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A PAPER WORTH WHILE .
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Volume Xlll. Eight Pages Ahoskie, North Carolina, Friday, March 23, 1923 One Section No. 46
r
HIGHWAY BOARD IS
RELIEVED OF PART
OF COUNTY ROADS
State Commission Take* Over
Murfreesboro-Maneys Neck
Road, and Meherrin
River Bridge
SETTLES QUESTION
OF LONG STANDING
Bond Money Can Now Be
Diverted to Other Principal
Roads of The County
? A sigh of relief has gone up from
the road board of Hertford County
since the State Highway Commission
decided to take over the Murfreeo
boro-Maneys Neck highway, connect
ing with the Virginia line on the
Franklin-Suffolk road. Not only is
the county relieved of the eight miles
stretch of roads, but the bridge
across the Meherrin river at Mur
freesboro becomes the ward of Com
missioner WI A. Hart, District High
way Commissioner. <
D. C. Barnes of Murfreesboro, J.
B. WormreU, J. B. Majette, andW. T.
Taylor, Como citisens, appeared be
fore the State Highway Commission
at Raleigh last week, and presented
a plea for State jurisdiction over the
road and bridge. It was granted, and
now the county road board wiH not
have to rack its brain over additional
advances for gravel with which to
construct that road, and turn Maneys
Neck towards Winton, the county
seat. This road will not only provide
an outlet to Virginia, but it also con
nects with the Winton-Murfreesboro
State highway, and assures for the
people across the river a 8tate owned
and maintained road all the *ay from
their township to Winton.
Intimates on the cost of a bridge
at Murfreesboro center around a fig
ure approximating another
expenditure which would have been
~ made by the county. Contracts
have not been let for either the road
or bridge, but the action of the Com
mission relieves the county of any
further liability, and releases some of
the county bond money to other proj
ects which are badly in need of work.
Extremely bad weather during the
last two or three weeks has held up
the work of graveling the Harrells
ville-Cofield road, for which the ad
ditional *10,000 appropriation was
granted by the county commissioners.
The road beard is expecting to do
some permanent road building this
spring md iumimt, and, with the
Murfreesboro-Como road taken care
of, there is in prospect some road
building in Ahoskie township, which
has received but little bond money.
There are two roads leading into
Ahoskie that will probably come in
% * for immediate consideration. One
connects with the Bertie line near
' Powellsville, and another is headed
for St. Johns and Union, three miles
6f which is already graveled?the
section to Prasieris Cross roads.
Ware these roads constructed ol
something permanent, the county
system would connect with the state
highway beyond St Johns, and a
route provided serving Union and
Murfreesboro, as Murfreesboro would
come in on an extension of the Union
-Ahoskie road. *
Menola people also are anxious to
complete the route from their place
to Ahoskie. To do this it will be
necessary to construct a link from St.
Jdins to Menola.
As road building stands now, Mur
freesboro has drawn the plum, with
I tiThdp of the State Commission. It
has an excellent outlet not only ta
the county seat, but is located on the
State Highway to Jackson via Con
way; and with Maneys Neek and Vir
ginia over the stretch of road just
assumed by the State Commission.
DIES AT RIPE AGE
ii'.: | >
Mr. Sam Doughtie, 91 years 'old,
* died at the home of hie daughter,
Mrs. John Saundera of Ahoskie,
Tuesday, March 2t>th. He wag one
of the few surviving Confederate
soldiers of Hertford County, and ii
the progenitor of one of Hertford
County's beet known families. Fun
eral services were held Wednesday
aftrnoon at the home where he died,
and interment was made on the old
D. fT. Dough tie home place. Rev. K.
j. Isenhower, pastor of the Baptist
^ church conducted the service.
HIGH SCHOOL DEBATERS
TO ENTER STATE (MIST
Will Debate Bethel Teams at
Ahoekie and at Bethel on
Friday Night, March 30
High school students at Ahoskie
are expecting to bid for forensic
honors on March 30th. They have
entered the triangular debate contest
put on_?nnually by the Extension
Service of the State University, and
have drawn as their opponents the
Bethel High School. None of the
other schools in this section has en
tered the contest, necessitating the
setto with Bethel, which is located in
Pttt County.
Reports sent out from Chapel Hill
this week say more than 250 schools
have already signed up and will take
part in the conest. The elimination
debates will be held simultaneously
over the State, on March-30, and the
winners in each case will go to Chapel
Hill in April, where the finals will be
held.
Ahoskie will debate Bethel here
and also in Bethel, both at the same
time and date. If the local teams win
both bouts, they will go to Chapel
Hill for the finals. The query for
this year's debate is: "Resolved that
Congress should provide for the en
forcement of the decisions of the
Railway Labor Board." Ahoskie will
upheld the affirmative side at home
and defend the negative side in Beth
el. The debate here will be staged in
the high school auditorium, and the
public is invited to attend.'
This debate is but the natural out
growth of the interest aroused in
public {peaking through the training
received in the two literary societies
of the high school?The Columbian
and the Hesperian. Reports of these
two societies and what members of
each are doing is carried every week
in the "Warwhoop."
The affirmative side of the query
will be upheld by Bessie Cowan and
Thomas Baker; the negative will be
defended by Elisabeth Dilday and
Cofambus McKeeL
TRAINING SCHOOL OFFERS
COURSES TO HOUSEWIVES
"Still water runs deep," is a saying
as old aa the hills, yet it still express
es a great truth. The Hertford
County Training School has been still;
for the past two monthabut in the
meantime it has been running deep.
As evidence of the same, this article
has been written to direct the public
eye to the deep running events of
the training school.
This is a true saying?any school
that does not exert an influence on the
life and character of the people of
the commnunity in which it is locat
ed, has to that extent failed in the
high aim which it was established.
Using this as a standard, how does the
training school measure upT To what
extent does the training school touch
the life of the people? This question
should be of interest to the public in
general and to the county board of
education in particular. This i s a
farming section. The training school
has an agricultural department under
the supervision of a vocational teach
er of agriculture. Does this depart
ment touch the life of the people of
the rural community? This is your
answer. There has been established
at the raining school what is known as
the Community School of Agriculture.
Through this school the rural com
munity has been reached. A course
in Poultry Husbandry was designed
especially to meet the needs of the
mothers in the home. A club compos
ed entirely of the women, mothers of
the home, was organised and is known
as the People's -Garden and Poultry
Club. During the coldest week in
January, this club met at 2:20 each
afternoon to receive instructions in
poultry and husbandry. It was in
deed interesting to see the mothers of
the community with their tablet and
pencil, treading slowly but earnestly
toward the training school. Hie total
enrollment was twenty-six with daily
average of twenty-two. Think of it,
a daily average of twenty-two,
mothers of the home eager to learn
i how to raise more and better chick
i ensl The half has not been told."
A branch of the Peoples' Garden and
Poultry club known as section A, was
organised over the swamp at the No.
19 school located on Aulander road.
The same course in poultry husband
ry was given during the week' of
; March 5th to 10th. From over Hie
(Continued on paga 2)
Mr. Sharp Keeps
History Straight
His Hobby Is Compiling Names
t of Hertford County Roster
of Confederates
If there is a single person in Hert
i ford County who can talk intelli
gently on most anything that might
arise, that person is Mr. Henry Clay
Sharp, of Harrellsville. He is long on
figures; has an unfailing memory for
i facts and dates; knows just as well
what they are doing in Greece as in
! his own household; is a past master
[at doping out political situations; and
can quickly locate any place of al
most inconsequential notice on the
map.
But his one hobby, if he has one, is
keeping history straight about the
Confederate Veterans of Hertford
County. He is historian for the
Hertford County organization of
United Confederate Veterans. A?
historian, he has compiled the roster
of Hertford men who served in the
[ War Between the Stater, and in an
instant he can give almost any infor
mation desired about the Confeder
ates.
He carries in his pocket a little
notebook, and upon its leaves he has
written out the data about the Con
federates. Enough facts, including
names, dates aud^rank have been
crammed into that little book to fill
an ordinary volume of 100 pages. If
there isn't that much information
written down, Mr. Sharp right off
hand, can tell you enough about the
men on the roster to make up for it,
and a plenty more.
The HERALD has been fortunate
in securing from Mr. Sharp the rec
ord of A. C. Venn, the latest Confed
erate Veteran to be claimed by death.
This is the short sketch supplied by
Mr. Sharp:
"Albert C. Venn was s member oi
Company B, 40th Regiment, Artil
lery. He was taken prisoner at the
battle of Bentoniville, N. C., 1^ ?
March, 1865. He waa orderty of the
Hertford County Camp of Confeder
ate Veterans. He was tax collector
for Hertford County 1879-80. Hej
I held other offices." j
According, to Mr. Sharp, there are
only three men left who were in Mr.
Venn's company, the other two being
Mr. Thad E- Venn and Mr. George C.
I Tirctt.
Of an the men of Hertford County
who served in the Civil War, only
about twenty-flap are living; and of
this number, fifteen are residing in
the county. Mr. Sharp U anxious
that these men stage another re-umon
some time this year, probably in con
nection with some other public cele
bration, since the number ia too
small for a separate day of their own.
I In this connection, Mr. Sharp ex
hibited a letter written by the late
Mr. Vann, relative to attendance
upon the re-union of Confederate
Veterans held in Richmond, Va., last
June. The following letter was writ
ten to Mr. Sharp by Mr. Vann.
L "I am enclosing -two-Identification
cards, one for you and one for Mr.
Fairless. No one is entitled to re
duced rates unless they have a card
of this kind. Get ready and let s go.
It may be the last chance."
It was Mr. Vann's last chance. Mr.
Sharp did not attend the re-union,
but says he regrets his failure to at
tend, and wishes he had accompanied
I his friend and comrade. Mr. Vann.
AHOSKIE STREETS
ARE BEING WORKED
Business of placing the streets of
Ahoskie in a better light with traffic
is proceeding with more or lesa hind
rance, due to recent heavy rainfalls.
The new tractor has been hooked to
a drag and made to chug around town
on the principal streets, pulling the
mud up in the middle of the road bed,
and covering up the man-sised holes.
A new road maintainer has been
ordered this week, and as soon as it
arrives will be put in operation, to
improve the road beds which have
almost disappeared during the winter.
Dirt, sand, and clinkers will also be
dumped into the boles.
The county road machine was put
into operation bare Wednesday, and
together with the tractor, Constable
Britton is trying to put West Main
street into more passable shape.
Eight pounds of good red clover
seed sown with a grain drill will give
a better stand than 16 pounds sown
by hand.
WILL SEEK TO INTEREST
OTHER COUNTIES IN ROAD
People of Two States Working
Hard for Direct Route,
Win ton to Suffolk
E. A. Brothers, of _ Whaley
ville, Va., representing the
people of Nansemond County,
came to Ahoskie Tuesday even
ing for a conference with the
local chamber of commerce
and representatives from
Winton and Harrellsville on the
routing of a state-owned high
way, by the most direct route,
from Winton to Suffolk.
About two hours were spent in a
discussion of ahe plans to be pursued
in order to induce the North Caro
lina Highway Commission to take
over | a section of road in Gates
County, from Boduco to Somerton
(Virginia line) seven miles in length.
Mr. Brothers was sure the people of
Suffolk and Nansemond County
would meet the Carolina Commission
at Somerton, if they had assurances
of this State's meeting them at that
point.
Under present plans, the North
Carolina section of highway, as adopt
ed, provides a circuitous route for
Hertford, and Bertie counties, as well
as several counties beyond the Roan
oke river. Travel from these coun
ties into Virginia will pass over the
Hertford County highway, crossing
the Chowan river at Winton, and
thence into Gates, Roduco to Gates
ville to Sunbury, and from there to
| Coropeake where it, meets the Vir
ginia line. The extra mileage neces
1 sary to get into Virginia is variously
estimated at from 16 to 22 miles.
In order to perfect a direct route
it will only be necessary for the two
State Highway Commissions to meet
at Somerton; and means that North
Carolina will only add an additional
mileage of 7 miles, from Roduco to
Somerton.
Besides the chamber of commerce
there were other Ahoskie citisens at
the conference. Dr. W. B. Pollard
of Winton and Dr. J. A. Powell of
Harrellsville, both members of the
county road board, also attended. The
opinion prevailed that other counties
included in the list of beneficiaries
[ should a direct route be secured
should be interested in the proposi
tion, and their support in bringing
pressure to bear upon the District
Highway Commissioner, and the State
| Highway Commission.
The Virginia people will hold a
meeting to settle on the Virginia sec
tion to be taken over, April 11; and
they want some concrete plan pre
sented by that time.
In the meantime, this committee
will work to interest other counties,
and probably eventually appear be
for the Commission to request a re
i routing or the taking over of the addi
tional seven miles of highway.
I DRAWING UP BY-LAWS
OF BUILDING * LOAN
Frank P. Meadows and J. Boy
Parker were appointed on Tuesday
night by the chamber of commerce to
draw up constitution and by-laws for
the proposed Hertford County Build
ing A Loan Association. Mr. Mead
ows is working for the committee
and will have the work completed this
week.
In the meantime, a license to cosn
mence business will be sought from
the Insurance Commissioner at Ral
eigh. With a license secured, the
flrst series will be offered for sale,
directors will be named, and the
building and loan will begin to funct
ion.
Already 90 shares at 9100 per
share have been subscribed for, in
order to secure license. Lee Parker
was the first man to receive a receipt
for dues paid in, the amount being
910, monthly payment on 10 share si.
Other subscribers are: EL S. Basnight,
S. M. Applebaum, Dr. L. K. Walker,
J. I. Crawford, V. D. Strickland, J.
Bailey Barnes, R. H. Jernigan and
J. Roy Parker. Each has subscribed
to 10 shares.
ACCEPTS BANK POSITION
John Gatling, who has had charge
of Pender's Grocery Stem here, has
resigned that position to accept the
assistant cashiership of the Farmers
Atlantic Bank. He will succeed Miss
Thelma Boyette. Mr. Simmons of
Greenville succeeds Hr. Gatling at
Panders. >
Ahoskie Now On Crest
Qf Prosperity's Wave
* CONTRIBUTORS TO ?
* MONUMENT FUND *
* _____ ?
* Although contribution* to tho *
* fund for ?meting ? monument *
* in memory of Jefferson Davis on *
* tho courthouta lawn at Wjnton ?
* am coming in with a snail.lihn *
* tread, Mrs. R. C. Bridger of Win- ?
* ton. Who la directing tho cant- *
* paign, U hopeful of mnowed in- *
* torest and believes tho money *
* will ho raised within tho next *
* few wooke, in time to placo tho *
* marker there and unveil it on *
* North Carotin. Day. ?
* Tho marker, which will ho *
* erected nndor tho auspice* of tho *
* U. D. C. chapters in Hertford *
* County, will also commemorate *
* Hertford County'* dead in tho *
* World War. A tablet containing ?
* tlw name* of all county boy* who ?
* died in tho service will ho placed *
* on the monument. *
* Total contribution* to tho fund *
* up to last Saturday night wore *
* only $12, and practically all of *
* this amount came from hoy* who *
* served in tho World War. Tho *
* list of contributors ami *
* Carlton Brett - $ 2.S0 ?
* R. B. Hill 1.00 ?
* Leonard Overton 2.00 *
* Robert J. Vann 5.00 ?
* Height P. Taylor 1.00 ?
* Mrs. S. P. Taylor $0 ?
* ?
? TOTAL $12.00 *
SPRINKLE COMPANY
OFFERING BARGAINS
The influence of music in- the
home has-long been recognised as
tending to elevate character as well
as to provide ple?gare. Especially is
l^tis true as regards the younger gen
eration and in consequence nearly
every home of refinement can boast
of s piano or playerpiano. *
The Norfolk headqoarters of the
Sprinkle Pisno Company is maldng
an unusual offer in this edition.
Briefly, the firm offers to place a
nationally famous Gulbransen player
piano in any home in this vicinity on
30 days free trial. The offer in
cludes the gift of SO music rolls, s
bench and a scarf free of charge. A
payment of ten dollars is required as
evidence of good faith and this is ap
plied to the purchase price?a total
of three years being given in which to
complete the remaining payments.
The Sprinkle Piano Company is a
well and favorably known concern
with offices and sales room* in five
different cities. The above offer la
for the purpose of introducing the
Gulbransen playerpiano in this vicin
ity and may be withdrawn at any
time.
B. Y. P. U. GIVES
A TACKY PARTY
On last Friday evening, the B. Y.
P. U. of the Ahoskie church gave an
enjoyable Tackey Party at the home
of Mrs. J. C. Sessoms. Among the
"tackles" who attended, Miss Estelle
Vinson was the tackiest of all, accord
ing to popular vote taken after ar
riving at the home. She was given
the prise.
i Later in the evening, after the par
ticipants had about exhausted them
selves poking fun and laughing over
the weird costumers, a refreshment
course was served. It consisted of
candle delight salad and sal tines.
Those present were: Bev. E. J.
Isenhower, Mr. and Mrs. F. L. How
ard, Mr. and Mrs. J. Q. Sessoms, Mrs.
E. E. Lane, Misses Nannie Newoome,
Thelma and Lillian Boyette, Beatrice
HoDoman, Aries benhower, and Es
telle Vinson; Messrs. Luke Isenhow
er, and Jodie Matthews.
MRS. VANN IN WILSON
Mrs. J. N. Vann, who was selected
as Ahoskie's Queen in the Eastern
Carolina Exposition contest, left here
Wednesday for Wilson. She will en
ter the Queen Contest Thursday, in
which the winner will be awarded a
$809 diamond ring.
FISH MARKET OPENS
Curb fish brokers have been plying
their trade in Ahoskie during the last
few days. Several nice lots of her
ring, rock, and shads have been sold
here this week. They are brought
here from Colerain.
Resources of Two Banks Show
an Increase Within One Year
of Approximately Thirty
Per Cent
NEW BUSINESSESS ARE
HEADED THIS DIRECTION
Ahoskie Department Store Will
Make Store Largest Busi
ness House in Town
"How's business in Ahos
kie?"
Right offhand, the HER
ALD unmistakably says busi
ness in Ahoskie is good. lb us
ing that term, there is implied
the full meaning of the word
'good.' Business activity is not
only increasing at a healthy
rate, but it is of such a nature
as to allow those engaged in it
a nice, steady profit.
Resource* Incrttic
One of the surest barometers to
business conditions is afforded by the
institutions that handle the money
upon which business is dependent In
Ahoskie, the two banks furnish just
such a barometer; and the resources
of the two banks tell in no unmis
takable terms of increased business
activity.
Practically SO per cent increase is
shown in the resources of the banks in
the twelve months period between
March 19, 1922, and March 19, 1928.
| One year ago, the two banks here
had combined resources of $838,266.
68. On Monday of this week, people
of Ahoskie and its adjacent territory
had 680,261.69 in the two banks
here. There has been a gross increase
of $147,984.96 during the last year.
New Besiaess Enterprises
Since the fall of 1922, there has
been perhaps the largest increase
within several years of new business
enterprises. Only a few months ago,
five choice business locations in the
Sessoms' block, in East Main street,
i were going begging. Today every
I one is occupied.
The corner location, originally de
signed for a banking and troat com
pany and later converted into livery
stables, has been rented within the
last few days to another brand new
enterprise.
Mr. Rose, a native of Northampton
County, who has made a signal suc
cess in merchandising, has rented this
building to conduct one of his chain
stores. Re is now located at Hender
son, but intends coming to Ahoskie
as a permanent home base for his ex
tensive operations.
Other new firms in this block are:
J. L. Perkins & Sons, branch of a
Greenville house; Boulter's Variety
Store; and a bakery which will soon
be in full operation. E. J. Bell A
Co., and C. W. Casper occupy the
other two stores.
Real Estate Active
Renewed interest in the barter and
sale of Ahoskie real estate, and es
pecially of business property, has
been seen here within the last few
weeks. One of the most important
transfers was the Z. V. Bellamy store
property on Main street, which has
been purchased by the Ahoskie De
partment Store, Inc. The purchase
price was $6,000.
The purchasers of this desirable
property plan to tqpke out of the one
story brick building probably the
largest and most handsome business
structure in the town. Under pres
ent plans, two additional stories will
be added,.new front buillt in, and in
terior entirely re-worked. The two
first floors will be used as sales
rooms, while the third floor will be
used as storage space.
Mr. Bellamy will probably remain
in this building until next September.
At that time, the new purchasers will
begin the new additions, which will
be completed by January 1, 1984.
when it will be oc^pied by them. For
the rest of this year, the Ahoskie De
partment Store will remain in their
present location. -?f>/'
Announcement of the impending
sale of town property owned by the
R. J. Baker heirs has created a flurry
in real estate circles. This sale will
include some of the choicest property
in Ahoskie, residential, business, and
warehouse property being on the list
(Continued on page 8)
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