Thompson Named
As County Agent
R. M. (Pete) Thompson of Hertford
has been appointed Chowan County ex
tension chairman. He succeeds Charles
Overman who recently retired.
Thompson, who has been in agricul
tural extension work for over 18 years,
has been county chairman in neighboring
Perquimans County since 1954.
The announcement of the appoint
ment was made by Dr. George Hyatt,
Jr., director of agricultural extension at
N. C. State University in Raleigh, with
the approval of the Chowan County
Board of Commissioners.
Chowan’s commissioners met in spe
cial session Monday morning to discuss
the appointment with Thompson and
J. C. Jones, chairman of the Northeast
ern Extension District.
Jones said Thompson will assume the
new position January 1, 1970. No other
staff changes are anticipated.
NEW EXTENSION CHAIRMAN—Pete Thompson of Hertford, center, has been nam
ed extension chairman for Chowan County. He has held the same post in Perquimans
County for 14 years. He is shown here following his appointment Monday with J. C.
Jones district extension agent, left, and Harry Venters, assistant extension agent in
Chowan. Thompson assumes his new duties January 1, 1970.
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public parade
ft Capitalist Hattditit ‘'' ,IVJ
The first Presidential Proclamation of
a day of Thanksgiving in the United
States was made by George Washington,
in 1789. The day was set aside for
prayers and thanks for the new Consti
tution. Several states continued the
practice, each designating its own day.
Abraham Lincoln was the first Presi
dent to appoint an official Thanksgiving
Day, to be celebrated each year on the
last Thursday of November. Lincoln
issued the Proclamation on October 3,
1863. Since that time the Nation has
joined, on one day, in saying its prayers
of Thanksgiving, and in remembrance of
the small band of religious fugitives who
landed, accidentally, at Plymouth Rock.
A fact too often forgotten concerning
the Pilgrim Fathers is their trial and
abandonment —•“ of the communal sys
tem of joint ownership and community
labor in the colony. A primary reason
for their early hardships on the North
American continent was the effort to
form a Socialist society.
At first, the young colony seemed to
be working, but following the first
Continued on Page 4
Aces After Title
Title minded Edenton Aces and ypset
minded South Stanly meet in Goldsboro
Friday night for the Eastern 2-A foot
ball crown.
The Aces chewed up Northern Nash
in Greenville last week, 31-6, while
South Stanly was upsetting Wallace-
Rose Hill. Edenton is undefeated this
season in 2-A play. South Stanly rep
resents the Rocky River Conference.
Edenton’s alert defense, a nightmare
to foes all season long, set up two of
the scores and Quarterback Earl Ches
son kept the offense rolling to the im
pressive victory over the bigger team.
Chesson, Gigi Leary, Mike Lamb and
Joe Bunch got the TD’s. Bunch booted
four more extra points and now has run
his string to 16. He also split the up
rights with a 27-yard field goal.
Leary, a senior speedster, set up the
first Edenton score with a 73-yard punt
return and scored on a pass from Ches
son on a play that covered 34 yards.
He also intercepted one aerial and play
ed a superior defensive game.
Chesson hit on seven of 12 passes,
si* of the completions being to Leary.
The names in the defense are familiar
as they have been in the lime-light all
- season. They read like a Who’s Who —
Elliott Harrell, Johnny Barrow, Steve
Katkaveck, Bill Lewis, Larry Felton and
Thompson said he looks forward to
working with people in Chowan County.
He said the staff Overman had gathered
enjoyed a good reputation in the field
and he is pleased to become a part of it.
Dr. Hyatt described Thompson as
“very capable whether in the field work
ing with farmers or at his desk planning
and giving leadership to the total county
extension program.”
A native of Elizabeth City, Thompson
is a 1950 graduate of N. C. State Uni
versity. He has done further graduate
study at NCSU. Prior to entering col
lege, he served in the U. S. Coast Guard
three years.
Thompson taught in the public schools
in Harnett and Northampton counties
briefly before becoming an assistant ex
tension agent in Johnston County in
1951. He moved to Perquimans as
county chairman in 1954.
Judge Critical Os Court Facilities
For the second time in as many
months, a Superior Court jurist has com
mented on the crowded conditions in
historic Chowan County Court House.
Monday he urged county commissioners
to take immediate action.
Judge Rudolph I. Mintz of Wilming-
Tillett Gets Job
With Commission
George Tillett, Edenton attorney, has
been named assistant coordinator of the
State Highway Commission’s Equal Em
ployment Opportunity section. The ap
pointment was announced in Raleigh on
Thursday.
Tillett recently resigned as assistant
U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District
of North Carolina. He was the first
Negro in history to hold this position.
iiL
who has been coordinator of the equal
employment opportunity program for
about two years.
Willoughby said present plans call
for the establishment of an enlarged
EEO division within the commission.
Federal law requires highway contrac
tors doing work where federal money is
involved not to discriminate in hiring
policies.
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DISTRICT BAR MEETS HERE—W. J. F. Earnhardt, Jr., second from right, presided
Friday moraine when Hie First District Bar Association met here. At right is Dr.
Joe Fen of Greenville, who spoke to the gromp on Interest rates. Left to right are:
Chief District Court Judge Fentress Horner and Resident Superior Coart Judge Wai
ter Cahoon, both of Elisabeth City, and District Court Judge W. S. Privott of Edenton,
Gerald White of Elisabeth City was elected president, succeeding Earnhardt, at a
luncheon meeting held, at Chowan Golf A Country Club.
Tillett, 46, will
make $15,000 a year
in his new post.
Acting highway
administrator
George Willoughby
said Tillett will work
with Curtis Collier,
a career engineer
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STUDY MAJOR RESTORATION NEEDS Representatives of
the Department of Archives and History’s Historic Sites Division
were in Edenton Monday meeting with officials of Historic Eden
top, Inc., to study major restoration needs here. The review com
mittee from the department also discussed grant-in aid projects
funded here. In the picture at left, Garry Stone, staff archeolo
gist, digs into the space back of the Cupola House where the old
THE CHOWAN HERALD
Volume XXXVI—No. 48.
Chowan, White Oak Students Target
School Board Zeros In On Consolidation
Edenton-Chowan Board of Education
Monday night set into motion machinery
which could lead to complete consolida
tion of high school students and closing
an elementary school. A public hear
ing on the question will be held early
next year.
Supt. Bill Britt said such a public
hearing is required by state law before
the board can consider closing a school.
Target of the public hearing will be
grades 10 through 12 at Chowan High
School and one through four at White
ton called attention to the courtroom
conditions, as well as the clerk’s office,
to the grand jury when members pre
sented their regular report.
Tne judge said the existing facilities
are inadequate. There is a lack of space
for the court, including the clerk, to dis
patch its business, Judge Mintz said.
He urged the grand jury and the com
missioners give immediate attention to
the problem as well as other crowded
conditions mentioned in the grand jury
report.
At the September Term, Judge Mintz
also commented on the local court fa
cilities. He said the building has tre
mendous historical value and should be
turned into a tourist attraction.
The grand jury also called attention
to the crowded conditions and lack of
privacy in the health and welfare de
partments.
The panel pointed out there is a back
log of 29 civil cases and recommended
a special civil term to catch up these
cases as soon as possible.
Solicitor Herbert Small secured con
viction by jury in two cases Monday.
Louis Augustus Francis, Sr., was found
guilty of driving drunk and Rodney Bak
er Smith was convicted of driving while
his license were suspended.
Francis was sentenced to 60 days, sus
pended upon payment of S2OO fine and
costs.
Judge Mintz sentenced Smith to three
months, suspended upon payment of
$250 fine and costs.
Guy Kite entered a plea of guilty to
passing a worthless check. He was sen
tenced to 60 days, suspended upon pay
ment of the costs and make restitution
Continued on Page 4
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Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, Thursday, November 27, 1969.
Oak Elementary School.
Supt. Britt said he would recommend
having all students in the senior high
grades housed at John A. Holmes High
School here. This would make room for
the transfer of students in the first four
grades from White Oak to Chowan.
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R. F. Elliott , Sr.
R. F. Elliott, 70,
Taken In Death
R. F. (Tick) Elliott, Sr., 109 West
King Street, died at Chowan Hospital
Thursday following an extended illness.
He was 70.
Mr. Elliott was secretary and assistant
treasurer of Edenton Cotton Mills, a
position he had held since 1924. He
was also active in Edenton Rotary Club
and Chowan Golf & Country Club. He
was a veteran.
Richard Felton Elliott, Sr., was born
in Chowan County on December 1, 1898,
son of the late William Oscar and Addie
Shannonhouse Elliott. He was married
to the former Ruth Rea Holmes, who
survives.
Also surviving is a son, R. F. Elliott,
Jr., of Yorktown, Va.; a daughter, Mrs.
Clifford Overman of Newport News,
Va.; three brothers: William O. and
Frank Elliott, both of Edenton; and
George Elliott of Huntsville, Ala., and
three grandchildren.
Pallbearers were: T. B. H. Wood,
Gilliam Wood, C. A. Phillips, Leo Kat
kaveck, R. D. Dixon, Jr., J. jj., Conger,
Jr., Graham White and Thomas Shepard.
Williford Funeral Home had charge
of arrangements.
Art Classes Slated
Another attempt is being made here
to organize an art class with the first
meeting set for December 3 at 7 P. M.
Those interested in the class, sponsored
by the College of the Albemarle, should
meet at the Art Studio over Edenton
Savings & Loan.
The class will meet each Wednesday
from 7 P. M., to 9:30 P. M.
An earlier attempt to organize such
a class failed due to lack of local sup
port.
Municipal Building stood. The association hopes to place an old
kitchen in the area. The group picture shows Dick Sawyer, opera
tions supervisor for the division, at left, talking with Raymond F.
Pisney, assistant administrator for historic sites ar.d museums. Oth
ers are: Mrs. Lib Welborn of the department; Miss Elizabeth Vann
Moore, Mrs. Gertrude Rosevear, J. Gilliam Wood, president of
Historic Edenton, Inc., and AI Honeycutt of the department.
Single Copy 10 Cents
The superintendent said he was led
to believe this was the ultimate plan
of the board of education when he w r as
hired three years ago. Also, he said
this appeared to be the intent when ad
ditions were planned at Holmes this
year. He added that when the current
construction is completed at Holmes .
there will be adequate facilities for the
additional students.
He said there are 194 students in the
senior high grades at Chowan this year
and the projection for 1970-71 is for 207
students. There are now 492 at Holmes.
There are 208 at White Oak.
Dr. Edward G. Bond, chairman, said
the planning here has been headed in .
the direction of a consolidated senior
high school. Later in the discussion he
said the board members know the ad
vantages and must transmit them to the
school patrons. He also said there will ;t
be some {seniors hurdles to clear, the big- •:
gest of !Which is probably transporta
tion. 1 , *;
Eugene Jordan, who lives in the Cho- j;
wan jschfjol area, said one of the chief
complaints is the lack of opportunity to :
participate in sports in a big school. >
“This is not the prime motive for hav- ’•
ing a school but this is an argument,’’ .•
he stated. “Most people just don’t rea
lize the educational advantages.”
Dr. A. F. Downum, Sr., called the
consolidation an “upgrading” of the edu
cational system.
N. J. George called for a year’s delay
so a complete study of the plan can be
made. He questioned the adequacy of
the Holmes school. He said any consoli
dation would have to be sold with
“solid information”. At his insistence
the board will call professional people
to evaluate all phases of a plan for con
solidation.
Supt. Britt informed the board of a
local plan for a middle school program
(grades six through nine) to be funded T
by the state. He said such a plan would
be designed to improve on occupational :
skills. :•
Dr. J. H. Horton said: “I wonder if :]
we are not getting over programmed.”
And Dr. Downum said the board with
such new programs would penalize aca
demics.
Continued on Page 4
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SUPPORTING ARTS COUNCIL Mayor
George Alma Byram, right, has given his
support to the recent membership campaign
of Albemarle Area Arts Council and the
Chowan Council. Mayor Byrum purchases
his membership from Wayne Ashley, presi
dent of Edenton Jaycees. The Jayeees are
assisting the Chowan Arts Council in a
campaign to secure J,M# membership*.
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