North Carolina Newspapers

Our Very Best Wishes for a Most Happy and Properous New Year to A ll of Our Family of Readers A home newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington County and its 12,000 people. The Roanoke Beacon ♦ * * v * * + and Washington County News ******* I ■■■ - — * .jl—i ■— ' 1 '"" Tl—M————— IIMl I III — I I «———IfTWI ■1— Advertisers will find Beacon and News columns a latch-key to 1,100 Washington County homes. VOLUME XLVIII—NUMBER 1 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Friday, January 1, 1937 ESTABLISHED 1889 * SOMERSET FARM SCENE OF LARGE MEET LAST WEEK Resettlement Administra tion and County Officials Have Get-Together The Resettlement Administration at the “Scuppernong Farms" proj ect, had their first get-together, or social gathering, of the officials, em ( ployees, land owners from whom the Resettlement Administration is pur chasing land, commissioners and boards of education members of both Tyrrell and Washington Coun ties, and neighbors, out at the love ly old Collins House, on Somerset Farm, near Creswell. last week Many of the officials from the Raleigh office were there, also some from Washington, D. C., among i whom were Dr. George S. Mitchell, * "ional director; Mr. James S. Gray ajiciate regional director; and Mr. C. B. Farris, assistant regional di rector, from the Raleigh office; also Mr. Glenn W. Miller, agricultural specialist, Washington, D. C. Mr. Gray explained the workings of land utilization; Mr. Farris, the purpose of rural resettlement, and answered any questions that arose in the minds of the people. Dr. Mitchell told a brief history of the project and explained resettlement briefly as a whole. Some of the local people gave short talks about their work. Miss Sallie Davis, sponsored by the Amer ican Legion, told of the work that the child welfare organization was trying to accomplish. After enjoying the talks, Mr. T. W. Armstrong acting community manager, asked each person to arise, introduce himself and tell his occu pation. Then, after registering, ev eryone viewed the lovely old Col lins house, which, by the aid of the Resettlement boys, had put on a gala holiday appearance, heard the leg ends of the old plantation, and mar veled at the beautiful sunset on the lake. Mr. Adickes, administrative assist ant, added to the occasion by mak ing several pictures of the crowd in front of the old house. A barbecue prepared by the Re settlement boys made the guests feel “Scuppernong Farms” was a good idea, after all. eugeniTf. still TO BE CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR HERE Town Election To Be Held In May; B. G. Campbell Present Mayor Here almost fiive months in ad vance, Eugene F. Still announces that he will be a candidate for the office of mayor of Plymouth. B. G. Campbell, wholesale mer chants here, will begin January 1 serving the unexpired term of Rev. Gilbert Davis who resigned after almost fo^r years of service to ac cept the pastorate of four Christian churches in Pitt and Greene Coun ties with his residence in Bellar thur. Mr. Still is manager of the Plym outh Box and Panel Company and has served on the City Council as well as on the local school board. He is the first president of the Lions Club, the first civic service organization to be launched in Ply mouth. Friends of Mr. Still have ap proached him time and again urg ing him to run for mayor, and with the town election scheduled for May, Mr. Still has already decided to enter the race and it is thought that his wide acquaintance among business men and industralists that his leadership will be welcomed by all and with cooperation from ev eryone. - Begins Series of Services Sunday Rev. C. T. Thrift, the pastor, will begin a series of sermons on “The Bible Standard of Christian Living” at the Methodist church Sunday morning. The Lord’s Supper will be observed. Every member is urged to be present. The public is invit ed to hear this series of sermons. < Bill Davenport Wins Major Campaign Prize HoiYieand ciubNews By Mary Frances Misenheimer Schedule for Next Week Monday, Busy Bee Club. Tuesday, Hoke Club. Wednesday a. m., Roper 4-H club. Wednesday p. m., Roper club. Thursday, Chapel Hill. Friday. Beech Grove. ■» Saturday, curb market, 8:30 a. m. Friday night the Cool Spring club plans to have a New Year par ty at the home of Mrs. W. V. Hays. All of the members are urged to be present. The following women were win ners in the Ball canning contest: Mrs. W. B. Chesson, Pleasant Grove. Mrs. Fred Smith, Creswell. Mrs. Joe Snell, Cool Spring. Mrs. Asby, Cool Spring. Mrs. Jane VaR, Swain. The following are officers elected for Lake Farm Club during the year 1937: Miss Pennie Craddock, president. Miss Ida Davis, secretary. Leaders: Garden, Mrs. Paul Clif ton; canning, Mrs. Lesley Daven port. January 13, Miss Mary E. Thomas, extension nutritionist specialist, is to be in Plymouth at the home agent’s office to hold a leaders’ school for all the food leaders in the county. It is very important that the lead ers from every club be present. No tices will be sent to each leader concerning this meeting. The meet ing will be held in the afternoon, beginning at 2 o’clock. Each club is planning to set goals for which to work toward during the year 1937. At the January meeting, please have in mind some specific goals you want your club to attain. Extends Town Congratulations -9 To the Editor: I want to use a little space in your paper to express my congratulations to the citizens of Plymouth and al so visitors on their conduct Christ mas Eve night. I spent a few hours on the street meeting friends and did not see but two men under the influence of whisky. How pleasing it was not to see an open barroom leading the boys and girls to hell, just for a little tax as some are do ing. I am proud to know that Wash ington County has not gotten so poor that it has to sell whisky to pay taxes. I wonder if all towns that have barrooms can say as much for themselves. When I was a boy, there were seven barrooms in Plym outh and several more about the county. It was pitiful to see young men and old men staggering out of them with a silly smile. I arrr glad the citizens of Wash ington County have not permitted whisky to be sold in open barrooms so far; and I hope they never will. J. H. GAYLORD, Sr. Roper, N. C. Blaze Wednesday Does $1,000 Damage Fire, probably ignited by sparks, gutted the rear of the E. R. Jackson building here on Water Street Wed nesday night doing damage estimat ed at $1,000 by Fire Chief L. W. Gurkin. Charlie Jackson, sleeping in the building, awoke to find the building ablaze. He fled, saving but little of his clothing and none of the fur nishing of his room. Firemen ex tinguished the fire and prevented its spread to the Norfolk Southern freight station nearby. No one was injured, but, as usual, firemen damaged their clothes that they hurriedly pulled on as they were leaving their homes in haste. $r •) r • ).).) m At Final Drawing Monday This Week $100 in Other Prizes Also Awarded; 1,500 People Attend Drawing -* Bill Davenport, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Davenport, received $535 in cash as the holder of the ticket drawn Monday at the conclusion of the merchants’ business-getting cam paign. More than 1.500 people were present at the drawing. Other winners were as follows: $25, Hugh Patrick and Mrs. Richard Lucas; $15, Linwood Knowles and Annie Smith (colored): $10, Ben Spencer and Mrs. W. R. Hampton. Seventy-five dollars was awarded that had not been previously prom ised by the merchants. The merchants collected, through their campaign of selling the tickets to those tradesmen interested about $1,000. and this represents a busi ness done in the months of Novem ber and December of $100,000, either in cash transactions or in cash paid on account. This sharing of their profits was made possible by the merchants co operating, without any increase in their prices, and many of them ad vertised weekly good bargains that added to their expense, thus carry ing a heavy burden. J. R. Manning, of the Plymouth Motor Company, guaranteed the prizes, and the merchants in turn cooperated with him and the prizes were delivered as advertised in Oc tober, except for the additional $75 that was delivered on Monday. This is the second year that this plan has been used 'by the local merchants. Takes T. F, Connors Will Leave This Week -n. . T. F. Connors, unit manager here, who has been assigned the duties of salesman for the National Handle Company, is expected to leave here this week-end. It is hope that if another man with a family is not located here by the handle firm that Mr. Clarence A. White, local man ager of the Kieekhefer Container Company, will live in the Third Street residence formerly occupied by Mr. Connors. Mr. While will have an office in the Leggett Building on Water Street for a while. W. M. Carey, superintendent of the plant, is ex pected to live in the Martin home on the suburbs of the town, while Mr. Myers, of the James E. Stewart Construction Company, which will build the plant, is expected to live in the Lyon residence on Main Street. However, there may be some change in the homes of these peo ple. Mr. White hopes to be here by the week-end. Final Rites for Mrs. Isadore Tarkenton —®— Funeral services were held Thurs day for Mrs. Isadore Tarkenton, 74, who died Wednesday morning. Dr. G. A. Martin, of Creswell, officiated, assisted by Rev. M. L. Ambrose, of Roper. Mrs. Tarkenton was a na tive of Washington County. Inter ment took place in a cemetery near the home. Surviving are two daughters: Mrs. G. C. Phelps and Mrs. John Furlaugh; a sister, Mrs. J. L. Ca hoon. Active pall-bearers were Dr. | C. McGowan, W. W. Mizelle, L. E. Hassell, J. C. Knowles, R. W. Lewis, R. L. Stillman, Eli Phelps, and Al ton Turner. -@ CRESWELL MISSIONARY SOCIETY IN MEETING -9 The Woman’s Missionary Society of the Creswell M. E. Church met Tuesday at the home of Mrs. H. T. Jackson. This was a harvest meet ing and there was a good attendance and a very interesting program. After the meeting a social hour was enjoyed, and refreshments were served. Miss Helen Spruill was a visitor at the meeting. New offi cers were elected. State Senator ^ill Propose Election of Highway Officials a J J. C. Pittman, of 13th Dis trict, Preparing Bill for Legislature -® J. C. Pittman, senator for the 13th district, composed of Wake, Chat ham and Lee Counties, plans to in troduce a bill providing for the elec tion of a state highway commission by the people in the general assem bly of 1937. He will present a proposal to make the council of state the com mission, with probably other ap pointive members chosen by the governor. But he will have these popularly elected officials dominate the road policy. He will provide that they serve without pay beyond that given as annual salaries. By this place he hopes to democracize the commission and its work and to save considerable money in the op eration. Senator Pittman finds the set-up of the present State Highway and Public Works Commission objection able. Pie does not think the chair man should be called upon to “ap prove his own actions,” yet that is what the senator says is being done. He does not seem to have aught a gainst anybody connected with the commission. In fact, he says they are exceptionally good men. But he thinks the chairman goes ahead and does things, then comes along and endorses his own doings. The whole theory behind Senator Pittman’s proposed bill is demo cratization of the road building or ganization. He thinks the secretary of state, the treasurer, auditor, sup erintendent of public instruction and attorney general should be the commission, “with possible desira bility of retaining for business bal ance, three men to be appointed by the governor, with respect to geo graphical location, 01 as ‘the gover nor might see fit, or it might and perhaps would be well to let three members, whose terms do not ex pire in 1937” remain on that board. But he wishes to have persons who “are fresh from the people” and the council of state members are all di rectly elected by the people. Under his scheme the lieutenant governor would be chairman of the board and a full-time secretary would be employed. That man or woman would receive “courteously and with every consideration com plaints and petitions of those desir ing to file same and arrange for hearings.” Senator Pittman says it is imperative that the state get the maximum of benefits from the high way organization. There is a special fitness, he feels, in having the state superintendent of public instruction a member of the commission. That oll'icial deals with more than 700,000 school chil dren, and getting them to school is a great problem. The attorney gen eral would have the legal business of the commission, and, of course, the treasurer and the auditor would have their constitutional functions to perform with the money. The senator does not doubt that this this commission would set highway work in the right direction. He thinks there has been a gradual drift from the original purposes of this commission, and he would return to that aim which he conceives to be the building of roads for the people that will carry them at all times in all sorts of weather to their mar kets. It is quite the most novel propos al that has been advanced in the highway department since it was created in its present form more than 15 years ago. The department has taken on prison management and working the highways with prison labor. Mr. Pittman has not yet reached that issue nor has he allowed himself to get diverted by the proposal to divert highway funds for general purposes. MRS. HESTER WOODLEY CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY Mrs. Hester Woodley, widow of the late G. F. Woodley, was given a surprise birthday dinner Saturday December 26, by her children at the home of her oldest daughter, Mrs. W. S. Ainsley. The dining room was beautifully decorated with flowers, and her presents were placed on a small table beside her chair. All of her children were present but two, and most of her grandchildren and great grandchildren were there to enjoy the feast. Mrs. Woodley has 10 living chil dren, 54 grandchildren, and 32 great grandchildren. Plymouth Facing New Year With Confidence % Past Twelve Months Very Favorable To Town and County Pulp Plant and Pickle Plant Locating Here Leading Developments -» Facing the future with confidence as the departing year has recorded favorable history, Washington Coun ty and Plymouth continued their move toward the front of the pro gressive towns. Old 1936 has been very favorable in almost every way. The New Year finds this county and town happy over the circumstances that have brought a million-dollar pulp plant, $35,000 pickle plant, $150,000 appropriation for paving highway No. 97. Then there are the benefits that are to be derived from the $1,500, 000 bridge that will span the Albe marle Sound. The project of Scup pernong Farms, a $300,000 Rural Re settlement Administration project, an increase in wages for over 400 employees of the Plymouth Box & Panel Company, payroll increase of 7 1-2 per cent at the National Han dle Company; all of these are 1936 benefits. A new Sinclair service station, to be operated by the Plymouth Mo tor Company, with J, R. Manning in charge, is being erected on Water and Jefferson Streets. This towm’s population during the coming year is expected to jump from 2,000 to at least 3,500. Numbers of new homes will be built. Business will benefit from the con struction of houses to care for the newcomers, and from the payrolls of the plants that are moving in, and from the industries that have been here all the while. . • The Kieckhefer Container Com pany will have an estimated pay roll of $6,000 weekly; Plymouth Box & Panel Company, $4,000 week ly; National Handle Company, $700 weekly; C. C. Lang & Company pickle plant, about $50,000 for sea son; and from all the other indus tries and from farm crops income the total should mount into millions for the year. Bob Phelps, of Ahoskie, will op erate the old Brinkley Hotel as an up-to-date hostelry after renova tions. It is rumored that Belk-Tyler Company, dry-goods organization, will locate a store here. The Atlan tic & Pacific Tea Company is ex pected to return a grocery unit here. It has even been whispered that D. V. Clayton will be returned here as cashier of a local branch of the Guaranty Bank & Trust Co. C. C. Purdy Manager Handle Plant Here —&— C. C. Purdy, of Fort Wayne, Ind., is here today as temporary man ager of the National Handle Com pany, a unit of the American Fork and Hoe Company, succeeding T. F. Connors who has been made sales man for several states with head quarters in Atlanta. Mr. Purdy has been with the company for years, but it is not certain that he will be made per manent manager of the plant here. In fact, he is down for a few weeks and it is not known how long he plans to stay. Mr. Connors was one of the best liked managers by the employees that has ever been in charge of the local plant since it was started here about 20 years ago. -<*> Rotary Governor Here This Week ——<*— Edmund H. Harding, of Washing ton, N. C., district governor of the 57th district of Rotary International, was in Plymouth this week looking toward the organization of a Rotary Club here. For the past year or more the organization of a Rotary Club has been considered and today 20 men signified their desire to have a Rotary Club in Plymouth, and it is thought that the organization will be perfected within the next two weeks. New Rotary Clubs in Wind sor. Robersonville and Manteo have been organized since November. About Town Farmers are faced with a some what critical feeding situation, sim ilar to that of 1934, the Bureau of Agricultural Economics in the Unit ed States Department of Agriculture said today. “It is again necessary for feeders to reduce livestock num bers, especially hogs, and to curtail feeding operations. However, un less the winter is unusually severe, domestic feeding will be less critical than two years ago,” said the report Lawrence B. Slater, known as “Larry,” special representative of Lions International, working out of Chicago, has been in Plymouth this week with Mr. Phillips, of Washing ton, organizing a local unit of Lions This luncheon club enjoyed its first meeting Wednesday night at Aus bon’s Luncheonette. The Beacon office has been be sieged with visitors this week seek ing information on the location of the pulp plant here by the Kieek hefer Container Company, of Delair. N. J. Many of them are looking for work. They, in turn, have been directed to Z. V. Norman, attorney, who has been handling much of the affairs locally for the new concern. “Guess there are a number of disappointed children this Christ mas. as no snow has fallen,” said Leon Rose, a trainman on the A. C. L., who thinks that no less than 100 sleds were handled by the train crew preceding the holidays. It is thought that more than 100 bicycles were distributed hereabouts also. The Young Women’s Missionary Society of the Methodist church will meet Monday evening, January 4, at the home of Mrs. Hal Williford at 8 o’clock, with Mrs W. F. Win slow presiding. The January meeting of the Sen ior Woman's Club will be held Fri day afternoon at 3:30 in the Legion Hall. Mrs. B. G. Campbell is chair man of the program, which will be a study of art. Hostesses are Mes dames W. C. Jones, R. H. Lucas, Sam Lucas and H. A. Liverman. Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Latham spent the holidays here with friends, in cluding Mrs. Latham’s mother, Mrs. A. D. Bassinger. Mr. Latham is lo cated in Spartanburg, S. C., as prop erty and supply officer of region 2 of the soil conservation service. For years Mr. Latiiam was accountant at the old Wilts Veneer Company plant here. Services at the Grace Episcopal church have been rearranged by the Rev. S. J. Matthews, rector, who is now giving some time to churches in Hyde County. For a while he will be here on the first Sunday mornings at 11 and on third Sunday nights at 7:30. They are telling on the streets that this week-end will be the be ginning of a cold spell. The ther mometer may drop to freezing. This is printed to warn those against this event creeping up on them, freez ing auto radiators and waterworks and catching some without fuel. “Better look out” and don’t forget the Beacon told you. SUPERIOR COURT BEGINS MONDAY; TWO-WEEK TERM Judge J. Paul Frizelle, of Snow Hill, To Preside; 25 Civil Cases • Washington County Superior Court will open here Monday, Janu ary 4, with Judge J. Paul Frizelle, of Snow Hill, scheduled to preside over the two-week mixed term, with criminal cases docketed for the first three days, and then for 25 civil cases on the calendar. So far as is known, there has been no change in the jurist to preside. There are a number of cases that deal with important matters, but there are no capital cases that are expected to be concluded. Thirty six jurors have been subpoenaed. FORM LIONS CLUB HERE AT MEET HELD THIS WEEK --■» E. F. Still Elected Presi dent; W. L. Whitley Secretary Charter night has been set for February 4. and meetings will be held each Thursday at noon, it was decided at the organization meet ing of the Lions Club held in Aus bon's Luncheonette here Wednesday evening. The club was organized with 24 members from among the represen tative business men in Plymouth present to hear a speech by Bill Rogers, of Wilson, lieutenant gover nor of Lions in North Carolina, and talks by Larry Slater, of Chicago, who organized the local unit. Officers are E. F. Still, president; with the following vice presidents in the order named: P. W. Brown, J. W. Norman and Dr. T. L. Bray, with W. L. Whitley as secretary and [treasurer. J. R. Manning is tail twister and E. H. Liverman, lion tamer. Directors are H. E. Harri son, H. A. Williford. A. L. Owens, and A. E. Davenport. Charter members not mentioned above follow: Dr. Wade Johnson, W. M. Darden, T. C. Burgess, L. S. Thompson. A. J. Riddle, E. A. Har rison, Lloyd Gilbert, Shep Brinkley, Don Davis, Z. V. Norman, C. L. Blount, Dr. Alban Papineau and Walter H. Paramore. The organization of the Lions Club is regarded as a progressive step in local efforts to build a bet ter Plymouth. This is the largest business and professional men’s civic service organization in America and is non-political, non-sectarian, non secret, and non-profit. The Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs are similar or ganizations. Membership is by in vitation only. District Governor Virgil J. Ash baugh, of Durham, will officially charter the organization on Febru ary 4, at which time ladies will be invited by the members. Special entertainment will feature the event. Place of the charter meet ing and for weekly meetings will be arranged later. FINAL DECISION ON SHAD FISHING EXPECTED SOON -1 Board of Conservation and Development To Meet January 11-12 A final decision on regulations for taking shad during the current sea son is expected to be made at the regular winter meeting of the Board of Conservation and Development scheduled to be held in Raleigh the tlth and 12th of this month. The special committee appointed several weeks ago is to study the shad situation with a view of rec ommending measures to check the steady decline experienced in the industry for more than a quarter of a century is expected to be ready to submit is report to the Board at the meeting this month. This committee consists of J. L. Horne, jr., Rocky Mount; Jas. L. McNair, Laurinburg; and E. S. As kew, Windsor. Recently the group held a series of conferences with fishermen interested in this branch of the fisheries in several coastal towns, including Manteo, Edenton and Oriental. At these gatherings, the committee, with Director R. B. Etheridge and Capt. John A. Nel son, fisheries commissioner, listen ed to the viewpoints of the fisher men and received their suggestions. Officials of the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries have recommended rigid restrictions of open periods and other means of saving a larger stock of spawning fish for the pro duction of future crops. Members of the conservation board have ex pressed their hope of reconciling the obvious necessity of providing for the escapement of more spawn ing fish, as nearly as possible, with the welfare of those engaged in the industry. The Board is also expected to consider a program for the pro motion of the tourist and industrial facilities of the State which will be submitted to the General As sembly at the session in January. Reports will also be heard from the director and the various dvision heads. General legislative matters are also said to be scheduled for discussion by the board.