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The NEW BERN
A
CA»v ^
5^ Per CO|.
VOLUME 3
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1961
NUMBER 48
You’ll recall that recently we
f ame up with some misty recollec-
ions, and allowed as how no one
would remember them unless he
qualified as an honest-to-goodness
old timer on the local scene.
Considerable comment was
aroused, and on our desk are some
additional observation from a for
mer New Bernian, Ike Brooks, who
lives at 4105 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.,
in Washington, D. C.
“I read the article in The Mir
ror,” he writes, “and could have
added a great deal that would an
tedate some of the things included.
I could take the editor back to the
days when Sheriff Biddle was the
“high sheriff” and had among his
deputies “Free” Emul, old man
Blacklege and Claus Credle. Mr.
Jim Bryan was mayor and C. B.
Hill was U. S. Commissioner.
“The market dock was usually
filled with oyster boats and boot
leggers, and the Blades building
hadn’t been built. Charlie McSor-
ley- was operating his ice cream
and candy store in the old building
where the Elks Temple now stands,
and had one of the very few soda
fountains' in New Bern.
“The front door was closed on
Sundays, but you could enter
through the Pollock street door.
Upstairs Mr. Gerock had his photo
graph shop. Next to Bradham’s old
drug store on. Pollock street was
-the Farmers and Merchants Bank,
which Mr; Dewey wrecked about
.1904.
“Going on towards Graven street
ypu found D. P. Jarvis trimming
stof^, Siminohs and ®>lldWfillfSi
goods store, J. G. Bunn’s haber
dashery and dry goods ^tore. New
Bern National Bank, Moses White
hurst’S; book and stationery store,
and Hackburn’s grocery. I can’t
remember what was on the corner
of Craven.
“Ampng the stores on Middle
street, going toward South Front,
were “Bue” Ennit’s book store,
Sam Eaton’s jewelry store, William
T. Hill’s bicycle and sporting goods
shop, S. Coplon and Sons, New
Bern Banking and Trust Co., Cutler
Blades hardware store. The Cha-
tawka Hotel, M. Suskin, Phillip
Howard, and Duffy’s drug store.”
Just when we were beginning to
feel like an old timer ourselves.
Brooks shattered this illusion with
his own nostalgic contribution to
the community’s folklore. He out
distanced us on Memory Lane the
moment he started talking about
“the old building where the Elks
Temple now stands.” As far back
in childhood as we can recall, this
village skyscraper, was adorning the
comer of Middle and Pollock. *
In the realm of movies, we have
no recollection of John Bunny, al
though Ike undoubtedly does. The
first screen comedian we recall
was Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle. And
still vivid is a cohiedy he played in.
Arbuckle accidentally set his bed
on fire, while staying at a hotel.
Instead of spreading the alarm, he
made repeated trips downstairs to
get a glass of water from the desk
clerk. By the time the clerk knew
what was happening, the hotel was
going up in flames. 'To a small boy,
this was very funny.
We’ll never forget Jackie Coogan
when he played in “The Kid” with
Charlie Chaplain. He was only a
tot at thfe time, and every time we
see him on television today, very
fat and very bald, it makes us feel
ancient. Another unforgettable
movie was “Daddy .Long Legs”
with Mary Pickford. It was a real
tear jericer.
The saddest film of them all,
however, was a drippy epic entitled
“Over The Hill To The Poor
House.” Among the more dazzling
productions was the original ver
sion of “Ben Hur.” Equally spec
tacular were “Birth of a Nation,”
“The Covered Wagon,” “Last of fhe
PRlIilt AND PRODD—Wft c6wldn*t to
usher in Girl Scout We^k than running a pictiife 'drlQme of
the very cute Brownies we have here in New Bern. Shown
on the steps of the First Presbyterian church wtih three of
their MuJjWesuters ar» members of Troop -146 and Troop
256. 'The Mirror salutes them, and all other Scouts and
Brownies in T)ur town.—^Photo by Billy Benners.
To Observe Girl Scout Week
There’s a big week ahead for the
884 Girl Scouts and Brownies in
New Bern and Cra.ven county. Be
ginning Sunday and continuing
through the following Saturday,
they and their 268 adult leaders
and advisors will be observing the
49th anniversary of their organiza
tion.
Joining with them throughout
the 20 countries comprising the
Coastal Carolina Council are going
to be the 6,012 other* youngsters
who have been giving Scouting in
the feminine category a tremen
dous boost in recent years.
Heading the sprawling, super
active council as president is New
Bern’s own Helen Grantham Nee
ly, while Goldsboro’s energetic Lib
Hawley, a former member of the
New Bern High school faculty, is
the executive director.
For years, LiB has worked at a
furious pace to establish scouting
at its present high leyel in the
eastern half of the State. Since the
council’s expansion some time ago
it includes'Craven, Pamlico, Jones,
Carteret, Onslow, Beaufort, Lenoir,
Pitt, Wayne, Martin, Greene, Hyde,
Mohicans,” and Lon Chaney’s
“Phantom of the Opera.’’
Maybe we’re prejudiced, but it
seems to us that the western stars
you see on television today are less
exciting than William S. Hart, Dus
tin Farnum, Tom Mix and Hoot
Gibson used to be. 'I’here are more
killings in the present era—so
many that they have become com
monplace—^but gunplay in the old
days was an art that was injected
into the action just hften'enough.
Duplin, Dare, Tyrell, Columbus,
Brunswick, Pender, Washington
and New Hanover counties.
Comprehensively and intelligent
ly planned, the Coastal Carolina
council has no less than 2,500
adults working in the cause. They
include troop leaders, directors,
committee members, district chair
men and neighborhood chairmen.
These volunteers are doing a
splendid job under the supervision
of a pTofessional staff composed of
the executive director, an assistant
executive director, seven district
advisers, and an office force at the
Goldsboro headquarters composed
of a registrar, secretary and book
keeper.
There are v four established
camps. White scouts attend Camp
Trailee near Goldsboro, Camp Pret
ty Pond at Wilmington, and Camp
Hardee near Washington. Negro
scouts attend Camp Carver at Dud
ley, in Wayne county. In addition,
“One fof dolly, one .for Susie.” Through service to
others, Senior Girl Scouts, 14 through IT years, prepare
for their future careers including MotfaerhUod. Senior
aide programs include child care, occu^tional therapy, |
andYolunteier service In hospital^ libraries.and museums.;
Almost 3V& million Scouts across the country a.re cele
brating Girl Scout Week from March 12-18.
day camping and individual camp
ing are done throughout the area.
Founded by Juliette Gordon
Low, the Girl Scouts is a nation
wide organization for girls from
seven through 17 years of age. Its
purpose is to help girls develop as
happy, resourceful individuals
ready to share their abilities as
citizens in their homes, their com
munities, the country and the
world.
Latest figures show 3,420,000
members, including 2,650,000 girls
and 770,000 men and women. Ac
tivities are geared to three age
groups. Girls from seven to nine
years are Brownies, from 10
through 13 they are Intermediates,
and from 14 through 17 they aru
Seniors. Each group has its own
uniform, its own program, and its
own goals.
Major Girl Scout activities and
interests are demonstrated in the
seven days of Girl Scout week. The
week opens with Girl Scout Sunday
(or Girl Scout Sabbath for girls of
Jewish faith). Other days in order
are Homemaking Day, Citizenship
Day, Health and Safety Day, Inter
national Friendship Day, Arts and
Crafts Day, and Out-of-Doors Day.
The movement had its start at
Savannah, Ga., in 1912 when Juli
ette Low called together 12 girls
to form the first Girl Scout troop
there. Among the millions who
have belonged to the organization
during the years that followed has
been a very high percentage of
America’s leading women.
To really appreciate the enthusi
asm in New Bern, citizens are be-
(Continued on Pago 8)
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