PAGE 6—THE HERALD, Ahoskie. N. C.—MILESTONE YEAR 1959
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JENKINS'PLANTATION HOUSE—Although much of the land on which the town of Ahoskie was
formed was originally owned by the Jenkins family, the old Jenkins plantation house has never
been included in the town’s city limits. It is located on the Jernigan Springs Road just across the
town line.
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AHOSKIE STREET SCENES—Top, looking eastward trom midale of Cacheiine- and Powell store front at left. Bottom, looking westward from same spot toward
Maple block toward “warehouse district.” The year; World War I lime. Old Cockcy railroad crossing (at star-shaped gasoline sign in background).
CURTIS HOME—Built in the first years of the 20th century, hte Ciirtsi home on the comer
of Church and Lloyd Streets in Ahoskie is one of the oldest standing dwellings in the town.
Descendents of the Rev. L. M. Curtis, who came to Ahoskie as Baptist pastor in 1901, still live
in the big frame house, typical of the dwellings of the turn of the century.
Ahoskie town councilmen, in
point of service, with 32 years on
the board. He has also served as
secretary-treasurer of the Hert
ford County Building and Loan
Association for many years, and
is president of the Ahoskie In
dustrial Development Corpora
tion. J. C. Sessoms, Jr., follow-
ing in his father’s civic foot
steps, is president of the Ahos
kie Chamber of Commerce, and
was selected as “Man of the
Year” in 1957 by the Ahoskie
Junior Chamber of Commerce.
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NATIONAL ELECTRICAL WEEK
Marking the il2th anniversary of Thomas Edison’s birth.
HISTORIC BLOCK—This block of Ahoskie’s Church Street, between Railroad and Catherine
Streets, is the historic center of the town’s beginning. First families to move to the village be
side the railroad crossing built homes in this block. Still standing today are two frame houses
built in the early part of the 20th century. In foreground, the Gerock home; background, the
Savage home.
Or Almost, That Is
Abe, Ahoskie Came in Together
AHOSKIE—Abe Feldman and
Ahoskie started out almost even
—when the town was first begin
ning its growth in 1900, Abe was
born. By the time he was 12, the
Feldman family moved here from
Baltimore.
Up until that time, the little
Feldmans'had not seen much Of
their father, Ephraim, for he was
one of the early Jewish "pack
peddlers.”
With his wares strapped in the
pack on his back, Russian-born
Ephraim traveled the Roanoke-
Chowan area on foot.
Returning to Baltimore to re
fill the pack, he would take pas
sage by boat to Winton, where the
Albemarle Steam Navigation
Company’s passenger line docked.
Ahoskie’s central location ap
pealed to the senior Feldman, and
in 1912 he moved his family here,
where he opened Feldman’s Bar
gain Store. This firm was located
n the building now occupied by
Baker and Beale, on Main Street.
Young Abe started his career
by traveling as his father did,
selling shoes on the road foi
about five years. In 1934, he open
ed the Fashion Shop, which han
dled men’s and women’s clothing.
This he expanded with the Men’s
Store, which opened in 1948.
In September, 1957, Feldman
opened Feld’s, a quality women’s
specialty shop. Managing this
store are his sister, Mrs. Betty
Levy, and Mrs. J. J. Hyatt. An
other family-related business is
the Fashion Shoe Store, which is
managed by a second sister, Mrs.
Lillian Josselson,
Abe also continues operation of
a farm at St. John’s, purchased by
his father in 1917. The elder Feld
man died in 1936. Tobacco, pea
nuts and cotton are the principal
products there. Abe is a member
of Beth El synagogue in Norfolk,
and the Masonic order.
Sessoms Brothers Began in 1919
AHOSKIE—Proprietors of the
first garage in Ahoskie were
Claude and J. N. 'V'ann, who
most folks thought were foolish to
be fixing “gas buggies” back in
1908.
But by the end of World War
I, it'had become obvious that the
horseless carriage was here to
stay.
In 1919, twins John and Jim
Sessoms returned from the army,
where they had added to their
training in mechanics. The Stony
Creek natives bought J. N. Vann
-and-BrotherS-gai-age at the corner
of McGlohon and Main Streets
and set up business as Sessoms
Brothers Garage.
A year later, the Sessoms broth
ers built a good brick building .to
house their expanding garage. In
1934, the garage took on a line
of new automobfles to sell —
Dodge and Plymouth. To house
the new car part of the business,
the brothers built an addition in
1935, a two-story brick building
connecting with the earlier ga
rage.
That same year, the component
parts of Sessoms Brothers chang
ed- when John Sessoms moved to
Casper, Wyoming, where he is
now an automobile dealer. He
was replaced by a third brother,
C. C. Sessoms, and the firm name
remained Sessoms Brothers.
The year 1959 marks Sessoms
Brothers’ 25th year as a Dodge-
Plymoutii dealer. Jim and C. C.
Sessoms, who is service manager,
have been joined by J. C. Ses
soms, Jr., who acts as general
manager. The younger Sessoms
entered his father’s business in
1950, after graduation from N. C.
State College.
Jim Sessoms is dean of the
How far that
little candlepower
throws its beams!
Thomas Edison’s first successful electric globe of 1879
was low in candlepower by modern standards. But
how far, how very far that little candlepower threw
its beams! Out across the years ahead to light the way
for a revolution in American life.
At fii’st that revolution moved slowly. Even 30 years
later, when vbpco was bora, few homes had electric
light. For power was a luxury ... lOfi per kilowatt
hour, at a time when a skilled worker’s hourly pay
might be 25^.
■ Then the -revolution began to march ... as power
companies poured millions into more efficient equip
ment to bring the cost of power within the reach of all.
VEPCO has literally gone around the world for capital.
Investors in 49 states and 19 foreign countries have
helped this independent Top-of-the-South utility to
build the giant power stations and far-striding power
lines to serve you.
That is why, today, vepco can deliver a kilowatt hour
to the average home at about one-fourth the 1909 cost
in cash ... about one twenty-fifth of the 1909 cost m
human earnings. Low cost power to help you 'work
better, farm better, live better—electrically!
VIRGINIA ELECTRIC
and POWER COMPANY
Building uiiih the Top-of-the-South for half a ceiituiy