North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon * 4 * * * * * and Washington County News ******* „ i, i —■ — l —- • - . ‘ ■ ^ 1 * . v .so- . i for Victory,«« Buy UNITED STATES DEFENSE B0ND8 * STAMPS VOLUME LIII—NUMBER 48 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, November 26, 1942 ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics Thanksgiving services are being held at the local Methodist church this morning at 10:30 a. m., by the pastor, the Rev. O. L. Hardwick. The public is invited to attend. A party of hunters from the west ern part of the state killed a bear which weighed 425 pounds in the Newlands section near Lake Phelps Monday of last week. Incidentally the bear was run up a bee tree by the dogs before it was killed, and several of the hunters were stung after they shot the bear out. The weekly meeting of the Lions Club tonight was called off on account of the Thanks giving Day holiday, it was an nounced yesterday by officers. The next regular meeting will be held Thursday, December 3rd. Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Harrell and children are spending the Thanks giving holidays in the western part of the state with Mr. Harrell’s brothers at Marion and Newton. They left last Sunday and are expected to re turn next Sunday night. The local Masonic lodge, Persever ance No. 59, will have its annual Past Masters’ Banquet and Ladies’ Night program Tuesday of next week, December 1, it was announced by of ficials this week. Those who plan to attend are urged to make their res ervations by Saturday. Ed Pearson, employee of the North Carolina Pulp Company was taken to a Rocky Mount hospital last week end and is reported to be in a seri ous condition as the result of an in ternal hemorrhage. He was severe ly burned in an accident at the plant a month or more ago, but it is not known whether or not that had any thing to do with his present illness. High school students here at tended a special pre-Thanksgiv ing service at Grace Episcopal church Wednesday morning at the invitation of the rector, Rev. William B. Daniels. At the same time local elementary school pu pils were addressed in the audi torium of the high school build ing by the Rev. O. L. Hardwick, pastor of the Methodist church. Pfc. Harry M. Chesson, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Chesson, of Roper, has returned to Tyndale Field, Pana ma City, Fla., after spending 10 days with his parents. He is a member of a military police detachment at the Florida field. Irvin H. Respess left Monday to be gin his service with the United States Nav»I ‘Reserve. II# T.'ont to Raleigh, from where he expected to be sent to Davisville, R. I., for a course in construction work. Mrs. Respess has returned to her former home in Robersonville, where she will live while her husband is in the service. W. A. Roebuck, who expects to en ter the Army early in December, has resigned as secretary to the Wash ington County Rationing Board, ef fective December 1, and advises per sons writing to the board not to ad dress their letters to him as in the past. It is requested that mail be addressed to the board and not to the individual members or employees. Eastern Union To Meet Saturday and Sunday -- Elder S. Gray, of Kinston, will be in charge of the Eastern Union, which will convene with the church at Bethlehem, near Columbia, Sat urday of this week, with services to continue through Sunday afternoon. The opening service will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday, and dinner will be served on the grounds Sunday. The public is cordially invited to at tend. Among the Primitive Baptist min isters expected to be present and take part in the services are Elder J. A. Bodwell, of Columbia; Elder A. B. Ayers, of Bear Grass; and Elder W. E. Hines, of Raleigh. -® Mrs. Sabra Reid Takes Up Work With Ration Board -s Mrs. Sabra Reid this week entered upon her duties as executive secre tary to the Washington County Ra tioning Board. She succeeds W. A. Roebuck, who has served since the board was established and who ex pects to leave for service in the Army early in December. Mr. Roebuck is also working this week, explaining the details of the office to Mrs. Reid. Mrs. Thurlow Spruill also has been employed as a clerk in the office of the rationing board, bringing the staff to three, Miss Mary Louise Lil ley having been engaged in the work for several months. County More Than Doubled Its Bond Quota Last Month Washington County War Bond sales in the month of October were more than double the quota assigned, according to a detailed report made Monday to the state administrator. The county quo ta for the month was $16,500k while total sales were $33,875, Mr. Beam reported. There are four outlets for bond sales in county, the post offices at Plymouth, Creswell and Rop er, and the bank at Plymouth. The bank here led the volume with sales amounting to $15,525; next came the Plymouth post of fice, with $13,925; Roper post office was third, with $3,100; and Creswell post office, $1,325. The county quota for the month of November is nearly double that for October, having been raised from $16,500 to $28, 000. Sales were off to a slow start early in the month, but picked up sharply last week, and it is expected that the women’s organizations, which are con ducting special campaigns this week, will play a large part in putting the county “over the top’’ again this month. Washington County has failed but once to meet its monthly quota this year. That was in July and the sales in the month following more than made up the quotas for the two months. No Rations Yet for Users of Kerosene The rationing board here still has not received the ration books to be issued to users of kerosene for lighting and cooking pur poses, and as a result a number of people were inconvenienced early this week. However, mat ters were straightened out when authority was received from Ra leigh for retailers to continue their sales of kerosene upon promise of the consumers to sur render coupons when they re ceive their books. Ration books for fuel oil for heating purposes, as well as those for lighting and cooking, are expected daily by the board, and distribution will be made as rapidly as possible after they are received, it was said this week. Banquet Thursday Marks 150th Year Of Post Office Here -® Employees Local Office Are Hosts To Number of Invited Guests Employees of the local post office entertained a number of invited guests at a barbecue dinner last Thursday night at the community hall, the occasion being in observance of the one hundred and fiftieth year of continuous postal service at Plym outh. Postmaster John W. Darden served as master of ceremonies and presented an interesting historical sketch concerning post offices and mail service in this country from its earliest days. Mr. Darden also presented the guests of the postal workers, includ ing the only two living former post masters here. The first was John L. Phelps, who served as postmaster for about four years between 1903 and 1907; and A. L. Alexander, who was postmaster for 11 years, from 1922 until 1933. Mr. Alexander was also one of the first two rural carriers in the state, since two routs were estab lished in this country as a sort of test shortly after the rural free de livery act was passed in 1902. Both Mr. Alexander and Mr. Phelps ex pressed pleasure at being present and commented on the expansion of the service since they had served as post masters in Plymouth. Other speakers paid tribute to the flee workers here, and there were loyalty and efficiency of the post-of office workers here, and there were numerous references to the increased volume of mail which they are re quired to handle, although the size et the force has remained constant. A post office building for Plymouth was also discussed, and it was stated that this town was next on the list for a building after the war. In his remarks, Mr. Darden point ed out that over 40,000 outgoing Christmas greeting cards were han dled by the post office here in three weeks last wear, in addition to the regular volume of incoming and out going mail. To the regular business of dispatching mails, numerous other duties have been added in recent years, including the sale of War Stamps and Bonds, hunting stamps, automobile tax stamps, excise tax stamps, and various others. As an indication of the size of the business, Mr. Darden said that the local office, (See POST OFFICE, Page 6) County Home Demonstration Clnbs To Hold Fall Meeting in Boper Next Week Washington County Home Demonstration Club women will hold their annual fall federation meeting in the high school build ing at Roper Wednesday after noon of next week, it was an nounced yesterday by Mrs. Fran ces M. Darden, county home agent. The meeting will begin at 2:30 p. m., and it is hoped to have a representation from ev ery club in the county present. The public is also invited to at tend. Reports of club projects and activities will be made by representatives of the clubs, and brief talks will be made by home demonstration leaders. The Rev. B. E. Taylor, pastor of the Plymouth Christian church, will also address the gathering. It is also planned to have a fashion show, presenting both new and renovated clothing, and an in teresting and entertaining pro gram is assured those who at tend. Motorists Required To Sign Gas Tickets By Recent Rulings Effective This Week, Reg ulations Designed to Halt Abuses -<s Effective the first of this week, no gasoline was to be sold to consumers in exchange for ration coupons unless certain notations are written in ink on the back of the coupon, accord ing to instructions received last week by the local rationing board. The notations on the backs of the cou pons are to be made as follows: In the case of A, B, C, D, S-l, or S-2 coupons, the license number and state of registration of the vehicle must be written. In the case of coupons in an inter changeable coupon book issued for flet vehicles, the fleet designation and the state and city or town in which the principal office of the fleet op erator is located. This information may also be stamped in ink. In the case of E and R coupons, the name and address of the person to whom issued, as it appears on the front cover of the book. In the case of bulk coupons, the name and address of the pesron to whom the coupons were issued. Dealers and intermediate distrib utors must write in ink on the re verse side of inventory coupons issued to them the names and addresses of their establishments as shown on their registration certificates. Their suppliers are not permitted to fur nish gasoline to them in exchange for such coupons unless such nota tions appear. Dealers and distributors who have on hand accumulated coupons not bearing the notations required above must furnish these coupons to their suppliers, in preference to other cou pons, before November 26, 1942. Sup pliers must not accept coupons with out the required notations after that date. On and after November 26, and not later than November 30, each dealer and distributor must surrender to his board all coupons in his pos session which do not bear the re quired notations. In the case of a dealer, the board shall issue inven tory coupons in exchange. In the case of a distributor, the board shall issue an exchange certificate. The board must not accept cou pons without the required notations after November 30, and these cou pons will have no value for any pur pose after that date. Through a system, the details of which have not been disclosed, ra tioning authorities will be able to check up on excessive consumption, and in those cases investigations will be ordered. Funeral for Mrs. Sarah E. Spruill -® Creswell.—Funeral services were held in Christ Church Snuday after - non at 4 o’clock, for Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Spruill, 76 years old, who died in Washington, D. C., last Fri day. Mrs. Spruill was a native of Washington County and lived here until about 22 years ago, when she moved to Washington. She was a member of Christ church here for many years, and the final rites were conducted by the Rev. W. B. Gaither, rector. Interment was made in St. Davids cemetery. Mrs. Spruill is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Sadie A. Williams and Mrs. Mary E. Spruill, of Wash ington, D. C.; two sons, Dr. S. A. Alexander and Dr. M. M. Alexander, of Washington, D. C.; and a sister, Mrs. H. H. Phelps, of Raleigh. Pall-bearers were W. D. Peal, R. T. Hopkins, Clyde Smithson, A. C. Har ris, W. L. Davenport, and Claude Brinn. Among those from out of town at tending the funeral were Dr. and Mrs. Sam Alexander, Dr. and Mrs. M. M. Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Spruill and John H. Phelps, of Washington, D. C.; Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Phelps, of Charlotte; Mrs. H. H. Phelps, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Byrd and daughter, of Raleigh; E. D. Phelps, of Winston-Salem; Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Vann and daughter, of Benson; Mrs. Frank Griffin and daughter, of Columbia. War Material Boxes Production Held Up By Shortage of Logs Local Plant Managers Ap peals To Farmers and Loggers To Help Production of war materials by the plant of the Plymouth Box & Panel Company here is being seriously af fected by a shortage of logs, it was lerned this wetK from Eugene F. Still, president and general manager of the company. The plant is pres ently engaged in making shipping cases and boxes for ammunition, truck and jeep parts, clothing and hundreds of other articles needed by the Army and Navy in war zones throughout the world, and the short age of logs here is holding up ship ments of the vital materials. The acute shortage of labor is responsible for the dwindling supply of logs being delivered to the mills here. Mr. Still said that when the plant closed down last Friday there was not a log on the yard; and, while Thanksgiving Day is being observed as a holiday this week, it would not be if sufficient material was on hand to keep operating. Mr. Still pointed out that normal ly the company depended on farm ers and loggers of the section to sup ply approximately 25 per cent of their log requirements. However, due to the shortage of labor, this amount has not been forthcoming. Tire company itself is having to furn ish most of the logs required, and, since it is faced with the same labor shortage as farmers and independent loggers, a serious problem is pre sented. Mr. Still is addressing an appeal to farmers and loggers of the section to supply the firm with as much timber as possible, explaining that, whole prices for logs are high, the main object is help “the boys over there do a quick job.” Gum pine, cypress, maple and sycamore logs are needed, and top prices will be paid for either large or small quan tities. The company will arrange for transportation where the suppliers do not have their own trucks. Mr. Still said that if an individual farm er could supply only one truck load, the company needed and wanted it. -e Twelve Cases Called In Recorder's Courl Here Last Tuesday Infractions of Traffic Laws Again Lead in Number Cases on Docket -® Recorder Edward L. Owens had 12 cases on the docket for the county court Tuesday, of which three were continued, one was dismissed, an other was nol pressed, and seven de fendants were either convicted or entered pleas of guilty. Six defen dants were fined varying amounts from $5 to $40 and costs, while the other one was let off on payment of the costs. W. L. Whitley served as prosecuting attorney in cases that were contested, while the recorder tried the others without benefit of a state’s solicitor. Traffic cases again were the most numerous on the docket, although assault offenses ran them a close second. The full record of proceed ings is as follows: William Garrett, colored, of Plym outh, demanded a jury trial, and was found guilty of simple assault; fined $5 and costs. A nol pros was entered in the case against C. C. Parker, white, of Plym outh, charged with making threats, when the prosecuting witness failed to show up for the trial. Marcus Duncan Dew, white, Plym outh, was fined $5 and costs for operation of a trailer without lights. Durham W. Davis, white, Plym outh, paid a fine of $5 and costs for driving a car without operator’s per mit. Tom Davis, of Plymouth, charged '^TseTcOUNTY^OURTTPage 6?^ -® Certificates to Buy Two Autos Issued -$ Certificates for the purchase of new automobiles were issued by the Washington County Rationing Board last Thursday night to B. A. Sum ner, of Plymouth; and Hoyt Daven port, of Creswell. In addition eight certificates for the purchase and re capping of tires or tubes were issued to eight applicants, as follows: C. E. Ayers, of Plymouth, two new truck tires. Richmond Cedar Works, Roper, one tire and tube for use on mail truck. G. W. Spruill, Roper, three tires, two tubes of obsolete size for pas senger car. N. C. Pulp Company, Plymouth, one tube for log truck. Joseph Patrick, Roper, two tires of obsolete size for passenger car. R. H. Lucas, Plymouth, two new tires for use on milk delivery truck L. C. Tarkenton, Roper, two new tires and three tubes for truck used in lumber operations. Urge Farmers of County to Speed Up Scrap Collection In a telegram to the Beacon Wednesday, Donald M. Nelson, chairman of the War Production Board, calls upon farmers of this section to dedicate the remain ing weeks of 1942 to an intensi fied scrap hunt. It was stated that the nation’s steel mills ur gently need more heavy scrap, and the farms were said to be one of the best sources of this type of scrap. “W'e need your help in this drive,” says Mr. Nelson in his ap peal to farmers. “All salvage committees are being instructed to continue to make available to the farmer all their transporta tion facilities and manpower and to cooperate with them in every way. The nation is looking: to the American farmer. I am sure he will come through.” So far this year, more than a million pounds of scrap iron and steel are estimated to have gone from this county into the produc tion of war materials. This is not enough, and all county farm ers are urged to carefully comb their property for any addition al scrap. With upwards of 500 men in the armed services from the county, dependent upon scrap iron to furnish them the tools of war, local folks can do no less. Block Leaders for Program lo Share Meat Are Named -® Will Have Active Part in Explaining Plan To Housewives -* Mrs. Frances M. Darden, director of the "Share-the-Meat” program in Washington County, this week an nounced that chief block leaders had been appointed for Plymouth, Roper, and Creswell, and other arrange ments made preliminary to launch ing this phase of civilian defense ac tivities within the immediate future. Mrs. Laura Johnston, chief block leader for Plymouth, has already named 20 block leaders to assist her here, and a meeting will be held in the agriculture building at 8 o’clock Friday evening to explain the pro gram. Mrs. E. S. Woodley was appointed chief block leader for Creswell, with Mrs. W. Gaither as assistant; and Mrs. Mary Dixon is chief block lead er in Roper, Mrs. Dixon called a meeting of her block leaders in the Roper community building Wednes day night to plan the program there. Tire block leaders appointed this week will be part of a force of more than 60,000 performing similar tasks throughout the state this week. Ur ban block leaders will have the co operation of a similar organization for rural areas, neighborhood leaders of the county agriculture committee's. The “Share-the-Meat" program is being directed by the Civilian De fense nutrition committee, of which Dr. S. V. Lewis is Washington Coun ty chairman. Visits by block leaders constitute the first big job of the program. Mrs. Darden said that block leaders not only would personally explain the "Share-the-Meat” program to house holders, but would leave with them pamphlets issued by the government suggesting suitable substitutes for meats. The block leaders for Plymouth, appointed by Mrs. Johnston this week, are as follows: Mesdames W. A. Davidson, Zeno Lyon, P. Bruce Bate man, T. L. Bray, Linwood Brown, C. McGowan, Winesett, Jack Swain, Jim Swain, T. W. Earle, Jack Peele, Isoline Jackson, Roy Swain, W. F. Winslow, Lawrence Jones, A. J. Rid dle, Leroy Bateman, and Colon Gur kin. Tbos. E. Dawley Dies in Norfolk Thomas Eugene Dawley, 29, hus band of Mildred Dudley Dawley, for merly of Plymouth, and son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Hilliary Jackson, died at his home in Norfolk, Va., last Fri day afternoon. Mr. Dawley was a life-long resident of Norfolk and was employed as a welder at the Norfolk Navy Yard. Funeral services were conducted at a funeral home in Nor folk Sunday afternoon at 5:30 o’clock, and interment was made in Riverside Memorial Park. In addition to his widow, Mrs. Mil dred Dudley Wawley, and son, Charles Edward Dawley, he is sur vived by his mother, Mrs. Leona Nelson Dawley; two sisters, Mrs. H. T. Harrell and Mrs. H. A. Woodall; three brothers, Claude E., Charles H., and Ernest L. Dawley; and sev eral nieces and nephews. -® Union Services at Creswell Church Thanksgiving Day -@>— Creswell.—A union Thanksgiving service was scheduled at the Cres well Baptist church this morning at 11 a. m. The offering is to be di vided and sent to the orphanages of the three churches sponsoring the service. -<$> Benefit Bridge Party To Be Held Here Next Week - Practically all the grade mothers of the Plymouth High School were present at a meeting in the Legion hall here yesterday, when committees were appointed for a parent-teacher association benefit bridge party, to be held in the hall at 8 p. m„ Friday evening of next week, December 4. Prizes will be awarded to winners, and the public is invited to attend. The proceeds will be used for im provements at the local school. 45 Lett Tuesday For Army Tests Forty-five white men left Plym outh Tuesday morning for exam ination and possible induction into the army at Fort Bragg. Up to late Wednesday afternoon no information had been received here as to the number accepted from the latest group to leave. Three other men who had been ordered to report for the trip to Fort Bragg enlisted in the Navy Monday. They were Joseph Ed gar Oliver, George Whitfield Lewis, and Joseph George Nowa rah, jr„ all of Roper. The Washington County board now has on hand three calls. The first is for 75 white men to leave Tuesday, December 8; 50 colored men are to be called for Monday, December 21; and 50 more colored will leave Friday, January 8. No call has been received for the January white quota. Principal Requests Parents To Check And Sign Reports Will Be Issued for Second Six-Week Period Next Wednesday Report cards for all Plymouth school pupils will be Issued next Wednesday, December 2, for the sec ond six-week period of the current term, Principal R. B. Trotman said yesterday. Local school officials urge all parents to demand to see the re port cards every six weeks, since they show each child’s scholastic rating and the teacher’s opinion as to the cause for any unsatisfactory work. The principal was emphatic In stat ing that many students had not shown their reports to their parents in the past, and he insists that par ents check the cards and sign them in the future. The periodic reports are made by the teachers for the parents’ bene fit, and they urge parents to discuss the reports with their children, then confer with the teachers for the im provement of their children’s work where needed. Unless parents use the reports, it is a waste of the teachers’ time to compile them. Mr. Trotman said yesterday that "Reports for the first six weeks showed that many high school pu pils were below standard scholasti cally ; such deficiencies being due very largely to lack of preparation and irregular attendance at school. It is known that many reports are re turned to school without having been shown to parents. If you want your child to receive periodic reports, please use them, sign and return to your child's teacher. “We feel that parents will notice a great improvement in their chil dren’s progress if they will inform themselves concerning the school work and then encourage proper study habits and regular attendance. The present state of affairs is not one which requires passive accept ance, but rather definite action. Now, as never before, children must be prepared for the duties before them. This preparation is the duty of the home and the school.’’ Local Draft Board Session Was Little Shorter This Week -$ Temporary Postponements Of Induction Granted 12 Registrants The Washington County Draft Board got away from its meeting Tuesday night of this week 'early,” in comparison with other meetings held recently. The board finished its work about midnight, whereas sessions in preceding weeks had us ually lasted until 1:30 a. m., and later. A good many requests for de ferments and reclassification were heard, but only 12 were granted, all of them for occupational reasons. Several other requests were turned down by the board members. The following were reclassified as 2-A and induction deferred until the January call: Louis W. Zeigler, Dar rell L. Hopkins. Sylvester Lilley, Co lon L. Gurkin, Henry C. Gurganus, James Garland Jackson, Guy Lee Harrison, and James Ellis Swain, all of Plymouth. Henry Ellis Newberry, formerly of Plymouth, was classified as 2-B and given deferment for four months, with the folowing classified as 2-B and deferred for six months: Char lie Clarence Sawyer, of Plymouth; Eric Lowell Spruill, of Creswell; and Thomas Dewey Basnight, of Mack eys. It was announced that new in struction on the "C" classification for farmers had been received, but re classification in this category is not expected to take place until January, when a meeting of the board will be held to reconsider the status of all farmer-registrants in the county. Under the terms of the new rulings, farmers who are regularly engaged in the production of a selected list of crops considered essential to the war effort will be divided into two classes: 2-C if without dependents, and 3-C if they have dependents. However, emphasis is laid on the fact that they must be producers of the crops con sidered “essential.” The board here also has received instructions to take necessary steps to begin induction of the 18 and 18 year olds. Questionnaires already have been sent out and their, clas sification and orders for physical ax I amination are expected to follow im mediately. » Den Mothers for Cubs Are Named <$> The Cub movement in Plymouth assumed definite shape this week with the establishment of three dens and appointment of den mothefls by the Cubmaster, the Rev. W. B. Dan iels, jr. Acting on information gath ered from a meeting of prospective cubs last Saturday morning, it was decided to organize dens in three different neighborhoods. Mrs. R. W. Martin, East Main Street, was appointed den mother for the group in the eastern part of the town; Mrs. Guy Watson, Brinkley Avenue, was appointed den mother for that neighborhood; and Mrs. Ed win F. Bagans was selected as den mother for the village section. Although it is possible for each den to have as many as eight cubs, the three dens now in process of organi zation will begin with four or five boys in each group. It is thought likely that these dens will soon en roll the maximum number of cubs, and other dens will be organized as the movement grows. The cub movement offers perlimi nary scout training to boys of 9, 10 and 11 years of age. Parents inter ested in enrolling their sons in the cubs are asked to get in touch with the den mother nearest their homes. -$ Local Masonic Lodge Elects New Officers J. W. Norman was elected master of Perseverance Lodge, No. 59, A. F. & A. M.. Tuesday night, at the reg ular election of officers, succeeding J. Linwood Knowles. E. L. Owens was elected senior warden and E. Durand Keel junior warden. J. W. Darden and B. G. Campbell were re elected secretary and treasurer, re spectively. Wenona Man Winner of $25 War Bond Awarded ai Drawing Here Tuesday B. M. Holton, of Wenona, pur chased some War Savins stamps at the store of E. H. Llverman during the past week, and as a result he is now the possessor of a $25 War Bond which was given to him. His name was the first to come out of the box in the drawing in front of the com munity building here Tuesday afternoon, sponsored by 25 Plym outh merchants in their drive to increase the sale of War Stamps locally. S. B. Lucas, of Plym outh, was also extremely lucky, winning both the $5 second prize and $1 third prize. His stamps were also bought at Liverman’s store. The Plymouth High School Band provided music before, dur ing and after the drawing, at tracting a number of people to the event, although neither of the two prize winners was pres ent. The drawing this week was the fifth in a series of eight. The campaign still has three weeks to run, with $31 in War Stamps and Bonds to be given away each week. With every 25 cents' worth of stamps bought at any of the 25 participating stores and places of business, the purchaser is entitled to a chance at the three prizes given away the final week. The campaign will end with the drawing Tuesday, De cember 15.