»
IRoanok c
Ramblings
^ConJeet Winner
Twelve year old Mary Fran
cis Powell of 732 Monroe Street
is the proud possessor of a five
dollar check this week. Mary
Francis was one of the winners
in the May issue of Pepsi Cola's
Treasure Top contest. Mary
Francis said that everyone in her
family had sent in an entry in
^ April to the contest. She'd al
most forgotten about it when
last week she noticed the red
and blue Pepsi car driving up
and down Monroe Street. Pres
ently the man stopped in front
of 732 and came to the door and
asked for a Miss Mary Francis
Powell. Mary Francis says it was
^the first prize like that she'd
ever won and she's very happy
' about it.
From Cellar lo Steak
When the Roanoke Rapids
Jays climbed out of cellar posi
tion last night to make room for
the Greenville Greens, they
walked right into a tremendous
ι t-bone steak dinner with all the
•"trimmings. In no time at all
after the game, the Blueroom at
the Rosemary Cafe was the
scene of great celebration. Ted
Speight, Charlie Thanos, Carl
Myrick, Bob Faucette, Jack Vin
cent and Bill Edwards, Jr.·
proudly treated the Jays to the
steak dinner. A special program
with Bill Greene master of cere
monies followed, and $200 worth
of prizes donated by uptown
•Roanoke Rapids merchants were
given to the triumphant ball
playeri Special guests at the
ball club's festivities were
George Nethercutt and Chief of
Police T. J. Davis.
Girl Scout Hut Closed
Miss Lillian Lee is going on
her vacation next week. Conse
quently the Girl Scout Hut will
%be closed. The Hut will be clos-!
ed from August 1 to August 14,
but anyone wanting to rent it
may call R-320.
Recruiting Team
For Air Force
To Be Here Soon
A special United States Air
Force procurement tram will
arrive in this locality in the near
future to interview young men
in the Roanoke Rapids area who
are interested in pilot training
with the Air Force, M-Sgt. Σ1
wood Boyce, commanding offic
er of the local Army and Air
Force Recruiting Station, said to
day.
t The team, headed by Col.
Louis M. Merrick, commanding
officer of Pope Field, N. C., is
prepared to give all the qualify
ing tests required except the
final physical examination and
personal interview. M-Sgt. Boyce
said that intereted young men
therefore could determine at
once whether they can qualify.
To be eligible for the Avia
tion Cadet Program an aoolicant
β must be an unmarried male citi
zen between the ages of 20 and
26^ years; have had two or
more years of college or be able
to pass an educational examina
tion to measure its equivalent. A
sound physique and excellent
character also are required.
The team also will interview
young men for Officer Candi
date training for non-flying ad
ministrative jobs. This course is
reopen to applicants between 20Vz
and 28 years of age who are
high school graduates and of
sound physique and excellent
character.
The team will present its pro
gram at various meetings. The
local Recruiting Station at 13
East 11th Street is arranging the
interviews.
Oilman Tells Group Available
' Highway Funds Adequate To Pay
For Ambitious Building Program
S. Gilman Sparger, Executive
Secretary of the North Carolina
Petrolemun Industries Commit
tee, said today before a dinner
meeting of oil men from Halifax,
Northampton, Hertford and
Gates Counties that available
1 yhighway revenues are adequate j
to finance an ambitious road bu
ilding program over the next
three years, if used exclusively
for road purposes.
M. C. Newson, Chairman o4
the Halifax County Petroleum
Industries Committee, presided
and introduced the speaker.
Speaking to the group, Mr
Sparger declared, "There will be
available during t-he next three
.tfyear period for highway const
ruction, maintenance, debt ser
vice and administration, mor e
than $2000,000,000.00. This fig
ure is based on annual receipts
from the State gasoline tax of
$41,000,000.00, motor vehicle re
gistration fees of $16,000,000.00
and Federal Aid of $11,000,000.01
The only thing necesary is to
make sure by appropirate legis
lation that these revenues are
pçpent exclusively for road pur
pose. To do otherwise would
not only be a travesty on good
judgment and sound fiscal po
licy but a brach of trust with
highway users who pay out an
nually millions of dollars in gas
oline taxes and motor vehicle re
gistration fees for better roads
and highays."
"The average automotive tax
bill," he continued, "amounting
to more than $10.00 per vehicle
in North Carolina, is among the
highest in the country. In fact,
the motor vehicle owners in this
State paid more on the average
in state gasoline taxes, state mo
tor vehicle fees, federal gaso
line taxes and other federal ex
cises during 1946 than in all ex
cept three other states through
out the nation. As compared
with the average for the United
States, the North Carolina aver
age in about $25.00 per vehicle
per year higher.
"At the same time·" Mr. Spar
ger concluded, "North Caro
line citizens are less able to bear
a heavy load of taxation than
are citizens of most other states.
This is shown by recently-com
piled Bureau of Census figures
which show that North Carolina
ranked 41st among the states in
per capita in com·."
* * * THE ROANOKE RAPIDS * » ¥
What Roanoke Rapide Makes T¥ l-J Τ Ι "Λ Herald Qassified Advertising
Makes Roanoke Rapide Ι | Γ J W" * J ^ I 1 Gets Quiek Results
* * * I ■ ™ i J i * w
Carolina't Fastest Growing City 7
)LUME ΧΧΧΙΠ ROANOKE RAPIDS, N. C., THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1948 NUMBER 46
First Polio Case Is
Found At Enfield
Halifax — Dr. Robert F.
Young, Halifax County Health
officer, reported today that the
firit case of poliomyelitis had
been found in Halifax County.
The health officer said that
a three-year-old Negro child
of Enfield, had been taken to
St. Agnes Hospital in Raleigh
yesterday afternoon and that
he had received a report from
the State Infantile Paralysis
Foundation that the test for
polio were positive.
Dr. Young emphasized that
this child was not the same
one as was reported last week
and on whom tests for polio
proved negative. He said that
the polio-stricken victim does
not ϋτ· in the same vicinity
and has not been in contact
with the child which was re·
ported Friday.
Dr. Young said> "We do not
propose to enforce any restric
tions on children in the coun
ty at this time, but if we have
another case of polio in the
county we may impose restric
tions on children under 18
years of age."
He added that the usual
rate of incidence of polio in
Halifax has been from one to
six cases.
Dr. Young urged all par
ents to take extra precaution
in keeping their children
clean and make them get
plenty of rest.
Cline Co· Gets Contract
For Road Work In Halifax;
Weldon Road To Be Widened
Resurfacing Is
Included For
Other Highways
Low bid for a proposed road
Northampton counties was made
by the F. D. Cline Const. Co. of
Raleigh, according to the State
Highway Commission Chairman
A. H. Graham.
Estimated cost by the com
pany for sand asphalt surfacing
and structures (culvert increases)
of 7.22 miles on US 301, US 153
and NC 47 in the vicinity of
Weldon, Roanoke Rapids and
Enfield was $101,230.00.
Chairman Graham and Chief
Engineer W. Vance Baise, who
presented the bids before the
monthly meeting of the Highway
Commission this morning in Ral
eigh, said that work would prob
ably be started on the project
within 20 days after the contract
was awarded.
nie rvuLKy iviuuut uiviaiuii ui
the F. D. Cline Const. Co. is at
present completing curb and
gutter work on the Roanoke ila
pids street improvement project.
The new road building pro
ject will widen US 158 (the Wel
don Highway) from Roanoke Ra
pids to Weldon to 24 feet. In
addition this highway will ba
covered with hot sand asphalt.
C. F. Gore, district engineer,
said that his maintenance divi
sion will, within the next SO
days, complete the preparation
of .3 of a mile out of Weldon
and 3*6 miles out of Roanoke
Rapids on US 158 for the asph
alt and stone surfacing.
At present Gore's crew is re
pairing broker, patches on the
road from Tilghman's Cross
roads to Roanoke Junction. He
added that this work will prob
ably be completed within the
week. Similar work on the road
between Tilghman's Cross roads
and Weldon has just been com
pleted.
Gate Crashers Get Ride
RICHMOND. Va. (U.P.) —
Police rented a 50-passenger bus
to use as a paddy wagon for
gate crashers at midget auto
races at the Atlantic rural ex
position grounds. The bus made
several trips to jail loaded each
I time.
New Mail Sched.
Is Announced
By Postmaster
L. G. Shell, postmaster of the
Roanoke Rapids Post Office, an
nounced today the following
schedule for incoming and out
going mails, effective August 1.
Mailing time is given for out
going mails; arrival time for in
coming mails.
Ouigoing Mails
7:00 A.M.—Daily, except Sun
day, to Gaston and Heririco, N.C.
7:00 A.M.—Daily to points on
SAL to Norfolk; and points on
ACL south of Weldon; eastern
N. C. to coast.
11:40 A.M.—Daily to points on
SAL to Norlina, also all points
north south, east and west.
3:30 P.M.—Daily, except Sun
day, to points on SAL to Nor
folk! ACL points north of Wel
don.
5:50 P.M.—Daily, except Sat
urday and Sunday, to points
north of Baltimore on tr. 76:
others via 77 and 78.
6:15 P.M.—Daily, except Sun
day, to northern points to Bal
timore: all points south and west
at Norlina.
iiibwniuiy mai»
β:00 A.M.—Daily, except Sun
day, via Norlina-Boykins Star
Route, from Richmond, Washing
ton and all other northern
points; Raleigh, Durham,
Greensboro, Charlotte, and all
other points of west.
8:00 A.M.—Daily from Nor
lina, Henderson, Raleigh, all
other points east and south.
9:15 A.M.—Daily, except Sun
day, via Weldon. From Rich
mond, Washington, other north
ern and western points.
1:00 P.M.—Daily from points
to Norfolk arid connections be
tween. Also nortern and west
ern points.
4:30 P.M.—Daily, except Sun
day, from points north and
south on SAL at Norlina.
7:33 P.M.—Daily, except Sun
day, from points on SAL to Nor
folk; northern mail via Norfolk.
Bullock New
Principal At
Warren School
Warrenton—E. J. Bullock of
Macon has accepted the princi
palship of John Graham High
School here, it was announced
today.
Bullock succeeds P. W. Coop
er, who resigned to accept a po
sition as principal at Cary.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bullock
have taught in. Goldsboro and
Scotland Neck and for the past
several years have taught in Flo
rida. Mrs. Bullock will also
teach in the local school system.
Local Men Make One
Of Best Deepsea
Catches At Southport
SOUTHPORT, — One oi the
best deepsea catches of the year
taken from the Gulf Stream was
made by a party of Roanoke
Rapids Business and Profes
sional men on Captain Basil
Watts' boat, the "Botsfly", on
July 27.
The party, composed of Dr.
N. C. Maddry, Izey T. Mohcrn,
R. N. Hundley, Jr., Francis S.
Kemp, Fred L. Cooper, all of
Roanoke Rapids, N. C., and
Jimmy Meyer of Carolina Beach,
caught 22 dolphin· seven albacore
and two king mackerel.
Several of these fish are high
bidders for top grand prizes and
the monthly July prizes in ihe
South Eastern North Carolina's
Third Annual Fall Fishing Ro
deo.
ARTIST FROM THE OZARKS—Artist and portrait painter
Ernest Schilling, known to millions of his admirer: as "By
Golly," fondles a neighboring baby burro during a pause
from his labors at the easel Jn his Eureka Springs, Art*
Warrenton Lions Pay Medical
Expenses For Dan Limer At A
Hospital In Washington, D. C.
Warrenton — A magnificent
gesture toward a fellowman was
made this week when the War
renton Lions Club sent Den Li
mer to the Kabat-Kaiser Insti
tute in Washington, D. C., for
treatment of multiple sclerosis.
The Lions have guaranteed to
send a check for $250 each
month to the institute to cover
the cost of medical treatment for
Limer, which, it is believed, will
take from a minimum of four
months to a maximum of nine
months.
The disease first attacked the
Warrenton man in 1928 and later
made him a cripple. While there
is no assurance that Mr. Lim
er will be completely cured and
will regain the full use of his
limes, it is believed that the
treatment he will receive will
enable him to abandon his
crutches and get around with
the aid of only a walking cane.
Mr. Limer's personal expens
es while at the hospital will be
taken care of out of his small
confectionery business on Main
street, which is being operated
in his absence by L. H. Ben
son.
Extra! Fish Hooks Man
PETERSBURG, Va. (U.P.) —
A fish hooked John W. Bran
zelle. While swimming in the
James river with friends, he felt
a prick in his shoulder. He
came up to find a one and one
half pound catfish hooked into
his flesh. Branzelle got away.
So did the fish.
Merchants Group
To Hold Annual
Bar-B-Q Soon
The Roanoke Rapids Mer
chants Association will hold its
annual bar-b-q at the Country
Club, Wednesday afternoon, Au
gust 11 at 1:00 p. m.
Jake Winstead of Rocky
Mount, 2nd Vice-President of the
N". C. Merchants Association,
will be featured on the enter
tainment program.
Dinner will be free to all
members of the Merchants Asso
ciation. There will be a charge
ci $1.50 for each guest. The
menu will feature Bar-B-Q'd
chicken and pig, brunswick
stew, slaw, corn bread and soft
drinks.
Merchants planning to attend
the affair are asked to give their
names and number of guests to
Mrs. Elva Martin by Monday,
August 9.
Iceland To Have Trees,
Norwegians Decide
CHICAGO (U.P.) — Many
trees will grow in Iceland if an
expeiment conducted by Norwe
gian geologists proves success
ful.
American Overseas Air Lines
flew 65,000 tree plants from an
airport near Andsely, Norway,
to Keflavik, Iceland, in a pro
ject to develop great pine forests
on the ice-bound island.
Once, valuable woodlands
thrived on Iceland, geologists be
lieve.
County Agent Davîs Warns
Boll Weevil Critical Time
Will Be From August 1 To 15
By w. υ. UAVis
Halifax County Agent
The boll weevil situation at
the present time is not bad. Cot
ton prospects the last week in
July are extremely good with
the heaviest crop of fruit v/e
have had in several years. If
boll weevil damage does not in
crease rapidly during the next
two weeks we will have one of
the best cotton crops in several
years. Farmers are advised to
check their fields carefully fcr
weevil activity whether they ;
have done any dusting or not. ί
Make this check by walking
across your cotton fields and
picking 100 squares from the
cotton plants (not off the
ground). Examine these squares
for boll weevil punctures. If ten
squares or more out of this 100
have been punctured, cotton
should be dusted immediately,
using not less than 15 pounds
of dust per acre. If weevil dam
age is found only in one or two1
spots these spots should be dust
ed with a hand gunr.
If weevils are allowed to in- !
crease they can cause serious
damage during late August, j
Whereas, if they are kep* under |
control until August 15 bolls will
be sufficiently matured to resist
weevil punctures.
During the week of July 19th
to 24th several farms that used
early dusting and several farms
that had not done any dusting
were checked to get a compari
son of weevil damage. The wee
vil damage on the undusced
farms was found to run as hign ι
as 25 to 30 per eent and in one ι
case up to 70 per cent of the]
squares were punctured, weevn
damage on dusted farms was de
finitely less with most of the
fields running from 0 to 40 per
cent. One dusted farm ran as
high as 20 per cent. Present in
dications are that early dusting
will show up well in the reduc
ed August damage to bolls.
On July 1st to 20th punctured
cotton squares were collected
from the farm of T. R. Ellen
where the cotton had been dust
ed with two applications of 10
per cent Chlordane dust. In or
der to check the effect of Chlor
dane on the immature weevil, 2'J
squares only two adult weevil
emerged. This confirms res ilts
reported by the Pee Dee Station
at Florence, S C. that Chlor
dane dust wilt get approximate
ly 85 per cent of the immature
weevil developing inside the cot
ton squares. For this reason
Chlordane dust is recommended
for all late dusting.
In checking cotton fields dpi-,
inti the week of July 19th to 24th
we have found much red spider
damage. On most farms this
damage is confined to spots near
weeds, but in two cases red
spider infestation was general
over the entire field. Red spider
can be controlled by dusting
with plain dusting sulphur. For
best results sulphur should be
applied at the rate of 20 lbs per
acre during the middle of the
day when the air is calm. Sul
phur works as a fumigate. For
this reason high temperature and
no wind is necessary for best
results. Sulphur can be applied
with dusting machinery used for
dusting cotton and peanuts.
Chief Davis Is Chairman
Of City Rec Commission; ;
Plans For Full Program
Are Discussed At Meeting
Lions Did Not
Ask Removal
Of Show Ban
A representative of the Roa
noke Rapids Lions Club called
the Herald yesterday to say
that the Lions Club had not
asked the Halifax County
Commissioners to rescind the
ban on carnivals in Halifax
County.
He explained that there
were representatives of the
Lions Club at the commission·
ers meeting to explain to the
county governing body that
the Lions are planning a fes
tival for September in Roa
noke Rapids. The explanation
to the commissioners was that
the festival would include
some rides which usually ap
pear at a carnival, but would
not by any means be a carni
val.
Some members of the Roa
noke Rapids Exchange Club
were present at the meeting
and prior to the opening of the
meeting the Exchange Club
members and the Lions Club
members were asked if they
were there to protest the car
nival ban.
According to the Lions Club
spokesman, it was explained
that the Lions had stopped
sponsoring carnivals several
months ago.
The commissioners acted on
the ban removal at the in
stance of the county attorney
who said they had no legal
authority to invoke such a
ban, according to the state
ment of the Lions Club offi
cial.
The Herald's report came
directly from the minutes of
the commissioners meeting,
which were copied verbatim
and forwarded to the Herald
by the Halifax correspondent.
The Herald regrets the mix
up· but it was unavoidable.
Traffic Cases
Head Docket In
Halifax Court
Halifax — Among the cases
heard in Recorder's Court in
Halifax on Tuesday, were sev
eral in which persons were
found guilty of driving without
a license; two cases in which the
defendants were found guilty of
drunk and disorderly conduct,
and one case in which the de
fendant was found guilty of
carrying a concealed and deadly
weapon.
In each case the individual
was fined and required to pay
court costs. Three jail sentences
totalling 27 months were given
but each was suspended on the
condition that the defendant re
main of good behavior for two
years.
W. H. Berry of Roanoke Ra
pids was fined $25.00 and cos"
for not having an operator's li
cense.
Naomi Arrington of Halifax
was fined $15.00 and costs for
driving without a license.
Hugh Sherrod, Jr., of Enfield,
charged with reckless driv;r».g,
received prayer for judgment
continued upon condition tnat
the defendant pays fine of $25
and costs.
costs.
Frank Arrington of Halifax
was fined $25.00 and costs for
{>ermitting an unlicensed person
to drive his automobile.
Jasper Hines, charged with
carrying a concealed weapon and
assault with deadly weapon, was
given a sentence of six months
in jail suspended on fulfilling
conditios that the defedant pay
a fine of $75.00 and costs and
that he remain of good behavior
for two years during which
time he shall refrain from visit
ing any corporate town or city
in Halifax County.
Berry Bryant, charged with
drunk and disorderly conduct
and assault on a female, was
sentenced to 18 months in jail tc
be assigned to roads. Sentence
was suspended on condition thai
he pay the court costs and that
he remain of good behavior tor
two years during which period
he shall refrain from the use ol
any alcoholic beverage.
Curtis Newsome, charged with
drunk and disorderly conduct,
was sentenced to three month*
in jail. Sentence suspended on
condition the defendant psys
costs and remains of good be
havior lor two years
Miss Wallace
To Teach At
Weldon School
Halifax — Superintendent of
Halifax County Schools W.
Henry Overman announced this
week the resignation of another
teacher from the Halifax School.
Miss Katherine Wallace of
Weldon who has taught in the
school since the fall of 1933 re
signed last week to accept a
position in the Weldon Public
School. Miss Wallace will fill
the vacancy created by the re
signation of Mrs. Milton Read of
Halifax who taught one section
of the first grade in the Wel
don School for the past two
years.
The resignation of Miss Wal
lace leaves the Halifax School—
a three teacher school—with one
teacher, Mrs. Helen B. Millikin.
Miss Thelma Elliott, principal
and also teacher of the sixth
and seventh grades in Halifax,
resigned two weeks ago to serve
as principal of the Hertford ele
mentary school.
Jaycees To Hear
Vincent; Dance
Friday Night
Jack Vincent, chairman of the
Alcoholic Beverage Control
board of Halifax county, will be
guest speaker at the regular
meeting of the Junior Chamber
of Commerce tonight.
Vincent's talk is one m a
series of addresses to be made
by county and city public of
ficials to the Jaycees. He will
discuss the operation, problems,
and related subjects concerning
the county's ABC board.
Tomorrow evening the Jay
cees will hold an informal dance
for club members at the Roa
noke Rapids country club.
Chairman of the dance commit
tee is Raleigh F. Seay. Also serv
ing on the committee are George
Nash, Robert Martin, and Na
than Tickel.
cmgger Cure Recommended
LINCOLN, Neb. (U.P.)—Don't
scratch that chigger bite but try
fingernail polish. The polish
eases the itch and dries up the
bite, according to O. S. Bare, en
tomologist at the University of
Nebraska. Acetone in the polish
has the same effect as salve on
a burn, he said.
>
Miss Cook Is
Secretary Of
New Group
Police Chief T. J. Davi· was
elected permanent chairman of
the nine-man recreation commis·?
sion at the group's first meeting
held Tuesday evening in the
Municipal Building. The com
mission then appointed Miss Ju
lia Cook secretary.
In addition to electing its per
manent chairman, and appoint
ing a secretary, the commission
also discussed plans for formu
lating a program whereby a re
lation program can be de
veloped for the city of Roanoke
Rapids.
Chief Davis said today that
another meeting of the commis
sion will be called in the very
near future to determine the
first steps to be taken by the
newly established commission.
Members present at Tuesday's
meeting were: J. H. Mayfield,
representing the Rosemary Mfg.
Co.; C. L. Elting, representing
the Virginia Electric & Power
Co.; Ben Lancaster, represent
ing the Merchants Association
Civic Clubs combined; George
Hayes, representing the Halifax
Paper Corp. and the Manchester
Board & Paper Co.; Rev. Ed
mund Berkeley, representing the
city's churches; Dr. J. H. Cutch
ins, city health officer; Cran
ford Hoyle, representing the
city's schools; and Chief of Po
lice T. J. Davis, representing the
city.
This nine-mna recreation com
mission was appointed by the
city board of commissioners at
a special meeting two weeks ago.
Funeral Rites
For RFC Ingram
To Be Sunday
The body of PFC Robert Lee
Ingram, who was killed during
World War II in Italy, will ar
rive here Friday for reburial.
PFC Ingram is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. John Ingram 77 Wash
ington street.
Funeral services will be held
from the home Sunday afternoon
at 4 o'clock with the Rev. Gor
don L. Price, pastor of the First
Baptist Church officiating.
Private Ingram, who wai
killed between Rome and Anzio,
is survived by his parents and
two brothers, Tommy and Eddie
Ingram.
R. Ο. Bray, Old Coin Connoisseur,
Laments Loss Of Watch and $200
Connoisseurs of rare old coins
are the rule, not the exception
it seems, in the Roanoke Rapids
area.
R. O. Bray, who operates a
variety store at 101 Roanoke
Avenue, has in his possession
some rare and interesting coins
that he has been collecting for
many years.
In an interview with Bray yes
terday in regard to Monday
night's robbery in which a thief
made off with his trousers con
taining $200 in cash, a watch
and other articles of great sen
timental value, he showed the
reporter his coin collection.
Half-Dimes
Among his several hundred
coins· Bray has several silver
half-dimes, one made in 1832,
another minted in 1853. These,
he explained, were what folks
used before the present day
nickel was born. In addition to
these, Bray also has several tiny
silver three-cent pieces (1862).
two cent coins made in 1823, and
a number of copper one-centers
with dates ranging from 1822 to
1854.
Another coin that Bray espe
cially treasures is an old-fash
ioned 50 cent piece (1832) that «s
considerably larger than the
present day half-dollar. He told
of how he had to use psychology
to get that particular coin for
his ccTllection. A man came into
his store from the country one
day to buy some fishing tackle.
He asked if Bray would accept
the 1832 over-sized 50 cent
piece in exchange for his pur
chase. Bray said he had to exer
cise much self-control in ordei
not to show his eagerness to
possess the rare coin. "I reck
on I'll sell you the tackle for
it" he answered and added one
more coin to hit growing col
lection.
Foreign Coin·
Through the years Bray has
also added a number of foreign
coins to his collection. He has
a 10 cent piece from Uruguay,
some six pence from Great
Britain, a 50 centimes from
France, and other coins from
Canada, Italy, Germany, and
Sweden.
Bray says collectors love to
get together to talk about their
coins and to exchange them. He
recalled several occasions when
the late Mayor Chase would
drop by his store and "we'd sit
by the hour talking about our
coins".
Pioneer Citisen
Bray, who came to Roanoke
Rapids in 1903 and who has liv
ed in the same home for the
past 45 years, had another treas
ure to show—a pocketbook that
belonged to his father. "It's over
100 years old", he said as he
showed the various sections for
10, 25 and 50 cent bills. In the
pocketbook, he has several let
jters, written in 1916, and 1918
from the Roanoke Mills Com
pany. The letters state that Mrs.
Bray was being awarded first
prize for having the best gar
den of families living in com
pany-owned homes.
Bray, who first knew Roanoke
Rapids as a town with 1,000
population, was employed in the
mills from 1903 to 1909. In 1911
he began work for Taylor and
Collier and in 1941 bought hui
present business from Mrs. Tay
lor.
"I certainly hope the police
can find that thief", said Bi*jr
at the conclusion of the .inter
view. "I'd carried that watch for
25 years and it means a great
deal to me." _ * I
i