations and information-edu
cation. Among the prominent mil
itary guests at the graduation
Ceremony were Lieutenant-Gener
al A. C. Wedemeyer, commanding
general of the Second army, Maj
or General T. J. Hanley, com
mander of the 11th air force,
Major General M. C. Stayer, USA
retired, formerly assistant com
mandant of the medical field serv
ice school, located at Carlisle bar
racks prior to the army informa
tion school.
Capt. Johnson, whose home is
at 1215 New Bourne Avenue, Ra
leigh, North Carolina, entered
the army in August, 1941, at Fort
Bragg. Commissioned at the in
fantry school, Fort Benning, Ga.,
in May 1942, he was assigned to
the 795th tank -destroyer battalion
serving w,ith that unit April 23,
1944 when he wa.s transferred to
.the, 4225th quartermaster truck
company.
When Capt. John.son was a.s-^
signed to the information school
as a indent in the public rela
tions Sourse he was with the
3826th quartermaster truck com
pany at Camp Campbell, Ken
tucky. Following graduation he
returned to' Camp Campbell.
The army -information school
began operati,ons on February 27,
1946. A new school, it typifies
the new policies of the po.st-war
army. The school trains public re
lations officers, who interpret the
workings of the army to the pub
lic, and information-education of
ficers, charged with carrying out
the army’s policy of making the
■American solider the “best in
formed .soldier in the world.” Stu
dents of this school are carefully
selected for aptitude and interest
in the work for which they re
ceive this training.
War Department
Releases
All of us appreciate the great
record that the negro solider of
America made in Wtorld War II.
For the releases that have ap
peared in the Harris H'erald we
are indebted to the war depart
ment, public relations division, of
Washington, D. G.
MRS. EARLINE WHITESIDE
M rs. Earline Wliitesidfe Joined
the staff of the Harris Herald
as representative from Bostic
June 27, 1946, and has ren
dered efficient and prompt
service since that time. Con
sidering the number of sub
scriptions secured, the number
of papers sold, and the all-
round goodwill created for the
Herald, places her among the
best three correspondents of
this paper. Not only that, she
has done all of this work with
out any charge whatsoever.
Mrs. Whiteside is a high school
junior and is a credit to her
community, family and host of
friends. She, too, sends greet
ings to all of the readers of
the Harris Herald.
BROOKS CHAPEL
CHURCH NEWS
Rev. C. E. Strickland, Pastor
Marion Brooks, Reporter
A -succes.sful year at Brooks
Chapel Methodist church has just
closed under the administration
of Rev. Strickland.
Our annual conference was held
at St, Mark church. High Point,
with Rev. R. B. McRoe, host-pas
tas-. Miss Marie Brooks and Mrs.
Clara Brooks were chosen repre
sentatives from this church. They
brought back excellent reports.
We are happy to get our pa.stor
back for another year.
We are planning on building
a new chqrch under the leader
ship of Rev. Strickland,
A fine song service was held
at our church. Sunday, Nov. 10th,
rendered by the Junior Pour
ejuartet of Forest City, offering
$25.83.
We extend a hearty welcome to
all of you to attend our services
at all times. Preaching on the
2-4th Sundays at 12:00 p. m.
Sunday school at 10:30 a. m.
Congratulations
Sincet*e congratulations! To
editor M. B. Robinson o the
Harris Herald for his leader
ship in building the Harris
Herald to the point where it
is today. We the people of
Rutherford county feel that
we are greatly indebted to him
for his efforts in our behalf.
The service that editor Rob
inson has rendered to and for
us in this section of North
Carolina will he a plant bed
for coming generations. His
name will be on the pages of
history as the founder of
“The Harris Herald” the first
negro newspaper in Ruther
ford county and in this section
of the State between Charlotte
and Asheville, N. C. >
We are happy to have given
him our . best support, because
he is doing a good work for
the benefit of all of us. We
wish him much success in this
l^reat undertaking.
In Memoriam
HOLD RUTHERFORD
POLK SINGING
CONVENTION
Convention for Two Coun
ties Held Oct. 12-13
With Green Creek
The Rutherford and Polk coun
ty .‘singing convention met Oct.
12-13, with Greens Creek Baptist
church with Mtr. S. B. McKinney,
presidij-g and Harold’'Green host.
A topic “Chri.stian Missions in
Our Singing Convention” was dis
cussed by several of those pres
ent. On Saturday night a Literai-y
program was rendered by the
young people. Rev. G. W. Dris-
kell, pastor preached a fine ser
mon from the theme “Sing.Ing
Unto the Lord” he delivered a
fine message.
The following classes did some
excellent singing on Sunday:
Greens Creek, Doggetts Grove,
Jr., Ruth, Jerusalem, Gold Hill,
Union Grove, and Doggetts Grove,
Sr. The next convention will meet
v/ith Union Grove church near
Landrum, S. C. The total amount
of money raised in the conven
tion was $49.59. *85118 closed a
great se.ssion of the annual Ruth
erford and Polk counties singing
convention.
Offieer.s are: S. B. McKinney,
president; Mrs. M-yra McNear,
secretary; Mr. Galvin Smith,
treasurer and H. H. Hud.son,
.supervisor.
Local And Personal
Items Of Interest
Gathered In County
Editor-Publisher
PERSONALS FROM
DOGGETTS GROVE
Mrs. Annie L. Goode
(Staff Correspondent)
Elder G. W. Rice, Greensboro,
filled hi.s regular appointment at
Mt. Pisgah Holiness church Nov.
10th. He preached two fine ser
mons that were enjoyable. He
was accompanied by Bros. Thig-
pin, Goush and Thompson.
Rev. E. L. Goode filled his reg
ular appointment at Neelys Grove
church, Cramei-ton, N. C. last
Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Roberts,
Winston-Salem, visited Mr. and
Mrs. Odell Goode Nov. 10th.
The Junior Four quintet, of
Forest Ci.ty rendered a program
at Doggett' Grove church Nov.
10th.
The 4th Sunday in October
Mrs. Annie L. Goode attended
morning services at Pleasant A.
M. E. Zion church, Gastonia, N.
C. Rev. A. C. Duffie is the effi
cient pastor.
Mrs. Ida Byers of Cleveland,
Ark., who spent the summer with
her sister Mrs. Adline Adams,
Grover, N. C. has returned home.
She was accompanied home by
her sister, Mrs. Adams who will
spend the winter with her.
While in this state Mr.s. Byers
visited relatives in Salisbury at
Livingstone college and her
granddaughter, Miss Mitchell, at
Scocia college, Concord, N. C.
Rev. C. B. Littlejohn, of Spin-
dale visited Rev. and Mrs. E. L.
Goode Nov. 12-13th.
A shower was given Nov. 8th
to Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Mosley
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John
Withrow. The young couple re
ceived 27 presents. About 60 per
sons were present. Refreshments
were served and all had an enjoy
able time.
In loving memory of our daugh
ter and sister, Marie P. Forney,
■who passed away Nov. 13, 1934.
We are lonesome, because God
has taken her away from us, but
her memory will live in our
hearts until we meet her in
heaven.
Sister and .brother—Mary L.,
Ruth, Odessia, John, and mother
Mrs. Mary HamUton.
New York City, N. Y.
Hard Worker
Among the 20 or more mem
bers of the Harris Herald none
of them work harder for the
success of the paper than Jes
sie L. Miller, staff correspond
ent from Ziont Grove com
munity, and district circulation
manager. He succeeded his
late father Jessie Miller and
has literally carried the good
news about the Herald into
scores of homes and places that
otherwise would have never
seen or heard about it. It has
been a pleasure to work with
Mr. Miller who is a good
church worker, working news
paper man, and an ideal fel
low to work with. He is a for
mer student of New Hope high
school, Rutherfordton, N. C.
and made a fine record there.
M. B. ROBINSON
Shown above is M. B. Rob
inson, editor-founder and gen
eral manager of the Harris
Herald.
PERSONAL ITEMS
FROM HENRIEHA
Hazel Philip.s
(Staff Correspondent)
We are doging fine at Zion
Hill .A.. M. E. Zion church under
the leadership of Rev. J. D. Glad
den, pastor. We appreciate his
service very much and hope that
he is returned to us for another
year.
Rev. J. T. Laster, pastor and
the members of New Zion Bap
tist church are getting along fine.
They just closed a successful rally
for the church.
Rev. Felix Gray and his mem
bers of St. Luke Holiness hurch,
of Forest City rendered service at
Zion Hill recently.
Miss Hazel Philips was crowned
“Miss Zion Hill” recently when
^he won first prize in a contest
conducted by the pastor of Zion
Hill church. Mrs. Laura Una Wilk
ins and Mrs. Alder Hart won sec
ond and third prizes respectively.
Mrs. Nancy Dewberry also had
on a contest at Manning’s Chapel
church. Contestants were Dolly M.
Dewbejry, Mae E. Petty, Glendora
Roberts, Mae Lou Petty and
Louise Cannon. Mae Lou Petty
won first prize.
Pvt. Conell Dewberry is home
on furlough.
Mrs. Kittle Carpenter, widow
of the late Esaw Carpenter was
buried at the local cemetery last
week.
Cp). Richard Sims, Camp Lee,
Va., visited, his family recently.
Pfc. Charles Camp is home on
furlough.
Mrs. Bassie Peri-y, Kanapolis,
N. C., visited her aunt, Lizzie
Humpries.
Mr. and Mrs. Buddie Hart vis
ited Mrs. Ella Hart, of Shelby
recently.
The Tobe Hartwell Gospel
Singers were at Zion Hill church
in a program recently.
The New Zion Missionary so
ciety rendered a program at Oak-
Grove church at Forest City re
cently.
H'aze! Philips visited Mrs. Ger
trude Johnson of Bostic recently.
Miss Addie Sue Logan has been
to the hospital for an operation.
She i:s doing fine at this wrting.
Misses Geneva Baxter and Lil
lian Harris spent a few days in
Boiling- Spring recently.
Mr. Lawrence Gorden was
burned at his home Monday morn
ing Nov. 11th. He was rushed to
the hospital and died that night.
He was a faithful and earnest
member of Zion Hill church,
where he was laid to rest Sun
day Nov. 17th at 3 p. m.
Short Items of Interest to
All Readers of Harris
Herald
Mr, and Mrs. Echos Wilkins has
just returned home from a trip
to Philadelphia, Pa. They report
a pleasant and safe trip to “The
City of Brotherly Love”.
COUNTY HEALTH
OFFICER GIVES
REPORT FOR OCT.
Crowned
District Health Department
Has Had Busy Month
In Rutherford
Rev. F. T. Williamson, pastor
of Mt. View Bapti.st church near
Rutherfordton kindly gave us one
of his anniversary p r o g r a m .s
which was celebrated Sunday
Nov. 10. The pa.stor preached in
the morning with a .sermon by
Rev. R. B. Sullivan, D. D., Greer,
S. C., in the afternoon. Dinner
was served on the grounds. Seve
ral visiting choirs were pesent.
Miss Lillie Bright and Glynn
Petty recently returned from a
visit to New York City. They
visited their cousin Miss Maude
Wilkerson, a valued employee of
the New York Telephone Co.
They found Mis.s Wilkerson doing
well and al.-.o hundreds of other
negroes working side by side
with other races in peace and har
mony. Miss Wilkerson was so
pleased with a copy of the Han-is
H'erald shown l*ier by Mi.ss Bright
that she subscribed for one year.
It has been interesting to see
the large amounts of money made
by the people of all ages this fall
picking cotton. Not only are
people making plenty of money,
but for the most part they are
putting- it to good use by buying-
winter clothing and other things
of value.
If and when the broadcasting
.station Is built by the officials of
the Forest City Courier as stated
in our last is.sue, our quartets
here that are able to broadcast
should contact the proper per.sons
.so as to get the proper connec
tions before some quartet comes
from out.side of- this county and
section and get a choice spot and
leave our boys on the outside as
usual. ■ ; .
HOLUS NEWS
Marion Brooks
(Staff Correspondent)
The youth of Brooks Chapel
church sponsored a wiener roast
Sept. 7th at the home of Mrs.
Gertrude Brooks. $8.45 was
raised. Ice cream was also served.
The Union Singing convention
will meet with White Oak church
Dec. 8th at 1 p. m. You are in
vited to attend.
Sons were born recently to Mr.
and Mrs. Roger Roberts Shelby,
R-5 and Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Flack,
Mr. John Blount ,is very ill at
this writing. We hope for Hi, a
speedy recovery.
Mr. W. M. Oates is also .sick,
W,e gave him a day’s work Nov.
20 th.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph
Brooks is home from overseas.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L.
Morris is now overseas.
The W. S. 0. C. will sponsor
a rally at Brooks Chapel church
Sunday, Dec. l.st.
Giving Thanks
Jessie L. Miller
For the hay and the corn and
the wheat that is reaped.
For the labor well done and the
barns are heaped.
For the rain and the dew and
the sweet honey comb.
And the rose and the song that
the harvest brought home.
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!
For the trade and the skill of
the wealth of -our land.
For the strength and the cunning
of the working man’s hand.
For the good and artistic our
poet has taught.
For the friendship and hope the
after has brought.
Thinksgiving! Thanksgi'ving!
The major activity of the
health department for the na ,
month outside of regular roi
tine duties has been the examin
ation of school children, .sai -
Dr. J. T. Ramsaur, health office
for Rulherford-Polk Districi
This procedure is earned out
with the main objective of find
ing major defects in physical and
mental condition of school child
ren which are hampering their
normal development and prevent-'
ing their absorption of the edu
cation afforded them, he says.
The ideal school examination
would include all the pupils in
the schools every year, but this
is impo.ssible because of the limit
ed time for such examinations,
and the small number of exam
iners, Nor is it necessary for
all the .“tudents to be examined.
Children in glowing health, who
are not absent from school be
cause of illne.ss, and who are
learning their lessons with a
minimum of difficulty are .screen
ed out and only those who show
signs of ill health, or are back
ward in their studies are examin
ed. This screening- is done by
the teachers in the schools. They
examine each child a-s to weight,
height, vision, hearing, and skin
diseases. They also check their
teeth, tonsils, and record what
they find on a card. They make
notes on this card concerning
mental development, and ability
to learn. They observe tlie nutri
tional .status of the child. Then
they refer the children which are
handicapped by their defects to
the health department for fur
ther examination.
The health department at an
arranged time goes to the school
and examines those children re
ferred to them by the teachers,
usually in the presence of the
teacher. Defects are noted, and
suggestions are made to the tea
cher, the child, and to the child’s
parents for, correction of these
defects. Fi-equently the -nurse
calls on the parents in regard to,
a child’s health, and helps them
to arrange for correction. either
through one of the regular clinics
or through their family physician.
The health department spon
sors three clinics for children
with handicaps. Tonsils and ade
noids are removed every other
week at Rutherford Hospital
through the courtesy of the staff
there. Those who can do so pay
a cost price, and the fund for
Crippled Children generously pro
vided by organizations through
the County pays for those who
can not. The cooperation of the
Hospital and the people of Ruth
erford County with the health de
partment .ip carrying on this
worth v/hile. activity is commend
able. Another clinic is held once
a month by Dr. Cherry of Ashe
ville in orthopedics, and still an
other is held by Dr. Brackett of
Hendersonville in ophthalmology.
These .are also carried out on a
cost ba.sis. There is a definite
need for a dental clinic but the
nature of dentistry, since each
case requires considerable time,
has been so far too great an
obstacle to surmount.
This month nine hundred and
thirty students have been exanr-
ined. This represents almo.st 25%
of the children enrolled in the
schools. Of these 107 had defec
tive vision, 177 defective teeth,
299 enlarged tonsils, and 124
were nutritionally d e f i c i e n t,
though this number is not a fair
lepresentation of the nutritional
deficiency that exists. Rutherford
County is no worse than any
other county in ,its food habits,
but it is also no better. Its per
centage of nutritional deficien
cies runs right along with the
national average, which comes
pretty close to being a national
disgrace. The final results for
all the children .in the county
have not been tabulated, and
when this is done there will be
a report on this grave problem
that confronts us, along with sug
gestions that it is hoped will
—Turn to Pago Six
MISS HAZEL PHILIPS
Shown above is Miss Hazel
Philips prominent member of
*Zion Hill A. M. E. Zion church,
Henrietta and church organist
who was crowned Miss “Zion
Hill” recently after winning
first place in a contest conduct
ed by the pastor. She reported
$125.58. Second and third
places were won by Mrs. Laura
Una Wilkins and Mrs. Alder
Hart, who reported $36.00 and
$35.00 respectively. Miss Phil
ips is also staff correspondent
of the Harris Herald and one
among the leading staff mem
bers of this paper. She has ren
dered excellent service to the
Herald and is a representative
that any paper should be proud
to have on it's staff. She is a
graduate of New Hope high
school. Rutherfordton, N. C.
and is a young woman of abil
ity, poise and tact. She sends
greetings to her host of friends
and admirers on the first an-'
niversary of the Harris Her
ald.
Miss Marion
Brooks Leading
Correspondent
Mi.ss Marion Brooks joined the
staff of the Han-is H'erald laSt .Jan
uary and ha.s shown her interest
in the H'erald since that time. She
is a representative of the Hollis
community. She is also a church
worker and civic leader and her
memborship on the staff of the
Herald has been helpful and bene
ficial.
The above references also ap
ply to the following- repre.senta-
tive of the Herald (whose pic
tures we were unable to get for
this edition) : Mrs. Eugene White-
side, Uree, N. C.; Mrs. Mae Etta
Hill, New House; Leroy Holbert,
Green.s Creek; Mrs. Emily Mosely,
Gaffney, S. C.; Mrs. Maebelle
Dixon, Belmont; Mrs. Eunice Tug
gle, Ellenboro; Mrs. Bernice Can
non, Forest City; Mrs. Janette
Logan, Rutherfordton; and Miss
Evelyn Lois Robinson, Harris,
N. C.
To these and the other corre
spondents mentioned .should go a
large amount of credit for the
success of the Herald for the past
year. Without their help and co
operation it would have been im
possible to have published the
Herald. To everyone of the mem
bers of the staff the editor wish
es to sincerely thank you.
Personal Items
From Bostic
Mrs. Earline Whiteside
(Staff Correspondent)
Mr. Clarence Allen died Oct.
4th after a serious illness of only
4 hours. He was taken to the
Rutherford hospital, but didn’t
recover. His passing is mourned
by this entire community. He
leaves a widow Mrs. Lucile Allen,
a mother, Mrs. Milbra Martin,
four small children and other rel
atives and a host of friends. Fu
neral services were conducted at
Bostic Chapel chui-ch with the pas
tor, Rev. W. R. Bomar in charge.
The Ministers and Deacons
union met Oct. 16-27 at New Ver
non Baptist church with a large
attendance.
Rev. R. B. Burgess pastor
preached a powerful sermon at
New Vernon church Oct. 3rd.
To Mr. and Mrs. Joe Brown
was born a baby girl recently.
HAS OVER 400
SUBSCRIBERS
IN 18 STATES
Only Negro Newspaper Be
tween Charlotte and
Asheville
FINE COOPERATION
Thursday Nov. 28 marked the
first anniversary of the Harris
Herald. Since the establishpient of
this newspaper one year ago we
have worked hard in order to
make this paper (the only Negro
paper between Charlotte and
Asheville) grow. Today our subi-
scriptioii list numbers 400 and
our gross circulation is 1000. We
have .subscribers in 18 states from
Rhode Island to California and
Michigan to Georgia.
When the editor first mentioned
establishing the Herald, many said
that the paper couldn’t be pub
lished, but the past year has
shown that it could be.
We are happy to have had the
co-operation of the business men
and also scores of civic-minded
people ill this county .They have
helped to make it possible to_ pub
lish the Herald.
We are indebted to the local
members of the staff who have
woi’ked hard to lielp us get this
paper out. They all deserve your
thanks. In this anniversary isusue
will be found greetings from the
repi-e.seiitative persons and bu.si-
nesses’ of Rutherford county for
which we are appreciative.
We have been criticized in some
quarters in connection with the
publi.shing of the Herald, however
we hare endeavored to serve our
readers and the people of this
county and our beloved wstern
North Carolina.
Finally we feel that if nothing
else has been accomplished by the
publishing of this paper-, in Ruth
erford county, we have at least
improved the relationship between
the races and tried to show the
better side of Negroes. To every
one tl-at have helped us, many
thanks.
BROOKS CHAPE
SCHOOL NEWS
The Brooks Chapel school is
getting along fine this year under
the leadership of Mr. Robert Vin
son, Winston-Salem, N. C. princi
pal and Miss Lottie Daniels, of
Westminister, S. C. and Mrs. M.
S. Gardner, Ellenboro, N. C. At
tendance has been good, with few
cases cf whooping cough reported.
Our .‘lubstitute supervisor Miss
Allen, of Asheville, organized a
“Mother’s Health Club.” This club
decided to sponsor a lunch room.
The tiachers and parents are co
operating fine toward building a
lunch room. At the present time
we have 150 quarts of fruits and
vegetables and $28.00 to buy
crackers, dishes, and other needed
articles.
Our health educator of Ruther
ford county Miss Carson, met
with the club and gave some help
ful suggestions. She is a very ef
ficient worker and the teachers
and parents wish to express their
appreciation for her service.
It is hoped that the children
can attend school regularly so
as to make their grades and get
promoted.
Miss Brooks
Thanks Friends
As a member of the staff of
the Harris Herald, I wish to
thank the many friends and rel
atives for their fine co-operation
for the Harris Herald.
My time has been limited, but
your help and subscriptions have
all been appreciated. In order to
build a great paper we must all
work hard, and I thank you for
what all of you have done to
ward making the Herald what it
is today. I shall be glad to write
your subscriti.ons any time that
you want them written.
Marion Brooks,
Staff Co-:-respondent,
Hollia, N. C.