Contribute To The March Os Dimes
THE CHOWAN HERALD
V y XXl.—Number 4.
Annual Meeting Os
Chowan County Red
Cross Chapter Feb. 2
New Officers Scheduled
To Be Elected For
Year
PLAN 1954 DRIVE
Dr. A. F. Downum Re
views Activities For
Past Year
Dr. A. F. Downum, chairman of the
Chowan Chapter of the American Red
Cross, stated early this week that a
meeting of the chapter will be held on
Tuesday night, February 2, at 7:30
o’clock in the Court House. One of
the principal items of business is to
elect officers and reorganize for the
new year, as well as plan for, the 1
forthcoming Red Cross Fund Raising
Drive, which will be held in March.
Because of this important business,
Dr. Downum urges everybody who is
interested in the Red Cross to attend
this meeting.
Approximatly 40 per cent of Red
Cross expenditures last year was
made in behalf of servicemen and vet
erans, according to a year-end report
to the Chowan County Red Cross
chapter by the organization’s nation
al headquarters in Washington.
A financial report released by E.
Roland Harriman, national chairman j
of the Red Cross, revealed that over ]
$35,000,000 was spent by the nation
al Red Cross and its 3,700 chapters
to help the troubled man in uniform
and his family back home, and help
less patients.
” xpenditures for all Red
Ct ‘es for the fiscal year end
ins 0, 1953, Dr. Downum was
info. amounted to $86,041,583.
Other services included a National
Blood Program, Disaster Preparedness
and Relief operations, health and safe
ty services. Junior Red Cross, and the
training of many thousands of volun
teers as Gray Ladies, Nurse’s Aides,
Staff Aides, Motor Service, recrea-!
tion workers in hospitals, and vari
ous other community services.
The Chowan County Chapter had ex
penditures of $1,247.92 for the same
period, according to Mrs. Corrine
Thorud, chapter treasurer. Os this
amount $817.55 went toward support
(Continued on Page Six)
Byrum Family Nighti
At School Auditorium!
Friday Night At 7:30!
Professional Actors Will
Provide Outstanding
Entertainment
Byrum Implement & Truck Com-'
pany will present its annual free In-j
ternational Harvester Family Party
and New Equipment Show Friday
night at 7:30 o’clock in the Eaenton
Elementary School auditorium.
As in previous years, the spacious
auditorium is expected to be filled to
capacity, so that those who want seats
are urged to be on hand before the
show begins.
For the entertainment of friends of
the Byrum concern professional actors
will appear on the stage including
The Ortons, America’s greatest thrill
sensation; The Snyder Sisters, who
will present music and songs; Reg
gie Saxe in a musical act that is dif
ferent, and Grover O’Day, a bicycle
and unicycle artits.
Aside from this entertainment full/
color movies will be presented show-'
ing the latest International Harvest
er equipment and the nationally fam
ous fast-hitch tractor square dance.
Cross Roads NegTo
Hurt In Accident
Jo- Holley, 35-year-old Negro of i
th Roads community was seri
o red Friday night about 6
o 'Sr en he was struck by an au- •
ton. by Roland Evans. He
received Compound fractures of both
legs and head injuries when, accord
ing to a report of Highway Patrol
maif Van Pierce, Holley walked into
the side of the car about half mile
from Cross Roads.
Holley was taken to the Chowan
Hospital. i
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, January 28, 1954.
|_ Time Short _J
With Sunday being the dead
line to operate motor vehicles
without displaying a 1954 license
plate, Saturday will be the last
day licenses can be purchased,
which applies both to State and
city tags.
For those who risk driving a
car with 1953 license plates, a
penalty will be imposed if they
happen to be arrested by State
patrolmen or local police.
Miss Goldie Layton, branch
manager for the North Carolina
Motor Club, where State licenses
are sold, says sales have been
considerably trailing last year.
Interest Is Mounting
In Swimming Pool;
Drive ToStart Soon
Opinion Now That Poolj
Will Be In Operation
By Hot Weather
A goodly number of representatives
i from various organizations interested
in the building of a swimming pool
here were on hand at the meeting of
the Hicks Memorial Swimming Pool
Corporation, held Monday night in
the Municipal Building.
Jesse Harrell, president of the or
ganization, who presided at the meet
-1 ing called on those attending for pres
entation of their ideas and views con
jeerning the project. Various phases
1 of the proposed pool were discussed
! pro and con, and many more are ex-
I pected to come under observation for
' | clearing up before the actual “kick-
J off” fund raising campaign goes into
'effect However, optimism was evi
j dent among the representatives pres
[ ent and enthusiasm will continue to
'! grow as plans go forward toward
,ereetion of the swimming pool.
;| William P. (Spec) Jones was ap
! J pointed Ways and Means Chairman
/and he will work with the schools in
promoting interest among the children
I who can’t be beat when it comes to
■ | “spreading the news.” Their enthusi
> asm should help the ball rolling for
the pool will be to their benefit and
I pleasure. As an added attraction for
! the school children a prize will be giv
en to the pupil making the best post-
I er on the swimming pool.
If things work out as it is hoped,
j opinion is that the pool will be ready
I for operation by the time hot weather
, 1 arrives. A list of canvassers are now
I being made up for both the county
and Edenton and as soon as it is com
pleted, the fund drive for $25,000 will
get underway.
Menton’s Finances
In Goodjlonditionj
First Six Months Con
sumed About Half of
Year’s Budget
Figures compiled by Town Clerk
Ernest J. Ward, Jr., the town’s bud
get is in satisfactory condition. As of
January 1, with half of the fiscal year
gone, just about every department had
spent approximately half of the year’s
appropriation.
The total year’s budget was set at
($125,071, of which disbursements as
'of January 1 amounted to $59,601.11,
.leaving a balance in the budget of
$65,469.89.
The picture as reflected in the vari
ous departments follows:
Administrative Budget, $5,734;
disbursements, $2,923.35; balance, $2,-
810.65.
Police Department—Budget, $23,-
(669; disbursements, $12,579.49; bal
ance, $11,089.51.
Fire Department—Budget, $12,189;
!disbursements, $5,624.19; balance, $6,-
564.81.
Street Department—Budget, $55,-
824; disbursements, $28,685.25; bal
ance, $27,138.75.
Cemetery—Budget, $1,850; disburse
ments, $924.82; balance, $925.18.
Other Expenditures—Budget, $25,-
805; disbursements, $8,864.01; balance,
i $16,940.99.
Nick George Defends !
State School System
At BPW Club Meeting
Faculty Member Princi
pal Speaker at Meeting
Held Thursday Night
i
j Members of the Edenton Business
and Professional Women’s Club heard '
a very enlightening talk on the North
Carolina School System by Nick
George of the local high school facul
ty at a meeting held Thursday night 1
in the Barker Community House.
Mr. George’s speech was, more or
less, a rebuttal to the recent criticism
against the school system in our
State. In answer to several questions
that have arisen in this community
concerning the result of the N. C. edu
cational system, Mr. George brought
out five points which were mostly un
der discussion. They were: “Are
School Children Today Able To Read
Well?” “Are Our Children Learning
To Write Good English?” “Do Mod
em Schools Teach Our Children To
Spell Properly?” “How Well Do
Schools Teach The 3 R’s Today,” and
“How Well Are Our Schools Teaching
Citizenship?”
Mr. George declared that in no time
in the history of public and private
education has so much careful thought
and study been given to the problem
of teaching children to read. “Nation
, | ally known experts have devoted their
; i entire careers to it,” he said. “Read
ling tests are given everywhere to de
termine the reading level of pupils in
'school and to identify those children
who need special help. All the infor- !
i mation available about the success of
I j the school 50 years ago points to the
conclusion that methods used in teaeh
’ ing reading caused more failure than
, success. Modern methods of teach
i ing have saved many of our children
from illiteracy. The fact that they
■ do not Save all is no more a criticism 1
■ of modern education than the fact
• that some sick children die is a criti
• cism of modem medicine. The sue-j
i cesses far outnumber the failures.
I “Die writing of good English has
■ always been a very difficult thing to
• (Continued on Page Five)
College Day Will Be
; Observed February 9
; At Local High School
I I ■
Representatives From 18
; Institutions Expected ,
To Attend
Representatives from at least 18
colleges and nursing schools and from
r five branches of the military will come
, to the Edenton Junior-Senior High
, School on College Day, which will be
held Tuesday morning, February 9,
from 9 until 11 o’clock.
The College Day program is being
sponsored by the Student Council of
the Edenton school and the purpose is
to give the students first-hand infor
mation of the opportunities available
at these various schools. The repre
sentatives of the colleges and military
will discuss their particular institu
tions, advise of scholarships and loans
I and discuss career planning with the
j Edenton students.
A spokesman for the College Day
program says the College Day pro
gram should be of great help to stu
dents in the Edenton school. He
pointed out that all members of the
school would be given the opportunity
to discuss college or nursing or mili
tary careers with the representatives
1 and that this would certainly help
, younger students, in particular, in
planning a future career. “As it is,
now,” said the spokesman, “students
in the lower high school grades don’t
think of college careers. They wait
until they’re seniors. The College
(Continued on Page Ten)
Edenton Puts Name
In Pot For Locating
Air Force Academy
i
With the announcement of the pro
posed establishment of an Air Force
Academy, the Town of Edenton put its
name in the pot last week when Town
Clerk Ernest Ward, Jr., was instruct
ed to send telegrams to Senators
Hoey, Lennon and Representative Her
bert Bonner.
The telegrams stated that Edenton,
is interested in locating the academy
here, but no encouraging news has
been received.
I
Lions Club Entertains]
1953 4-H Corn Club
Winners And Fathers
Prizes Awarded at Meet
ing Held Monday ,
Night 1
Edenton Lions entertained the 1953
Chowan 4-H corn contestants and
their dads at a supper Monday night.
Prizes were donated to the top winner j
in each of the three age groups, ten,'
eleven and twelve, ages 13 and 14, and
ages 15 and above.
James Monds, son of Mr. and Mrs.
B. P. Monds, of the Center Hill sec
tion, who grew 102.2 bushels of com
on his acre, won the prize in the age
group of 15 years and above. James
grew N. C. 27 corn.
Robert Preston Dail, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Preston Dail, of the Ryland sec
tion, won the prize in the age group
of 13 and 14. Robert grew 96.5 bush- .
els of Dixie 17 com on his acre.
Gerald Harrell, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Lester Harrell, of the Rocky Hock sec
tion, who grew 93.9 bushels of N. C.
27 corn on his acre, won top prize in
the youngest age group. Each of
these group winners was presented
with a SIO.OO check by Jesse Harrell,
president of the Edenton Lions Club,
i A total of 21 4-H contestants and 13
dads were present for the meeting.
President Harrell congratulated the
boys and their dads for their fine
work, and urged them to continue
their progress.
Vandy Parks, son of Mr. and Mrs.
i Earl Parks of the Hobbsville com
munity, who was 1953 State 4-H com
winner, was recognized and congratu
lated. Although Vandy’s yield was not
the highest in the county this year,
he won the championship on the basis
of his com production during the years
of 1952 and 1953.
I James Monds showed some color
slides of the trip to the National 4-H
Chib Congress and gave a very vivid
l description of the slides and told
many happy experiences of the trip.
James attended the Congress as State
4-H tractor maintenance winner.
James and Vandy expressed appreci
ation to the Lions Club for sponsor
ing the eighth annual Chowan 4-H
Club corn contest.
The 33 contestants averaged 60
bushels per acre. This compares to
the State average of not more than 1
35,0 bushels per acre.
Rev. Ralph Knight j
Resigns As Pastor
At Ballard’s Bridge
Accepts Pastorate of the
Wilmont Church at
Charlotte
The Rev. Ralph W. Knight, pastor
of the Ballard’s Bridge Baptist Church
has tendered his resignation and will
leave in about two weeks to accept
the pastorate of the Wilmont Baptist
Church at Charlotte.
Mr. Knight has been pastor of the
Ballard’s Bridge Church for two
years and eight months and he, as
well as members of the congregation,
regret that he and his family are leav
ing Chowan County.
Special Music At Red
Men Meeting’ Monday
Story telling featured the Red Men’s ,
meeting Monday night when a goodly ,
number attended after enjoying a
steak supper at Ernest Lee’s Restau- ,
rant.
At next Monday night’s meeting
special music will be furnished by a
colored group, Francis Slade and his
Four Aces. Aside from the leader the -
boys include Clyde Slade, Tom Bern- ;
bry, James Bembry and Henry Blount. ,
Walter Bond, sachem of Chowan •
Tribe, urges a full attendance for the •
meeting. ]
Over Thirty Masons j
Enjoy Steak Supper
— i
Masons were guests of Ernest Ke
hayes at a steak supper served Thurs
day night at R. P. Baer’s barbecue pit.
The affair was thoroughly enjoyed
and attracted over 30 Masons.
Following the supper the regular
i Masonic meeting was held in the
lodge room, at which time a little
over $2,500 was raised toward com
' nleting the new Masonic temple on
1 Water Street.
Bertie’s C. W. Spruill
Will Be Candidate
For Seat In Senate
Civic Calendar
Chowan County Chapter of the
American Red Cross will hold a
meeting Tuesday night, February
2, at 7:30 o’clock in the Court
House.
College Day will be observed at
the Edenton Junior-Senior High
School Tuesday morning, Febru
ary 9, from 9 to 11 o’clock.
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Webb will
celebrate their golden wedding an
(Continued on Page Ten)
Contributions For
March Os Dimes
Stands At $1,135
Report Far From Being
Complete Early This
Week
Bill Perry, co-chairman of the 1954
March of Dimes, reported this week
that as of Tuesday morning contribu
tions amounted to $1,135.24. The re
port is far from being complete, so
that he is very optimistic that when
all reports are finally in the goal of
at least $2,000 will be realized.
This year’s March of Dimes cam
paign is sponsored jointly by the Wil
liam H. Coffield Post, No. 9280, Vet
erans of Foreign Wars, the VFW Au
xiliary and Chowanoke Council, No.
54, Degree of Pocahontas, all three
groups joining forces in the drive.
One phase of the drive was but a
solar plexus blow Saturday when, due
to snow, ice and extremely cold weath
er, the road block on North Broad
Street, had to be abandoned, as well
as circulation in the business section
with buckets to receive contributions.
Both of these schemes are scheduled
j to be carried out next Saturday, when
I VFW members will be stationed at
I the road block at North Broad Street
in the hope that passing motorists will
drop in contributions. Women of the
VFW Auxiliary and the Degree of Po-
I cahontas will be stationed in the busi
ness section to receive contributions
from those who might not have been
contacted otherwise.
Mr. Perry urges all canvassers to
complete their work as soon as possi
ble so that their reports can be turn
ed in and the result of the drive de
termined. Last year, after a late,
start, Chowan County raised over sl,-
900, so that it is hoped this year con- j
tributions will go beyond the $2,000
mark.
Group Edenton Tots 1
Form Organization
Offering Small Prize to
Person Submitting
Name
Edenton’s newest organization came
into being this week when a group of
little tots six years or less of age
met Monday afternoon at the home
of Mrs. A1 Wall to perfect an organi
zation and their first official act was
to contribute a dime each to the March
of Dimes. Bettv Wall was elected as
president and Panela Ashley, secre
tary and treasurer.
The next meeting of the group will
be held Thursday afternoon, February
25, at the home of Mrs. Thomas Ash
ley. The youngsters are now con
cerned about a name for the organiza
tion and will give a small prize to the
person submitting a name which is se
lected.
The youngsters are interested in
contributing to any worthwhile move
ment in Edenton and to that end they
have agreed to save their pennies and
dimes in order to be able to take part
when the opportunity presents itself.
Mrs. A1 Wall and Mrs. Thomas Ash
ley are counsellors for the group,
which includes the following members:
Betty Wall, Panela Ashley, Gail
Oliver, Jerry Jones, Carolyn Wall,
Kay Shaw, Vickie Allsbrook, Sara
Frances Edwards, Pat Byrum, Phil
Harrell, Johnny Cates, Kenny Wall,
Sharon Dunbar and her baby sister,
Donna.
Per Year.
‘Cousin Wayland’ Spruill
Takes Stand on ‘Se
crecy’ Issue
VET LEGISLATOR
Introduced Bill Remov
ing 15-Cent Ad Va
lorem Tax
C. W. (“Cousin Wayland”) Spruill
last week announced his candidacy for
the State Senate from the First Dis
trict in the May Democratic Primary.
In announcing his candidacy, Mr.
Spruill took a stand on the “secrecy”
issue which is expected to be a hotly
discussed point in state and local po
litical battles this year.
“I am going on record opposing any
I secret legislation,” he said. "I am op
posed to using the taxpayers money
without the people being informed as
to how much is to be spent on each
item in the budget.
“I will do what I can to repeal the
present law on the statute books
which was passed in the last legisla
, ture.” He was referring to House Bill
: No. 1071 allowing executive sessions
. of the Appropriations Committee,
. passed by the 1953 General Assembly.
, Tn seeking a seat in the State Sen
i ate, Mr. Spruill is asking the voters
• to return him to the body which he
represented Bertie and the Northamp
ton counties before the present First
. District was organized.
. I He has served in eight sessions of
■ |the House of Representatives. While
jin the House he introduced and pass
, ed a bill removing the 15-eent ad va
j lorem tax which counties collected for
| State governmental expense.
, ( A sponsor for years of State tu
berculosis and mental institutions, Mr.
Spruill has served as chairman of the
House Mental Institutions Committee
land introduced a bill to establish the
(East Carolina Sanitorium at Wilson,
I'a wing of which was named in his
, 1 honor.
I He also is a member of the State
Hospital Board of Control. On that
Board he is a member of the execu
, tive committee, a member of the build
ing committee which is directing the
use of $22,000,000 in bond issue money
and chairman of the legislative com
mittee.
In Bertie County he has served as
County Commissioner and as a road
commissioner. He is a Baptist, Ro
tarian, a Mason and a Shriner.
Town Proposes To
j Set Fixed Charge
| For Housing Project
Agrees to Charge $325
Per Unit For Water-
Sewer Connections
Members of Town Council and the
Board of Public Works met jointly in
a special meeting Thursday night
when the new proposed housing pro
ject was considered.
Previously R. B. Cauthen, repre
senting the Richards Building Com
pany of Raleigh, requested the town
to extend water, sewer and electric
lines to the property line of the pro
posed 30 housing units, but action on
the request at that time was post
poned.
At Thursday night’s meeting the
two boards agreed to extend the lines
from the present Albemarle Court to
the property line at a flat cost of
$325 for each house, which includes
the usual tapping charges of S9O for
water and sewer.
Town Clerk Ernest Ward was in
structed to inform Mr. Cauthen of the
town’s proposition.
PTA Brunswick Stew
Supper February sth
Edenton’s Parent-Teacher Associa
tion will sponsor a Brunswick stew
supper in the Junior-Senior High
School Cafeteria Friday night, Febru
ary 5. The supper will be served from
6 to 7 o’clock preceding the Faculty-
Varsity basketball game.
Tickets for the supper are now on
sale.