The NEW BERN
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VOLUME 12
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10,1969
NUMBER 29
Changing jobs appeals to
some folks, but not Roger
Moultrie, who is known to many
here as an all round handyman
at Coleman Motor Company. He
has" been employed by Tommy
Coleman and the Ford distri
butor he succeeded, the late
W. C. Hagood, for 47 years.
Actually, it goes back even
further than that. Roger was U
years old when he went towork
at Hagood's livery stable In
Greenwood, S. C, He came
along when his boss moved to
New Her n, and has been around
ever since.
Moultrie lives at 608 Roun
tree street, and is married to
the former Callie Godette.
They have no children, but
raised her sister’s child. A1 -
though time has slowed him up,
Roger displays a constant
smile and Is Just about the most
cheerful person you’ll see on
any given day.
He loves Colenuin, and well
he should. Tommy, appreciat
ing Moultrie’s loyalty through
the years. Is patient when his
elderly employee’s thorough
ness takes considerably longer
than It once did.
Last week’s reference to
Smokey Joe, the medicine man,
kindled recollections for Louis
Howard, and he told us of anln-
cldent involving his father,who
founded a men’s clothing store
that was a landmark on Middle
street for many years.
Louis remembers too how the
slick talking tonic peddler
erected his show right smack
In the center of Middle street’s
first block, and says that short
ly thereafter the medlcliSh
man came into his father’s
store with a proposition.
"Give me that silk shirt in
the window,’’ Smokey Joe pro
claimed, and I’ll see that you
get the best advertising you’ve
ever had. I’ll have everybody
and his brother coming in here
to do business with you.”
Mr. Howard, figuring he
didn’t have much to lose, ac- ^
cepted the offer. Hiat night,'
the medicine man was as good
as his word, even if he got the
name of the clothing establish
ment mixed up and called it
Phillip and Howard.
Unfortunately, Smokey Joe in
his usual exuberance couldn’t
resist laying it on heavy. Point*
ing toward the store, easily vis
ible from his show’s location,
the medicine man shouted, ”Go
there if you want the greatest
bargains on the face of the
earth.”
That would have been enough,
but the glib pitch mail went
further. He assured the as-
sembed crowd that you could get
a two pants outfit, complete
with coat and vest, for two dol
lars.
Mr. Howard, a courtly gent
leman who didn’t believe in
false promises, was in the
crowd with little Louis, and to
say he was moritifed is put
ting it midly. Turning to his
small son, he said, ”I can’t
stay here any longer, that
man is going to ruin me.”
Smokey Joe didn’t ruin How-
ards’s cdter aU. Next day the
'tonic peddler moved on to other
climes, and the clothing store
continued to do business for
many more years. It was the
last time, however, that Mr.
Howard entered into an agree
ment with a fast talking spiel-
(Contlnued on page 8)
Snm-OHraitnt (Eonittg Piibllr SItbraTg
THE TRAIL SONG IS CALLING
IN CAROLINA'S GREAT OUTDOORS.