CHRIS-CRAFT LOCATING HERE
Chris-Craft Corporation will erect a
modern boat manufacturing facility in
Chowan County.
Construction began this week on the
free-standing steel building. It will be
located on more than 50 acres of land on
the Albemarle Sound near Edenton Mu
nicipal Airport. Boats to be built here
will include cruisers of varying sizes—all
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GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY—LocaI officials of Chris-Craft Corporation, representatives of town and county governments and
the chamber of commerce are shown at groundbreaking ceremonies for the boat manufacturing concern's new plant on Albemarle
Sound. Left to right are: William N. Sanford, general manager: W. B. Gardner, town administrator and chamber leader; W. J. P.
Earnhardt Sr., chamber president; W. P. Jones, past chairman of the Industrial Committee; Mayor John A. Mitchener, Jr.; W. E.
Bond, chairman, Chowan County commissioners; Donald M. Gilbert, plant manager, and Robert W. Moore, chamber executive vice
president. The firm will build fiberglass boats at the local plant.
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Volume XXXV.—No. 4. Edenton. Chowan County, North Carolina 27932 Thursday, January 25, 1968 Single Copy 10 Cents
CL-hi' 'JJuhlic |Jararte
Politics And Stuff
AH is fair in love, war and politics?
Since this is the season for campaigning
for top state offices just about anything
and everything is kosher.
We seem to remember about four
years ago when a certain'candidate for
residence on Blount Street in Raleigh
made considerable political hay out of a
promise to sell the state-owned airplane.
Once he got elected he took a second
look. He found the plane to be an asset
in industry-hunting.
The industry-hunters are no longer
content with the $70,000 DC-3. Only
Tuesday they proposed to get into the
jet age to the tune of $750,000. Too,
they want a helicopter for short jaunts.
As one of the officials said: “North
Carolina is not a poor state." Even he
will have to admit that many sl-million
proposals like the aircraft one will send
Treasurer Edwin Gill into a rage.
There is, however, some consolation
in the fact that at least one true con
servative is seeking high political office.
We can testify to that. One political an
nouncement came postage due.
We’re looking to Bob Morgan for a
six-cent stamp.
Needless to say, it is going to be an
interesting Spring.
Out Os Character
Edenton Town Council must stop play
ing with second reading on the granting
of a franchise for North Carolina Natural
Gas Company to serve local citizens.
While delay after delay is experienced,
neighboring municipalities are becoming
a part of the 20-town network proposed
by the firm.
While our Board of Public Works
cautions about loss of revenue from the
sale of electricity, others say they are
willing to meet the competition head-on.
While our council studies the feasi
bility of conducting a feasibility survey
we are seeing our reputation as being
the most progressive community in
Northeastern North Carolina washed
down the drain.
Industry that has located here in the
past few years have had more to do with
the maintaining of a low tax rate than
many of our ranking officials will admit.
When told by a representative of one
of the most progressive Seabrook
Blanching Corporation they fall for a
good serving of pablum.
As we stated, while our council studies
our neighbors move ahead. R. W. Luth
er was quoted in one of our favorite
afternoon papers on January 19 as say
ing he would recommend the granting of
a franchise to N. C. Natural Gas.
He said natural gas would be in com
petition with municipally owned electric
systems, but added: “Competition is
good: that’s progress. There certainly is
a place here for it (gas).’’
- ***• 4
of fiberglass material.
Announcement of the firm’s plans were
made today by Donald A. Wich, vice
president of operations.
Wich also announced that William M.
Sanford, general manager, and Donald
M. Gilbert, plant man have moved
to Edenton to assume t 11 g 'espective po
sitions. Temporary c of s are located
I Little Symphony
To Perform Here
The N. C. Little Symphony will give
two concerts in Edenton on March 25
an afternoon concert for children and an
evening concert.
This will be the third year the state
symphony, directed by Dr. Benjamin
Swalin, has been in Edenton.
Chowan Arts Council is again spon
soring the appearance of the group in
Edenton.
Mrs. Thomas Chears, Jr., president,
recommended that since the student con
cert is being limited to children in the
elementary grades, an effort should be
made to make a large number of free
tickets available to high school students
for the evening concert. The remainder
of the tickets would be sold to meet the
contract cost of the performance.
Also, the council was told that the
School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, has
offered a second concert in Edenton on
March 21. The first group appeared last
fall.
Other council business included investi
.gation of the possibility of having class
es sponsored by the College of the Albe
marle Fine Arts Center held in Edenton.
Mrs. Jack Douglas will inquire about lo
cal interest in various classes.
Building Permits
Building permits in Edenton for 1967
totaled $343,897, according to a report
issued by W. B. Gardner, town admini
strator.
Gardner’s report showed permits for
business and industries amounted to
$197,722.
New home construction amounted to
$93,500 while home alterations were
$52,675.
Gardner said all of the $343,897 repre
sents taxable improvements.
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CANDIDATE VISITS IN CHOWAN—During a whirlwind four of
Jr, Democratic candidate for governor, stopped for a few minute* at
duced to eome two doeen area citiaacis by J. Gilliam Wood, a former
court house with Mr. and Mrs. Jack Habit. It was later announced
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Coaches Gibbs and Kirby
Kirby Assistant
In Benefit Game
GREENVILLE Four of North Ca
rolina’s top prep football coaches have
been selected to coach the North and
South All-Star squads for this year’s sixth
annual Boys’ Home All-Star Bowl Game.
Jack Wall of Greenville, state chair
man for the 1968 contest for the North
Carolina Jaycees, announced the follow
ing selections: Roger Thrift of New Bern
High School, head coach for the South.
His assistant is Steve Yates of North
Rowan in Spencer.
Head coach for the North All-Stars
is Alex Gibbs of Mt. Airy Senior High
School. Gibbs’ assistant will be Marion
Kirby of John A. Holmes High School
in Edenton.
“All four, stated chairman Wall, “have
truly outstanding records both on and
off the field. We are extremely honored
that these four young men have agreed
to participate in our sixth annual North-
South All-Star Classic.”
The date for the 1968 game has been
set for Saturday night, August 3, at 8
P. M., at East Carolina University’s
Ficklen Stadium. The coaching selec-
Continued on Pace 4
in a warehouse building on the site.
Monroe Construction Company of
Greensboro is building contractor. Luke
May is construction superintendent.
Chris-Craft announced several months
ago that option had been taken on the
base property and called for a labor
availability survey. This successful sur
vey was completed in June.
i Jl
: NorthMsivrn North Carolina this waak, J. Malrilla Broughton.
Chowan County Court Houaa. In tha picture at left he u intro -
1 State Highway Commissioner. Broughton poeed in front of the
1 from his headquarters in Raleigh that Habit would manage his
VV. B. Gardner, chairman of the In
dustrial Committee and past president of
Edenton Chamber of Commerce, said he
is delighted to have Chris-Craft become
a part of the local industrial family,
“The addition of a boat manufacturing
concern brings further diversification of
industry to the area.” Gardner said.
“Chris-Craft has an enviable reputa
tion in the industry and is a high caliber
company that will be a definite asset to
the entire Albemarle Area,” he con
tinued.
Gardner praised the cooperation given
the chamber by Chowan County com
missioners in working out details to make
it possible for Chris-Craft to locate in
Chowan County.
Sanford, a native of Minneapolis,
Minn., graduated from the University
of Minnesota.
He joined Chris-Craft in 1950 as chief
engineer at the corporation’s outboard
plant in Grand Rapids, Mich. He has
also served in different capacities in the
Holland and Algonac plants in Michigan.
Before coming to Edenton, Sanford
had served seven years as plant manager
of the metal boat division, Roamer
Yachts, in Holland, Mich.
Board Views
Office Plans
Edenton-Chowan Board of Education
will submit preliminary plans for an ad
ministrative building to Chowan County
commissioners February 5.
Cost of the 2,700-square-foot office
building has been estimated at more than
$50,000.
Board members Tuesday night viewed
the sketch and floor plan and agreed it
is what is needed to house the superin
tendent’s office.
Chairman Edward G. Bond said this
is another attempt to get adequate space
for the administrative offices of local
schools.
N. J. George recommended that the
information be given to the commission
ers and that board members be told “this
is what we need.” George said: “I don’t
think they will turn us down.”
Another member, Bruce Jones, remark
ed: “This is \vhat we have to have and
at the earliest possible date.”
Later Dr. A. F. Downum added: “We
have waited long enough for the com
missioners to do something (about pro
viding space for the school offices). We
are going to have to make the move.”
For some months the board has been
exploring various avenues toward getting
adequate office space and move the
superintendent from John A. Holmes
High School.
Supt. Bill Britt said the preliminary
plans didn’t cost the board anything.
However, if a building is built the archi
tect would collect the usual fee—in this
case $3,560.
Continued on Page 4
Candidate In Chowan; Habit Named
J. Melville Broughton, Jr., of Raleigh,
brought his campaign for the Democratic
nomination for governor to Chowan
County Monday afternoon as he made a
speedy swing through Northeastern
North Carolina.
He spoke briefly to some two dozen
area citizens who greeted him at historic
Chowan County Court House. He later
huddled with a group of local supporters.
It was announced from his headquar-
No announcement was made as to the
potential employment at the Edenton op
eration. However, the firm said those
seeking employment should make appli
cation through Employment Security
Commission’s Edenton office.
Employees will be trained in buildings
at the base while the plant is under
construction.
Sanford, his wife, Jeanne, and twin
daughters, Sybil and Celia, reside at
Mulberry Hill on the Albemarle Sound.
Gilbert comes to the Edenton opera
tion from Stratford. Ontario, Canada,
where he was plant manager of a new
manufacturing facility erected there by
Chris-Craft in 1965. He has been with
the firm since 1960.
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Gilbert re
ceived his degree from Michigan State
University. He, his wife. Jane, and five
children, Ann Lee, Bryan, Clark, Eric,
and Francline, reside at 108 South Gran
ville Street.
Franchise
Is Delayed
Edenton Board of Public Works
Thursday night was successful in delay
ing second and final reading on an ordi
nance to grant N. C. Natural Gas a fran
chise to operate here.
After a lengthy discussion, town coun
cilmen tabled the second reading for the
second time. This is to allow a council
committee to study two reports given
and give council time to decide whether
or not to call for a feasibility study on
municipal ownership of a gas system.
Councilman H. G. Quinn objected to
the delay. “I believe we were elected
by progressive people, who see us as pro
gressive,” he said. “I think the citizens
of Edenton will feel we’re falling down
on the job if we don’t take proper ac
tion to provide them with the opportunity
such as this.”
The two reports presented the council
came from Supt. R. N. Hines of the
Electric and Water Department and
Town Administrator W. B. Gardner.
Their conflicting results brought about
council’s action for further study.
Jesse L. Harrell, chairman of the
Board of Public Works, requested delay
ing any granting of a franchise until such
time as a feasibility study could be com
pleted to determine whether or not the
Town of Edenton should install the gas
system themselves.
He further stated he felt the council
should be cognizant of the fact that reve
nue would be lost to competitive gas
systems and that they take this into con
sideration during deliberations.
Harrell said loss of revenue from the
Continued on Page 4
J. E. Coffey Dies
Word has been received here of the
death of J. E. Coffey, former Edenton
resident, in Henderson Tuesday evening.
Mr. Coffey was married to the former
Margaret Hollowell, who survives.
Full details of his death were not avail
able at press time. It was learned that
services will be held at 11 A. M., Friday
in Williford Memorial Chapel with Rev.
R. N. Carroll officiating.
ters in Raleigh Tuesday morning that
Jack Habit of Edenton has been named
to manage Broughton’s campaign in Cho
wan County.
Broughton said he was pleased that
such an outstanding man could handle
his campaign here.
Habit is a native of Edenton and has
been active in civic affairs here. He is
currently president of Edenton Rotary
Club, chairman of Edenton Housing Au
thority and has served as president of the
Jaycees and vice president of the N. C.
Jaycees.
He is a past recipient of the DSA and
has been active in Boy Scouting.
Broughton was introduced on the court
house steps by J. Gilliam Wood, a form
er State Highway Commissioner.
The candidate said he understands
people in this area are interested in a
great many things, not the least of which
is highways. “Commissioners Wood and
Broughton didn’t complete all the road
projects,” he said in jest.
“I have a deep interest in Northeast
ern North Carolina and in roads,” he
continued. “I believe I understand this
matter of great concern to you.”
However, he said he is interested in
the total development of all North Caro
lina. He cited the importance of keep
ing more of our young people in the sec
tion of the state where they are born and
in North Carolina, v