North Carolina Newspapers

THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK THE ENTERPRISE THE ENTERPRISE IS READ BY OVER 3,000 MARTIN COUNTY FAMILIES TWICE EACH WEEK Williamaton, Marlin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, December /. 1951 VOLUME LIV—NUMBER 97 ESTABLISHED 1899 James H. Hopkins Dies Suddenly At Home In Oak Giiy For Oak City Official Arid Prominent Citizen -•— James Herbert Hopkins, prom inent county citizen, died sudden ly of a heart attack at his home in Oak City Saturday evening at 9:20 o'clock. Troubled with a heart condition for six or seven years, he had suffered several at tacks in recent years, but last Sat urday he was in good spirits and was apparently getting along all right. While Mrs. Hopkins was visit ing in the neighborhood, he suf fered the attack about 9:00 o’clock. He managed to get to the tele phone and call for help, and sev eral friends and Mrs. Hopkins reached him a few minutes later or just a short time before the end. He was reading his paper when fatally stricken. The son of the late James Her bert and Laura Medford Hopkins, he was born in Scotland Neck 53 years ago on July 2, 1998. Orphan ed when he was only a few months old, he spent his early life in Scotland Neck and went with the Atlantic Coast Line as a messen ger boy when only seventeen years of age. He learned telegra phy after working hours and was soon promoted, holding agencies for the company in several east ern Carolina centers, finally locat ing in Oak City where he obtain ed a leave of absence from his company and engaged in the mer cantile business for several years III health forced his retirement from railroad service in 1947. Al though retired from business, he did not give up his interest in the affairs of his community and countv. He served Oak City as a progressive commissioner for a number of years, and as mayor for several terms, always promot ing worthy undertakings and stressing the finer and nobler things in life. He also served his ((immunity as a justice of the [peace, supported the schools and (maintained a sympathetic interest \n his fellowman. As a member of the Oak City Baptist Church for a number of years, he took a lead ing roll in its support and activi ties. Mr. Hopkins affiliated with the Conoho Masonic Lodge in Hamil ton, transferring his membership when the lodge was consolidated with the Skewarkey Lodge at Wiiliamston. He was in attendance upon the meeting last week and looked forward to be present for another session this week. He was married in 1916 to Miss Annie Mae Harrell of Oak City, and she survives with wto daugh ters, Mrs. D. Ralph Children of Richmond, and Mrs. William Gray el Wiiliamston and Parris Island, iS. C.; one brother, Wilmer Hop kins of Norfolk; a sister, Mrs. J. A. Thomas of Portsmouth, and one grandson. Funeral services were conduct ed at the late home Monday after noon at 3:00 ’clock by his pastor, the Rev. W. C. Modlin, assisted by the Rev. J. P. Harris of Bethel. Interment was in the Oak City Cemetery. Traific Hailed By Heavy Fog Here Traffic was all but halted in lids area late last night by heavy fug. At one time sortly after mid night one could not see a street light less than a block away Members of trie highway patrol said the fog on the town's lu\*ei main street was the thickest they had ever seen. I Travelers were snowbound, one report stating that lodging was at a premium before the night was spent. Only one accident, traceable partly to the fog, was reported in this immediate area. Walter Scott Hcning, 3220 Loxley Road, Richmond, ditched a 19411 Pack ard on Highway 125 near the Whitley home about 10:45^o’clnck last night. Reporting the accident, Leslie Lambert said it was on 125 but that it was so foggy he did not know just where it was. No one was hurt in the accident and no estimate on the damage could be had immediately. ||| The fog was dissipated during jH the early houis of this morning. Will Nominate Farm Program Committee r l_ BLOCKED ! _ . j Heavy deliveries of peanuts in recent days have just about blocked the markets in some sections of the belt. The Plan ters Company went off the market here late yesterday when word was received that a day or two would be needed to catch up with the deliver ies. Other buyers here are still on the market, but pur chases are being limited be tween the hours of eight a. m. and eight p. m., the gov ernment limiting its graders to those hours. It is estimated that 95 per cent of the drop has been picked and that possibly GO percent of the harvest has been marketed in this county. County Board In Regular Meeting Monday Morning -$> M. LiiiIht Peel Krappoiut e<l To Supervise 1952 County Tax Listing;* The Martin County Board of Commissioners, holding a regular meeting Monday morning, reap pointed M Luther Peel to'super vise the 1952 tax listing, and went on to perfect its working organi zation and handle routine matters before winding up its allairs for the remainder of the 1951 calen dar year. The tax supervisor, in addition io handling the tax collections, will name lus list-takers shortly and make plans for a meeting with them the latter part of this month, possibly on the 2iith. Fow| changes are likely to be made in the listing personnel, it was learn ed, Elbert S. Peel was reappointed county attorney for 1952. The board recommended that I two roads, one in Williams Town ! ship and the other in Goose Nest Township, be added to State Highway system and be main tained by the highway commission forces. The road in Williams starts near No. 90 Station and runs about two miles to the Dav enport place, and is known as the Davenport Road. The road in Goose Nest runs off Highway 44 about 1.2 miles from Oak City about one mile southeast to the Jones Road. The petition carried j eleven signatures. The Board also recommended the widening of the highway un derpass on Williamston's West Main Street. Ever since a school bus was wrecked at the under pass several months ago, there has been much agitation behind a plan to have the route widened and sidewalks laid there. Making his monthly report, Tax Collector M. L. Peel said that $247,608.23 of the $270,939.90 levy for 1951 had been collected All but $11,985.11 of the $336,635.00 levy for 1950 has been collected. There is a balance of $6,204 04 un collected on the $313,706.69 levy for 1949, and $4,441 32 is still un paid on the $284,594.30 levy for 1948, the collector reported. The commissioners discussed plans for repairing the main hall m the courthouse, but no contract was let for the work. The plaster (Continued on Page Eight) Former Manager Hotel Here Dies -- Kenneth A. White, former man ager of the George Reynolds Ho tel here for a few years, died Sun day morning in a Kecoughtan hospital after a lingering illness. He was born in Elizabeth City 59 years ago, the son of the late B M and Mamie Knight White. The family moved from Wii liamston to Ocean View several years ago, but more recently he returned to his old home in Eliz abeth City where he .was associat (d with the Ziegler Funeral Home until he entered the hospital for treatment of a heart condition. Will Name Seven Farmers In Each 01 The Districts Election of the Nominees Amt County Committee To Follow Later Martin County farmers in each of the twelve districts w ill meet at designated places in their re spective communities at 7:30 o’clock p. m. on Thursday of this week and nominate at least seven of their number to handle the Production - Marketing Adminis tration or old Triple A program in this county during the next year. A special invitation is being is sued to every farmer to attend the meeting in his respective com munity and participate in the no minating convention;. It is square ly up to the farmers themselves to say who are to handle their program next year. They have the right to re-nominate and re elect the old committee slates in their entirety, a part of them or none of them. At least seven persons are to be nominated in each district for the following positions: three members of each community, two alternate members, a delegate and an alternate to the county convention. The meetings arc to be held in the following communities: Bear Grass, JBear Grass High School. Cross Roads, Taylor’s Filling Station in Everetts. Goose Nest No 1, Agriculture building, Oak City. Goose Nest No. 2, Agriculture building, Oak City. Griffins, Farm Life School. Hamilton, Hassell School. Jamesville Nos. 1 and 2, James- j ville High School. Robersonvillc Nos. 1 and 2. City Hall in Robersonville. Williams, County House. Poplar Point and Williamston, agriculture building in Williams ton. While each farmer may vote for anyone he chooses to vote for, he is asked to consider the following points that will help make up a real committee: a good farm manager, uses the latest methods in farming, interested in his neighbor's and his community’s well being, willing to devote some time and energy to P.-M. A. work, has leadership ability and the respect of his neighbors, and one who is active in the conserva tion program. The persons nominated for the various positions in the conven tions on Thursday evening of this week will be voted on in a regular election to be held a week later. Immediately after the regular election, the delegate will meet in a county convention and elect a committee for the county. liaise Stimll Amount In Tit llangle Sale Loeally -<t; A total of $59..10 was raised through the sale of tuberculosis bangles here last Saturday. The sale was handled by the Girl Scouts. Prizes were awarded to the three girls selling the most, as follows: Miss Bonnie Jones re ceived first prizi for selling $11.76 of lilt oai'igh-s; MBs Gail Maigo lis, second, who collected $8.85, and third prize went to Miss Mary Lee White for collecting S8.4U. I SANTA Santa Claus is making his appearance in this community this week for 422 members who participated in the 1951 Christmas Savings Club con ducted by the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company. Approx imately $37,000 is being dis tributed at the rate of about $88 per member. The club this year is the largest every conducted by the bank, and already mem bers are signing up for the 1952/ club. John Heber Peel Died at His Home Thursday Night —— ffT»rr!?ni<?HFroHiuu,nt Far mer Held In Mueedonia Fluireli Saturday —*— Funeral services were conducted in the Macedonia church last Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock for John Heber Peel, prominent county farmer who died at his home in Griffins Township Thurs day evening at 8:15 o'clock. The pastor, the Rev. P. F,. Cay ton, as sisted by the Rev. W. B. Harring ton, Baptist minister, conducted the rites, and interment was in the Griffin family cemetery in Griffins Township. Mr. Peel had suffered with a heart condition for some time, but his condition was not consid ered critical. He worked all day Thursday, but complained of a shortness of breath that evening. He had finished the evening meal and was sitting in the living room with members of the family talk ing when he suffered the attack and died almost instantly. The son of Mrs. Susan Frances Coltrain Peel and the late E. Slade Peel, he was born in Bear Grass Township 50 years ago on March 14, 1901, and spent all his life on the farm in the Bear Grass and Griffins community. He also engaged in the building trade when not engaged in farm work. A member of the church at Macedonia for a number of year , he was active in its work and a leading citizen in his community. Surviving besides his mother are his widow, the former Miss Rosa Griffin; four brothers, Hen ry and George Peel, of Griffins Township, W Oscar and Lucian Peel of Griffins Township; five (Continued on pace eight i Former Resident Oi County Dies ■—«.— Mrs. Zasie Cox Cannon, a res ident of this county for a num ber of years, died at her home in Mt. Olive early last Thursday morning after a long illness. The daughter of the late Jutrey Hart and Biggs Cox, she w as born in Pitt County near Ayden 56 years ago and spent her early lift there. She moved with her family to this county about 192U, living in the Has^ell-Hamilton com munities for about fifteen years before moving to Mt. Olive. Surviving are her husband, J W Cannon;one son, O. B Cannon of Mount Olive; eight daughters Mrs. W. C. Daughtry, Faison, Mrs Wade Midgett, Swansboro, Mrs James Joyner, Calypso, Mrs. A. C Sevany, Saint Paul, Minn., Mrs James Parker, Seven Springs Mrs. Anthony Best, Goldsboro and Martha and Mabel Cannor of the home; three sisters, Mrs Meaken McLawhorn, Wintcrville Mrs. Zeno McLawJjorn, Ayden and Mrs. R. A Haislip of Oak City, seven brothers, Zadoc Cox and Z. D. Cox, of Oak City, the Rev. Z. B. T. Cox, Farmvillc, Z T. Cox, Rocky Mount, George D Cox Wintcrville, Lee Cox, Avder and Gaston Cox, Liberty; ant eight grandchildren. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Olive and a charter member of the East ern Star there. Funeral services were held ir thi' Baptist Church in Mount Olive Friday afternoon, the pas tor Rev. Isaac Terrell, officiating assisted by Rev. Cecil Brown paslol of lire Chi istran Com eh ant the Rev, A L. Benton of Kerr Burial was in the Wayne Memor ial Park on Highway 117 neai Mount Olive. Among those attending the fun eral from this county were, Mr and Mrs. R. A. Haislip, -Messrs. Robert and Geojgc- Haislip, Mrs Jos. Haislip, Mr. and Mrs. McLaw horn and the Rev Olin Fox. Condition lin/trovcd Aftvr Trrutnient In lltts/dlul His condition somewhat im proved following treatment in Duke Hospital during the past sev eral weeks, Mr. George C. Grif fin returned to his home in Grit fins Township Sunday. He was accompanied home by his daugh ter, Mrs. Milton James, and Mr. James. Eight Accidents On County Roads During Week-end - - Xo Out But Property Damage Kstiniated at $1,125 -«. Personal property was badly battered but motorists were un usually considerate of life and limb when they wrecked seven dents. Five ears, forming part of dent. Five cars, forming part of a funeral procession, were in volved in one accident report. The record of at least one accident a week ,vas maintained on the Poplar Point loop, Patrolmen say ing the road had not been free of wrecks for a single week since it was paved some weeks ago. The first in the series was re ported on Highway 125 just out side of Williamston last Wednes day when Jos. Miller Hopewell backed his 1951 Ford into the highway and was hit by a truck driven by George Walter Brown of Berkeley, Virginia. Damage to the car was estimated at $200 by Patrolman It. P. Nan on who made the investigation. The truck was not damaged. A funeral procession was mov ing on the old Greenville-Wil liamston Highway last Friday af ternoon and suddenly came to a stop. William McKinley Smith, | driving a 19-41 Chevrolet, stopped. Fate Little, driving a Kaiser just behind Smith, stopped but not until he struck the No. 1 car, do ing little damage to Smith’s car but about $150 damage to his own James Harry Bonds, driving a 1940 Chevrolet, plowed into Little's 1947 Kaiser, doing about $100 to his car. Chas. Frank next in line, struck the Bonds car, but Frank’s 1939 Chevrolet was not damaged. Charles Mack High smith, driving the No. 5 car, a 1940 Ford, plowed into the rear of Stokes’ Chevrolet, doing about $100 damage to his Ford. Patrol man R. I’. Narron made the in vestigation. Said to have been speeding on the Poplar Point loop, Alfred L Anderson, Jr., of Bethel, went right on across the intersection in the Ballard Bridge Road and tore into an embankment, doing about $200 damage to his 195C Hudson. The accident happened about 7:30 Sunday evening, ac cording to Patrolman R. I’. Nat ron who made the investigation. Patrolman B. W Parker, run ning here and there with he tongue almost hanging out. re ported five accidents from lat( Thursday night until Sunday (Continued on Page Eight) Archie Council Dies Near Here Archie Council, retired farmer died at the home of his son near Williamston Monday afternoon at 4:00 o’clock. He had been in de clining health following a stroki about four years ago. He partially recovered fro^i that attack anc was getting along very well un til two weeks ago when he suffer ed a second stroke. His conditior had been critical since that time The son of the late John anc: Armanda Taylor Council, he wat born in the Hassell section of tin; county 71 years ago on July II 1880, and spent his early lift there, later farming in Goose Nest Township before locating near Williamston a number ol years ago. He farmed all his lift and -A as a inembei Ol the iia i Holiness Church for a long time. In early manhood be was mar ried to Dora Williams who died in 1029. His second marriage wa; to Jennie Gardner who survives. Surviving besides his widow arc three children by his first mar riage, two sons, Jesse and Wil liam Counc il and a daughter, Mrs Armanda Bowen, all of Williams ton; a brother, Van Council, of Williamston; three sister, Mr;. Minnie Garrett and Mi Caddie Williams, both of Norfolk, and Mrs. Jennie Briley ol Republican, Bertie County, and eleven grand children. Funeral services will be con ducted at the late home on the old Williamston-Greenville Road Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock. Interment will be in Wood.’awn Cemetery. Town To Apply To Courts For Relief Of Underpass Hazard County Schools To Close For Holidays December 20 The date for closing all Martin County schools for the Christmas holidays was changed this week by the regular meeting of the body. Instead of closing on Fri day, December 21, as originally scheduled, the schools will close at noon on Thursday, December 20, it was announced The date Wednesday, January 2 for reop ening the schools after the fioli day season remains the same, meaning that one day is to be added to the term at the- close of the schools next spring. It was pointed out that the ear lier closing will meet with the ap proval of more than seven thou sand youngsters who will worry later about the delayed closing of (he schools next spring. The old Cross Hoads colored school building and site, aban doned when the school was con solidated with the one in Everetts, were sold to Eli A Rogerson for $700 cash Chairman J. D. Woolard, and members Howard Gaylord, Cecil Powell and Ernest Edmondson were in attendance upon the meeting Member George C Grif fin, just out of the hospital, was unable to attend the meeting. Large Liquor riant Destroyed In County Arrest Three Men And Get Quantity Oi Illegal Liquor lrvinp; l.amrs, Lonnie Itof' ers ami Llms. Smilli An* Allowed Bond -•» Assisted by Special Agents Jack Gaskill and Muses Harshaw of Elizabeth City, enmity officers made one of the largest raids against the illicit liquor manufae tuning business recorded in this area in some time, The raiders arrested three men, confiscated almost a barrell of white liquor and a pick-up truck, and poured out approximately two thousand gallons of beer or mash. Going into Free Union Section of Jamesville Township early last Friday evening, the officers spot ted the plant Officers Cecil liul lock, Raymond Rawls and Roy Peel, equipped with a walkie talkie, took a stand while the sheriff’s ear moved out of the territory, keeping in contact wuth the raiders by radio. Th,e Alco hol Tax Unit officers reported la ter in the evening, and an all night vigil was planned. While the officers watched, James moved in equipment and materials on Ins l!)4!) pick-up truck, and the plant was made ready for operation in a very short time. Thinking possibly a wholesaler had planned a rendez vous with the manufacturers, the officers almost frozen, reported to the long hours of the night. About 4:30 o’clock Saturday morning, the ofifcers almost frozen, reported to the sheriff's ear that the opera tors were completing their opera tions. The sheriff and the other officers, stationed three miles away in Washington County, mov ed in and the raid was timed. Two men escaped, one plunging into Welch's Creek. James, 3(1, and Chas. Smith, 2(1, were caught Lonnie Rogers, (it), was arrested at his home when officers found ten gallons of liquor on his back porch and manufacturing equip ment on his premises One report stated he had figuied m ttie oper ations during the night. The plant Viis hardly more than 250 yards Horn his home, and all traffic to and from the still moved through his yard. The 100-gallon copper kettle and other manufacturing equip ment were loaded on the truck and moved out. The truck was placed in storage in Elizabeth City (Continued on Page Eight) r KOI MM I1 i % y Seven persons were plated in (lie county jail during the past’ week-end round-up. Al leged drunken driven, niim bered three in the group, the other four being charged with non-support, drunkenness, 1 larceny and violating the li 1 tjuor laws. r AlITO TAGS j Placing the new 1 ?>.'»;! State motor vehicle license tans on sale last Saturday morning, the Carolina Motor Club li cense bureau in the offices of Harrison and Carstarphen here have been open only a short time when the first tag went to Koland C.riffln of (iriffins Township. The sec ond tag went to Jesse Whit ley, local man. The tags have white nume rals on a red background and only one is required on each vehicle. The tags may be dis played now, and must he on the vehicles not later than January .'11. The sale is off to a fairly good start, the agency report ing between 125 and 150 sold fhe first day. Possible To Save Many Millions In Supply Contracts -•— Says Military Branches Must (*ive More I lian l ip t alk To Unification -1*—— "With contract;; being let at j the rate of a billion dollars a week for military supplies and equipment there are definite im provements in the military sup ply system which can be effected at a saving of hundreds of mil lions of dollars if the Depart- ; merits of the Army, Navy and An Force will give more than lip services to the need for unifica tion m the supply field,” said Hi rhert C Bonner Iasi night upon the return of Ins Subcommittee I from an extensive around-the world study of military supply management Mr Bonner is Chair man of a subcommittee of the House Committee on Expendi i tures m the Executive Depart ments which lias been studying supply management m the De i fense Department since last Jan uary. An interim report was issued on June .:?, 11151, attract-: wide at I Icntion m tin Departm- i of De I fense. As a result of this report I Secretary of Defense Lovett in appearing before the Subcom mittee stated, among other things, that he had issued a directive to (Continued on Page Seven) Locul Man Ini proving I'olloning An Attack Suffering with a heart condi tion, Mi. Jimmy L. Harris, Wool ard Furniture Company associate, was reported improving early to day in a Kocky Mount hospital where he was carried following an attack suffered Sunday. He made the trip m a Biggs ambu lance Last reports from the hos pital stated he would have to re main m bed at least four weeks. Application Made For Tap To Sewer Line Out Of Town — < ion Intel Lei For Now Deep Well To Cost More Than *13,000.00 -- Aftor making every reasonable effort to have an apparent auto motive and pedestrian traffic haz ard relieved at that spot where the railroad crosses over High way 64 and meeting with no suc cess, the local town board of com missioners in regular session last evening passed a resolution, di recting the town attorney to go into the courts for relief. The action was taken following re peated requests by interested cit izens to have the hazard remedied, and after the county boards of education and commissioners had gone on record as favoring action, looking toward the construction of a new railroad bridge across the route. The town board’s action last night is supported by lengthy petitions presented by the va rious civic organizations in the community and signed by hun dreds of citizens. The resolution unanimously adopted by the town officials last evening, reads: "He it resolved that: "Whereas there exists in the town of Williamston an extreme hazard to automotive and pedes trian traffic at the place where II. S. Highway 64 passes under the trestle of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; and, whereas more than a prudent and reasonable ef fort has been made by the town officials to obtain action by the railroad company and the North Carolina State Highway and Pub lic Works Commission whereby the hazard will be alleviated; "And, whereas on the 20th day of September, 1051, there occur red at the place a serious school bus accident in which several children were injured, one of them critically; and, whereas it is believed that if the underpass had been in proper and up-to-date condition the accident would not have happened; "And. whereas it is evident that the underpass is clearly not in keeping with road conditions of this State with fespeet to safety policies; and, whereas numerous petitions have been filed with this board, demanding that action in this connection be obtained; and whereas the Parent-Teacher Association of Williamston, all the town's civic organizations, the county board of education and the Martin County Board of Com missioners have passed resolu tions, demanding that some action by the railroad and State High way and Public Works Commis sion be obtained; and, whereas there is a very large volume of vehicular traffic, including five school busses, and a large volume of pedestrian traffic; and, where as, it is feared by this board that (Continued on Page Right) Bread Sale Here Very Successful The bread sale handled by the local Woman's Club Sunday after noon was very successful, accord ing to a preliminary report re leased yesterday by Mrs. W. O, Abbitt. Approximately 300 loaves of bread were exchanged for dona tions, the club realizing almost $300 from the project. Mrs. Abbitt said that $275 had been reported to the treasurer, that a few re sponses to call were expected shortly. In reality, the sale was not real ly a sale, but a token of apprecia tion m return for a contribution to a fund the elub is advancing for the local elementary school. More than 1,000 books are needed in the school library and the elub is working to raise approximately $1,500 to finance the library needs. The club leaders extend thanks to all those who, m any way, aid ed the undertaking.