North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon * * * * * * ♦ and Washington County News ★ ★ ★★★★★ Advertisers will find Beacon and News Columns a latchkey to : 1,500 Washington County homes, j ESTABLISHED 1889 j VOLUME L—NUMBER 46 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, November 16 1939 Town opics Cr 1 L. Bailey, finance chairman for the Washington County District of Boy Socuts, said today his com mittee was planning to begin a drive for the $300 affiliation fee this dis trict has to pay for membership in tlie East Carolina Council. Corporal Tom B. Brown will be one of the 85 State Highway Pa trolmen assigned to handle traffic for the Duke-Carolina football game, expected to draw 53,000 spectators to the Duke Stadium in Durham Saturday afternoon. It was learned today from Dr. A. Papineau, chairman of the entertain ment committee of the Plymouth Country Club, that directors of the club decided at their meetings Tues day to purchase a piano to be placed in the club room for use at enter tainments. Mrs. C. N. Davenport, sr.. of Cres well. will represent Washington County on the committee appointed by the Ninth District North Carolina Congress of Parents and Teachers held in Ahoskie Tuesday to study "Next Steps in Education" and make a report at the next meeting. W. W. Bullock, a neighbor of Fred Latham, was here Wednesday night with the man who is generally recog nized as the pioneer of scientific farming in this section. They were on their way to the Farm Bureau meeting at Cherry. Among the 22 young men to rnlist in the Navy through the Raleigh recruiting office as ap prentice seamen last week were Frederick R. Smith. jr„ and Har ry L. Arnold, both of Plymouth. The Raleigh recruiting area has a quota of 300 for this month. Chief of Police P. W. Brown said today that 51 of the usual 76 mem bers of the James E. Jethro Post, No. 163, American Legion, had paid their membership dues for 1940. and he is urging others to renew their mem bership immediately so the post may have a 100 per cent enrollment. The Junior Class of the Plym outh High School is selling tick ets for the movie, “Four Feath ers,” scheduled for the Plymouth Theatre next Tuesday night. A percentage of the tickets sold will be turned over to the class for defraying expenses cf the annual junior-senior entertainment next spring. L. S. Thompson went to New Bern twice this week, the second time at tending the wedding of his brother, Nathan Thompson, to Miss Mildred McDaniels, which took place Tuesday afternoon at 5 o’clock in a Metho dist church. -$-— Single Diphtheria Case Reported in Cherry Area Cherry.—There is no fear of an epidemic here although it was learnad this week that little Jean Woodley, 7-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Woodley, had become ill with diphtheria. There are other children in this family who did not take the diph theria serum when it was available here, and there are other families in the neighborhood which refused to have their children vaccinated. How ever, the precautions taken with the single case reported so far give rise to th belief that there is no danger of the disease becoming epidemic. "Uncle" Charlie DeShields Bnilt His Own Coffin, But County Welfare Had To Complete Task for Him Last Week ■-w — - ‘Hard Times” Prevented Aged Colored Man From Painting, Lining It • — Death Came Friday By MRS. EDISON DAVENPORT The traveler through the village of Mackeys last Friday probably glanced in the direction of "Uncle” Charlie DeShield's neat box-like little house, looked more closely, rubbed his eyes and looked again and gasped with amazement. For in this tiny front yard lifted "high and dry” was a coffin with the clear, autumn sun light streaming down upon its new coat of glistening, grey paint. However much this grim reminder of man’s inevitable destiny may have startled the passer-by, to “Uncle” Charlie it was as familiar as the old rocking chair that sits in his chim ney comer, or the pear tree that blos soms each spring by his back door. Years ago he carefully selected the timber that was to go into its making, shaped and fitted the boards with in finite patience and pains. Several times during the making he" even climbed stiffly over the sides and straightened his long stooped frame to its full length to be sure that it fitted. He even slept in it one night to assure himself that the last long sleep would be as comfortable as he could make it. When the coffin was completed, even to the glass through which the curious living might take their last look at the uncaring dead, he carefully put it away in the barn. (Continue on page four* Faculty Play To Be Given Here Friday Night of Next Week -<s> Special Scenery and Cos tumes Are Being Prepared' -— Faculty members and students will present “The Saturday Evening Ghost” in the Plymouth High School Auditorium Friday evening. Novem ber 24, at 8 o’clock, for the benefit of the athletic association to pay for football equipment. Unlike the usual eerie and super natural stories of ghosts, this cur rently popular production concerns the story of a lovely American girl who falls in love with a 100-year-old ghost who is making an effort to lure her away. Special scenery is being construct ed for the play, which is being di rected by Principal R. B. Trotman, with Miss Margaret Martin, home economics teacher, arranging for the costumes. The cast includes W. S. Moore, as Hiram Otis, an American manufact urer; Mrs. George Barden, as Mrs. Otis; Harold Brinn, in dual roles as Lord Canterville and Sir Simon; Miss Martha Turlington, as Virginia Otis; Miss Nellie Tarkenton, as Mrs. Um ney, the Canterville housekeeper; Jack Owens, as Lord Archibald Arch ibald; Rex Paramore, as Sonny-Boy Otis; and Betty Jane Johnson, as Pet, his twin sister. Option Held by Milwaukee Man on Waters Farm Has Not Been Renewed Negoations undertaken by Frank Kirkpatrick, of Milwau kee, Wisconsin, for the purchase of 75 acres of the Fletcher Wa ters' land west of the Plymouth Country Club, presumably for a residential development, have ap parently broken down, according to Mr. Waters. The Milwaukee contractor’s request for a 15-day extension of an option, that included a pay ment of S200 was granted, but this extension expired on October 15 and the last word Mr. Waters had from the prospective pur chaser was that he was afraid he was afraid he would have to for feit his option. Inview of this fact, Mr. Waters said today that he would proceed with his intention to either sell the farm to other parties or rent it to a tenant for another year. It was understood from a fairly reliable source that Mr. Kirkpat rick intended to build residences or apartment houses on the pro perty with probable aid from the Federal government to provide low cost housing facilities for workers in plants in this section. However, since Mr. Waters has not heard anything from Mr. Kirkpatrick, a month after the option expired, it is believed that Mr. Kirkpatrick had been unable to complete his plan for the de velopment. New Road Ready For Traffic Soon Traffic will begin to move over the new portion of the road from the North Carolina Pulp Com pany to the Kitty Hawk and Slade fisheries by the week-end, according to an opinion express ed today by Tom Sykes, foreman. The new road is constructed largely through the swamp land and Mr. Sykes said the distance from where it leaves the present road and intersects the old road at the fisheries is 4,000 feet, 1, 300 feet of which is over marshy ground in the swamp. There are at present 30 prison ers, 9 truck drivers, a foreman and several guards working on the project. They were given a month to build the dirt road wifli a hard foundation and they expect to cemplete the job in less than three weeks. A. J. Taylor, of Columbia, a representative of the State High way and Public Worrks Commis sion, is supervisor of the project. Creswell Band Is Making Progress Creswell.—Rapid progress is being made by the Creswell High School Band under the direction of Bob Merritt, who last November started 27 boys and girls practicing on the instruments. Observers say the im provement is marked in each public appearance. Band members are: Trumpets, Vir ginia Woodley, Billy Hopkins, Walter Peal, Leroy Stillman, Willard White, Alton Harris; trombones, Billy Hat field, J. C. Gatlin and Chester Hop kins; bass, Louis Davenport; bari tone, Marvin Davenport; alto horns, Bill Spruill, Ada Phelps; clarinets, Iris Spruill, Katie Spruill, Neva Pat rick, Maxine Phelps, Joe Pritchard, Mildred Woodley, James Peal, Mary Ellen Stillman; saxophones, Harold S. Woodley, Harry Barnes, Clyde Smithson; drums. Billy Wells Bate man, Carol Van Davenport, Tom Phelps. Mrs. Mary A. Morris Dies at Home of Son Near Here Monday Suffered Stroke of Paralysis Thursday, Followed by Another Monday Funeral services were held Wednes day afternoon for Mrs. Mary A. Mor ris, 74, who died at the home of a son, L. A. Watson, near Mackeys, Monday night as the result of a second stroke of paralysis. She was apparently ral lying from the first stroke, suffered last Thursday, until the second stroke Monday. Rev. M. L. Ambrose, Christian min ister of Roper, conducted the serv ices. Interment took place in the Ambrose family cemetery in the Scuppernong section. A daughter of the late Isaac and Hester Ambrose, of Scuppernong Township, Mrs. Morris was born De cember 20, 1864. Her first marriage was to Rank Watson, of this county, who died about 50 years ago. Frank Morris, also of this county, her sec ond husband, died about 10 years ago. Since the death of her second hus band, she has lived with her son ex cept for about two years of the time. For over 40 years she had been a staunch and consistent member of Philippi Christian church at Cherry. Surviving are her son, L. A. Wat son, of Mackeys; a step-son, Claud Watson, of Murfreesboro; and two brothers, Isaac and Joe Ambrose, of the Scuppernong section. -® Two Camp Sites in Prospect for Boy Scouts of County -- Acre of Land Is Secured on Welches Creek Near Railroad Bridge -9 Two camp grounds are in prospect for Boy Scouts in Washington Coun ty, with the possibility of a third, it was learned today from Dr. A. Pap ineau, district chairman, who says plans for the two sites are now be ing developed. For the Plymouth scouts—and those of Roper, too, if they wish—a site is under consideration near here, just over the Washington County line in Martin. It is on Welches Creek, a "stone's throw” north of the well known railroad bridge, where the wa ter is quite deep. The land is owned by Robert L. Sydenstricker and a friend, who have agreed to lease the land to the scouts for a 99-year term. About an acre of ground is to be in cluded in the transaction. Julian Brinkley is to survey the site as soon as he can get around to the job. Dr. Papineau and Mr. Sy denstricker have already designated trees to serve as markers. The Roper scouts are said to have located a site near a body of water, but it is reported to have been con demned. However, they are looking for another place. The Creswell troop, headed by Scoutmaster Sydney Smithson, has petitioned the Farm Security Admin istration to assign it a camp site near the water in the Lake Phelps area, and the scouts are also asking the Federal agency to either move a house or construct one for them, while the Plymouth boys hope to have the WPA help them erect a house. The two sites will make available places for the 100 scouts in the coun ty to pass tests, enjoy outdoor recrea tional activities and other scout un dertakings. -$ Cars Damaged in Collision At Corner Here Monday Automobiles operated by Tom Sykes, of Plymouth, and Joe Baker Davenport, of Creswell, collided at the intersection of Madison and Main Streets here Monday night, doing damage estimated at about $75 to the two cars. The occupants of the cars escaped without injury. Masonic Lodge Here Planning Elaborate Program lor Nov. 28 -<S>— - To Observe 128th Anniver sary, Ladies’ V,nd Past Masters’ Night Grand Master J. Edward Allen, of Warrenton. Grand Secretary J. H. Anderson, of Raleigh, will be the prin fipal speakers at the annual banquet of Perseverance Lodge. No. 59, A. F. and A. M.. which will be held here on Tuesday night. November 28. To be attended by the Masons and their wives, the meeting will serve as a three-fold celebration, according to the Master. H. H. McLean: observ ance of the 128th anniversary of the founding of the local lodge, past masters' night and ladies' night. Mr. McLean has been advised that approximately 65 will attend the event. The lodge members will open their sessions in the Masonic Hall and adjourn to the community hall, where they will join the ladies for the banquet. This annual observance was start ed here about 20 years ago to honor past masters of the lodge. Past mas ters who will be recognized at the meeting on the 28th include Z. V. Norman. J. W. Darden, T. W. Snell, J. R. Campbell. J. B. Willoughby, T. C. Burgess, Harry Stell, E. H. Liver man, J. T. Terry, C. T. Robbins, W. M. Darden, L. T. Rose, R. H. Lucas, and Dr. C. McGowan. I Farm Bureau Meet Is Held at Cherry; Fred Latham Talks -• Profitable Use of Waste Land in Section Worth Studying, He Says --$ If the organization can find a man or group of men to pioneer in the profitable use of waste land in this section, then it will have performed a very much needed public service, Fred Latham, Belhaven agriculturist, told members of the Washington County Farm Bureau in the Cherry School building Wednesday night. These pioneers, Mr. Latham said, will find that mules can be produced here at small cost, while it costs the farmers 20 cents per pound to import them from Kentucky; beef animals can be produced for 4 cents a pound and sold for double the cost. He also said that sheep could be produced as well here in this section as anywhere in the country and breeding lambs can be sold at double the cost of production. He added that the return from five acres of scup pernong grapes would take care of a family of five for almost a year. A corn fancier himself, Mr. Latham I told the gathering that there was an opportunity for a farmer to specialize I in almost any crop or animal to im prove its strain; and he mentioned that 37 years ago he began to develop a hybrid variety of corn that had proven its excellence over other ex hibits of corn in North and South Carolina in official tests. The speaker concluded with the advice that a person must first be able to see a vision, then to decide whether he is capable or competent of realizing that desire and then to manifest every determination possi ble to see his idea through. W. D. Phelps, president of the or ganization, presided over the session. County Agent W. V. Hays made a short talk on the 1940 farm program and introduced Mr. Latham. The Creswell High School Band provided the music. Native of County Returns After Absence of 48 Years After 48 years away from his home town, with but one visit during the period, H. T. Waters has returned to help construct a building at the plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company here. A native of this county, Mr. Wa ters is a carpenter foreman for the Charles P. Rohleder Company, which is constructing the filtering plant at the pulp mill. Incidentally. Mr. Waters said that if weather conditions did not delay them, the Philadelphia concern would complete the filtering unit by Janu ary 15, as the work was progressing steadily at this time. New Hyde County Agent To Begin Work Dec. 1st Swan Quarter.-Succeeding A. J. Harrell as county agent of Hyde, W. P. Woodard, assistant county agent of Martin County at present, will take over his new work December 1, Mr. Harrell was very popular in Hyde, and leaves his work here for a similar position in Greene Coun ty, the commissioners of Hyde ac cepting his resignation last Tuesday. He has been acent here for two years. Both Mr. Harrell and his succes sor, Mr. Woodward, are graduates of State College at Raleigh. All Sections ol County Are Appointed Red Cross Canvassing Committees for Canvassers were named today for every section of the county to take part in the campaign to se cure members of the American Red Cross during the annual roll call, it was announced today by Mrs. O. H. Cox, county chair man of the organization. Beginning last Saturday, the workers are calling on prospect ive members, who are asked to contribute at least SI to the cause for the relief of suffering human ity throughout the world. The campaigners will continue can vassing until Thanksgiving. Mrs. Cox named solicitors in every section of the county, so that no prospective contributor would be overlooked in the effort to raise at least S200 for this worthy cause. The personnel of the canvass ing committees follow: Plymouth Mesdames E. G. Arps. Walter P. Lloyd, A. Papineau. T. W. Earle, Lloyd Owens, L. A. Liverman, Miriam Kimbrough, and W. M. Darden; Mrs. K. E. Dunning, Junior Red Cross; J. R. Man ning, J. C. Swain and R. B. Trot man; Cherry: Mrs. Jim Daven port; Creswell: Mrs. C. N. Dav enport and A. T. Brooks; Roper: Mrs. W. A. Blount, Miss McCain and D. E. Poole. Three New Methodist Ministers Assigned to County for Next Year ■<*> Changes Effected in Churches af Roper, Creswell, Plymouth -® Rev. O. L. Hardwicke To Succeed Rev. Wade John son at Local Church -® Three new pastors were assigned to charges in Washington County for the coming year by the North Caro lina conference of the Methodist Church, which was in session the lat ter part of last week at Fayetteville. This was the first conference held since the union of the Methodist Protestant and the Methodist Epis copal churches was perfected, and the appointments were made by officials of the united church. The Rev. O. L. Hardwicke will suc ceed the Rev. Wade Johnson as pas tor of the Plymouth, Mr. Johnson be ing assigned to a charge at South Camden. Rev. M. R. Gardner suc ceeds Rev. J. T. Stanford at Roper, Mr. Stanford going to Chowan Coun ty. It is understood here by church leaders that the Rev. S. G. Ferree was assigned to Creswell under a new arrangement made possible by the union of the M. E. and M. P. churches and that he will be pastor of the Methodist churches in that charge. Rev. A. C. Thompson was assigned to Columbia, where it is understood his work will be centered with the churches in Tyrrell County. Hereto fore the Columbia pastor has also served churches in this county, but this will be discontinued under the new organization, according to re ports. Plymouth church officials under stand that the pastor assigned here will devote his full time to the local church, Jamesville and possibly some other churches formerly in this charge being served by the Roper pas tor or some pastor in Martin County It is to be noted that wnen the two units of Methodism were united that a Methodist Protestant minister was named bishop, William W, Peele. The Rev, B. B. Slaughter was re named to head the church set-up in the Elizabeth City district and will live in Elizabeth City. He will be known as superintendent of the dis trict and not as presiding elder, this change of titles coming from the M. P. church. -3>— Plans Shape Up for Road Celebration - »— Plans for the celebration of the completion of Highway No. 97 from Plymouth to Washington. N. C., are underway, according to John W. Dar den. secretary of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. It appears now that Edmund G. Harding, executive secretary of the Washington Chamber of Commerce, is willing for most of the exercises to be held here on that day, and he said that the unit of the National Guard there might be prevailed upon to come here for a parade and drill. A speaker has not been secured. Mr. Darden also pointed out that the work on the road would be con cluded by November 28 and that the celebration might be held on Decem ber 15. with the major portion of the exercises scheduled to take place in Plymouth. William P. Bowe, jr„ contractor of | Atlanta, Ga., who paved the conclud stretch of road from Bowen’s Service Station to Douglass' Cross Roads, at the intersection of the Washington Belhaven Highway, entertained a number of friends at a barbecue at Acre Station Monday night, which was largely attended by workers and cither interested persons. Charles Davant was superintendent of the project ( CLOTHING NEEDED '| •v/ Articles of clothing are needed for distribution to children rang ing in ages between 6 and 14 at the Hampton school here, and those who wish to make dona tions for this purpose are urged to collect them and have bun dles ready for collection Friday afternoon. The following ladies have vol unteered to call for the bundles if they are notified: Mesdames O. H. Cox and E. A. Harper at the village; W. P. Lloyd. Jack Read, Leon Rose, A. R. Modlin, G. R. Leggett, J .B. Willoughby and W. H. Paramore. Seriously Hurl in Accident Tuesday -9 Reports today from the bedside of John Spruill in a Rocky Mount hos pital indicated that the young white man was still in a serious condition as a result of injuries received while at work at the Plymouth Box and Panel Company here Tuesday morn ing. There were no witnesses to the ac cident, and as Mr. Spruill had not regained consciousness yesterday, it was impossible to learn details of the accident. When he was found in an unconscious condition by fellow workmen he had an abrasion on his nose and a bump on the back of the head: an internal hemorrhage being responsible for the serious nature of his injuries, according to physicians. Although no one saw the accident, it was believed he started to drive a nail, which glanced and struck him on the nose, causing him to jerk his head backward and strike some ob ject with such force that he was knocked unconscious. Mr. Spruill is a married man, but has no children. Final Dates to File Applications Under AAA Plans Listed No Payments To Be Made Unless Instructions Are Followed Closely It was learned this week from Stu art Blow, in the office of County Agent W. V Hays, that notice has been given to the county office of the final dates for filing applications un der the various programs of the Agri cultural Adjustment Administration. These final, dates were listed as fol lows: 1937 cotton price adjustment orig inal application, November 30; sup plemental application, December 31. or within 30 days of receipt of check bv producer. 1938 agricultural conservation: sup plemental application. November 30, or within 30 days of receipt of check by the producer. 1939 agricultural conservation: orig inal application. March 30, 1940: sup plemental, April 30, 1940, or within 30 days of receipt of check by the producer. 1939 cotton price adjustment: orig inal application. January 31, 1940: supplemental application, February 29, 1940, or within 30 days of receipt of check by the producer. Mr. Blow said no supplemental or original applications for any program iconservation or price adjustment) may be approved if filed in the coun ty office after the applicable date set forth above, except in the case of supplemental applications where (1) an incorrect division of the payment was made: (2) a refund to the gov ernment is involved: (3) the appli cant did not sign the original ap plication. There are still a few 1939 cotton price adjustment applications un signed. All producers eligible for this payment who have not signed an ap plication should come to the county office at once and do so unless they have been given notice that some change in the allotment was neces sary before their application could be executed. As yet. no 1939 agricultural con servation applications are ready for signing, but it is hoped that at least part of these will be available to the farmers by the first of next month. -* Student Council Formed At Creswell High School Creswell.—The Creswell High School student council was recently organized as an advisory body for the purpose of bringing about a better spirit of cooperation and understand ing among the students, faculty and parents. It also hopes to help the faculty preserve the school equip ment and beautify the building and grounds. The student council is composed of the following class officers: Roxie Furlough, of the senior class, presi dent: Billy Wells Bateman, of the junior class, vice president; Iris Spruill and Carol Van Davenport, of the sophomore class, in charge of public relations. Other members are Clarence Barber, Marjorie Bateman, Heber Alligood, Bootsie Patrick, John Stillman. Robert Bateman, and Lydi eth Halsey. Holder ol First Number Drawn Absent Wednesday, So First Prize in Drawing Here Next Week Will Be Thirty Dollars Gel Instructions for Handling Tobacco Program Next Year -9 County Agent and Commit teemen Attend Meeting In Williamston -® County agent W. V. Hays and the county committeemen of Washington County attended the meeting held in Williamston Tuesday, when farm agents and committeemen of this sec tion received instructions for admin istering the tobacco program for the coming year. Will Rogers, representative of the State College Extension Service, in structed the local officials as to the manner of handling and determining allotments. Community committeemen will be asked to report shortly so that work can get underway on the allotments, and it is understood in the case of this county that some work has al ready been done on them. Attending the meeting from here, in addition to Mr Hays, fcere Stuart Blow, chief clerk in the county agent’s office; Roy L. Stillman, of Roper, county committee chairman; C. W. Bowen, of Plymouth, vice chairman: and W. D. Phelps, president of the Farm Bureau and third member of the committee. Large Crowd Sees Three Other Winners Get Total Of $20 This Week 1,150 People Attend -» No taker came forward to claim the $20 offered for the first number called at the drawing Wednesday con ducted by the Plymouth Merchants Association, and so the accumulative first prize will be $30 at next Wed nesday’s drawing. But the little colored boy did bet ter on the next three trials, as he drew a winner from the box each time. Miss Mary Askew, of the Long Acre section, with a ticket from Abe Adler's store, claimed the $10 prize. S. A. Ward, with a ticket from Camp bell’s Store, got the first $5 prize and Mrs. Claudia Read, with a ticket from Williford's, claimed the second $5 for Mrs. A. R. Dupree, sr., who owned the ticket. Officials of the merchants’ associa tion who conducted the drawing also held a drawingg for the ham raffled off by the Junior Woman's Club, with O. H. Cox the winner. Observers believed the crowd here Wednesday was the largest to assem ble so far for the mid-week event, with an estimated 1,150 in attend ance. It was announced the Plymouth High School Band will be unable to play for future drawings, as they will be otherwise engaged at the time. ASk for Tickets With Each $1.00 Purchase When Buying in Plymouth and Attend Weekly Drawings