TYRRELL
TOR_GREATER PROGRESS OF THE LAKE
VOL. I; NO. 4
TOM SPRUILL'S NEWSPAPER
REVEALS PRICES 80 YEARS
AGO SIMILAR TO TODAY’S
C olumbia Has Interesting: Relic, Published in
Elizabeth City; Corn 80 Cents; Cotton 10 and
12 Cents; Shingles 85 to $7 Per Thousand; It
Cost 81.50 to Gc to Nag's Head and a Chance
at SBO,OOO Cost Only 810
An interesting newspaper, “The
State,” published in Elizabeth
City under date of August 6, 1859,
has recently been discovered in
the home of Thos. Spruill, promi
nent citizen of Columbia, Tyrrell
County. The State was edited by
J. W. Hinton and W. H. Bagley
every Saturday morning at $2 per
year in advance.
It was interesting to note that
the publishers notified their read
ers of the newspaper law to the
effect that if they failed to order
the paper discontinued on expira
tion of subscription, it would be
sent them until it was paid for in
full. If subscribers removed and
failed to notify change of address,
they would have to pay for the
paper just the same.
The front page of the paner was
filied with advertising. A. J. Glover
of Edenton was advertising much
property for sale. He w r anted to sell
a 950 acre farm near the town of
Edenton with 500 acres cleared and
fenced and producing fine corn and
wheat. He offered a valuable fish
ery for sale on Croatan Sou n <1
known as the “Glover Fishery.
“This,” he said, “is believed to be
one of the most valuable sites on
the waters and it is seldom such
property is put on the market.
There are at the fishery 3,000
bushels of salt, 1,400 barrels, 2
new boats, a large quantity of seine
and rope, a suffieience of good
windlasses and everything neces
sary for the conducting of large
fishery operation.”
The North River fishery was al
s« offered for sale in Camden
Count", with 127 acres of land well
timbered with about 0,000 cords
of wood.
Baker Hoskins was offering SSO
reward for the return of a run
away negro boy, Charles Spence,
who formerly belonged to James
Leigh of Boyd’s Neck, Pasquotank.
W. H. Jackson advertised the
loss of a note for a little over S9OO
and M. D. Hathaway advertised he
would no longer be responsible for
debts contracted by Wm. H. Jor
dan, his partner in a stage line.
E. B. Haughton, M. D., adver
tised he would occupy a room at
the Nags Head Hotel during the
“present season and wall have a
good supply of “medicines,” and
will be pleased to attend all cases
of sickness to which he may be
called. Charges will be moderate.”
Dr. Rufus K. Speed notified the
public his offices were over the
store of Whedbee & Pool, and
thanked his friends and the public
for very liberal patronage.
J. M. Jennings, coachmaker, of
fered good buggies and rockaways
for sale for cash, or good notes.
Practically all the doctors adver
tised, some of them running sev
eral different ads. Carpenters ran
ads.
The Georgia State Lottery ad
vertised tickets on $60,000 at $lO
eac h.
James W. Hinton and W. H.
Bagley, advertised as attorneys,
also Jas. L. Ball, C. W. Grandy,
Jr., and Thos. W. Costen and Jas. R.
Doughtie were attorneys.
W. N. H. Smith had beaten Shaw
for Congress by 600 votes. Editori
ally the paper said “While we write,
our town is alive with the wildest
excitement —everybody’s face wears
a cheerful aspect, and everybody
wants to see once more the man
that has beaten Dr. Shaw six hun
dred votes.” ... *
“Any mistakes in this issue ot
the paper must be attributed to a
slight indisposition on the part of
the Junior. The election news pour
ing in on us is rather more than
he can stand up to.”
Curlew Ran to Nags Head
“The steamer Curlew" will com
mence her regular trips to Nags
Head on Tuesday, July sth, and
run regularly thereafter between
Edenton, Nags Head and Eliza
beth ” Fare from Elizabeth City to
Nags Head was $1.50. T. L. Bur
bage was captain and he stated
“fodder and other combustible ma
terials would not be taken aboard
unless packed according to law'.
Dr. L. K. Saunders advertised a
large supply of medicine and would
“promptly attend to any business
entrusted to him.”
Norfolk markets reprinted from
the Norfolk Herald quoted corn at
81 to 83 cents a bushel; flour $7.70
to $9 a barrel, sugar 7c to 10>4c;
meal $1 a bushel; cotton 10 and 12
HAS GREATLY AIDED
PROGRESS OF TYRRELL
C. WALLACE TATEM of Colum
bia, who represented Tyrrell Coun
ty for many years in the General
Assembly, is a man of pronounced
convictions, of sincerity and devo
tion to his section. He is a man
who is opposed to sacr/icing prin
ciples for policy. He has envision
ed many things calculated to de
velop his county. While he has
not always seen every project
completed, he has continually stuck
to hi? job of helping to achieve
things that would help his county
and region. He was for three
years the president of the Southern
Albemarle Association, and under
his wise leadership many gains
were made in the progress of <Tyi •
reli and adjoining counties.
Columbia will be host to the
schoolmasters of the Albemarle
area January 8, in the annex of the
Methodist church, it was announced
this week by W. T. Crutchfield,
county superintendent of schools
who will act, as host. A dinner will
be served the school folk who are
expected from Washington, Per
quimans, Pasquotank, Currituck,
Dare, Camden, Gates, Chowan and
Bertie counties, Mr. Cruchfield said.
The complete program will be
announced later.
cents; guano $32 to SSB a ton; ba
con 10He and 11c; hams 12Vsc and
13c; shoulders and side meat, B yi
to lll0 1 a; apple brandy $1 a gallon,
and shingles $5 to $7 a thousand.
John H. Ziegler advertised all
sorts of furniture and repairs to
musical instruments; T. Parr made
coaches and sold coffins; Reuben
Madrin was agent for Caleb Sykes
in the coffin business. Arthur L.
Jones had taken over the coffin
business owned by Hinton & Lamb;
W. George Sartorius was watch
maker and jeweler. The Leigh
House advertised fine food, a fine
bar and fine stables; William C.
Dawson ran an ambrotype gallery
and made pictures at $1 to $lO.
A half column ad for a year in
the paper was priced at S4O for a
year, only a little less than the
rates charged now in the smaller
papers. The publishers were Keel
ing & Brooks. The paper referred
to above was the 15th issue of Vol
ume 1. It was full size with seven
columns. Pages three and four were
identical.
SHOW YOUR PRIDE AND LOVE
FOR GOOD OLD TYRRELL COUNTY
Help along the cause of boosting good old Tyrrell. You
who live here now, and you who have once lived here—no
matter where you are —still have the spirit of Tyrrell ir, your
blood and your bones. Send along a dollar for an eight
month’s trial subscription; a whole year for $1.50, and keep
in touch with the old friends and scenes of other days.
There isn’t a day you don’t think of going back to Tyrrell.
The next best thing is to get the Tyrrell County Tribune
each week; just like a letter from home. And if you have a
friend who wants to hear from good old Tyrrell, send him
this copy after you read it. When you think of anything
interesting to write, don’t hesitate to send it in. Mail sub
scriptions tc:
THE TYRRELL COUNTY TRIBUNE
Postoffice Box 282
COLUMBIA NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY
PHELPS AM) PETTIGREW PARK REG IOX A NI)
COLUMBIA. N. C., DECEMBER 28 1939
MOST LEADING CHURCHES WELL REPRESENTED IN COLUMBIA
Sglgr
til it! Mafe
IHESE snapshots show; Upper left the Christian church; upper right, Baptist church; lower let, Meth
odist church; and lower .right, Episcopal church, of C lumbia. Columbia is well served by churches and
its splendid buildings and loval congregations speak well for its pride in its churches. It is often said
that a town with pride in schools and churches is tV> best one to select to live in. Hence Columbia may
be considered good on that score.
WAS SUPERINTENDENT
OF TYRRELL SCHOOLS
AH - L
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Xfv.v.'vS yI;X
JHlwr
I jjglP
fee
; mmLi' -cmlr jfe
Jags!
8 8
B B Jm
R. H. BACHMAN, former superin
tendent of the schools of Tyrrell is
a man deeply interested in the gen
eral progress of the section. He re
cently retired and moved to Elen
ten .after a life time of educational
activity. Mr. Bachman, although
now across the sound has many
warm friends in Tyrrell Countv.
‘
COLUMBIA HOMES HAVE !
SPLENDID DECORATIONS
Mrs. Floyd E. Cohoon Awarded
Prize For Best Outside Deco
rations This Christmas
Mrs. Floyd E. Cohoon was pre
sented with an indirect lighting |
table lamp by the Woman s Club of
Columbia for having the most at-j
traetively decorated home in town, i
The judges were: Mr. and Mrs. J.
R. Robbins of Greensboro, Mr. and
Mrs. B. D. Egerton, also of Greens
boro and Mr. D. M. Darden of Wil
mington.
Close runner-ups were Mrs.
Thomas Spruill and Mrs. Russell
Everton. There was an unusually
large number of homes decorated
in the Yule tide effect this year,
and the judges were .pretty hard
put in making a final decision.
Clark's Yacht Originally Built For Doris Duke
v
v: * * >
•k
•; , I . > . . ■ V U' I . ■
THE beautiful yacht pictured above was built for Doris Duke Crom
well, the tobacco heiress and world'-', richest woman. It is now owned
b> Miles Clark of Elizabeth Cits, and Mr, and Mrs. Clark often enter
tain their friends aboard this vessel. It is 77 feet long, and cost when
now oyer SIOO,OOO.
THE STORY OF AN EASTERN
CAROLINA COAST OIL BUSINESS
Texaco’s Great Success in Eastern North Carolina
Founded Largely on the Friendliness and Enter
prise of Miles Clark, Who Started in a Small Way
and Grew Up Big
The success of the Texas Oil busi
ness in coastal North Carolina, and
the rise in life of the man who
built this business sounds like a
dream. It is all the more interest
!
ing because it is about a young j
man we all know, right here in
cur home section.
Twenty-seven years ago Miles L.
Clark, of Elizabeth City, bought an |
old junk boat at a Navy Yard'
sale for twenty dollars and started
peddling oil and gasoline up and
down North Carolina sounds and
rivers.
Four years ago he sold his fleet
of tank vessels to The Texas Com
pany at a reputed figure of half a
million dollars. And they are still
keeping him to manage this busi
ness.
He is yet not more than 45. And
now, if he wants to. he can spend
the rest of his life fishing, playing
golf, traveling or indulging in some
other high-class loafing. Put he
doesn’t want to; he keeps right on
working.
How this young man made a
name and fortune for himself
makes an interesting story. As a
boy, Miles was an ambitious young
ster who wanted to do something
on a big scale. He had no money,
his father was the operator of two
little sawmills near Elizabeth City.
Miles happened to find out that the
local agency for the Texas Oil
Company was going begging. About
the only gas consumed then in that
part of the state was used by fish
ermen in their motors. There were
no paved roads, comparatively few
automobiles, and aside from rail
road traffic most of the transporta
tion was by boat.
Hearing of a sale of old vessels
at the Navy Yard in Norfolk. Miles
went up and put in a bid for a di
lapidated old vessel which looked as
though it might collapse on its very
next voyage. His bid was twenty
dollars, and he got the boat.
Installing some necessary repairs,
Miles had the craft put in commis
sion and proceeded to sail her up
and down ie sound and river coun
try, delivc :ng gas. He named her
the Texas. The saw-mill business
played out and Miles Clark’s fath
er skippered the craft.
I Nobody paid much attention to
j what he was doing. Just a hoy,
holding dowm a mediocre job prob
ably would play out in a short
j while. As a matter of record. Miles
himself thought of it as a tempor
ary proposition. He thought it
would be a good enough job to hold
j until he finished college and got
j ready to take up the kind of posi
| tion befitting a man with a college
degree. 1
But he never finished college. He
saw other boys depart from the in
stitution of learning with their de
: grees and take up jobs of more or
less trivial nature. He decided that
inasmuch as he did not intend fol
lowing some such profession as law,
j medicine or engineering, he might
just as well quit school and go to
work. And he also decided that
i the opportunity for success was just
as bright in his old home town as
anywhere else «n the world.
So he went back to Elizabeth City
the business of distributing gaso
line and oil.
An Inside Secret
One finds on the walls of Clark’s
office a neatly framed card: “There
,is far less to fear from outside com
j petition than from inside inefficien
j cy, discourtesy and bad service.”
! Clark always gets efficiency from
i his men. In return, he has always
i paid them the very best of wages.
And that is the principle on
j which he has built up a great pe-
I troleum business in North Carolina.
He was the pioneer in establishing
the oil business in tne tidewater
region. He has always been on the
alert to grab up new ideas. When
it became apparent that the old
Texas was no longer adequate, he
built a larger and better boat. And
(Please turn to page five)
TRIBUNE
FELLOWSHIP WITH OUR NEKU.'BOU COUNTIES
A BUSINESS LEADER
IN COLUMBIA TOWN
k‘Pfii.
.* i«lW*»..
*Jf J?
; I_jHj l_j
jJ. FRED SCHLEZ. born in Ger
many, lias soon lots of the world, I
i yet, he thinks there is no place like j
, Tyrrell County. He has great j
■ faith in the future of the entire
i Southern Albemar'e country and
• has invested a considerable sum in
'providing Columbia with as modern
‘and up-to-date motion picture the-'
atre a.s can be found in this section. ;
PROPOSED FISH
LAW POINTS TO
FEO’PiALcLvvtKU,
I
All Fish Would Be Graded by
Federal Agents; Plan to .
Save Undersize Fish
1 A step toward the long feared
Federal' control of the fisheries,
: which would mean uniform laws en
| forced m ail states, and protection
for species scarce, or threatened
with extinction, is being planned
early in January, according to the
following announcement from
Washing! n:
A long-discussed move to estab
lish a Government-operated system
of compulsory inspection and vol
untary grading of fish and fishery
products will he argued in Congress
next session.
i The House Merchant Marine
committee, headed by representa
tive Bland (D.-Va.), has called a
public hearing for January 16 on a
bill for the purpose offered by Kep
icsentative McCormack (D.-Mass.).
The hill would set up the inspec
tion and grading service under the
Federal Bureau of Fisheries, and
ihe service would apply to “fish,
fishery products, fishery by-prod
ucts, shellfish, crustacea, seaweeds
and all other forms of animal and
vegetable life and the products and
by-products thereof,” in interstate
or foreign commerce,
i Bureau inspect >rs would be re
quired to examine all fishery prod
ucts before they were admitted to
any processing plant whose prod
ucts move, in interstate commerce,
( and all products found unfit for hu
man consumption would be con
demned and destroyed or used for
fertilizer or non-food purposes.
The inspectors would also have
authority to enforce sanitation
. standards to be established by the
. bureau in the processing plants.
• The hill would not apply to any
: fish taken by any individual fisher
. man and sold directly to consumers
:• or to retail dealers.
j The hill would also prohibit the
importation of fishery products
- which failed to meet the same spec
ifications to be established by the
.inspection service under te bill.
; The grading sen-ice to be estab
. lished under the bill would be en
tirely voluntary on the part of th"
! processor, and upon the processor’s
application, the bureau, in coopera
tion with other agencies of the
Federal State or local governments
would supply certificates of class,
(quality and condition of fishery
1 products offered for shipment.
; ENGELHARD HOST TO
NEXT MEETING GAA
i
■ i
i i The next meeting of the board o'
[ directors of the Greater Albemarle
. Association will he held January
[ll, at 7 o'clock in the Engelhard
school. it was announced this week
by P. D. Midgett, Jr., president.
TELEPHONE OIFKIAIS TO
RAISE BEEF CATTLE IN
HYDE CO.; HAVE CAMP
I?eed Growth in Extensive Area Provides Ex
cellent W inter Feeding; Soy Beans, Hay and
Corn to Be Raised For Further Feed; Camp
Houses Built For Employees to Enjoy Week
End Hunting and Fishing
t oat. tins area provides excellent
rportuniues for the raising o r
beef cattle is the opinion of t\v.> ex
ecutives of the Carolina Telephone
and i telegraph ( omttny of Tarboro,
" ho are starting beef cattle opera
tions on an extensive farm which
they have acquired in Hyde County
which borders on the Pun go River.
The telephone officials, Mr. Por
ter, president, and Mr. Mullins,
looking to the lime when they w.li
retire from the company five years
hence, sought and located about t*>o
acres in Hyde County in the Scran -
j ton section. They took .over the
j land a little over a year ago, and
have already dime much to reclaim
j-some parts of the land which had
n >t been cultivated in ten or fifteen
years.
In the land which they have *<•-
quired and in adjoining land be
longing to a lumber company from
which they can acquire grazing
rights, there are hundreds of acres
(of forest and waste land with a rich
(growth of reeds. These reeds pro
(vide excellent winter grazing for
beef stock and with the open land
i heitig reclaimed for cultivation with
‘ lespe.lez.i, soy beans, and corn,
they expect to provide feed for the
'stock.
.Some 50 Hereford heifers !
(recently been pu» ;he-=» 1
| bam a and ha\->
the rer
■ v,' i i
’ i
! *»X 4 .»F»
I a big
;provin,
i through bn e... .. .
Not om'v will they i
'cattle, but 1. >gs wui i,„ eir
stock raising operations. They
have about 150 hogs after opera
tions of ort'j a little over a year.
Recent visitors at the farm
known as the Rivershore Farm
viewed the beared fields, the widen
ed and improved road, the new
barns and s'oek houses, and re
called that, the place had changed
considerably in the past year.
Reeds would ave touched both
the narrow r>a i a year ago, they
said, and the ounces would have
been that a cai would have gotten
stuck on the roe i besides.
The area tei ms with game of all
kinds, including fish in the adjacent
river. Emploj v>s of the telephone
company have been permitted to
build two log houses on the farm
.and since the houses were complet
ed a short while a yo, the employees
and a limited number of guest s
Carolina hunting, fishing and en
joying camp life In general.
J L°gs were cut from the farm bv
a number of colored laborer
brought in for that purpose. The
logs were stripped, and all work *n
erecting the camps, except the
jbrick work in fireplaces and chim
,neys, was done by the telephone
(employees at various visits.
And so Missrs. Porter and Mui
lins are starting stock raising oper
ations and at the same time their
(employees are finding Camp f'aro
ilina an excellent place to spend
week ends.
i
WHAT A SMART BOY Dll)
SELLING SI BSCKII'TIONS
I Master Thom;; ; Yerby is tin*
proud possessor today of the film
U. S. Regulation Army l!ugl<- off-w
--ed by the Tribune for a club of
eight subscribers. This enterpri -
i’’g young lad is one real Kina t
sa'esntan. He even sold a subscrip
tion to a man wh . has been blind
for ten years. Which all goo.- t >
prove, ‘‘where the a’s a will then ’s
away.” Keep up the good work,
,Thomas and bow ’bout coming
around some flay a id teaching ns
.some of your high pressure meth
ods of selling?
We cr.n help otVr boys to make
'some quick money for a little work.
HOME FOR HOLIDAYS
i Donald Alexander, son of Mr.
2nd Mrs B. F. Alexander of Co
lumbia is spending his Christm- v
(vacation with his parents. The
[younger Mr. Alexander is enrolled
jin the higher accountancy course at
.Norfolk College, Norfolk. Yi„
j where he will resume his studies
■errlv next month w : th th<- opening
of the midwinter term.