Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / Feb. 29, 1940, edition 1 / Page 1
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The Roanoke Beacon + + ++ + + and Washington Countv News ★★★★★★★ VOLUME LI NUMBER 9 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, February 29, 1940 Advertisers will find Beacon and News Columns a latchkey to 1,500 Washington County homes. ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics Mrs. Laura S. Johnston will pre sent a group of her piano pupils in an all-Mozart recital and Colonial Playlet, entitled "A Consort of Musick at Dame Percy's School." next Wed nesday evening. March 6. at 7:30. at the regular meeting of the parent teacher association in the Plymouth High School auditorium 'lr. and Mrs. W. W. Browning re Saturday from a ten-day trip ^fclngton. I). C . and Baltimore. Browning attended a con Brotherhood of Mainte *y Employees in Washing ^ visiting their daugli _„ nl. Lewis, in Baltimore. Fifty Masons attended an oy ster roast down by the water tank h«re Wednesday night, when the master. E. If. Liverman. and war dens, L. A. Larkin and Linwood Knowles, provided the members of Perseverance Lodge and visit ing Masons an “eating good time.” Silas Lucas, prosecuting attorney of the Wilson County Recorder's Court, said while here this week that though this was his first visit to Plymouth already he liked the town fine. Dan R. Satterthwaite, new sales man for the Plymouth Motor Com pany, was in Norfolk the early part of the week at the Ford assembly plant, where he attended a three-day train ing course for Ford salesmen. Sick far several weeks, Superior Court Clerk C. V. W. Ausbon was down the street here Saturday, and on Monday morning he went to his office in the courthouse. He has ap parently fully recovered from his re cent foot trouble. A total of 8,325 children in the public schools of Washington, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell and Curri tuck Counties were examined by physicians or health nurses from the district health office in Plym outh during 1938, according to District Health Officer S. V. Lewis. John W. Barcram, an itinerant Episcopal minister, who terms him self a missionary, was here this week conducting religious services in the jail and at the prison camp near Creswell. The training given sailors in the U. S. Navy was strikingly illustrated here the other day by the manner in which Hickman Jackson, son of Charlie Jackson, snapped to atten tion when a United States flag passed by him. Young Jackson is visiting relatives here while on leave from the Navy. Two Young Colored Boys Arrested for Store Robbery -® Sheriff J. K. Reid, assisted by Chief of Police P. W. Brown, Thursday morning arrested Ufather Gibson and George Jackson, jr„ two colored boys, charging them with forcing an en tarnce into the store of J. C. Tarken ton at Pleasant Grove last night and stealing cigarettes, cheese, canned goods and other merchandise valued at less than $10. Bloodhounds were carried to the scene, but were of no benefit, as Sheriff Reid and Chief Brown arrest ed the youths as a result of their investigations. Baptist Revival To Begin Next Week -$ By Rev. P. B. NICKENS Next Wednesday night, March 6, at 7:30 o'clock, our annual revival will begin. This year we are looking for ward to a meeting which will bring all of us closer to God. We know that we have a man who is capable of leading us in this meeting, and we feel sure that not only our church, but the entire town will be blessed by his coming. He is Dr. J. L. White. jr„ pastor of the Blackwell Memorial Church in Elizabetli City. We invite you out to meet and hear him. Many of our religious leaders to day believe that there is a breeze stirring in the mulberry trees, a breeze which seems to say that the people of our nation are finding their way back to church. The pastor—and every member of the church—cordially invite you to attend these services. Pray for the services, attend the service and be blessed by the services. Three-Day Cocking School Here This Week Said Success in Every Respect From the standpoint of enthus iasm. attendance, cooperation and profit, the cooking school conducted here Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, un- I der the auspices of the mission ary society of the Methodist church, was declared a success today by Mrs. E. A. Harper, the chaimtan of the committee in charge of the event. Over 500 persons attended the three ses sions. Miss Phyllis Owens, home econ omist for the Virginia Electric & Power Company, conducted the demonstrations, and her work was declared to be the outstanding feature of the school. Well pleased with the cooper ation of the merchants, the pow er company and her co-workers, Mrs. Harper today expressed her appreciation and the thanks of the society to all who helped in any way to make the event a suc cess. Winners of some of the larger of the 300 gifts were Mrs. C. V. W. Ausbon. floor lamp; Mrs. O. H. Cox, blanket; Mrs. C. C. Hardi son, crystal dish inlaid with sil ver; Mrs. L. S. Thompson. $2.50 book of theatre tickets; Mrs. Ed die Getsinger, mirror; and Miss Emily K. Waters, S5 service job at filling station. Lang To Contract for 300 Acres Cucumbers FIRST CANDIDATE | / v. W. M. Darden, seeking the Dem ocratic nomination to succeed himself as Representative to the General Assembly, by his an nouncement this week, became the first candidate in the county for any office. Fire ai Boathouse Here Tuesday Does Extensive Damage Dr. Lewis’ Cruiser and Fork And Hoe Company Tug Near Total Loss -$ Fire of undetermined origin which spread rapidly destroyed a boathouse, damaged four boats and burned tim ber supplies at the plant of the American Fork & Hoe Company here Tuesday at noon, causing a loss esti mated by Miss Ethel Arps, thf man ager, at several thousand dollars. The boathouse was a complete loss. The company-owned tugboat, “Annie Lee,” and a cabin cruiser owned by Dr. S. V. Lewis, district health offi cer, were almost totally destroyed. Two smaller outboard motor boats, one owned by the company and the other by Dr. Lewis, were also dam aged by the flames. Supplies of the timber department of the plant stored in the boathouse, including two outboard motors, axes, ropes, lanterns and extra bedding for the tug, were also damaged. The loss was partially covered by insurance, according to Miss Arps, who declined to make an estimate of the amount of damage to the indi vidual items, pending a visit of in surance adjusters. Workmen had set a grass fire on the premises of the company Tuesday morning, but Miss Arps said this fire had been kept under control and the origin of the boathouse fire is not known. The same boathouse was damaged by fire in 1934 when the engine of a boat anchored in it exploded. Explanation of Election Law Changes To Be Made Officials at Edenton Meet An explanation of the chases made in the election laws by the 1939 General Assembly will be made at a meeting of election of ficials from several counties in Edcnton on Saturday, March 30, with members of the Washington County Board of Elections ex pected to attend. _The appoint ment of county boards of elec tions will be made by the State Board of Elections at a meeting on March 16 for this purpose, p. W. Brinkley and J. W. Mar row, sr., have been recommended for appointments to membership on the board by the county Dem ocratic executive committee, and it is expeceted they, with a Re publican member to be recom mended by the county Republi can executive committee, will be named to comprise the Washing ton County Board of Elections. These changes include that of the elimination of absentee vot ing in primary elections and the elimination of markers except for relatives of the voters wish ing assistance and the assistance rendered to illiterates registered prior to 1908 under the “Grand father clause.” It is also understood that se parate registration books for each political party will be re quired for the first time in the comng primary elections. Each county in the State may deter mine whether it wants a new re gistration or the listing of voters into separate books. After the State board appoints the county boards of elections on March 16, the local board will organize and decide whether there will be a new registration or relisting for this county at the March 30 meeting to be held In Edenton. Planl Official Says Unit Here Will Be Operated This Year P. H. Roberts, Jr., Will Re turn To Be in Charge Of Local Operations Though carrying over about 11,000 bushels of cucumbers which they contracted for during 1939, C. C. Lang & Son. Inc., Baltimore pickle manufacturers, today announced that they would enter into contract with farmers in Washington County for about 300 acres again this com ing Spring, P. H. Roberts, Jr., manager of the local plant who resigned to accept a position with a pickle firm in Cam bridge, Mass., has been reemployed to take charge of the local Lang plant and will return to Plymouth for du ty by the week-end. Mr, Roberts an nounced when he left Plymouth two weeks ago that the local plant would not be operated this year, but de velopments since that time have caus ed the Lang concern to reconsider. Talking with a number of growers here last week were George H. Mveys, general plant manager; P. H. Rob erts, Sr., manager of the Washington, N. C.. plant; Lyman Roberts, asso ciated with his father and W. A. Res pass, of the Lang pepper receiving plant at Wilkerson station in Beau fort county. The contracts are ready for the farmers to sign, and Mr. Roberts who has been manager of the plant since it began operating here about five years ago, will return to attend to the bsuiness connected with the growth and handling of the cucum bers as well as processing them. He is expected to be here by Saturday of this week. Other cucumber buyers encroach ing on the territory, the excellent quality of cucumberes produced here, as well .as the general interest of the fa-mers and others in the local plant, were given as reasons why the Lang company decided to have an acreage here this Spring. It was announced a minimum of 200 acres would be re quired to insure operation of the plant. Republicans Meet Here Next Week -<$> Republicans are urged by J. C. Tar kenton, of Pleasant Grove, chairman of the county Republican executive committee, to attend the Republican county convention to be held at the courthouse here next Wednesday, March 6. at 2 p. m. Delegates to the state convention at Charoltte on April 15 will be elect ed, as well as delegates to the con gressional district convention at Eliz abeth City or Washington at a date to be announced later. Delegates to the national convention at Philadel phia and a candidate for Congress will be elected at the congressional district convention. Such other business as may come before the county convention will be transacted at the meeting here next week, but Republican candidates for county offices will not be nominated at that time. Car Damaged in Accident Sunday The automobile of George W. Harrison was damaged to the extent of about $250 Sunday morning when it turned over on highway No. 64 in front of A. J. Riddle's farm, although he and his brother, little Bobby Har rison, the only occupants of the ma chine, escaped injury'. Mr. Harrison said that he saw a negro driving a car approaching, and that the negro apparently tried to stick his head out of the window for some purpose, when the door came open. Afraid, that his car would hit the open door Mr Harrison said he drove his car off the concrete on the i shoulders. While trying to get back i on the wet slippery pavement, the ■ machine turned over. i Henry S. Midgett Dies at Home Here After Short Illness Died Sunday Night; Final Rites Held Tuesday Afternoon Funeral services were held at his lome on Washington Street Tues iay afternoon for Henry Shelton Midgett. 47 years of age, who died at 1:20 Sunday of heart trouble after a week's confinement to his bed. Interment took place in the Meth Ddist church cemetery, with several hundred persons attending the last rites. The services were conducted by the Rev. O. L. Hardwick, pastor of the Methodist church, assisted by the Rev. P. B. Nickens. of the Bap tist church. Hundreds of floral de signs contributed by his friends from all walks of life were banked over the grave. A filling station operator here for the past several years, after leaving his trade as an automobile mechanic, Mr. Midgett was best known for his wit and good humor, which added to the success of his business In his younger days he was a professional baseball player, and he had been a member of teams in many towns in this section of the state. He was a charter member of the James E. Jethro Post of the American Legion. Surviving is his widow, Mrs. Blanch Gilbert Midgett, and one daughter, Miss Katherine Morgan Midgett, both of Plymouth. He also leaves two sis ters, Mrs. W. R. White and Mrs. Har ry Stell, the latter wife of the former representative from Washington County to the General Assembly. Fire Siren Control May Be Located at Police Office Here Proposal To Be Given Con sideration At Next Meeting of Council -<s> Consideration will be given by the Town of Plymouth Council at its next meeting to a suggestion made by Chief of Police P. W. Brown that connec tions with the fire alarm siren be in stalled at the police department headquarters,. “In this way,” explained the chief, “there will always be someone to answer fire alarm calls can be tran sferred to the police department for night duty to receive calls for both fire and police work,” Under this plan, there would be no additional expense to the town, as the same person who now answers the telephone and looks after the fire department at night could be used and cooperate with the police depart ment. Chief Brown also pointed out that this would give the two night patrol men, George R. Coburn and Paul Basnight more time to devote to pa trolling their beats, increasing pro tection to the stores and buildings here. It is proposed by Chief Brown that the fire alarm siren either be moved to the top of the market building or that connections be made at police station with the present location of the sirene, so that in whichever place the night man may be he can instant ly give the fire alarms. Mayor B. G. Campbell said that the proposition would be discussed by the council. Sinclair Service Station Here Robbed Monday Thieves forced an entrance through a rear window into the Sinclair Serv ice Station on Third Street Monday night, escaping with loot valued at ;lose to $75. Officers investigating the case have nave held several suspects for ques ioning, but so far they have been jnable to solve the robbery. The robbers smashed a window Dane and raised the window in an mteroom that led into the front of he service station, where they se ured about $10 in cash, 10 quarts of )il, two slot machines and several ;artons of cigarettes. Glee Club Sings At Lions Meeting The Glee Club of the Plymouth High School, under the direction of Miss Clara Louise Jones, public school-music teacher, made a big hit it the Lions Club meeting last Thurs lay night, when the group present :d a program of music. Accompanied on the piano by Mrs. L,aura S. Johnston, Misses Katherine Midgett and Lorraine Jackson sang solis that added greatly to the en ertainment program of three num jers sung by the choral group. The Lions agreed to increase their ictivities in selling Town of Plym >uth auto license tage, the proceeds )f which will go to the Plymouth High School band. So far 78 of the >50 tags have been sold with Chief )f Police P. W. Brown leading A committee appointed by Presi ient Zeb Vance Norman some time igo was asked to meet again and de mise ways and means to sell the re naming 172 tag?. Local Scout Troop Lets Deed tor Camp Site Near Plymouth Land Is Donated by Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Groves and R. J. Sydenstricker A deed was executed this week by R. J. Sydenstricker, of Plymouth, and Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Groves, of Elkins, W. Va.. conveying to Dr. Alban Pap meau, Zeb Vance Norman and Carl L. Bailey, as trustees of Plymouth Troop No. 84. Boy Scouts of Ameri ca, three-fourths of an acre of land on Welches Creek near here for a scout camp. A survey, made free of charge by D. Julian Brinkley, registered sur veyor, shows that tne plot is bounded on the north by the right of way of the power line of the Virginia Elec u'ict and Power Company; on the east by Welches Creek; and on the south and west by land owned by Sydenstricker and Groves. A paragraph of the deed reads as follows: "In the event of dissolution of the Plymouth troop or the revoca tion or lapse of its charter, the said trustees, will, after satisfying any claims against such scout troop to which such real estate may be sub ject, convey said property, or if sold, pay the net proceeds of the sale, to the Boy Scouts of America, which shall hold or use said funds for the benefit of scouting in such locality or elsewhere, if, after the lapse of two years there is not a suitable op portunity to use said property or funds in such locality.” Mr. Groves, a former resident, wrote W. Blount Rodman, who has been attending to the legal transfer of the property that “it gives Mrs. Groves and myself much pleasure to join Mr. Sydenstricker in executing this deed so it will become the home of the Plymouth Boy Scouts.” Rerouting Proposal Discussed at Meet The proposal to reroute U. S. High way No. 17 by Plymouth and the Al oemarle Sound bridge was discussed again last Tuesday night in Belhaven, where W. L. Whitley and John W. Darden attended a meeting of the Rotary Club. Mr. Whitley made a talk to the group on the rerouting of the Coastal highway so it would come through Plymouth, leaving out Williamston, Windsor and Edenton, and his brief address excited comment from those present. Mr. Darden talked to the group on the all-weather road proposed for the Turnpike, now a part of state high way No. 99. The Belhaven Rotarians are sponsoring a movement to secure improvement of this road. Mr. Dar den expressed regret that this road was not included in the program of the Greater Albemarle Association, and W. O. Saunders, secretary of that organization, who was also present, invited Mr. Darden to meet with the executive committee in Columbia on March 12, where he would be given an opportunity to secure endorsement of this project. Mr. Saunders and others were as sured there would be no underhanded effort made to get No. 17 rerouted, and interests who oppose it will be notified when the matter is brought to the attention of state and federal highway officials. McKinney Fined $10 and Court Cost A fine of y$10 and costs was as sessed against Porter McKinney, 29, white, in recorder’s court Tuesday on a charge of assaulting a colored girl, with a plea of guilty being entered to freightening the girl” by McKinney’s counsel, W. L. Whitley. This action brought to a close the case against McKiney, which started off with his trial on a charge of at tempted assault with intention to commit rape, the count being reduced to assault on a female following a habeas corpus hearing before a state supreme court justice. Lafayette Cabarrus, 27. colored, was sent to the county farm for 30 days after he was found guilty of being a nuisance by being drunk A nol pros was entered in the case of James Hedgebeth. 35, colored, charged with assaulting his wife. His wife refused to testify against him when the case was called for trial. Special Service Sunday at Roper Methodist Church A special service will be held at the Roper Methodist Church Sunday night at 6:30 for the purpose of re organizing and electing officers of the young people’s organ izatoin it was announced today by the Rev M R Gardner, pastor. This service will be held each Sun day evening at the same t.m and it is open for all young peopl between the ages of 12 and 23 year- said the Rev. Mr. Gardner, who urges all young folk of the community :o be present at the organization meeting Sunday night. The regular preaching service will be held at 7:30, with the Rev. Mr. Gardner filling the pulpit. $10,000 Damage in Freight Train Wreck N ear Here Last Night Church Collection! Includes Bum Coin { Whether it came from an of ficial, a plain member, or a visi tor Treasurer B. G. Campbell, of the .Methodist church, did not know, but one thing he did know, to his rhagrin, was that someone put a counterfeit quarter in the collection plate Sunday. The spurious coin was discov ered by Bank Teller W. T. Still man, who heard the false ring of the “bum" quarter when it was dumped on the counter for de posit, along with the remainder of Sunday's collection, and so he got out his pocket knife and be gan to whittle away the coin. Mr. Campbell laughed as the teller whittled away and then went back to his record books and entered the total for Sun day's collections as 25 cents less. Darden Announces He Will Again Be Candidate for House First To Announce Candi dacy for County Office In May Primary Breaking the political ice this week was Wilbur M. Darden, who an nounced this morning that he would be a candidate in the May 25 Dem ocratic primary for nomination to succeed himself as Representative of Washington County in the General Assembly. With only the offices of county commissioners, treasurer, judge of re corder’s court, and representative to be balloted on this year, interest has been at low ebb in local politics, al though the state and national situa tion is beginning to attract attention. A freshman in the house last year, Mr. Darden was very active in affairs affecting Washington Coun ty and had several local laws passed by request of various interests in the county. He did not prepare a state ment to accompany his announce ment, but did say he would serve the county to the best of his ability as he did at the last session, when he gained a measure of recognition for his earnest efforts in promoting the general welfare of the county. Methodist Ihurch Buys New Organ Officials of the Plymouth Methodist church Monday night signed a con tract for the purchase of a new $3,000 seven-stop Moeller electric pipe or gan to replace the present instru ment which has been in the church for years. The handsome new musical instru ment is to be installed in the church here within the next 60 days, and officials believe it will be ready for use by May 1. The new organ will require only a few alterations to the interior of the church. The new instrument was purchased through an agreement that called for a trade-in of the present pipe organ, in use for many years, officials of the local church deciding it would be bet ter to trade the old organ on a new one rather than pay for expensive re pairs. Shep Brinkley is organist at the church, and the choir there is recog nized as one of the best throughout this section. The musical programs rendered are considered one of the outstanding features of the services, and officials believe the new organ will serve to increase interest and at- | tendance in all church activities. No One Hurt, But 13 Cars and 300 Yards Of Track Damaged Broken Axle on Car Cause; Four Cars Completely Demolished Damages estimated at close to $10, 000 were caused last night about 11:45 when 13 cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train were wrecked on the H. A. Williford farm about two miles from Plymouth. A broken axle under a car of asphalt caused the cars to be derailed and 12 of them turned over, over half being piled together in a large heap. Two of the cars were filled with potatoes, 6 with fer tilizer, 1 with asphalt and 4 with gen eral merchandise. They were a part of the train operating between Nor folk and Raleigh, with Conductor J. R. Singleton in charge. J. S. Cox, of Raleigh, assistant gen eral superintendent, and F. S. Cow an, of the claim department, arrived here at 7:30 this morning to view the wreck. The caboose and about 10 cars were left standing upright on the track. The engine also remained on the track, and after the accident, the train crew came on into Plym outh on it to report the wreck. The tracks was tom up for about 300 feet. At this point, the track is laid with 90-pound iron, well bal lasted, and the roadbed compares favorably with that of larger rail roads of the country, according to Mr. Cox. who added that most of the wrecks occurring nowadays are the result of defective mechanism on the cars, as the tracks and roadbeds are all in good condition. In addition to the damage done to the track, it was reported by Mr. Cox that about four of the cars were de stroyed beyond repair. He said there would be no great loss of the cargo, as most of the contents of the wreck ed cars could be salvaged. Railroad wrecking crews from Nor folk and Raleigh were busy today clearing away the wreckage and re pairing the rails. Mr. Cox sadi that passenger, mail and express on the noon passenger trains today would be transferred from one train to the other at the scene of the wreck and this part of the service would not be delayed to any great extent. It was thought the wreckage would be clear ed away and regular service resumed by 8 o’clock tonight. None of the train crew was in jured when the cars wrecked, but it was unofficially reported that a sec tion master’s handcar ran into the wreckage in the dark when approach ing the scene last night. High School Play Tomorrow Night It was announced this week by Principal R. B. Trotman that al though it had been necessary to make a change in the cast, “The Belle of Barcelona,” high school play, will be presented as scheduled tomorrow night at 8 o’clock In the school audi torium, with advance reports indi cating this to be one of the most ambitious theatrical efforts ever at tempted by local students. Plenty of entertainment is prom ised by the cast, which includes Prank Winesett, Becky Ward, Mary Char lotte Jones, Lorraine Jackson, Mary Lillian Campbell, Peggy Brown, Jack Owens, Jimmy Hays, Brinson Cox, Douglas Gurkin, Stuart Nestor, and a full chorus of beautiful girls. Immediately after the three-act musical comedy, a dance will be giv en in the high school gymnasium free to those who purchased tickets to the play. Others not attending the show will charged a small admission for the dance. Contrary to previous announcement, the Phil-O-Harry or chestra will not play for the dance, but Principal R. B. Trotman has ar ranged for plenty of music. Local Legionnaires Give $50 lo Finns And Hope They Use Ii To Buy Arms Fighting men of the first World War from this county last week expressed their sentiments to ward the Russian invasion of Fin-^ land by agreeing to donate $50 to the courageous Finns. The action was taken at a meeting of the American Legion at Hoyt’s Cafe, near Creswell. where the former service men enjoyed an oyster roast. The meeting was attended by 36 of the 60 members of the James E. Jethro Post. No set pro gram was prepared for the oc casion, but the talk among the “buddies” drifted to the topic of war, as it usually does at their meetings, and they decided to ex press their admiration for the courageous battle the Finns have been putting up in a practical manner. The donation was turned over to Zeb Vance Norman, county chairman of the Finnish Relief Fund, and was the first sizeable contribution he had received since he was appointed to head the work in this county. The Legion naires attached no strings to their donation, stating that it could be used either for relief work or for the purchase of munitions, as the Finns saw fit. The Finnish Re lief Fund, it is understood, is be ing used only for non-belligerant purposes, and it is probable the Legion donation will be turned in to the Fightings Funds for Finland organization, which is raising money for the purchase of war materials for the Finns.
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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Feb. 29, 1940, edition 1
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