FIRST THREE MONTHS
OF YEAR CARRIED IN
THIS WEEK'S ISSUE
(To most of the readers of the
Herald, the year 1942 will be “only
a memory” when they glance at
the above headlines and read the
foregoing article. For many of
our readers the memories will be
most pleasant; others will recall
the year with sadness; still oth
ers will be prone to forget “just
what happened — where, and
when.” It is for this reason the
Herald annually prints a brief
summary of the events that have
transpired during the previous
year. The feature has proven to
be a most popular one with read
ers. Many of our subscribers tell
us they clip these articles and save
them, for they represent a graphic
“history” of our city, whose value
will be enhanced as time progress
es.
This week, in accordance with
our usual custom, we give a brief
resume of the more important
news events in Roanoke Rapids
and immediate vicinity, as record
ed by the columns of the Herald
for the first three months of the
year 1942. News of the second,
third and fourth quarters will fol
low in our next three issues.
January 1 — The new $85,000
Armory (constructed with County
and WPA funds) is dedicated Fri
day, January 2nd, with ceremonies
participated in by the city’s three
civic clubs, starting with a big par
ade, and climaxed by a dance at
the new Armory building. Of
ficers of Birchwood Camp No. 55,
Woodmen of the World, are instal
led for the coming year. Richard
Manson, local Negro, held in jail
at Wilson for alleged violation of
the Selective Service Act. Air Raid
Wardens appointed by Chairman
A. Leonidas Hux to serve in var
ious sections of the county. J. Win
field Crew, Jr., local attorney en
lists in Army. Tire Rationing
Boards for Halifax County are
nominated. City exceeds goal of
$4,000 set by Red Cross for war re
lief. Deputy Sheriff C. F. Gray
injured in automobile accident.
Local Employment Office trans
ferred to Federal control.
January 8 — Registration of lo
cal residents for civilian defense
held Saturday, January 10th. Ed
Wright, 55 year old local resident;
Wiley Powell, 63 year old County
Negro, are first Halifax County
highway death victims. February
16th is set by President Roosevelt
for registration of all male citi
zens between the ages of 20 and
44. J. T. Chase named chairman
of Halifax County Tire Board No.
*—
1; three local tire rationing boards
of county hold joint meeting at
Halifax. Drunk, reckless drivers
abound at county Recorder Court.
Curtis Shell patient at Duke Hos
pital. Rotary Club raises sufficient
funds from staging Armory dance
to outfit recreation room for Co.
B, 105th Medical Regiment, at Fort
Jackson, S. C.
January 15 — Only 750 people
register for local civilian defense;
C. W. Davis, director of Volunteer
Service and Public Information for
the Committee on Civil Protection,
attributes small number register
ing to bad weather conditions.
J. T. Chase is appointed County
Administrator for Tire Rationing.
January 27th set as date for voting
on bonds in the amount of $16,000.
for underpass at Seaboard Ry.
tracks, and $12,000. for purchasing
land and improving same for cem
etery purposes. City High School
Coach J. Cranford Hoyle honored
by friends at banquet, following
announcement he was leaving city.
Traffic control signals arrive.
County Health Department gives
annual report of work. Superior
Court starts at Halifax January
26th, with Judge Henry L. Ste
phens presiding. W. L. Medlin
elected President of Kiwanis Club;
W. J. Norwood is Division Govern
or. Lions Club will sponsor an
nual President’s Ball. Norman
Scrivener arrives to assume duties
as new field executive of Halifax
District Boy Scouts. Twenty-five
Negroes leave for Army. Marine
recruiting officers in city.
January 22 — Halifax County
launches drive to collect books for
men in armed forces. Bill Alligood
is appointed State Softball Com
missioner. City firemen are hosts
to Roanoke Fireman’s Association
at a banquet in the Armory. Post
Office receipts for 1941 top all past
totals. The first monthly meet of
the Scout Board is held in the
Municipal Building. Major C.
Newsome, local oil distributor, elec
ted director of North Carolina Oil
Dealers Association. Men 20 to
40 years old register for service in
the armed forces. Dr. Robert F.
Young, County Health Officer, urg
es campaign to kill rats in Halifax
County. British War Relief plans
to keep movement intact in this
country.
January 29 — Defense workers
are called to a mass meeting in
the high school auditorium. Spon
sors having been named, the an
nual President’s Ball was held
on Friday night. Local mills
launch Victory Bond drive among
workers. Judge Henry L. Stevens
of Warsaw charged the members
of the county grand jury to do
their duty in seeing to it that jus
tice is done and the laws are up
held. 750 farmers hear plans for
year talked over by Credit group
in Weldon. Willie Gray Jeffries
gets 30 years on murder charge.
The annual meeting' of the Board
of Trustees of the Roanoke Rap
ids Community Chest was held
January 26 in the Municipal Build
ing; E. H. Graves to head 1942
movement here. Work is begun
on new garage for street depart
ment. Robert E. Kimball is trans
ferred to Williamston branch of
Virginia Electric and Power Co.
Miss Jennie Manning of Bethel
begins work as a special case
worker for the blind in the county.
February 5 — Police cars driven
by W. M. Erwin and A. J. Brig
man collide on the avenue. Day
light saving time begins February
9. Local defense leaders begin
F. B. I. course. Traffic signals are
installed. Health courses are
started in the county schools as a
compulsory subject. Reverend
R. V. Hope arrives to assume pas
torate of the First Christian
Church here. Sheared H. Crump
ler organizes a First Aid class in
Enfield. Book drive nets 1200
volumes during first week. The
local Rotary - Club hears high
school choir at luncheon. The Boy
Scouts of Roanoko Rapids took an
active part in the Annual Boy
Scout Anniversary Week celebra
tion. Gene Brieklemeyer named
coach at high school. Local Girl
Scouts begin annual cookie cam
paign here. City authorizes $500
fund for Civilian Defense. Three
new traffic laws are enacted by
city fathers. More than 500 Civil
ian Defense workers attend mass
meeting of defense workers. M.
Eugene Starnes, Assistant County
agent, estressea the loss of good
timber by forest fires.
February 12 — Civilian defense
leaders here call official test black
out to include the entire city and
urban section of Roanoke Rapids.
The drive for funds for Infantile
Paralysis in Halifax County nets
$687.92. Frank Sherry, Shearod
Crumpler, Chief of Police H. E.
Dobbins and Gene Lehman com
plete a week's course at Chapel
Hill in the various phases of Civ
ilian Defense work. Dock Winifred
of Enfield, and his colored helper,
John Higgins, were hurt as train
strikes their truck. A11 aliens are
ordered to register at Post Office.
Employment Service advisory coun
cil is installed here. Chief of "Po
lice H. E. Dobbins begins war on
stray dogs to eliminate any chanctf
of a rabies epidemic here. A. Le
onidas Hux, chairman of the coun
ty civilian defense committee, re-'
quests survey of all vacant bouses
for purpose of housing refugees in'
county. Joseph Aycock, an em
ployee of the Patterson MU1, dies'
from coming in contact with h
high voltage electric motor there.
Gordon Dobbins, son of Chief of
Police H. E. Dobbins, underwent
an operation in New York City.
Foundation for new city garage
is laid. Bond and Stamp chain
letters are called illegal by postal
officials. Annual Kiwanis Ladies
night banquet is held with Dr.
J. Cordia Lyons, Secretary of the
Spanish-American summer school
at the University of North Caro
lina, as principal speaker. Victory
garden campaign begins in state.
February 19 — Roanoke Rapids
police investigate wave of petty
robberies which swept the city
this week. Four Portsmouth, Va.>
(Continued on Page 8—Sec. B)
★ BE PREPARED FOR
WINTER ILLS
Winter brings with it
colds, sore throats and
other cold weather ills.
Don’t let them catch you
unawares. Stock up your
medicine chest now —
and if a prescription is
required, our Registered
Pharmacist will be on
hand to fill it rapidly.
Matthews Drug Co.
C. E. MATTHEWS, Manager
Telephone R-561 215 Roanoke Ate.
i
! 1
l'fl I
I
■■
25c, 50c, $1. $2.
or $5. a Week!
BANK & TRUST CO.
ROSEMARY BRANCH
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