The Roanoke Beacon
******* and Washington County News *******
Plymouth, Washington County. North Carolina, Thursday, November 2, 1939
Advertisers will find Beacon
j and News Columns a latchkey to
j 1,500 Washington County homes.
ESTABLISHED 1889
VOLUME L—NUMBER 44
Town
OPICS
Over 100,000 entries were submitted
in the name contest conducted by the
Atlantic Coast Line and Florida East
Coast Railways, advertised recently
in the Beacon and other newspapers,
and 'The Champion" is the name
selected for the new deisel-powered
streamlined train to begin operation
between New York and Miami about
the first, of next month.
Miss Katherine Brandon says that
on rainy, damp days, when children
are forced to spend most of their
time in the schoolrooms, their minds
apparently do not function as well
as on sunshiny days. Usually on the
rainy days they are dull in their
studies.
The public is cordially invited
to attend the chrysanthemum
show sponsored by the Garden
Club in the community building
next Wednesday. November 8. be
tween 2 in the afternoon and 9 in
the evening, according to offic
ials of the club.
Dr. S. V. Lewis’ car struck little
Gladys Rose Carr, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. J. R. Carr, last Saturday,
when the child suddenly darted across
the street in front of him. She was
bruised but not seriously hurt and
lias lost no time from school.
The name of the Coca-Cola Bot
tling Works was inadvertently omit
ted from the list of merchants who
sponsored the page advertisement in
tile Beacon last week expressing the
business men's appreciation of the
pulp plant expansion and extending
a welcome to newcomers.
Director L. W. Zeigler has been
invited to have his Plymouth
High School band participate in
the musical festival to be held
soon for school bands of this sec
tion under the sponsorship of the
Albemarle Music Festival.
Miss Theda Hopkins, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Hopkins, of Cres
well, is a saxophone player in the
new Meredith College band, which
made its first public appearance in
Raleigh during stunt day exercises
at the homecoming celebration there
last week.
Joseph T. Stone, member of the
State Board of Conservation and De
velopment: C. A. Farrell, hunting and
fishing editor of the News! and E. A.
Oettinger, all of Greensboro, spent
several days here last week fishing
at Lake Phelps.
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Late Hours Kept by
Superior Court Here
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The October term of Washington
County Superior Cour tconcluded its
session here really at 2 a. m. Satur
day morning, but Clerk C. V. W. Aus
bon officially marked the time of ad
journment on his docket as midnight
Friday night.
A mistrial was ordered in the last
case tried, that of George Patrick vs.
K. S. Mitchell, when the jury failed
to agree. It is understood that a ma
jority of the jurors wanted to award
Patrick $350 for damages and injuries
suffered in an automobile wreck, but
that one juror held out for $1,500.
J. A. Pritchette was named referee
for ascertaining the amount of rents
allegedly held by Mrs. Nona B. New
man from Miss Jennie Brinkley, col
lected on a residence held by the two
women as tenants in common.
A verdit was rendered in favor of
the C. I. T. Corporation against Mrs.
Mary M. Gamer, who instituted the
action.
The case of G. S. Respass vs. P. H.
Darden was continued.
The case of Mary Holland vs. D. W.
Chesson was settled for judgment.
r
i
PLYMOUTH’S GROWING HIGH SCHOOL BAND
_
Shown in the picture are 41 of the 52 members of the Plymouth High School Band. In the background are
the color bearers and guards: (left to right) Gilbert Asby, Ducky Lloyd. Roy Manning, Dewitt Darden;
Fourth row (I. to r.) Carl Bailey. Bill Darden, Leon Dunbar, Brinson Cox: Third row: Phyllis Davidson, Rob
ert Darden Swain. Felton Magee, Frances Bassinger, Mary Jackson, Lee Landing. L'Engle Barnes, Bill Owens;
Second row: Carolyn Byrd, Harry Garrett, Ailine Nestor, Iris White, Mary Cahoon, Peggy Brown, Gertrude
Woolard, Duncan Getsinger, Charles Robbins; Front row: Frank Winesett, Mary Lillian Campbell. Osborne
Dunbar, Lorraine Jackson, Zeb Vance Norman, Jr„ Mary C. Jones, Jack Horton, Shelton McNair. Helen Dar
den, Frances Spruill, Harry McLean, Skinner Ayers, Jack Stubbs, Director L. VV. Ziegler; Front: Gracelyn
Reid and Ann Cahoon, Majorettes; Not shown in the picture are Phil Liverman. Bill Satterthwaite. Douglas
Gurkin, Freeman Allen, Billy Swain, Junie Leggett, Sonny Williford, Charles Browm. Bobby Dunnini Rex
Paramore and Joe Reid.
Homecoming Day
Program at Local
Christian Church
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Planned for Sunday; Large
Number of Visitors
Expected
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Homecoming Day is to be observed
at the Christian church here Sunday,
with a full day's program planned.
The services are expected to attract
a large crowd of people from all over
the county and elsewhere, with Zeb
Vance Norman and the Rev. Earl H.
Eppling, of Belhaven, as guest speak
ers.
L. W. Zeigler and a group of his
Plymouth High School band mem
bers will provide music at the open
ing of the Sunday school, and John
W. Darden, superintendent, will make
a report of the year’s work. E. H.
Liverman will make the financial re
port.
Devotional services will be conduct
ed at 11 o’clock by M. G. Darden,
with W. W. Browning making a finan
cial report, after which H ,H. Allen
will speak on the subject, “As I See
the Church as Chairman.”
Immediately following a basket
lunch during which Director Zeigler’s
musicians will again perform, W. L.
Whitley will conduct the devotions.
Reports will be made by Mrs. Cleve
land Cratch for the Matrons’ Circle;
Mrs. A. T. Darden, for the Mission
ary Society: and Mrs. George W.
Bowen for the Ladies’ Aid Society.
Miss Clara Louise Jones will sing
a solo, and an address will be made
by the Rev. Mr. Eppling, of Belhaven.
The night session will be dedicated
to youth. Phil Liverman will conduct
the devotionals. Miss Betty Brooks
will sing a solo. Zeb Vance Norman
will be the speaker.
"Out of town visitors are expect
ed,” according to the pastor, Rev.
N. A. Taylor, who said “let us at home
be hospitable by being present to
greet them.”
900 Persons Attend
Drawing This Week
$30 in Cash Is Again
Awarded to Holders
Of 4 Lucky Tickets
Mesdames J. T. Terry, R. E.
Dunning, A. J. Byrd, Geo.
Freeland Winners
A crowd estimated at 900 persons
attended the mid-week drawing here
Wednesday afternoon, when the
Plymouth Merchants Association gave
away $30 in cash to holders of lucky
tickets and a turkey raffle was com
pleted by the Plymouth High School
Band.
Mrs. J. T. Terry was winner of the
first $10 in the merchants’ drawing
with a ticket from Sam Adler’s store
and the second $10 prize went to Mrs.
R. E. Dunning for a ticket from Wil
liford’s Yellow Front Market.
Mrs. A. J. Byrd, with a ticket from
Pender’s, won the first $5 award, and
after two numbers had been called
without the holder claiming the prize
Mrs. George Freeland was given the
final $5 for a ticket from Williford’s
So far the merchants have issued
around 50,000 tickets in the four
weeks since the drawing started, and
their patrons are again urged to ask
for tickets with every dollar pur
chase made or payment on account.
The band members had sold tickets
on their turkey raffle, and after a
few selections by the band, the name
of G. K. Harris was drawn as the
winner of the big bird.
Colored Schoolls
Robbed Tuesday
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County authorities were today
searching for clues to the identity of
thieves who backed a motor truck or
car up to a door of the Sound Side
Colored school Tuesday night, load
ing it with many of the furnishings
and escaping undetected.
Charles Bell, principal of the three
teacher school, which has an enroll
ment of 157 children, said the land
lady at the house where he roomed
across from the school said she heard
noises about 2 a. m„ but could not
tell what was causing them. He in
formed the superintendent of public
instruction, H. H. McLean, that the
missing items include 5 window
curtains, two water buckets, a chair,
clock, stove and pencil sharpener.
School officials said it had been al
most impossible to keep water pumps
at the well there, as several had been
stolen on other occasions and other
items have been taken from the build
ing and premises by thieves.
Tuesday night a skeleton key was
used to unlock the door, through
which the stolen items were re
moved to either a truck or car, the
tracks of which could be seen Wed
nesday morning.
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The Federal Surplus Comjnodities
Corporation has announced that be
cause of a prospective large surplus,
it will buy apples from growers for
distribution among relief families.
Annual Red Cross Roll Call Campaign
In County Gels Underway in Few Days
Men will be conscripted, as well
as women, for canvassers in the
annual Red Cross roll call, which
will get underway in Washington
County within the next few days,
according to Mrs. O. H. Cox,
county chairman.
Heretofore, it was explained by
Mrs. Cox, the men have made
contributions but have not been
very active in canvassing; while
this time an effort will be made
to get the men to help do the so
liciting work during the cam
paign.
Mrs. Cox said she would prob
ably zone the county, with a
chairman and soliciting commit
tee appointed for each zone, so
that no prospective eonti butor
may be overlooked.
Sometime within the ne:-:t few
days Mrs. Cox said she wou'd call
a meeting of some of the work
ers who participated in last
year’s roll call in order that fi
nal plans may be made for the
event.
It was pointed out by Mr;. Cox
that $7,000 was spent in YV indsor
near here last year when i hur
ricane struck that country caus
ing several deaths and heavy
property damage. Only $100 was
contributed by this county to Red
Cross work in 1938 and she is
anxious for this year's total to
be larger, probably double.
County Club Women
Met Here Wednesday
125 Attend All-Day
Session; Roper Club
Is Winner of Trophy
Year’s Work Reviewed and
Various Awards Are
Announced
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With the announcement of the win
ners in the various competitive activ
ities, the fall meeting of the Wash
ington County Federation of Home
Demonstration Clubs was closed here
Wednesday afternoon after an all
day session, attended by 125 club
women from all sections of the coun
ty. A special feature of the meeting
was an address by Roscoe Thrasher,
representative of the Greenbrier
Farms, Norfolk, Va..
The Roper Club was awarded the
Roanoke Beacon trophy for the sec
ond year in succession for the best
all-round report submitted by any
federated organizations. Their re
port showed 18 members enrolled, 3
new members secured during the per
iod recently ended, 18 members and
one visitor present at the federation
meeting, and 100 per cent payment
pf club dues reported. The trophy
will become that club’s permanent
possession if it wins again next year.
W. H. Paramore made the presenta
tion.
Anonuncement of winners in the
following projects were made by Mrs.
Frances M. Darden, home agent, with
the first named club in each instance
being declared first-place winner:
Poultry. Wenona and Cross Roads
clubs; gardens, Cool Springs and Al
ba; yards, Chapel Hill and Cool
Springs; canning, Scuppemong and
Swain; clothing. Mount Tabor and
Roper; house furnishings. Cherry and
Pleasant Grove.
At the beginning of the club year
the county council decided to present
a prize to the club member who made
the greatest improvement in her yard,
and the judges decided that this
award should be split between Mrs.
Mollie Hardison, of the Alba Club,
and Miss Ida Davis, of the Cherry
Club. The Roper club was recognized
as having done outstanding commun
ity work by building a community
house, while the Cool Springs Club
was recognized for its efforts in pro
moting high standards of workman
ship among the vocational agricul
ture students in school.
In his address, Mr. Thrasher told
the women many things about the
planting and growth of flowers and
shrubs, explaining the character of
plants that grow better in particular
types of soil, He also discussed the
best time for pruning plants and
closed by answering questions about
(Continue on page four)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26.—Rus
sian government announces release
of American freighter. City of Flint,
at end of day in which both United
States and German governments
laid claim to vessel; which govern
ment wijjner of diplomatic duel
not clear; French ready for pos
sible large scale Nazi attack on
western front; Holland border vil
lages concerned over massing of
German troops near Netherlands
frontier; French condemn two men
to death for espionage activities.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27.—Learned
City of Flint ordered to leave Rus
sian port in charge of German
. prize crew; English admit two
German pocket battleships,
Deutschland and Admiral Scheer,
at large on high seas as raiders; U.
S. Senate approves repeal of arms
embargo by vote of 63 to 30; patrol
clashes on western front reported
by French to be increasing, but al
lied forces declared ready for any
contingency.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28.—German
authority say American freighter
City of Flint en route to German
port, in order to reach which it will
be necessary to elude British
blockade; German police and storm
troopers clash with Czech patriots
at Prague on holiday, many wound
ed, thousands said arrested; U. S.
Senate Department accuses Russia
of "poor cooperation"; Germans
claim succes in sea raiding acti
vities, saying 115 vessels totaling
475,321 tons sunk with loss of only
three submarines; French demobi
lize 100,000 men and send them
home, despite signs of impending
Nazi push on western front.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29.—U. S. Con
tinues efforts to penetrate secrecy
surrounding case of City of Flint,
said to be slinking down Norwe
gian coast toward German port
with prize crew in charge; western
front reports "all quiet Norweign
steamer sunk' British press calls
embargo arms repeal by U. S. Se
nate “victory for Allies : 12 Ger
man divisions massed along Swiss
border,
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30.—Captured
American freighter City oi Flint,
with German flag flying, steamed
out of Norweign port of Tromsoe
late today, headed toward a Ger
man port through British blockade
and numerous mine fields; Ger
mans critize V. S. policy favoring
Great Britain and warn against
being drawn into war as in 1917;
(Continue on page four)
Few Changes Made
In Local Committees
By County Farmers
Absence of Friction Indi
cates General Satisfac
tion With Officials
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Harmony prevailed at all of the
meetings held during the past week
for the election of community com
mitteemen and delegates who have
elected a county committee to admin
ister the 1940 soil conservation pro
gram in Washington County, with but
few changes being made in the per
sonnel as present constituted.
Since there were practically no
changes made in the committeemen,
observers said this was an indica
tion of satisfaction with the work in
1939. and little difficulty is expected
in the W'ork of the group next year,
as they apparently have the confi
dence of the farmers.
A definite schedule has not been
arranged yet, but it is expected the
committeemen will begin reviewing
contracts for 1940 within a short
time. Farmers who wish to know
more about the program or who have
some matters to discuss with them
are advised to see their township
committeemen as soon as possible.
Roy L. Stillman, of Roper, was
named chairman of the county com
mittee. with C. W. Bowen, Plymouth,
as vice chairman; and W. D. Phelps,
Creswell, president of the county
Farm Bureau, serving as the third
member.
Township committees were elected
as follows:
Plymouth: H. G. Simpson, chair
man; J. F. Allen, vice chairman; W.
H. Gurkin, member; and R. C. Jack
son, alternate.
Lees Mills: J. E. Phelps, chairman;
R. W. Lewis, vice chairman: J. L. Mc
Allister, member; and T. W. Davis,
jr„ alternate.
Scuppernong: W. P. Davenport,
chairman: J. R. Davenport, vice
chairman; S. D. Spruill, member;
Phillip Ambrose and B. A. Williams,
alternates.
Judge Recommends
Additional Room Be
Provided for Jurors
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Commissioners Will Likely
Consider Matter at Their
Meeting Monday
What will be done about the mat
ter could not be learned today, but
Judge Leo Carr, of Burlington, who
presided over the Washington Coun
ty Superior Court here last week,
asked that more than one jury room
be made available for the use of petit
juries at the next term of court here
in January.
Entered on the minutes of the ses
sion last week was a notation signed
by Judge Carr asking the board of
commissioners to make two rooms
available at each term of court, as
the court was embarrassed when a
second room was needed last week.
The grand jury room on the second
floor is now being used by the Wash
ington County library; Recorder John
W. Darden uses another room; Mrs.
Kathleen S. Nobles, supervisor of the
school lunch rooms, has her office in
a third rooms; the welfare office is
using one; leaving only the north
room available for the jurors.
The second floor of the courthouse
was originally divided so as to pro
vide one room for the consultation
of lawyers and witnesses, another for
the grand jury and two for the petit
juries; but due to increased activities
since the structure was built, these
rooms have been converted to the
use of others, making necessary the
request by the presiding judge. It
is expected the question will be con
sidered by the commissioners at their
regular meeting next Monday.
—-s
Farm 'Students Put
Exhibit on Display
How to distinguish between desir
able and undesirable plants, good
ears and poor ears of corn, is shown
in an exhibit arranged by the voca
tional agriculture students of the
Plymouth High School in the show
window of the vacant building on Wa
ter Street next to O. R Leggett's Son
store.
Under the direction of their teach
er, W. S. Moore, the students pre
pared the display pointing out that
desirable plants have two good ears,
not too high on the stalk, medium
size stalks that stand upright, with
the mature ears that turn downward,
while small ears, irregular size stalks
that droop, with mature ears turn
ing upward are characteristics of un
desirable plants.
The display further show; that the
good ears of corn have small * cobs,
end well filled, uniform in size, with
well-matured straight rows of grain,
while poor ears are recognized by
big cobs, poorly filled ends, irregu
larity in size, crooked rows and im
mature grain.
Also there are several varieties of
corn shown, including that produced
by Carol Pagan and John Allen. In
each instance the character of p ant
and ear of com described is accom
panied by an illustration.
Local Handle Plant Is
To Resume Operating
Around First of Year
PROMOTED
Thomas B. Brown, popular
member of the State Highway
Patrol, who has been stationed
here for more than two years, re
cently was promoted to corporal.
Plymouth will continue to be his
headquarters.
Observance Here of
Education Week To
Be Started Sunday
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Continues Throughout Next
Week; Public Urged To
Participate
The week beginning November 5
will be nationally observed as Educa
tion Week. Plymouth schools will
participate in this program, which
will begin Sunday morning, Novem
ber 5, at which time Rev. Paul Nick
ens will occupy his pulpit and preach
on “The Place of Religion in Our De
mocracy.” All friends of the school
and all pupils are urged to attend the
11 o'clock service. The high school
glee club will sing at this service.
The chapel exercises, which have
been a vital part of the school day
this year, will be featured each morn
ing during the week by a talk by a
well-known citizen of Plymouth; and
these exercises will be held each
morning at 8:40. The public is cor
dially invited to meet with the school.
Following is the program for the
week:
Monday, “Education for Self-Reali
zation," Dr. Alban Papineau.
Tuesday, ‘‘Education for Human
Relationship," Robert B. Campbell.
(Continue on page four)
<9 -v
Under Management
Of Miss Ethel Arps,
Recently Promoted
Expected To Employ Total
Of 35 Men in Plant
And Forest
Further increase in the industrial
payroll for Plymouth seemed assured
this week, when it was learned that
the local plant of the American Fork
& Hoe Company would begin opera
tions on a modified scale about the
first of the year under the direction
of Miss Ethel Arps, who has been pro
moted to the position of manager.
Closed for the past four years due
to general lagging business conditions
and lack of a market for the handles
manufactured here, it was learned
the plant is expected to open with
about 35 persons on the payroll and
fairly steady operation assured.
According to plans formulated thus
far, the plant is to start with about
20 men employed in the mill. The
men will work a specified number of
hours in the sawmill department and
then the same crew' shifted to the
finishing department. Fifteen other
men are to be employed in the forests
to cut the timber needed from the
extensive property holdings of the
concern in this section.
Although no official announcement
has been made as to the company’s
plans about the reopening, and it is
understood they are subject to be
changed, it is reliably believed the
plant will begin operations with the
reduced number of employees about
the first of the year. Before opera
tions were curtailed and later aban
donet several years ago, the local
unit employed from 40 to 60 work
men.
Promotion of Miss Arps to the po
sition of manager w'as understood to
be a reward for her efficiency in
looking after the interests of the
plant in several capacities, including
that of stenographer and clerical as
sistant to C. L. Groves, 0. F Connor
and other managers
Freak Sweet Potato Is
Found by H. J. Woolard
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H. J. Woolard. of the Long Ridge
section, 3 miles south of Plymouth,
this week brought to the Beacon of
fice a Porto Pica sweet potato
through which another potato had
grown, joining the two together.
Mr. Woolard said he had harvested
350 bushels of prime potatoes and 50
bushels of slips from a plot a little
over an acre in size.
Work Going Forward
On Additions at Plant
Schedule Changed
For Bad Weather
Under a new schedule Plym
outh school children will be per
mitted to leave earlier than has
been the usual hour of dismissal
on the rainy day schedule ac
cording to Principal Robert B.
Trotman.
The smaller children in the
Hampton Academy will be dis
missed at 12:30 and those at the
high school building will be dis
missed at 12:45, the new sche
dules being about 15 minutes
earlier than is usual.
Principal Trotman said that
this schedule would be followed
whenever it became necessary
and that the children would be
dismissed at the same time dur
ing any rainy day schedule dur
ing the year.
Farm Students in
Meeting Saturday
Members of the Tri-County Fed
eration of Young Tar Heel Farmers
held their first meeting of the school
year in the local high school building
Saturday with representatives present
from chapters in Columbia, Creswell,
Roper, Plymouth, Jamesville, Oak
City, and Robersonville.
Following the adoption of a con
stitution and by-laws the following
officers were elected: Leo White, Oak
City, president: Lacy Ward, Rober
sonville, vice president; Joe Gray
Browning, jr.. Plymouth, secretary;
Clayton Marriner, Roper, treasurer:
and Darwin Smith, Columbia, report
er.
The Columbia chapter won first
place, Robersonville second and Plym
outh third in the ritual contest.
It was announced that future meet
ings of the tri-county group will fea
ture public-speaking, livestock-judg
ing and athletic contests,
Expect To'Be Ready
For Steel Work To
Begin in Two Weeks
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