The FrMljtii Times
?- Published Every Tuesday & Thursday Serving All Of Franklin County
Tel. GY6-3283 Ten Cents Louisburg, N. C., Tuesday, July 23, 1968 (Sue Pages Today) 99th Year-Number 45
First Visit To The Baiter
On a dull day, a photographer's delight is some youngster
being subjected to his very first barber-shop experience.
Almost always the youngster will cry, wiggle, cry some more,
jump out of the chair, threaten the barber and in general
make a real photogenic spectacle of himself. Not so,
however, last week with little Bradley Hagwood, age 15
months. The charming youngster enjoyed every minute of it
including the flashing photographic bulbs. Not only did he
fail to cry, he smiled throughout. Somewhat curious as to
just what City Barber Shop barber Odell Arnold was doing
behind his head, Brad turned a few times, but other than this,
he was a barber's (and parents) delight, much to the
disappointment of an ever-eager photographer. The charmer
is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hagwood, formerly of
Franklin founty and now residing in Morristown, Tenn.
Staff photos by Clint Fuller.
The OM Lamplighter? 0< long, long
" Times Managing Ed<tor
Any evening at twilight, one can
watch the street lights in Louisburg
blink, come on . . . occasionally go off
again .... and Anally brighten and
stay. As the sun pushes the darkness
away in early morning, the same
modus operandi can be witnessed.
Present day street lights are con
trolled by a type of electronic eye
which turns the lights on and off
without anyone having to look after it.
This has not always been so.
One of Louisburg's most notable
characters was once the tender of the
lights. History records no first name
. . . but Mr. Sullivan or old man Sulli
van ... as he was known was truly the
old lamplighter made famous by the
song.
Sullivan came upon the local scene
one bright summer day in 1868. From
whence he came, history does not
record nor indeed, did any seem to
know at the time. He just "staggered"
in as recorded by Rev. E. H. Davis in
his Historical Sketches of Franklin
Scholarship
Established
Reverend J. L. Smith, who served
as pastor in the North Carolina Con
ference of the United Methodist
Church for 38 years, has recently
established a scholarship at Louisburg
College in memory of his wife and son.
To be known as the Augusta Robin
son and Fred A. Smith Memorial
Scholarship, the income from this
fund will be used to provide a scholar
ship for a deserving student who plans
to enter full-time Christian service.
The amount of the fund is $4,000.
"I want to leave something to help
young people throughout the years
ahead," Mr. Smith commented. He is a
resident of the Methodist Retirement
Home In Durham.
Mrs. Smith passed away several
years ago and Fred, former Superin
tendent of Schools in Wake County,
lost his life in an automobile accident
several months ago.
County. With him was an old Army
mule, branded on his hip with the
letters "U. S. A."
With this relic of the Civil War,
Sullivan also brought a wagon. How or
where he obtained the rig is another of
history's mysteries. His first occupa
tion was hauling wood to supply the
town and the College, both of which
depended entirely upon wood for heat
and cooking.
Conditions changed. The mule died.
And Sullivan looked for another occu
pation. He became the town's lamp
lighter. He held the post for twenty
years with some manner of distinction.
Strangers coming to town soon heard
of or saw the old man at his chosen
task. He could be seen regularly walk
ing the street with small ladder under
his arm and a can of oil in his hand.
"By reason of his faithful atten
tion" to this task, he continued as
lamplighter "unopposed" until his
death.
Rev. Davis relates in his book that
"many a belated merchant or lawyer
who had tarried longer than he
thought at the office or store, and
many a young man or boy who had
done the same thing at his best girl's
home for quite a different reason, had
occasion as he straggled home on a
dark night to be deeply grateful for
that little light at each corner that
owed its maintenance to this obscure
man."
Sullivan worked his lights regardless
of the weather. Taking his cue, per
haps from the mail slogan, he faith
fully made his rounds.
The Franklin Time t of August 24,
1888, relates the death of the old
lamplighter.
The old man had, for years, believ
ed that a "snake" was inside him and
told the story repeatedly to all who
would listen. He made arrangements
with Dr. J. E. Malone for an autopsy
to be performed after his death to
remove the snake. True to the agree
ment, a post mortem was performed
with many local folks believing that a
snake would, Indeed, be found. The
Times reports, however, that the "only
poisons found were about an ounce of
spirits of turpentine and about a half
gill of whiskey."
Sullivan had some "going-away let
ters in his pockets in which he request
ed that the snake be given to a local
druggist, named Furman. One small
piece of paper held the notation: "Got
him at last. Snake." And another said:
"O, ye Gods what have I done that
you would so sorely afflict me from
cradle to grave. Your will be done. Not
mine. Jesus Christ have mercy on me.
0, how I have suffered."
The Times stated that Sullivan
came from Pennsylvania and was 55
years old at the time of his death and
further stated: "He was a very odd
character, troubled no one and attend
ed to his own business. His place as
lamplighter will be hard to Fill."
And as The Times went to press
around 4 p.m. on that August day in
1888, old man Sullivan was buried
with honors in the local cemetery.
His greatest distinction in life had
been brightening the nights of his
neighbors. Now he was dead. Dead at
his own hands, having hanged himself
to get rid of the "snake inside him".
So tonight each of us might stand
and watch the street lights as they
blink, come one .... occasionally go
off again . . . and finally brighten.
And, as we do, we might pause to
wonder if indeed some electronic de
vice is triggering them or if, maybe
somehow . . they are being triggered
by a "snake" from the old lamplighter
... of long, long ago.
Weather
Partly cloudy and warm
today. Partly cloudy and
warm Wednesday with a
chance of afternoon thunder
showers. Low today, near 67;
high, near 90.
Council Raises Pay
Of Town Employees
The Louisburg Town Council, after
failing to agree on pay raises in two
previous meetings, came to a meeting
of minds here Friday night and gave all
but two town employees raises. Head
ing the list was an increase to $100,
from the present $85 per week pay for
police officers. Councilman Grover C.
Centerville
Native Joins
Gardner Camp
A 34-year-old native of Centerville
has been named to a top position in
the Jim Gardner for Governor cam
paign, according to an announcement
from Gardner headquarters. Robert P.
Griffin, according to the release "will
be responsible for working with con
cerned Democrats in the northeastern
part of the state".
Griffin, a graduate of Louisburg
College and an Army veteran will work
with the counties of Gates. Chowan,
Pasquotank. Perquimans, Camden.
Currituck, Northampton, Hertford,
Bertie, Martin, Washington, Tyrell,
Dare and Hyde.
Commenting on his endorsement
for Gardner, Griffin said, "1 decided to
support Jim Gardner because 1 believe
he more nearly represents the conser
vative viewpoint of most North Caro
lina citizens. In order to get the North
Carolina Democrat party to move back
towards constitutional principles of
government, it is my opinion that
Democrats must support Jim Gardner
for Governor". He added that unless
Democrat party officials in North Car
olina openly break with the ultra
liberal party that is presently existing
throughout this country today on a
national and state level, the Democrat
party is doomed. Griffin said, "I can
not support the machine of Terry
Sanford and Bob Scott. ,In view of Mr.
Sanford's open support for Hubert
Humphrey, and Mr. Scott's association
with Mr. Sanford and Mr. Humphrey, I
can do only one thing and that is to
support the man who I believe can
lead North Carolina."
Griffin was Democrat Assistant
Office member in the Mel Broughton
Democratic primary campaign. He is a
former Louisburg College Young
Democrats Club vice president; a mem
ber of the County YDC; precinct
member in the Terry Sanford Young
Voters' Program; and assistant state
office member in Governor Dan
Moore's primary campaign.
He attended East Carolina College,
is a member of the Loyal Order of the
Moose. American Legion and Veterans
of Foreign Wars. He is married to the
former Carol T. Couch of Wilson and
is a member of the Centerville Baptist
Church.
Harris made this motion and Council
man George T. Bunn seconded.
The Harris motion also called for
upping the Chief to $115 and the
assistant Chief to $105. All members
voted in favor except Mayor V. A.
Peoples who abstained while waiting
to see what action the Council
intended to take on what the Mayor
termed the $47 per week people."
From this point in the special meet
ing. raises came in rapid succession.
Councilwoman Mrs. Breattie O'Neal
moved that the two full-time firemen
be upped tq $100 per week and that
the Franklin County Commissioners
be asked to raise the fulltime county
paid fireman to the same rate. Harris
seconded this motion and all but
Peoples voted for it.
Then Harris moved that the Town
Clerk be given a raise of $17.50 per
week bringing the salary for that
position to $100 per week. Bunn
seconded this motion which passed
and made one of his own calling for an
increase for the assistant town clerk.
This motion, seconded by Harris also
carried with Mayor Peoples still
abstaining.
Bunn then moved that raises of $5
per week be granted to each member
of the Street Department; each mem
ber of the Sanitation Department and
each member of the Sewer Depart
ment. The department heads were all
included in this motion. Harris
seconded and all voted in favor except
Peoples who stated he favored the
"$47 per week people" getting more
than a $5 increase.
Mrs. O'Neal presented a motion to
up by $5 per week, the salaries of
Harold Foster, Electrical Superin
tendent; Bobby R. Gilliam and John
Davis, employees of the department.
Harris seconded the motion and it
passed. At this point Mayor Peoples
changed from abstaining to voting
"aye", and recommending that the
"847 per week people" be given more
than a $5 increase.
Councilman Bunn got back into the
act by moving that the Fire Chief's
salary be raised from the present $30
per month to $50. Harris seconded
this motion and all voted in favor.
At this point Councilman Jonah
Taylor moved that all employees not
included in raises already granted, be
upped ten percent. Councilman H. D.
Jeffreys seconded the motion. Peoples,
Taylor and Jeffreys voted for the
motion and O'Neal. Harris. Bunn and
Councilman W. J. Shearin voted
against.
Then Jeffreys moved, seconded by
Taylor that Town Administrator E. S.
Ford, Utilities Supervisor George
Dennis, Power plant manager G. O.
Kennedy and Tax Collector Lee
Johnson be granted a ten percent raise.
The motion carried with Harris and
Bunn voting against the motion. Harris
stated he was not necessarily opposed
to the raises but that he opposed any
percentage raises.
When the smoke cleared, it was
apparently found that two town em
ployees had been left out. On motion
by Mrs. O'Neal, seconded by Harris, it
was agreed that increases for James
Hall and Thurman Johnson would be
considered after discussing the matter
with the head of the electrical depart
ment.
Unexplained in Friday's actions,
was an order issued by the Council
that all department heads, including
the assistant Chief of Police, are to
appear before the Council in its meet
ing scheduled for August 9.
The total raises are expected to cost
around $17,000. Town Administrator
E. S. Ford said the town had a surplus
of $50,984.12 over expenditures in
last year's budget and that no increase
in taxes is due. Mayor Peoples said
See RAISES" Page 4
Negro Youth First
Drowning Victim Of Year
A 14-year-old Negro youth became
the first drowning victim in the county
late Monday afternoon when he lost
his life in a private farm pond.
Clarence Perry, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Lee Perry of Rt. 1, Louisburg
was wading with a cousin in a pond
owned by Don Joyner around 6:30
p.m. Monday afternoon when he fell
into water over his head and drowned.
The Louisburg Rescue Service re
covered the body after about a
15-minute search. Bobby Blount,
15-year-old cousin of the victim said
the two were wading in the small pond
and that Perry went under a couple of
times. When he failed to come up,
Blount ran for hplp.
The accident occurred just off N. C.
39, five miles south of Louisburg.
Access to the pond was just off State
Rural Road No. 1606.
This is the first drowning this year,
but the county suffered four water
deaths last year. Two occurred in
June, one in July and one in August.
In 1966 there were no drownings in
the county and in 1965 there was only
one, which was believed a sucide. Two
Negroes drowned in August of 1964
and two small boys were rescued.
These were the only water deaths that
year.
There were five drownings across
the state this past weekend.
Rescuers Bryant Best and Tommy Collie ? .
Rescue Service Recovers Body Of Drowning Victim
r 1