Volume XXXVII—No. 51.
■public |lararlt'
Keep Access Request Alive
Edenton and Chowan County have ap
parently lost the first round in an at
tempt to get an additional, convenient
and practical access to the proposed
U. S. 17 by-pass. State Highway Com
mission staff members have recommend
ed denial of the request.
It is true that the request to extend
a road through Industrial Park to the
by-pass puts two interchanges relatively
close together—7,ooo feet according to
SHC figures. This, according to them,
is not desirable because it would hamper
proper flow of traffic as well as be a
possible safety hazard.
And the big things they bring out to
support their recommendation is an esti
mate that such an access would cost $l
- We recommend they purchase a
new pencil sharpener.
The entire six-mile by-pass is expected,
by their own estimates, to cost $3.8-mil
lion. How could one access cost more
than one-fourth the total amount?
Motorists coming from the east on
Highway 32 cannot be expected to drive
up Old Hertford Road, then another
mile north to get on the by-pass. It is
not logical that they will come up Church
Street, turn onto Broad Street and enter
the by-pass via Virginia Road. Both
routes would be the long way. The
shortest route will be to stay on U. S.
17-business—defeating the purpose of the
by-pass.
The by-pass, if at all possible, should
improve the traffic pattern for the en
tire area, not just those who travel north
and south on U. S. 17. We recommend
that Commissioner Joe Nowell get his
colleagues to take a long hard look at
the request before putting it away.
And further, how about that pencil
sharpener?
Gets More Ridiculous
The more the 1970 Census of popu
lation is stirred the more ridiculous it be
comes.
In a letter to First District Rep.
Walter B. Jones, Joseph H. Norwood,
regional director, wrote about a Town
of Edenton complaint:
“I would like to point out that we
investigated in the field the areas the
city officials felt might not have been in
cluded due to the fact that census maps
of the city did not include an annexation
effective in May, 1969. Due to an alert
Continued on Page 4
School Holiday
All schools in the Edenton-Chowan
School system and the Chowan Academy
will observe December 18 through Jan
uary 4 as the Christmas and New Year’s
holidays, according to school officials.
Students will attend school on Decem
ber 18 and at the end of the school day
will be dismissed for the holidays. They
will return to classes on January 4.
rl i
MB . -A V - 11 -a j■.
w** jAr
■ aj
Support Rescue Squad >— Ed
ward Q. Bond Post 40, American
Legion, this week became another
local organization to contribute to
Edenton - Chowan Rescue Squad
during the current funds cam
paign. Roy Blackley, right, post
commander, presented a check for
S2OO to Bob Roberson, squad cap
tain. The primary fund-raising
function of the post is the Cho
wan County Agricultural Pair.
THE CHOWAN HERALD
*2 '*-* •
Edentor By-Pass Access Is Opposed
I m
■ V
Mr. Speaker State Rep. Phil
Godwin of Gates County Friday
night was re-elected speaker of
the State House of Representa
tives by his fellow Democrats.
Rep. Godwin, who with Rep. W.
T. Culpepper of Elizabeth City,
are from the First House District,
assumed the speaker’s post at the
close of the 1969 General Assem
bly. He will preside over that
body at the assembly which opens
January 13, 1971.
Academy Group
Wins State Prize
GREENSBORO The Chief Rocka
hock Historical Association in Chowan
County, and a member of the Tar Heel
Junior Historian Club at Chowan Acad
emy; have been named winriSiTTn the*
1969-70 state competition.
Awards were made during the 70th
annual meeting of the N. C. Literary
and Historical Association, meeting here
last week as a part of Culture Week.
The Chowan association was named
winner of the award for group art. Mar
tha Jo Hollowed, a student at the acade
my, received honorable mention in the
individual literary category. Martha Jo,
a member of the Chief Rockahock His
torical Association, was honored for her
work, “The Restoration of the Barker
House”.
The association’s entry was entitled
“Herring Fishing”.
Dr. Richard Bardolph of the Depart
ment of History and Political Science of
UNC-G, made the presentations.
The annual cost is conducted by the
State Department of Archives and His
tory which sponsors junior historian clubs
Continued on Page 4
Early Next Week
The Chowan Herald, following the
usual holiday custom, will print one day
early next week. The paper will be
printed Tuesday and distributed Wednes
day in order to give advertisers the bene
fit of an additional day of exposure be
fore Christmas as well as subscribers an
other day to shop the pre-holiday spe
cials.
All advertising copy must be in the
office by 6 P. M., Monday and all news
items must be in by 10 A. M., Tuesday
in order to be printed in the December
24 edition.
The regular schedule will be follow
ed the following week for the December
31 edition.
Contest Planned
The Edenton Woman’s Club will spon
sor the outdoor home Christmas decora
tions eontest again this year. Judging
will be held on December 23.
Mrs. James P. Ricks, Jr., chairman,
says the annual contest is held to stimu
late home decoration ,in an effort to
make the town more attractive during
the holiday season.
Prises will be awarded for the best
traditional and modern door decoration
as well as for the most attractive tra
ditional and modern overall decorations.
wan County, North Carolina, Thursday, December 17, 1970
Edentoi
State Highway Commission’s planning
board has approved a four-lane highway
on U. S. 17 from Virginia t< Berea Bap
tist Church in Pasquotank County.
At the same time, SHC staff members
have recommended denial of a request
from additional access of another link
of U. S. 17—the Edenton by-pass.
Edenton Town Council and Chowan
County commissioners had requested an
additional access near the Industrial Park
so traffic from the east could get to the
proposed highway without coming
through the downtown area.
The SHC planning and research de
partment, in recommending denial of the
request, claim the access at the Industrial
Park would cost an additional sl-million.
■ The entire project is expected to cost
about $3.8-million.
At the same time, it was recommended
that consideration be given at the pro
posed interchange near SR 1325 at the
northern end of the by-pass near the
Perquimans County line.
Billy Rose, assistant state highway
administrator, revealed the recommen
dations in a letter to Highway Com
missioner Joe Nowell, Jr., of Winfall.
It is claimed that the requested ad
ditional access is only 7,000 feet from
the Highway 32 interchange and 6,800
feet from the U. S. 17 terminal inter
change near SR 1325. The access is
said to be “highly undesirable from a
traffic operational standpoint and will
pose potential safety hazards.”
SHC staff members claim the Indus
trial Park is adequately served by the
Highway 32 interchange and the pro
posed access at the northern terminal of
the bypass, being located about one mile
from each.
Virginia to Elizabeth City four-lane,
full access control highway, is considered
to be a major breakthrough in highway
construction and improvement in North
eastern North Carolina. It will tie into
the existing four-lane highway from Eliz
abeth City to the church.
Rose said Tuesday the highway will
by-pass east of South Mills. Preliminary
engineering and a public hearing are next
steps toward realization of the highway.
10 Chowan Seniors In Special Group
Ten students at Chowan High School
have been named outstanding seniors at
the school.
Named were Glenn Riddick for being
the model of an ideal sportsman. He
won All-Conference in the East Tide
water 1-A Conference last year.
Charles Dail was selected for his scho
lastic ability and leadership qualities.
He is the business manager of the 1971
“Chowan Chief” and during his junior
year he earned the position of chief
marshal.
Fred Spruill is known for his individ
ualism and honest opinion about any
situation. He serves as vice president
of the Albemarle federation of FFA as
Big Commercial Farm Planned In Hyde; To Boost Area
WASHINGTON A joint farming
venture is being entered into by Ameri
can Cyanamid Company and John Han
cock Mutual Life Insurance Company in
Eastern North Carolina. Current plans
are to produce corn, wheat and soybeans
on a 35,200 acre commercial farm near
Engelhard in Hyde County. The pro
ject will be known as Mattamuskeet
Farms.
First District Rep. Walter B. Jones
of Farmville, N. C. Commissioner of Ag
riculture James A. Graham and other
governmental and company officials ad
dressed a meeting of the new agricultural
partnership at the Brentwood Lodge near
here Friday.
Rep. Jones said he believes it is “al
most impossible to estimate the favorable
economic impact this will have on a wide
area of, Northeastern North Carolina.”
“The importance of this venture can
best be illustrated in that during the
abundant crop year of 1968, the State
of North Carolina fell short of supplying
its own grain needs in the amount of
1 -million tons. It is estimated that
this project will provide employment for
j)r;r
Campaign Officials Named Warren Cramm, right, has been
named campaign director for the annual March of Dimes funds
drive which begins here early next month. Woody Copeland, left
is county treasurer. They are pictured with Andy Gillman of Ra
leigh, Eastern North Carolina field representative for the March
of Dimes. Edenton Jaycees, with the aid of Jaycettes, annually
conduct the campaign in this area. A goal of $2,500 has been set
for 1971.
Christmas Services Slated
Special Christmas services are being
scheduled at several churches in Edenton.
The Christmas Cantata, “The Saviour
Has Come”, will be presented by the
adult and youth choirs of the Edenton
Baptist Church at a twilight service Sun
day afternoon at 5 o’clock. The pro
gram will be under the direction of Earl
G. Harrell with Rev. Robert E. Gray,
pastor, narrating, and Miss Agnes Chap
pell, organist.
“White Christmas” will be observed at
the Edenton Baptist Church Sunday.
well as the vice president of the Chowan
Chapter.
Robin Ward is the associate editor of
“The Chowanian” and the feature editor
of the “Chowan Chief”. She has been
a class officer for three years and is a
member of the Glee Chib and FHA. ,
Sandra Spivey is the editor of “The
Chowanian” and was a marsfl&l in her
junior year. She was a representative
to Girls’ State Delegation for this year.
Gail Nixon is the president of the Sen
ior Class and business manager of “The
Chowanian” and the co-chief of the var
sity cheerleaders.
Henry Hinton is the president of the
student council and a tri-captain of the
Continued on Page 4
approximately 70 people, with an annual
payroll of $500,000. In addition, an
estimated $4-million will be spent in
contracts for clearing and drainage.
Once the operation is in full force, it
will require purchases of $l.B-million
in supplies annually. It will also involve
an expenditure of $700,000 for equip
ment. Its direct benefits are multiple.”
Rep. Jones said that the venture has
the potential of being one of the most
exciting and important announcements
he has been privileged to make since be
coming a member of Congress. “I have
reason to believe that already two or
mere industries have indicated interest
in locating plants in the proximity of this
new operation,” he said.
Graham praised the two firms for
their farsightedness as it relates to agri
culture and agri-business. “There is no
doubt industry is needed in our state
and i this is precisely the kind we need.
It is agricultural industry; the kind that
improves the environment rather than
undermines it.”
“I’m certain your investment will not
only be profitable to you but also to the
Each person attending services Sunday
morning is asked to bring an item of
staple groceries wrapped in white paper,
which will be distributed to needy fami
lies in the community. Charlie Swanner
is serving as chairman.
“Is There A Santa Claus” will be the
sermon topic of Rev. Robert E. Gray
at the 11 A. M., Sunday worship service.
The Scripture is from Luke 2:1, 4-14.
Edenton Methodist Church will have
its annual Christmas Candlelight Service
and “White Christmas” on Sunday at
7:30 P. M.
The adult choir is to present the
Christmas Cantata, “Noel, Noel” by
Noble Cain. Soloists will be Mrs. L. F.
Amburn, Jr., and Mrs. Esther Elliott.
Organist will be Mrs. J. J. Ross.
No Christmas Eve communion service
will be held. The congregation has ac
cepted the invitation to join the St. Paul
Episcopal Church members for their 11
P. M. communion service.
Rev. E. L. Earnhardt has announced
that his sermon topic for the 11 A. M.,
Sunday service will be “Helpless Infant”
taken from Luke 2:7.
Rev. Warren Nance stated that a
Christmas Eve service of Prayer and
Thanksgiving would be held at the First
Presbyterian Church at 8 P. M.
His sermon topic for the 11 A. M.,
Continued on Page 4
entire economy of North Carolina. By
establishing a sound agricultural enter
prise in this community you will spawn
related agri-business which will in turn
enhance the prosperity of the area.”
The commissioner noted that even
though some tend to play down the im
portance of agriculture, it continues to
be one of the most vital factors in human
life. “Production of food and fiber, and
shelter are man’s two most basic needs.
Too often they afe taken for granted.
But when we stop and reflect, our pres
ent food stocks would be depleted in two
to three months without constant pro
duction.”
“The future of agriculture in North
Carolina is immeasurable. We have an
excellent soil and climate. But more
important, we have the people who know
how to make it produce.
“I’m also heartened by the fact that
we can once again work with the North
Carolina Department of Conservation
and Development and the progressive
leadership of Rep. Walter Jones to de
velop the potential of coastal North Ca
rolina.”
Single Copy 10 Cents