Volume XlV.—Number 2.
CHOWAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS START John Graham Leaves
, WORKING FUND OF ftOH FOR OPERATING Te Represent County
dKNTON NAVAL AIR STATION HOSPITAL 1 In General Assembly
Dr. Frank Wood and
Miss Lucille Hall Now
In Edenton
BEGIPTWORK
Money Needed For Sup
plies and Salary of
Personnel
With the arrival of Dr. Frank
Wood, who will serve as surgeon and
medical director at the Edenton
Naval Air Station hospital, and Miss
Lucille Hall as head nurse and man
ager, opening of the hospital appears
to be in the very near future.
Marvin Wilson, a member of the
hospital trustees, appeared before the
County Commissioners Monday, stat
ing that Dr. Wood and Miss Hall
were ready to proceed with the pre
liminary work and in view of that
fact, funds will have to be available
at once to meet expenses. The Com
missioners, who, like Town Council,
agreed to appropriate SIO,OOO for the
operation of the hospital during the
fiscal year, advanced $5,000 as a
working fund, and Town Council will,
no doubt, authorize advancement of
$6,000 from E. & W. funds at the
monthly meeting next Tuesday night.
The money will be transferred to W.
H. Gardner, treasurer of the hospital
trustees.
While the hospital is adequately
supplied with equipment, there will
be some expense necessary to begin
operation, for Mr. Wilson explained
that the government sent most of the
major operation cases to larger hos
pitals, so that while there is an over
supply of some materials, there is a
shortage of some items necessary for
surgery operations. He was unable
to estimate just how much expense
will be involved. Besides, funds must
be available to meet salaries of the
lospital personnel, so that mony
must be available at once.
Heat for the hospital will be fur
nished by the Hervey Foundation,
provision for which was included in
the lease from the Town of Edenton
to the Foundation. Heat was turned
into the building early this week.
While Dr. Wood and Miss Hall will
make as much progress as possible to
complete arrangements, no definite
date has been set for beginning op
eration, although it is expected every
thing will be in readiness before Jan
uary passes out.
Automobile Wreck
Near Edenton Fatal
To Percy G. Hughes
Elizabeth City Man In
stantly Killed; Two
Others Injured
Another tragic automobile accident
occurred near Edenton Thursday
night about 11:30 o’clock, when Percy
G. Hughes of Elizabeth City was in
stantly killed and his wife was seri
ously injured and a niece, Miss Jean
Morris, less seriously hurt.
The accident occurred on the Albe
marle Sound Bridge road, where it is
crossed by the old Yeopim road, about
* five miles from Edenton.
Due to rain and fog, the supposi
tion is that Hughes, who was travel
ing north, mistook the old Yeopim
road for the curve where Route 37
joins U. S. 17, and bearing right, he
ran into a deep ditch. Hughes was
dead when help arrived and Mrs.
Hughes and Miss Morris were rushed
to Albemarle Hospita 1 in Elizabeth
City.
Funeral services for Mr. Hughes
were held in Elizabeth City Sunday
afternoon with the Rev. Allen P.
Brantley, pastor of the First Metho
dist Church, officiating. Interment
was made in New Hollywood Ceme
tery.
■
Meeting: of Varsity Club
Tonight In Court House
Having been inactive during the
Christmas holidays, the local Varsity
Club, composed of young men inter
ested in , athletics, are scheduled to
meet tonight (Thursday) at 7:30
o’clock in the Court House. Among
the activities to be considered will be
a Valentine dance.
All members, as well as any others
interested in athletics, are urged to
be present at the meeting.
THE CHOWAN HERALD
A mU HMWtPAPMM BEVOTMB TO TMK INTNNNMTM OT CHOWAN COUNTY
Peter Carlton Begins
Duties In Edenton As
Secretary Os C. Os C.
i
Urges Cooperation and
Joining Forces to Ac
complish Results
Last week Peter Carlton, former
Boy Scout Field Executive of the Al
bemarle District, began his new du
ties as full-time executive secretary
of the Chowan County Chamber of
Commerce and Merchants Association,
a position he accepted about a month
ago. Mr. Carlton immediately con
tacted many members of the organiz
ation in quest of ideas or suggestions
in order to acquaint himself with the
wishes of members, so that he can
map out a program and devote his
efforts toward the accomplishment of.
some particular phases of the Cham
ber of Commerce work.
Mr. Carlton is very enthusiastic
over his new position and is a stickler
for cooperation and joining forces for
any particular project which will be
of benefit to Edenton or Chowan
County as a whole. He is eager to
be of any kind of service and hence
will welcome any advise or sugges
tions from any member of the or
ganization.
The new secretary was born in
New York City in 1912, where he at
tended the city schools and later at-
LaSalle Military School. For
two years he was a student at the
University of Alabama, later trans
ferring to Alfred University in New
York State, where he received his
Bachelor of Science degree. He
secured a teachers’ license in New
York State, and later enlisted as a
pilot cadet at Randolph Field in the
Army Air Forces, but was discharged
due to physical defects. He then
taught in adult education fields, tak
ing part in the Federal drive to elim
inate illiteracy.
Later he held a Federal position in
New York City, during which he de
voted much of his time to social work
in the Brooklyn city prison, Ellis
Island and Governor’s Island. During
the war he taught chemistry at Nor
folk High School in New York State,
after which he went into Boy Scout
work.
Mr. Carlton is Very anxious to rent
a house or apartment, so that he can
move his family to Edenton and when
his wife and son are able to be with
him, he feels that he can be of more
service to the community. Anyone
knowing of a house or apartment for
rent will confer a great favor on Mr.
Carlton, as well as the Chamber of
Commerce by contacting the new sec
retary or Jesse Harrell, president of
the Chamber of Commerce.
C. Os C. Directors Hold
Meeting Tuesday Night
Members of the Board of Directors
of the Edenton-Chowan Chamber of
Commerce and Merchants Association
met in the Municipal Building this
past Tuesday. According to Jesse L.
Harrell, president of the association,
the directors voted to carry on a vig
orous campaign for a new bridge con
necting Bertie and Chowan counties.
Already Midgett has
promised his support.
The issue which is clearly one for
the citizens of Edenton and cities
along U. S. Highway 17, will be
placed before all civic groups for
their support. Town and county of
ficials have promised strong backing,
according to Mayor Leroy Haskett
arid chairman of the County Commis
sioners, W. W. Byrum.
Determined delegates 'from leading
groups will place the case before the
State Highway Commission in Ra
leigh as soon as the preliminaries are
completed.
Mrs. B. W. Evans Buys
Jail At County Home
Though several people expressed
their interest in purchasing the old
jail at the Chowan County Home,
only one bid was submitted to the
County Comm'ss!OT’ / 'rs Monday, des
pite the fact tfcat the sole had been
postponed at the December meeting
in order to allow time for other bids
to he submitted.
The successful bidder was Mrs. B.
W. Evans, whose bid .was $lO, with
the understanding that all of the
building and debris be cleared from
the county property.
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, January 9,1947.
Asks to Be Contacted
Relative to Any De
sired Legislation
BRIDGE REPAIRED
Informed Letting Rocky
Hock Road Scheduled
January 28
John Graham left Tuesday for
Raleigh where he will represent Cho
wan County in the General Assembly.
Prior to leaving, he app ared before
the County Commissioners with the
request that he be informed »of any
legislation desired for Chowan Coun
ty, as well as promising the Com
missioners that he will keep them in
formed as to any matters affecting
the county.
Mr. Graham told the Commission
ers that he had received a letter from
Merrill Evans, Highway Commission
er, stating that letting of a contract
for the road from Valhalla through
Rocky Hock to Cross Roads was
scheduled for January 28 and that he
expected work to begin in the spring.
However, Mr. Graham urged the
Commissioners to write letters to
Commissioner Evans and A. H. Gra
ham, chairman of the Highway and
Public Works Commission, urging
letting of the contract.
Mr. Evans informed Mr. Graham
that the road near Macedonia Church
and the one to Herbert Small’s farm
will be taken care of by the regular
maintenance force.
Mr. Graham was also advised that
temporary repairs are to be made to
the Chowan River bridge costing be
tween $30,000 and $40,000. To mod
ernize the bridge, Mr. Evans said,
will cost in the neighborhood of
SBOO,OOO, and gave Mr. Graham no
encouragement that this project will
be undertaken in the immediate fu
ture^
Fire Oiief R. K. Hall
Out Following Illness
Fire Chief R. K. Hall was able to
be outdoors Monday of this week, af
ter being confined to his home 20
days. Cap’n. Dick was taken sick
Wednesday before Christmas and
though able to be about, he is very
weak from the effects of an attack
of pneumonia. His illness prevented
him from observing his 81st birthday
which falls on Christmas day.
Scoutin' A round
By PETER * * CARLTON
Looks like we’re going to have our
baseball friends around again. Tues
day afternoon Mayor Leroy Haskett,
Graham Byrum and this writer took
over from Ed Schwarze in making
H. P. Dawson, president of the Nor
folk Tars, welcome. H. P. came
through on his yearly pre-season visit
making arrangements for the Bing
hamton, Denver and Norfolk ball
clubs. He gave suggestions for mak
ing the field ready for the arrival of
the players around March 25. Be
tween 40 and 50 players will remain
four weeks in Edenton. Around 35
will go to Hertford. Bill Jessup,
baseball scout residing in Hertford
'but covering the States of North
Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia,
also paid us a visit along with Daw
son. In speaking of the Albemarle
League, he had some good recom
mendations to insure a good brand' of
ball. No doubt he will bring it up
when the various groups meet. Base
ball is a bang-up game from what'we
have seen; there are many rabid fans
in these parts. They’ll welcome any
suggestions that will keep the game
clean, fast and of first Quality.
Mayor Haskett and Graham Byrum
promised all-out cooperation to Mr.
Dawson in getting things ready for a
comfortable stay. Ed Schwarze will
take care of sleeping and eating ac
commodations.
« o
We’re happy that others are find
ing Edenton a grand place in which
to visit or live. Every day the
Chamber of Commerce of Edenton or
the Mayor’s office receives requests
for information about tourist camps,
Henry Gardner, executive vice presi
trailer camps and hotel reservations,
dent of the Bank of Edenton, turned
ovt a request for a Colonial estate.
Holiday Magazine wrote for pictures
and information about the Cupola
House. Mrs. Hazel Gibbs, office sec
retary of the Chamber, reports that
thousands of illustrated folders have
been sent out to those interested in
Edenton, including hundreds to school
children. <
o ,
Philip McMullan, Sr., and Jesse
Harrell, president of the Chamber
group, both, had ideas along the sami
Carlton Working To
Have Chowan River
Bridge Modernized
Asks Commissioners to
Join Forces to Have
Work Done
IN BAITsHAPE
Check Shows 1,200 Cars
Crossed Bridge In
Eight Hours
Peter Carlton, new executive sec
retary of the Chamber of Commerce,
appeared before the County Commis
sioners at their meeting Monday and
urged concerted action relative to
having something done to the Chowan
River bridge. Mr. Carlton told the
Commissioners that he understood
some temporary repairs were sched
uled to be made to the bridge, prin
cipally calling for placing wood on
the roadway. Many holes are contin
ually making their appearance on the
bridge, so that traveling over the
bridge is very unsatisfactory.
Mr. Carlton appealed for joining of
forces in requesting the Highway
Commission to widen the bridge and
provide a more permanent deck for
the span of water. He suggested a
resolution be sent to Highway Com
missioner Merrill Evans and Chair
man A. H. Graham, urging this to be
done at once and not in the far-off
future. Mr. Carlton told the Com
missioners that according to an ac
curate check made recently, 1,200 au
tomobiles passed over the bridge from
8 A. M. to 4 P, M., a total of eight
hours.
The Commissioners were in accord
with Mr. Carlton’s suggestion, so that
a resolution was prepared and sent
to the highway officials urging this
work to be done. Carlton plans to
contact Bertie County Officials, as well
as local organizations in an effort to
develop sentiment in favor of Improv
ing the bridge, so that a united front
will be able to exert more influence
! with the powers that be.
Two Basketball Games
Tonight In Armory
Coach Tex Lindsay announces two
basketball games in the Edenton
armory tonight (Thursday) when his
I boys and Coach Ben Askew’s girls’
team will meet the Creswell High
: School teams.
Creswell is reported to have fast
: teams, so that two good games :.hou!d
i be in prospect.
lines, that of having guided tours to
our places of interest, Plans are be
ing studied.
With the bridge at Williamsioh
progressing nicely, and close to
$400,000 allotted for the curve at
South Mills, it does seem a little bit
one-sided to speak to citizens of
Edenton' about economies when an
other vital link along the Ocean High
way, namely the Chowan River
bridge, is so desperately in need of
reconstruction. Estimates on giving
us a wider bridge and one with con
crete superstructure with steel
stringers beneath for support, varied
from SBOO,OOO to $1,000,000. At the
recent 'municipalities meeting held in
Edenton reliable sources report that
it was said that the State Highway
and Public Works Commission had
•lose to fifty million dollars in re
serve. Representatives and officials
if the government are there sup
posedly to carry out the wishes of
'her people. From what we hear, it
is the people’s wish that a safe and
permanent bridge structure be built—
not next year, but right now.
o ■ —
The Edenton Furniture Company
has presented a good idea to mer
chants of the city—that of leaving
window lights on until 9 o’clock. Be
lieve it or not, it works. Passing by
around 11 o’clock one night, people
were seen looking into the Edenton
Furniture Company’s window. (Jess
Harrell "had been to a meeting and
was returning to douse the lights).
So a word to the wise is sufficient.
Come to think of it, that would make
our streets more lively at night and
would give folks a chance to see our
merchandise. (How about that say
ing concerning moths and the light?)
o
Edenton is going to have its own
freezer locker soon. John Mitchener,
Jr., tells us that the refrigeration
units are about to be installed and
the doors opened for business around
January 15. We found a solution for
Eddie Bufflap, Willie White and
Frank Hughes. They caught a good
looking string of fish last Saturday—
sixty was the count. Nice jack pike,
k (Continued on Page Five)
EDENTON SCHOOL TRUSTEES TAKE INITIAL
STEP IN EFFORTTO ELIMINATE EXTREMELY
CROWDED CONDITION AT NEGRO SCHOOL
|_ Grateful J
The Young People’s Service
League wishes to thank all who
contributed to the Christmas
Stocking Fund this year. It is
especially grateful to The Chowan
Herald for the fine publicity
given to this Christmas effort.
Many Boys And Girls
Taking Advantage Os
Recreation Program
Tex Lindsay Planning
Athletic Pageant In,
Near Future
Many boys and girls in Edenton are.
now taking advantage of the recrea
tional program which is under way
at the Edenton armory under the di
rection of Tex Lindsay. Mr. Lindsay
reports that in the neighborhood of
100 boys and girls have been going to
the armory Friday and Saturday
nights and Sunday afternoon, where
they participate in recreation already
under way, with others to be pro
vided.
The activities are taking place of
the Teenage Club, which had to be
abandoned for class room space.
Among the recreation activities plan
ned are skating, table tennis, badmin
ton, volley ball, hand ball and box
ing. Another thing offering a lot of
exercise and recreation is a punching
bag and exercising bar. The youngs
ters also crowd around the micro
phone and sing.
“The activities, while very much
enjoyed by a large number, have not
reached perfection,” says Mr. Lind
say, “but our program is shaping up
rapidly and it is hoped more of the
parents will drop around to get an
idea of what is being done.”
jVlr, Lindsay says that in the very
near future it is planned to have an
athletic pageant, which will include
boxing, punching bag activities, shuffle
board, volley ball game, skating, ex
ercising bar contest and a basketball
game.
While Mr Lindsay is delighted to
see so many youngsters taking ad
vantage of the recreational program,
he hopes that grown-ups, too, Will
come to the armory and take part in
the various exercises arranged.
Dr. J. E Andrews
Lions Club Speaker
Tells Members About
Navy Mobile Hospital
Unit Experiences
j
Dr. J. E. Andrews was the princi
pal speaker at the Lions Club meet
ing Monday night, when he made a
very interesting address relative to
his experience in organizing, opera
tion and demobilizing a Navy mobile
hospital. Dr. Andrews, a retired
Navy captain, told about a hospital
unit being sent to Cuba, then Ber
muda as an experiment. Later a
unit was organized in Brooklyn, sent
to San Francisco, then to Sydney and
Brisbane in Australia, and because of
a change in fighting lines, it was
j transferred to the Philippines.
During the meeting Peter Carlton,
new executive secretary of the Cham
ber of Commerce, was accepted into
the club, having transferred from
the Elizabeth City club.
Mrs. W. S. Summerell
Returns From Hospital
Mrs. W. S. Summerell has return
ed to her home on Albemarle Street
after being hospitalized for the past
54 days at Albemarle Hospital, where
she was treated for a broken hip
bone, suffered when she fell on her
back porch on November 13.
Mrs. Summerell was returned to
her home by ambulance Monday af
ternoon. She will be semi-confined
to her bed and room for several weeks
yet, as she further recuperates.
Miss Elizabeth Kipps, sister of
Mrs. Summerell, who is a registered
nurse, of New York City, is attending
Mrs. Summerell during her convales
cent period.
*51.50 Per Year.
Plan to Sell Land and
Buy New Plot to Pro
vide Adequate Space
needTroom
Children Now Scattered
In Four Buildings
About Town
With conditions so crowded at the
Edenton colored school that classes
are held in four different buildings
scattered about town, John A. Hol
mes, superintendent of schools, ap
peared before the County Commis
sioners Monday asking approval for
the Edenton school trustees to sell
a strip of land of about four or five
acres lying east of the Norfolk Sou
thern Railroad «ith the proceeds to
apply toward purchase of additional
land along Oakum Street for the pur
pose of squaring the school property
preparatory to enlarging the colored
school.
The strip of land now owned by
the school is of no use for expansion
purposes, for when the school is
enlarged it is the purpose to have
more or less of a square area which
will allow foi a larger building and
a playground. It is necessary to
about double the size of the present
plant to properly take care of the
colored school children.
The Commissioners approved the
request, so that an effort will be made
I to sell the strip of land in question
and purchase a new plot along Oak
um Street adjoining the present
school property.
Mr. Holmes presented a sketch of
the present school property which
was very convincing that the strip
of land now owned by the school and
not used does not fit into any con
templated enlargement of the present
plant.
Rotary dub Plans
Observe Farmers’
Night January 16
Boys In Peanut Contest
And Their Fathers
Will Be Guests
Edenton’s Rotary Club at last
week’s meeting decided to observe.
Farmers Night on Thursday night,
January 16, when the club will be
host to all of the boys who participat
ed in the 4-H Club peanut contest
sponsored by the Rotary Club, as
well as the fathers of the boys. The
meeting will be held -jn the Parish
House and James E. Wood, C. T.
Griffin, George Twiddy and President
C. W. Overman will make the neces
sary arrangements for the- affair.
Mr. Overman reported to .he Ro
tary Club that most of the 4-H Club
| boys completed their project, al
though in some instances crops were
greatly damaged by rain and in two
cases practically totally lost. The re
suits of the contest were very grati
| tying and in almost every case, fol
j lowing recommendations of the coun
ty agents resulted in better crops.
Ernest Swain will be in charge of
today’s Rotary program, which will
be devoted to the Rotary Magazine.
Many Friends Visit Mr.
Ar.d Mrs. O. C. Davis On
Wedding Anniversary
In the neighborhood of 80 friends
called at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
O. C. Davis on Court Street Sunday
afternoon between 3 and 6 o’clock,
when the couple observed open house
in commemoration of their 50th wed
ding anniversary. Mr. and Mrs.
Davis greeted the guests as they en
tered and invited them to the dining
room, where punch and cake were
served.
Mrs. J. C. King of Rocky Mount,
granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Davis,
presided over the punch bowl, while
Mrs. John M. Elliott, Sr„ and Mrs.
H. B. Jones cut the huge three-tiered
anniversary cake. Misses Joan and
Patsy Ann Cobb served the refresh
ments to the guests.
MASONS MEET TONIGHT
The weekly meeting of Unanimity
Ix>dge, No. 7, A. F. & A. M„ will be
held tonight (Thursday) at 8 o’clock.
Work in the first degree is scheduled,
so that W. O. Elliott, master of the
lodge, is very anxious to have a large
attendance.