North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon ******* and Washington County News * * * * * * * VOLUME LIV—NUMBER 34 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, Augu±L26, 1934 ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics Jesse R. Bateman, of Norfolk, for merly of Plymouth, has been visiting his daughter, Mrs. S. Keith Arnold, and Mr. Arnold this week. He was bruised about the shoulder and head Sunday morning in Norfolk when struck by a hit-and-run driver. The driver, a 16-year-old boy who had stolen the car from his father and been out all night, was later caught. J. H. Satterthwaite, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Satterthwaite, of Roper, was promoted to the grade of corporal in the United States Army recently, according to a lettter re ceived by his parents from his com manding officer. Corporal Satterth waite, who is 22 years of age, has been in the service since April of last year. The Plymouth City Council will meet tomorrow (Friday) night, instead of next Monday, it was stated this morning by B. G. Campbell, mayor. Monday is La bor Day and several council mem bers will be out of town, and there are several matters to be decided immediately, the mayor said, hence the meeting was moved up to tomorrow night. L. S. Thompson went to a Rocky Mount hospital early this week for removal of his tonsils. He was ac companied by Mrs. Thompson and their little daughter. They later went to Scotland Neck, where they are spending several days before return ing tomorrow. A. J. Chesson, of Lake Lure, N. C., and Miami. Fla., was a business visi tor here yesterday. He is a native of this county and has a number of relatives living in the Roper section, including his brother. J. Wilson Ches son. The office of the local ration ing board will not be open to the public next Monday, although all employees will be on the job, it was stated yesterday. The force is taking this oportunity to catch up with some office work, and it will be useless to knock on the door, as It will not be opened. Chief of Police P. W. Brown said this week that someone had borrow ed two lifting jacks which belonged to the town, and he requests who ever it was to return them at once. An outbreak of hog cholera was re ported in the Skinnersville section during the past week. Several peo ple have lost every animal they own ed, it was stated, while others have managed to save part of their herds. John W. Darden has been ap pointed county chairman of the United War Fund, it was an nounced this week. He succeeds Z. V. Norman, who resigned last week. A nation-wide campaign will be held in October to raise funds for the 17 agencies affiliat ed with the United War Fund. The Rev. Lee A. Phillips, pastor of Ludford Memorial Baptist church, is holding a series of revival services at Merry Hill, in Bertie County, this week. It is understood that Mr. Phillips will return in time to hold the regular services at the local church Sunday. Number of Stolen Items Recovered -® Sheriff J. K. Reid went to Eliza beth City yesterday to get the car stolen from P. C. Trogdon here Mon day night of last week. A large quantity of goods, believed stolen, was recovered by Elizabeth City police last Thursday along with the stolen car, and the entire lot was turned ov er to the Washington County sheriff, who now has some of it stored in his office at the courthouse here. Sheriff Reid has already returned 20 cartons of cigarettes to Piercy’s store in Roper, along with six ra tioning books belonging to the Piercy family. All these were stolen the same night the car was missed last week. The officer now has in his of fice 44 cartons of assorted brands of cigarettes, a box of cigars, a carton of chewing tobacco. 12 handkerchiefs and a box of socks recovered from the car. So far they have not been identified, but it is believed that they came from stores or filling stations robbed in other counties. The sheriff said Elizabeth City po lice believe they know the identity of the thieves and are on the look out for them. They were last report ed near Elizabeth City, and their ar rest is expected in the next few days. -3> Surprise Blackout Called Last Night -* A lengthy surprise blackout was called last night, the first "blue” sig nal being sounded at 9:35. Compli ance in Plymouth was declared to be excellent by Chief of Police P. W. Brown, chief air raid warden. A few observers in outlying districts said that all motorists did not strictly comply with the various signals, and there was some confusion when the second "red” signal was sounded, but as a whole the test was a success. The signals were mixed a little last night, for the first time. The first "blue” signal was followed by a “red,” then another "blue,” another "red” and still another “blue” before the all-clear was sounded about an hour after the initial alarm. Local Stores and Oiiices To Be Closed Monday lor Observance oi Labor Day Local stores and business es tablishments will be closed all day next Monday, September 6, in honor of the Labor Day holi day, it was decided by petition this week. A special meeting of the merchants association was held Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock to decide the matter, but not enough were present to get a representative opinion. That afternoon a paper was circulated, and a majority of signers favored closing all day. Offices at the courthouse, the Branch Banking & Trust Com pany, and the ABC store also will be closed. The post office will not observe the holiday, however, and all mail deliveries and dispatches will be made as usual. A special Labor Day program will be held at the courthouse by the six local labor unions at 11 o'clock, when Dr. Ralph VV. Mc Donald. candidate for governor, and several other speakers will be heard. County Man Awarded Four Decorations as Gunner on Big Bomber HOME ON VISIT \ 1 Staff Sergeant Augustus R. (Boots) Patrick, jr„ has been vis iting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Patrick, of the Skinners ville section, for the past two weeks. He is recovering from wounds received in a bombing mission over Messina, Italy, last January 31. Sergeant Patrick has received four decorations, in cluding the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and the Order of the Purple Heart. Chas. W. Blounl, Sr., Died Last Thursday At Mackeys Home Was Leading Farmer of His Section; Funeral Held Saturday Charles Wheeler Blount, sr., well known farmer of the Mackeys sec tion, died at his home there about 5:30 last Thursday afternoon after a period of declining health lasting for about a year. Mr. Blount was 79 years of age, and had been a resi dent of Washington County all of his life. The son of the late Joseph W. Blount and Elizabeth Sleight Blount, he was born near Mackeys in Wash ington County on July 2, 1864. He became a leading farmer of his sec tion and was prominent in the af fairs of his community throughout his long and useful career. He was married at Creswell on November 5, 1890. to Miss Annie Cor nelia Alexander, who survives him He also leaves five sons. Joseph Blount, of Washington, D. C.; Char lie Blount, jr., of Mackeys; Stanton Blount, of Sunbury; Gerald Blount, of Westfield. N. J.; and Ralph Blount, of Raleigh; and three daughters, Mrs. R. W. Winfield, of Chocowinity; Mrs. W. F. Barnhill, of Portsmouth, Va.: and Mrs. William B. Woods, of Dur ham. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. W. S. Davenport, of Mackeys, and eight grandchildren. Mr. Blount was a member of the Methodist church for a number of years. Funeral services were held from the late home last Saturday after noon at 4 p.m., by his pastor, the Rev. G. C. Wood, of the Roper Me thodist church. Interment was made in the family cemetery at the home place. Pall-bearers were: Edw. S. Blount. Edison Davenport. W. B. Davenport, O. A. Chesson, J. E. Davenport, W. W. Phelps, and Albert Watson. — Revival Begins Monday At Mount Zion Church -® Revival services will begin at Mount Zion Free Will Baptist church next Monday night, September 6. The pastor, the Rev. R. P. Harris, of En field, will do the preaching. The services will continue for 10 days and everyone is invited to attend. Sgt. A. R. Patrick Member of Famous Air Force Outfit -<♦> Recovering From Wounds Received Last January Over Messina Staff Sergeant Augustus R. Patrick, jr., this week concluded a two-week visit to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Patrick, sr.. in the Skinnersville section and returned to an Army base hospital at Charleston. S. C.. where he is being treated for wounds received in action in the Mediter ranean theatre last January 31. Sergeant Patrick, tail gunner on American heavy bombers, has been in action against all three of our ma jor enemies, Japanese, German and Italian, and has been awarded about as many citations and decorations as any soldier from this state. He wears four decorations, including the Dis tinguished Service Cross, second on ly to the Congressional Medal of Honor as the highest award for valor made by the United States Govern ment. Sergeant Patrick is now 21 years of age and has been in the Army Air Forces since June 18. 1940. His fa ther, A. R. Patrick, sr., is a veteran of the first World War. having served with the 29th Division, which had a prominent role in the battle of Ar gonne Forest in 1918. Young Sergeant Patrick received his training at Langley Field, Va„ and' was stationed there from the time he enlisted until the first of No vember. 1941, when he went to New foundland. He was in New York when the Japs made their attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. His orders were changed shortly after wards and he flew to India, where he joined the famed Ninth Heavy Bom bardment Group. The Ninth was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines when the war broke out. and lost many of its “Fly ing Fortresses" on the ground when that field was parctically obliterated by Jap bombers. Colin Kelly and a number of other noted American he roes were members of this group. Patrick was supposed to join the Ninth in Java, but the Japanese overran that country before he could get there, and the remnants of the outfit were sent to India, where he (uonunuea on rage inree; -& Cpl. Roscoe J. Browning Home From North Africa -® Corporal Roscoe J. Browning, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Browning, is at home for the first time since be ing inducted into the U. S. Army 16 months ago. Corporal Browning en tered the Army at Fort Bragg on April 14, 1942 and received his basic training at Camp Wolters, Tex. Since then he has spent 12 months over seas. He was stationed for a time in Ice land, then England and finally North Africa. He returned to New York by way of England recently and is now at home on a 30-day furlough. Augusi Bond Sales In County Fall Little Under Month's Goal -- Plans Will Be Announced Next Week for Drive to Raise Record Quota County Chairman of War Bond Sales H. E. Beam said this morning that he believed sales in the county during the month of August will run right around $20,000. or a little more than $2,000 short of the quota of $22,304 for the month. The county also fell down on its July quota, but sales for the year as a whole up to September 1 are still more than $100,000 ahead of the aggregate quo tas for the period. Mr. Beam said this morning that August sales were divided as follows: Plymouth post office, $8,493.75; Branch Bank, Plymouth, $7,575; and Creswell post office, $1,275. The com plete report for Roper was not in. but Mr. Beam had a report from there early in August stating that sales the first week amounted to $1, 612.50. and he believes sales there will amount to more than $2,000. No plans have yet been made for the drive to raise the county’s quota of $262,000 W'orth of bonds assigned for the third War Loan, to be raised during the month of September. This campaign does not officially begin until next Thursday, September 9, and the county chairman said he hoped to have arrangements made for an intensive county-wide cam paign by then. W. H. Woniard, of Greenville, dis trict chairman of War Bond Sales, is expected to be in Plymouth today to aid in ge.iing the big drive under way. Governor Broughton will of ficially launch the third war loan drive in the state with an address over the state’s radio network next Wednesday, September 8. The state has a quota of $145,000,000, -® Job Certifications Should Be Made By All Registrants Not Necessary To Wait Un til Notice Received To File Information -®— The Washington County Selective Service Board is now sending out no tices to registrants who have not filed their occupational certifications to do so at once. These certificates may be secured at the office and filled out without waiting for notice, it was stated. Employers are requested to get the certificates for their em ployees if they have not already been filed. They may be secured by ei ther the employer or employee. Farm registrants are also asked to get their data sheets filled out and sent in as soon as possible in the event they are not up to date. Tire data sheets may be secured at the of fice of the USDA War Board in the agriculture building. It is necessary that the above in formation be secured by the board, as the work a registrant is now en gaged in is the determining factor as to how soon he will be subject to induction into the armed forces. Formerly dependency was a contrib uting factor, but under recent di rectives issued the board, the type of work has more bearing than num ber and class of dependents. -a Brother Mrs. Earle Missing in Action -—9 Flight Sergeant E. S. McCulloch. 23-year-old brother of Mrs. T. W Earle, of Plymouth, has been report ed missing in an air raid over Ger many August 24th. Flight Sergeant McCulloch joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in the fall of 1941 and went overseas as a sergeant wireless air gunner in January of this year. He was promoted to flight sergeant in July. Mrs. Earle has two other brothers in service overseas with the R. C. A. F. One is in northern Africa and the other arrived in England on Au gust 12th of this year. County Schools on Short Schedule for Six Weeks' Period Enrollment Here Is Slightly Under Opening Day Fig ures Last Year Washington County schools open ed for the new term according to schedule last Tuesday morning, with an enrollment somewhere around the same figures as opening day last year. County Superintendent H. H. McLean could not be reached this morning for enrollment figures on the opening day, but they were said to be about as expected. The county superintendent said Monday, following the series of six teacher meeting held that day, that all teaching positions throughout the county had been filled except that of commercial teacher at the Plymouth school. So far, no one has been se cured to take over this work, but the authorities are still trying to fill the position. In the Plymouth city schools, en rollment was about 15 less than last year on opening day, Principal R. B. Trotman said Tuesday afternoon A total of 664 students was enrolled here, 526 in the elementary grades and 138 in the high school. How ever. the principal said it was know'll a number of children had not yet been enrolled, and within another week the enrollment is expected to be larger than it was a year ago. A "short” daily Schedule will be in effect at all county schools for the first six weeks of the term, at the specific request of Governor J. M. Broughton and State School Super intendent Clyde Erwin. Due to the shortage of labor on farms, the state officials requested that all schools in the state operate on an abbreviated schedule for the first six weeks of the term in order to give children from the rural sections more time at home. In this county, the schools will all begin the day’s session at 8:30 and dismiss for the day at 1:40. The schedule of classes and recess periods will vary according to the various schools, it was stated. Principal R. B. Trotman said yes terday that the local schools would begin classes at 8:30, have a 20-min ute recess for lunch from 12 to 12:20 p.m.. and dismiss for the day at 1:30. Children who live in town will be permitted to go horn" for lunch duf ing the brief recess period or they may eat at the school lunch room, which will begin operating next. Monday. It was also announced that town children in the primary grades at Hampton school would be dismissed at 12:20 p.m. for the day. Children from the rural sections who come in on school busses will remain until the higher grades are dismissed at 1:40, when the trucks will leave. All classes scheduled were arrang ed here Tuesday, Mr. Trotman said. Textbooks were distributed and les son assignments given Wednesday, and today school work had settled down to routine for the next, six weeks. ■-s— Special Meeting Sunday At Zions Chapel Church -« Following Sunday school at Zions Chapel Christian Church near Roper next Sunday, a special meeting of the congregation will be held to issue a call for a pastor for the coming church year and to consider plans for the annual revival next year. All members of the church are urged to be present for this important meet ing, according to J. C. Knowles, su perintendent of the Sunday school. Sunday school will be held at the usual hour, 10 a.m., and the church meeting will probably get underway about 11 o'clock. -- Roper Parent-Teacher Group to Meet Tuesday -® Roper.—The Roper High School Parent-Teacher Association will hold its first meeting of the new school year next Tuesday night. September 7. in the school auditorium at 8:30 o'clock, it was announced this week R. B. Forbes, principal of Roper High School. Mrs. Roger Chesson. president of the PTA, and all the teachers urge every parent and pa tron to attend the meeting, at which time the PTA program for the veai will be inaugurated. Everyone Asked To Contribute Articles For Bond Auction Here September 16th The Plymouth Theatre is plan ning to hold another bond auc tion sale, probably Thursday nght, September 16, it was an nounced this week by Miss Mar ion Brinkley and Mrs. Bernice Hammonds, managers. The auc tion sale itself will be conducted along the same lines of those held here in the past, but this However, farmers and all others the articles that will be auctioned off as premiums for bonds bought at the auction. Heretofore, local merchants have put up the premiums, and probably many of them will make I contributions again this time. However, fanners and al lothers are asked to make donations of eggs, hams, chickens, fruits vege tables, fancy work, canned goods, or any other articles they may have on hand. These will be put up and sold to those who bid to buy the most War Bonds. This is the theatre’s way of do ing its part to help out in the Third War Loan Drive, which will be underway at that time. This county’s quota in the drive is $262,000. the largest sum yet i assigned to be raised in any one month. Everyone is urged to help out in this worthy under taking. Those who do not have anything to put up for auction ing are asked to be present and bid on the premiums. Those who will make donations are asked to furnish the management a list of articles they will donate as soon as possible. It was announced last week that the sale would be held on September 9th. However, it was since decided that this would not give sufficient time, and the date of the auction was tentatively set for Thursday, September 16. Labor Day Program Is Arranged for Monday; McDonald Will Speak Meetings County Boards Put Oil The monthly meetings of the county board of education and the county commissioners will not be held next Monday on ac count of the Labor Day holiday, it was announced yesterday. In stead both county boards will postpone their meetings for a week and meet on the second Monday, September 13. Persons who have business matters to bring to attention of the two county governing groups are asked to take note of the change and be on hand Monday, September 13, instead of next Monday. So far as known, only routine business matters were scheduled to be considered at the meetings. E. F. Still Resigns This Week as Head Local Ration Board -• Has Served Since Group Was First Organized in January, 1942 After serving as a member of the Washington County War Price anci Rationing Board since it was first instituted early in January, 1942, and as chairman for the past three Eugene F. SI ill this week forwarded fits resignation to the state organi zation officer, Guy Rawls, of Raleigh, Mr. Still’s resignation leaves two members of the original board. W. L. Whitley, formerly chairman, and A. J. Riddle. The board was reorgan ized several months ago, and the work divided among several panels. The chairman of each panel serves as a member nt the xecutive com mittee which directs the activities of the entile board under the present set-up. It is understood that chairman ship of the board will go to E. H. Hill, present vice chairman, who be came a member early this year. At the time Mr. Still accepted the chair manship three months ago. an agree ment was entered into by the then four board members to rotate the chairmanship among them every three months. In his letter of resignation, Mr. Still stated that he was willing to continue to serve the country in whatever capacity he could, but that he felt it would be well to give some one else in the county an opportunity "to see how easy it is to please and deal fairly in all cases in the ra tioning of gasoline and tires." He also explained that since his com pany. the Plymouth Box and Panel Company, operates a fleet of trucks and cars and a number of its em ployees require supplemental gasoline he does not consider it advisable for him to continue on the board. The text of his letter to Mr. Rawls follows: “You will recall that when I ac cepted the chairmanship of the Washington County War Price and Rationing Board, that it was for a period of three months and that at the expiration of that time Mr. E. H. Hill, vice chairman, was to be made chairman. My term will expire this week: therefore. I wish to tender you my resignation as chairman and also to ask you to please accept my resig nation as a member of the board. I have served on the local board since its organization in January, 1942, and while I am still willing to serve my country in whatever capac ity I can. I feel that it would be well to give somenoe else in this county an opportunity to see how easy it is to please and deal fairly in all cases in the rationing of gasoline and tires. ■ My company operates a fleet of trucks and ears and also a number of our employees require supplement al gasoline and for these reasons alone 1 do not think it advisable for me to continue on the board. 1 also wish to take this oppor tunity of saying that under the pres ent Washington County set-up you have a fine organization here, and in my opinion all of the panels are do ing a splendid job. At your early convenience I shall appreciate notice of your acceptance." Owners Should Fill in Blanks on Ration Book§ Mrs J. K. Reid, secretary to the rationing board, said yesterday that it was not necessary for anyone to bring his new War Ration Book No. 3 to the ofTice of the local board for any reason. Information as to the height, weight, address, etc., of the person to whom the book is issued should be filled in by the book own prs themselves. It is not necessary tor the local board to stamp the book to make it valid. Tire red lettering on the face of the book takes care of this, it was stated. Six Local Unions Join in Sponsoring Day's Observance Program Is Dedicated To More Than 300 Former Members in Service -« Dr Ralph W. McDonald, of Win ston-Salem. candidate for the Dem ocratic nomination for Governor of North Carolina, will be one of the principal speakers at the annual La bor Day program to be staged here next Monday under the sponsorship of the six local labor unions affiliat ed with the American Federation of Labor. The program will be held in the courthouse, beginning at 11 a. m., with John W. Darden, former post master of Plymouth, serving as chair man, and the general public is in vited to attend. Due to war conditions, the annual Labor Day celebration staged In Plymouth will be curtailed somewhat as compared with previous years. Most of the approximately 1,000 members of the six local unions will be at work in local industrial plants, although only one shift will be on duty at the pulp mill when the pro gram is staged, and many of the oth ers are expected to attend. Both the parade and barbecue din ner, usual features of the day’s ob servance, have been called off. In former years, union members have held part of the day’s program at Albemarle Beach near here, but this has also been eliminated this year on account of gasoline rationing and transportation difficulties. Meat ra tioning caused abandonment of the barbecue, while the parade was called off due to the fact that many union members will be at work most of the day. The program at the courthouse 1a the only planned observance of tit* occasion. The Rev. Lee A. Phillips, pastor of Ludfovd Memorial Baptist church, will lake tl invocation. Me Darde. Mil in, in luce .the prin cipal speakers, including Dr. Mc Donald and Dr. D. G. Garland. The latter is a former minister and at present colored representative of the American Federation of Labor at Winston-Salem. More than 300 members of the six local unions are now in the military service, and officials of the organiza tions announce that the day's observ ance is being dedicated to them. Practically all local stores, offices and business establishments, except tile larger plants engaged in manu facture of essential war materials, will be closed for the day. Tire program is being sponsored by the following six local unions affil iated with American Federation of Labor craft unions: Plymouth Local, No. 356. and Plymouth Local, No. 356-A. International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Work ers: Cherry River Local, No. 423, In ternational Brotherhood of Paper Makers: Plymouth Local, No. 1183, Intel-national Brotherhood of Elec trical Workers: Plymouth Local, No. 415. International Brotherhood of Operating Engineers; and Plymouth Local. No. 2986, International Broth erhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. -«> Call 12 Colored Men To Reporl Today -® Induction notices were sent to 12 colored men in Washington County during the past 10 days ordering them to report here at 10 o’clock this morning, when they boarded a bus for Port Bragg. Seven of those ordered to report for possible induc tion thi: morning are from Plym outh. four others are from Rope), while Creswell was called on for one man. Following is the list of those called up to leave this morning by the draft board: From Plymouth: Haywood Bos ton. John Smith. Joseph Grant Clark, Joseph Frank McNair. Arthur Lee Davenport. Sterling McCray, and James Chappell. From Roper: Fred White, jr., George Lee Knight. Earl Norman, and William Earl Norman. From Creswell: Charlie Haywood Rawls. Rod Hill Hunting Club Plans Barbecue Sept. 29 -- Members of the Red Hill Hunting Club held their annual meeting in the offices of Dr. C. McGowan Mon day night. S. F. Darden was re elected president, and other officers were named for the coming year. Several new members were accepted Plans were made for a barbecue to be held on the night of September 29. on the eve of the opening of the deer hunting season.