Newspapers / Daily Herald (Roanoke Rapids, … / Feb. 5, 1948, edition 1 / Page 1
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-Roanoke Rapids Pay Roll $10,000,000.00 Annually... Biggest In All Eastern North Carolina * * * THE ROANOKE RAPIDS * ¥ * What Roanoke Rapids Makes —Makes Roanoke Rapids Herald Clarified Advertising * ^ Gets Quick Results kirk VOLUME xxxm __ROANOKE RAPIDS, N. C. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5th. 1948 NUMBER 14 I-i -rnrmmnmwft^Ku m Roanoke Ramblings onai w w ***0wung±,» ^ Wins Bet By Herald Files C. J. Joyner of 401 Monroe Street came into the Herald of fice Friday afternoon in search of some information. Seems he and Henry Cashwell out in West Rosemary were having an argu ment about when a truck crashed ^through the river bridge and de stroyed an entire section of the bridge. (Before you go any fur ther, see if you know.) Well, Mr. Joyner, who came to Roanoke Rapids in 1917, said it happened in 1927. Mr. Cashwell said it was in 1922. The Herald files were searched thoroughly (the Ram bler, Mr. Joyner and several of the staff can vouch for that) and the exact date was disclosed. It * happened on Thursday morning May 1st, 1930 and the story was in the issue of that date. Said Mr. Joyner, the happy j winner, “Thanks”. Memories Do fail But that’s no reflection on Mr. Cashwell's recollection. Many a nother local citizen this week was finding out that memories do fail. ,For instance, the snow. When •was the last big one? Answers ranged from 1927 to 1936 with correctness dependent upon what you call a big snow. The opinion of the majority was that 1927 was the biggest of the three and that the one of 1936 was about the same as this week’s fall. Some Snow Stories Some lively tales were spring ing up around town as a result of the snowfall. The Rambler t caught a few of them. For instance: Tom Alston, jan itor at the Municipal Building, spent from about 11 o’clock Sun day morning to about one o’clock that afternoon shoveling snow a way from the front of the build ing. Just as Tom had about cleared it all away and stepped back to admire his work—you guessed it—about 2000 pounds of . the stuff catapaulted off the roof • narrowly missing Tom and two passersby. Mused Tom as he looked at the white mountain of snow ruefully — “Now I'll have to do it all over again.” The Firemen Had Their Moments As Well The firemen were having their turbulent times Saturday night and early Sunday morning. After r answering 1 call Saturday night the boys had retired in hopes there would be no more work for them. At about a quarter to four they were awakened by an un fortunate motorist whose vehicle was stuck right behind the fire station. They got him out and went back to the station. In a few minutes he was back. After one trip around the block, he was stuck again. pj As they told about the incident Sunday morning, the smoke-eat ers were knocking on wood at their good fortune in not having any calls until the streets had all been scraped. They didn’t care either, they said, if they didn’t have any calls afterward. They are one group of city employees no one minds seeing idle from their profession. '. Taking A Trip The Rambler walked on down the Avenue and at the junction he encountered a Mr. Strickland and friend (whose name we did not catch) both of whom were trying to get back home to Wel don. Mr. Strickland is an em ployee of the telephone company and said he would not have left his home if his boy, Curtis, hadn’t been in Roanoke Rapids * Hospital after having been hurt in an auto accident South of Wel don Friday. His truck was snow ed under, said Mr. Strickland, but he walked over since he was bound to visit his boy. Well we strung along with him for awhile when we met Chief Pete Davis going back toward Roanoke Rap ids. “Where in the heck do you think you’re going?” asked Pete. “Oh, just looking the situation over, chief,” we replied. “Well, next week I want to write a piece in the Herald about you,” he said as he drove qn sadly twisting his finger around his ear to indicate insanity. On The Way Out We’re getting a little ahead of our story though. Up around 10th Street we saw Jack Vincent look 0 ing wistfully at the Vincent-Ro chelle grader on the lot across from Howard Pruden’s place. Jack wanted to use it to “un snowbound” himself, but he couldn’t. It was snowbound too. “Jack Earman saw a dog out in the snow this morning with just the tip of his nose sticking up,” said Vincent as he expertly whizzed a snowball past our ear and struck a telephone pole for * a called strike, “He took the dog in the house and put it by the heater to warm up. Sure wish 1 could get that grader out!’ Everybody Was Busy And that’s the way it was all over town Sunday morning. Sho vels came out of hiding and so did muscles that hadn’t been used in quite a while. From the River to South Rosemary — from Horn • ertown to Bolling Road — people were clearing away after the heavy Saturday night fall of snow. On Hamilton Street,.Frfcnic Wilson, the County Register of Deeds, stopped for a minute to tell us that some CAA represent atives were supposed to go to Halifax the next day to»xuP , (Continued w W ** This Was All Very Nice .... FIVE ROANOKE RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, (left lo rlghl) Earl Wafers.°Lola'caiesl j Margaret Outland, Ann Grizzard and Earl Rook, enjoyed a bit of sledding in front of the Rose mary Baptist Church two weeks ago. (See picture at bottom of page). Father-Son Banquet Here To Start Boy Scout Week The annual Boy Scout Father and Son Banquet tomorrow night at the High School Cafeteria will inaugurate activities for Boy Scout Week in the Halifax Dis trict, it was announced today by H. J. Hines, District chairman. Scouts and their fathers from Enfield, Halifax, Littleton and Weldon, in addition to those in Roanoke Rapids, received invi tations to the banquet. Hines reported that a gala pro gram has been planned for the occasion, including the showing of a film on Scouting, a stunt or skit by each' troop with awarding of a prize for the best performance and awards to the best dressed Scout present and to the troop showing the most improvement for the year. JBest All-round Scout A trophy will be presented to the Scout who is adjudged the “Best All-round Scout in the Dis trict.” Scoutmasters have been asked to submit the names of their outstanding Scouts who may qualify for this award which is presented annually by Clyde Liske. Sunday will be “Scout Sun day” and every Scout in the Dis trict will attend the church of I bis choice in uniform wherever j possible, Hines said. Mayor W. Bernard Allsbrook! of Roanoke Rapids has issued the following proclamation in re gard to Bov Scout Week: PROCLAMATION By the Mayor of Roanoke Rapids (Continued on page 6—Sect. A) Two Januaries Neck and Neck In Building Race January of 1948 trailed the same month of last year in total amount of building permit evaluation, but it was by only $425 and it was without benefit of a $20,000 permit issued last January for the construction of the grandstand at Simmons Park. The comparative figures were: Jan. ’48 __$ 5,000 $40,000 $45 January 1947, homes $5,000; other $40,000; total $45,000. January 1948, homes $31,700; other $12,875; total $44,575. Permits were issued for six new home construction projects this year in the first months as contrasted with one lone permit issued in January of 1947. '48 Total $55,075 With the issuance of three more permits — all for new homes—this week, the total for 1948 so far is $55,075 with $42, 200 of the evaluation having been issued in connection with the construction of nine new homes within the city limits. Other building stood at $12,875 as of Wednesday noon, according to figures from the office of the city building inspector. ' Permits Thii Week Permits were issued this week to; J. E. Davis, for a one story block residence with four rooms at 1227A Jefferson Street at an estimated cost of $1,800; to E. A. Wrenn, for the construction of a one stray residence at 411 Rapids Street with four rooms and bath, at $8,OOC; and to T. M. Rightmeyer, for a one story frame residence with four oom* and bath at SOOB Marshall Street, at an Mtinuted nit el $»,100, Two Suicide Tries Fail But Persistency Wins Death For 24 Year Old Enfield Negro Thwarted by his five drinking companions in two previous at tempts at suicide, Willie Barnes, 24 year old Enfield Negro, suc ceeded on a third try when the jacket," to which .the other Ne groes were clinging, slipped from his body and he fell under the wheels of a truck sustaining fatal injuries. The accident, which was in vestigated by State Highway Pa trolman A. S. Godwin, Jr. and Deputy Sheriff C. O. Strickland, occurred at about six o’clock Monday evening at a point near Beach Swamp north of Enfield. The driver of the truck, who was released after a coroner’s jury had found him blameless, was listed by Coroner R. W. Britton as A. P. Cooper of Bowl ing Green, Florida. The vehicle was traveling north as were the (Continued on page 6—Sect A) Aeronautics Men Meet With County Board The board of commissioners met this morning in Halifax after bad roads and weather conditions had forced postpone ment of its regular meeting Monday. Also on hand were represen tatives of the Civil Aeronau tics Authority whose interest in the meeting was the passing of all resolutions in connection with the new county airport, preliminary work on which is awaiting final official action by the board. Hoyle E*ected 1948 Community Chest Prexy J. C. Hoyle, the 1947 vice-pres ident, was elected president ol the Roanoke Rapids Community Chest for 1948 at the annual me eting of the Board of Trustees held last Friday night. Other officers elected for 1948 were: Frank C. Wilson, vice-pre sident; H. C. Johnson, secretary and Rudolph Williams,-treasur er. Elected to serve two - year terms as trustees during a rec ent election held among contrib uting members - at - large were: Rev. Edmund Berkeley, Wilmer Collier, Charles Fitts and W. P. Taylor. Incumbent members of the board are: Dr. W. D. Hall, A. L. Drew, J. C. Hoyle and Ru dolph Williams. Industrial Representatives The 1948 trustees representing the various industrial plants are: R. G. Floyd, Virginia Electric & Power Co.; R. C. Brown. Man chester Board & Paper Co.: Wil liam D. Poindexter, Roanoke Mills Co. No. 1; Ashley Vick, Roanoke Mills Co. No. 2, Robert Nance. Rosemary Mfg. Co.; and J. B. Hutchinson, Patterson Mills Companv Red Feather Members Representing the Red Feather agencies on life Chest o ,arc. fur the coming you. are: Mi J Hu, School Clinch i und; C. L. Elting, Boy Scouts; Mrs Raleign Scny, Girl Scouts; s. Robert V mg an. Public I brary; J B. Hu. chinson, Asso- ated Charities Frank C. Wilson, Kiwanis Club: H. C. Johnson, Lions Club and George N. Taylor, Recreation Committee. Henry Akers, the Drive chair man for 1947, automatically be comes the Campaign Chairman for 1948. The Drive Chairman foi 1948 will be selected by the Cam paign Committee, at which time he becomes a trustee. DR. HALL BETTER Dr! W. D." Hall has been hos pitaltzed since early this weal after ha euffered a relapse of fit which turned Into pneumowi hospital attache* reported. D: H all’s condition was described i “toitt»" Wdftudn* morning. .... But This Wasn't Particularly Enjoyed ROANOKE AVENUE uptown looked like Ibis Sunday morn ing after mow had fallen con tinuously from late Saturday night until early Sunday. Depth of the snow, the largest here since about ten years ago. was estimated as from 14 to 17 inches, but the wind had piled drifts waist deep in some places in town. I _____ The snowfall Saturday night and early Sunday morning in general disrupted the Roanoke Rapids routine. Some of the things it caused were: The shutting down of Roanoke Rapids schools for two days (Monday and Tuesday.) Although Weldon schools and all schools in Halifax County Administrative Unit had lost a week’s time the previous week due to ice and snow on roads, local schools had continued "business as usual.” This week, the other schools in the county were still dosed but Roanoke Rapids children return ed to their classrooms yesterday. An snnounoement was made m HfQW, Ml* MM, A) -- ---- - | The Local Week.. DOLLAR DAY POSTPONED was reported. 1 Because of the bad weather Silver Dollar Days planned foi February 5, 0 and 7th have been postponed until February 19, 2C and 21st, the Roanoke Rapid Merchants Assciation announc ed this week. The group will hold its annual meeting with election of officers Wednesday night at 7 o’clock at the Rose mary Cate. SATURDAY NIGHT FIRE Firemen were called to a resi dence at 204 Hamilton Street Saturday evening at about 0:15 when some sills under the house had caught fin from a blow torch. Firemen said one of the occupants had been trying to thaw out the water pipes under the house with the blow torch Masht are from tag ipukt. Qatar JBtBor dgoego 1.- ■ . . _ CITY LICENSE SALES City license tags for automo biles sales zoomed upward dur ing the last hours before the Feb. 1st deadline, city officials report ed. With only 915 sold by last Thursday at noon, 183 more were sold on Friday and half of Sat urday sending the total to 1098. Municipal Building employees re ported they sold about 90 during Saturday's half day of business. DIMES DANCE STAURDAY Postponed twice due to inclem ent weather, the VFW Saturday night dance this week will be for the benefit of the March of Dimes, D. £ Bennett, chairman of the President's Bell committee of the Lions Club, announced to dey. All proceeds will be turned | over to the National Foundation «K Infantile Paralysis, Halifu I «*»**. Eight Month Old Child Dies of Suffocation Ruth Glendora Hovis, eight month old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow D. Hovis of 1833 East Brambleton Avenue, Nor folk. Va., and granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Hovis and Mr. and Mrs. B. E. Biggs of Roanoke Rapids, was found dead in her crib at her home about 11:15 last Friday morn ing. Police officers who investi gated, said the child evidently worked her way under the bed covers and death was caused by suffocation. Apparently the child gave no outcry, police reported. The tragedy was dis covered by her mother. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. M. J. Shanks, pas tor of the Seventh Day Ad ventist Church. Burial was in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Survivors, in addition to the parents and grandparents, in clude one brother, Danny, age two, and one sister, Julie, age three. Man, Stricken As Puts Car-Chains On, Dies Here A South Dakota man, George E. Melody, 57, died in Roanoke Rapids Hospital at eight p. m. Sunday after he had suffered a cerebral hemmorhage 4 hours earlier while putting chains on his Florida - bound automobile two miles north of Weldon. Melody, a veterinary surgeon, his wife, his wife’s sister and her husband, a Mr. and Mrs. Pierce of Alliance, Ohio, were en route from Washington, D. C. to Florida at the time. Forced to park beside the road due to traffic congestion on Highway 301, they had decided to put the chains on then instead of waiting until they got to Weldon. Pierce said he and Melody got out and Melody began attaching the chains. Suddenly, said Pierce his brother - in - law slumped over. Thinking he was merely resting, Pierce finished putting on the chains and told Melody ♦twy were ready to go. When he didn t answer. Pierce got him ‘in to the car and drove into Weldon in search of a doctor. Advised to get him to the hos pital immediately, Pierce took him to Roanoke Rapids where he died without regaining conscious ness. The body was shipped Tuesday to Gettysburg, South Dakota and funeral rites will be held there tomorrow morning. JAYCEES MEET 131h The Roanoke Rapids Junior Chamber of Commerce will meet Friday night, February 13th, in stead of next Thursday night, President Frank Neal announced today. City Board Will Look Over Paving Plans Wednesday 520,000-^25,000 Damage Es Estimated After Fire Razes Lumber Company Workshop Flames swept through the workshop of the Turner Lumber Company four blocks from Wel don’s main business district in the early hours Saturday morn ing, causing damage estimated by Weldon Fire Chief Lynn Med lin as between approximately $20,000 and $25,000. Believed to have started from a coal stove on the inside of the building, the fire was spotted at about 4:30 a. m. by night watch man Morton Harlow, who sum moned firemen. Medlin said 10 members of the department responded, but that they were unable to save the building. They then concentrated their efforts on preventing the spread of the blaze to other buildings. The Weldon fire chief said they fought back the flames for about an hour and a half in protection of surrounding property and ex perienced great difficulty due to the 19 degree temperature which caused the water to freeze al most as soon as it emerged from the hose. Snow Nor Ice Could E’er Deter, The Stork From Bringing Her Frantic phone calls Monday afternoon summoned a Wil liams Funeral Home ambulance to come to the Hubert Rook home near Bolling Crossroads. An expectant mother, Mrs. Rook needed quick transporta tion to the hospital. Not long after the driver had gone he returned to. tell W. C. Williams he couldn't make it — too much snow. "I'll make it," said Williams as he called for a grader from Rochelle Realty Co., to help him. He made it — four hours later — only to find that eight Negroes, with shovels, and a tractor had cleared a path al lowing Mrs. Rook to leave by another direction, to the Little ton highway, thence to the hos pital. Late Monday afternoon, the newest addition to the Rook family arrived. It was a girl. Extra Police Called Out When Record Crowd Jams Uptown Theatre Entrance Weldon Man Injured When Car Overturns On Iee-Covered 301 Curtis Strickland, 30, of Wel - don, was in Roanoke Rapids Hospital this week recovering from head injuries and face cuts received when a 1941 Pon tiac driven by his cousin, Willis Strickland, slid off U. S. Highway about four miles South of Weldon on Highway 301 and overturned several times. The driver received a bruis ed back and scratches in the accident which happened at about five o'clock Friday after noon. but was not hospitalized. Curtis Strickland was taken to the hospital by A. L. Hux who happened by at the time. His condition was reported Sunday afternoon as "not seri ous" by relatives. “It looked more like Bombay, India than Roanoke Rapids, North Cary*4ina up there I’m tell ing you.” That’s^ "'ay police <5hief T. T. scribed Monday at the Imperial •tvyeen 3,000 and 3.500 grown men pushed, fought, crawled, shoved and scuffled in efforts to buy between 3,000 and 3.500 tickets all at one time from the one ticket seller on duty. Nine Officers Called Davis said the efforts of nine peace officers, including high way patrolmen, sheriff’s depu -, ties and city police, to restore order were futile; and that the only way serenity was returned to the ten hundred block of Roa noke Avenue was by the refusal to sell any tickets at all until an orderly line was formed in front of the ticket office. The ticket seller’s cage was almost upset in the shuffle. The nerves of the officers were very much upst as they tried to pre vent serious injury and property damage: Belt Pulled Off One officer, city policeman Harvey Kellett, had his Sam Browne belt pulled completely off. He was saved from being pushed through a plate glass window only by the alertness of his fellow officers, the chief re ported. Two drunks showed up for the festivities but left after police had issued them a firm invita tion to do so. Not Wighout Humor The situation, however, was not entirely without humor. Dav is said he started through the crowd and succeeded in getting next to a building when he hap pened to look down and see a rather plump man comfortably at rest on the snow and ice-cov ered sidewalk. “Good evening, sir; how are you?” asked the chief. “Just fine, thank you,” came the reply. - “That’s good,” responded Davis as he gingerly stepped ov er the man and walked on, wish ing vainly that the remaining 2,999 to 3,499 would suddenly give in to a similar desire to relax. James otepnens ouys Out Business Partner James Stephens, who for the past ten years has operated David's, downtown clothing store, in partnership with L. S. Nichols of Durham, has bought out Nichols' interest in the business he announced this week. Nichols, who had part inter est in the business, made his home in Durham and did not take an active part in opera tion of the store, which was opened in Roanoke Rapids October 1. 1937. David's was the first credit clothing store in Roanoke Rap : ids. said 'Stephens, although i several others have since ex , tended that service fee their . customers. i Stephens it t native of Cas well Ceunty A special meeting of the board of city commissioners of Roanoke Rapids has been called for next Wednesday afternoon for the purpose of approving plans, specifications and contract docu ments relative to and to make preparation for advertising for bids on, the city street paving project. The way having been cleared by action of the voters in a special election January 6th, in which they approved the issu ance of $404,000 in city bonds for the purpose, close observers of the local scene estimated that work should start by April first. Phillip Freeman of Norfolk, consulting engineer on the pro ject, will be in Roanoke Rapids to go over the final drafts with the board at the meeting. Lengthy Session Tuesday The commissioners met in a lengthy session Tuesday and dis posed of several matters of busi ness. The topic which came in for longest discussion was the notice given recently by the Sanitary District that fire hydrant rental, heretofore $7.06 per year, would have to be increased to $20 in view of increased costs. Objec tion was voiced by several of the commissioners, and action on the matter was postponed until such time as all board members were present. The city has 199 fire hydrants at present with several more on order. Sanitary Board members Robert Cleaton, M. C. Newsom, Sr., and M. H. Hedgepeth had met with a com- . mittee from the board of com missioners regarding the pro (Continued on page 6—Sect A) Kiwanians Join Pleas For Special Session The Roanoke Rapids Kiwanis Club has added its official voice I to those of other civic and busi ness clubs in the city as regards petitioning for a special session of the General Assembly for the purp.^e of raising teacher’s sal aries nnii edo-rational appropri ations. In their Thursday night meet ing, the Kiwanians petitioned the Governor of North Carolina to call a special session and, in the petition, pointed out the rap id rise in the cost of living and the anticipated loss in teacher personnel due to such rise. A gala home-talent Ladies Night was planned for February 12th. The event, an annual af fair, attracts some 150 ladies, special guests and members, the Kiwanians reported. The main portion of the pro gram was presented by the Ed ucation Committee which stressed knowing fellow memb ers better and practice of tne Sermon on the Mount. City s Transit Company Will Increase Service Roanoke Transit Company, op erator of the local city bus sys tem, has been granted a fran chise to transport passengers, baggage and light express on routes in and near Roanoke Rapids; and from Roanoke Rap ids to Garysburg, the State Util ities Commission has revealed. The franchise, which was granted Tuesday, specified that the firm shall operate not less than three round trips daily be tween Roanoke Rapids and Garysburg and that the trips shall be timed to meet shift changes at the local mills. Is suance of the order followed a public hearing held here Janu ary 29th. Local High School Graduate Nominated For Military Academy William Guy Britton, Jr., 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Brit ton of Jackson, a graduate of Roanoke Rapids High School, has been nominated for appoint ment to the U. S. Military Acad emy at West Point. At present stationed with the Army in Korea, young Britton’s nomination was . announced Tuesday by Representative John H. Kerr. If accepted, he will enter the academy next July. Kerr also nominated Ashley Cobb Speir, Jr., 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Speir of Tarboro, a student at the Citadel. Open New Firm Here The Carolina Auto Top and Seat Cover Co. has been opened at 110 Jackson Street in Roanoke j Rapids by H. O. Keeton and W. C. Morgan, formerly with the Virginia Auto Top Company of Richmond. The new firm offers complete reupholstering of the Interior of automobiles, manufacture and installation of convertible tops, seat cover tailoring, writing s! eeets and quit* » few ether eerv
Daily Herald (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.)
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Feb. 5, 1948, edition 1
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