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VOLUME 12
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7,19M
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NUNi.. 33
Circumstances didn't permit
us to be in Raleigh on Hallo
ween, when our two year old
granddaughter took to the trick
or treat circuit tor the first
time« Seeing her dresses as the
tiniest Heidi ever would have
been a joyful experience.
Fortunately, thenl^therein
New Berndldhaveabrl^tspot.
Elizabeth Henderson, 18month
old offspring of David and LuUe,
showed up at our house as a cat,
complete with tail.
She acted like a cat too,
barging right In without cere
mony the moment we opened the
door. The two pieces of candy
she accepted from us appeared
to be secondary. Obviously, her
main mission was to make a
full inspection of our home,
bathroom included.
After casing the joint, with
out the slightest hint of a smile
on her face, she tried to return
the candy to us. What promp
ted her to make this gesture is
probably something we should
not explore further.
Anyhow, she left as silently
as she had arrived, joining her
father and the older Henderson
children, who in true trick or
treat fashion had elected to
remain outside. They tell us
little Elizabeth has never
seen a stranger. After what
happened, . count us among the
believers.
e*******
Yesterday was when Miss
Fannie Howerton kept the kids
in the reading room at New
Bern's Public Library so quiet
you could have heard a mouse
tiptoe across the carpeted
floor. She wan't mean, but
tolerated no foolishness.
Yesterday was when Sam
Lipman knew every farm fam
ily in Craven County, and all of
them wanted him to wait on
them personally when they
car.>e to town on Saturday and
traded at his department store
on Middle street.
Yesterday was when the low
ledge around Basnight's hard
ware esteblishment,whereMc-
Lellan's is now, made a won
derful seat for Sunday afternoon
loafers watching automobiles
go by. The stories told there
weren't pure enough to appear
in church publications.
Yesterday was when Jcrim
Tolson always sang a ballad
or two in the annual Elks Min
strel at the AUien Theatre, and
Garason Farrow and Jane Hol
land had the lead roles in lo
cally produced Dr. Jekyl and
Mr. Hyde on the Mascmlc's
stage.
Yesterday was when North
Carolina didn't have a single
commercial radio station, but
on a good night you could get
KDKA in Pittsburgh and WLW
in Cincinnati as clear asabell.
Amos and Andy, Singing Sam,
Little Jack Little, and Kate
Smith, not to mention the
Cremo Singer, Bing Crosby,
had New Bernlans captivated.
Yesterday was when the busi
est player piano in town had to
be the one in the Jesse F. Banks
residence on upper Pollock
street. Young people flocked
there to eujoy a wide variety
of times, Including a mournful
dirge inspired by an actual
tragedy, "The Death of Floyd
Collins."
Yesterday was when the best
way to get to know a girl was
to be her partner at a "candy
(Continued on Page 8)
BACKWARD GLANCE — The spire of Centenary
Methodist Church in the top photograph should make
identification of this construction scene easy for
you. The date was March 1, 1934, and what you see
Is the early framework of New Bern’s Federal (Post
Office) building. Below is a view of the Incomplete
structure on May 1,1934. In the foreground is a por
tion of the brick wall that surrounded the historic
John Wright Stanley home, transplanted to make
room for the new building, and since moved from
New Street to the Tryon Palace area on George
Street. Will Rogers kiclded New Bern In his nation
ally syndicated column for landing a post office grant
that the humorist considered excessive for the town's
size. He didn’t live to see the time come when still
more space was needed by various Federal agencies.