I The Roanoke Beacon
I ******* and Washington County News ★ ★★★★*★
VOLUME LV—NUMBER 4
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday. January 27, 1944
SHED 1889
Town
opics
A special orphanage program will
be presented at the Methodist Sun
day School Sunday morning at 10
o’clock, it was announced today by
James W. Norman, superintendent.
The young people will be in charge
of the program, and the public is
invited to attend.
Mrs. Margaret- Waters this week
received a card from her husband.
Corporal Dallas G. Waters, stating
that he had arrived safely overseas.
Corporal Waters has been in the serv
ice for nearly three years, and this
marks his first trip across.
Tuesday's casualty list issued
by the Navy Department carried
the name of David Whitford
White, seaman first class, U. S.
Naval Reserve, as missing in ac
tion. The young man was the
son of Mrs. Bessie Aline White
and the late Charlie White, of
near Cherry in this county. Few
details could be learned here, and
it is not known how long he had
been in the Naval service.
Earl Bowen, son of Mr. and Mrs.
George W. Bowen, of Plymouth, was
recently elected president of the
YMCA at State College, Raleigh,
where he is a student. Bowen is also
president of his Sunday school class
at the Hilyer Memorial Christian
Church in Raleigh. Before he en
tered State College last fall, he was
employed at the plant of the North
Carolina Pulp Company.
Mr. and Mrs. Hilton Moore an
nounce the birth of a son, Hilton Far
row, jr., Saturday January 22. Mrs.
Moore is the daughter of Mr. and H.
W. Dixon, of near Plymouth. Mr.
Moore is a second-class petty officer
In the United States Navy and has
been stationed at Morehead City for
some time.
Private William Joseph Brown, son
of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Brown, of
Plymouth, has been overseas for
about two months, it was learned re
cently. His parents have received
several letters from him, one last
week declaring that Ireland was no
“rose garden” to him. He is in an in
fantry outfit.
A meeting of the. Plymouth
Boy Scout troop comittee will be
held next Monday night in the
courthouse at 8 o'clock. It is im
perative that a meeting be held
to arrange for a board of review
and to secure new headquarters
for the scout troop here, the
chairman of the committee an
nounced this week.
J. O. Everett, of Plymouth, is still
having fresh tomatoes from his last
year's garden. Shortly before the
first frost, Mr. Everett pulled up his
tomato plants and hung them in his
smokehouse. They had a number of
green tomatoes on them at the time,
and as fast as they ripen, he has
fresh tomatoes on his table.
Mrs. Fleta Freeman, 74, widow of
the late H. L. Freeman, who lives with
her son, W. Thomas Freeman, near
Roper, fell and broke her leg early
Monday morning. She was taken to
a Rocky Mount hospital after receiv
ing first-aid treatment at the office
of a local physican, and is reported
to be getting along as well as could
be expected.
Creswell Churches
Get New Minister
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Creswell.—The Rev. Perry P. Bald
win, formerly of Rockford, 111., has
arrived in Creswell to begin his work
as pastor of the Creswell and Colum
bia group of Christian Disciple
churches. At the present time Mr.
Baldwin and his family are making
their home in the Disciples parson
age in Creswell.
The Rev. Mr. Baldwin has been a
pastor for the past 30 years. He is
a native of Wisconsin and graduated
from Phillips University, in Okla
homa. Besides engaging in evangel
istic w'ork for 10 years, Mr. Baldwin
has served as pastor of churches in
Washington, Montana, Louisiana,
Texas and Missippi, before coming to
Creswell.
During World War I the minister
served as chaplain of the 335th Field
Artillery Batallion.
Basketball Doubleheader
In Roper Monday Night
Roper.—The Roper and Columbia
High School basketball teams will
play a doubleheader in the Roper
gymnasium next Monday night, Jan
uary 31. with the first game called at
7:30 p. m.
Number Colored Nen To Get Physical
Tests at Fort Bragg Early in February
It was learned this week that
the local draft board has receiv
ed a call for a large number of
colored men to go to Fort Bragg
early In February for their pre
induction examinations. No call
has been received for white regis
trants so far, but It Is understood
that one is expected later in the
month.
Under the new regulations,
those who pass the pre-induction
physical examination will have
at least 21 days before they are
ordered to report for training.
However, future calls for men to
go to Fort Bragg for examination
are expected to be much larger
than in the past few months in
order to build up the reserve pool
of men physically acceptable for
service.
As the reserve pool increases in
size, the length of time between
examination and induction will
be extended, according to present
plans. It is hoped that eventual
ly men called into service will
have up to 45 days in which to
wind up thsir affairs.
Fire Chiei Asks Local People To Check
On Fire Hazards About Their Homes
After answering seven alarms
in the past five days, Fire thief
Miller Warren today issued an
appeal to local householders to
check up on the fire hazards that
exist in far too many local homes.
He particularly asks that no fires
be built in heating equipment
connected to chimneys which
have unplugged openings. At
least two of the fires in which
which property loss was caused
in the past few days originated
from this cause, he said.
Another frequent cause is ac
cumulations of trash, old paper,
and the like back of fireboards—
or anywhere else, for that mat
ter—according to the chief. Care
lessness with matches or cigar
ettes is believed to have started
two grass fires, which might have
gotten out of hand and destroyed
adjacent property.
In addition to the above causes,
which may be prevented by us
ing a reasonable amount of care,
there is always danger from de
fective flues and electric wiring,
and it might be a good idea to
check on these things every once
in a while, Mr. Warren said. He
pointed out that the firemen are
not asking this for their own
sake, as they can better afford to
answer alarms than the average
property owner can afford a fire
loss.
Local Firemen Called
Out Seven Times in
Five Successive Days
Begin Review oi
1944 Farm Plans
The Washington County Se
lective Service Board Tuesday
night began reviewing the 1944
farm plans of registrants who
hold “C” classifications. It is
announced that all registrants
will be notified immediately af
ter their cases have been con
sidered whether or not their farm
classifications are being con
tinued by the board.
At the meeting Tuesday, the
board members reviewed the
farm data sheets of about 75
registrants, continuing the defer
ments of most of them. There
are still upwards of 200 to be
considered, and each of those af
fected will be notified as soon as
possible after his case Is re
viewed.
Problems of Schools
Discussed at Lions
Club Meet Thursday
Delegation From Parent
Teacher Association in
Charge of Program
The local Lions Club entertained a
committee from the Plymouth Par
ent-Teacher Association at its regu
lar meeting Thursday night of last
week. The meeting was held at the
Country Club of Plymouth, and the
PTA was represented by the follow
ing committee: Mrs. W. V. Hays,
Mrs. W. A. Smith, Mrs. B. G. Camp
bell, Mrs. A. J. Byrd, Mrs. Archie
Modlin, Mrs. A. Papineau and Mrs.
J. R. Manning.
Following the regular luncheon, Dr.
A. Papineau, program chairman, in
troduced the visiting delegation,
members of which discussed problems
facing educational authorities, as well
as some of the particular needs in
the local school system.
County Superintendent H. H. Mc
Lean, a member of the club, explain
ed recent school legislation, as well
as some proposed legislation which
should be supported by the club mem
bers. A paper on compulsory atten
dance. written by Principal R. B.
Trotman. who was unable to be pres
ent, was read by a member of the
committtee.
Mrs. W. A. Smith spoke of the need
of recreational facilities for children
of all ages in the Plymouth schools.
She urged purchase of playground
equipment for the smaller children
and securing a community center
which can be used as a meeting place
by those in the ’teen-age group. The
latter is also needed to further the
work of boy and girl scout troops, as
well as any similar organizations.
There were several other speakers
on the program, and the meeting as
a whole is considered one of the most
enlightening held by the Lions in re
cent months.
Damage Done To
Five Homes; One
Totally Destroyed
Loss of $3,000 Caused at
Plymouth Box & Panel
Plant Tuesday
The Plymouth Volunteer Fire De
partment had the busiest five days on
record in its history, beginning last
Saturday morning. The company
was called out seven times, once each
on Saturday. Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday, and three times Sunday.
Two of the calls were to extinguish
minor grass fires that did little or no
damage, but there was some property
loss in all of the other five, ranging
from a few dollars to upwards of
$3,000.
Although two cases of atempted in
cendiarism have been reported, in
neither was the department called
out. Chief Miller Warren definitely
established the cause of several fires
as due to neglect and carelessness,
with the cause not definitely known ;
in one or two other instances.
First in the series of alarms was
last Saturday morning at 3:10, when
the company was called to a house
on Wilson street, owned by Mrs. S. A.
Ward and occupied by A. M. Walk
er. This was one of the most seri
ous of the series. The house was;
completely destroyed and the Walker
family barely escaped with a few ar- j
tides of clothing. Tire fire started
from an unplugged opening in the
chimney. Total damage was estimat
ed in the firemen’s report at more
than $2,000. Mrs. Ward carried some
insurance on the house, but Mr.
Walker had none on his personal be
longings, practically all of which were
lost.
Considerable damage was done to
the roof of an adjoining house, oc
cupied by the family of Hope Harri
son. The loss there is estimated at
$150 to $200. Firemen were handi
capped by the length of hose neces
sary to reach the blaze, and two sec
tions burst under the pressure needed
to pump water through the 1,500 feet
of hose laid.
A grass fire in the woods back of
the colored school called out the de
partment for its first time Sunday,
about noon. There was a negligible
amount of damage.
At 3:30 Sunday afternoon the fire
iSee SERIES OF FIRES, Page 4)
Attempts To Fire
Buildings Reported
Two attempts at incendiarism have
been reported here in the past few
lays. An attempt was believed made
;o burn the Spencer fish house, near
the A. C. L. station here, sometime
Saturday night, but the fire went out
pf its own accord. Kerosene had been
poured on the floor of the porch and
:here were signs that a fire had been
started there.
A similar attempt was made on the
front steps of the old Riverview Ho
;el on East Water Street Sunday
light. Chief of Police P. W. Brown
tnd his son, Charles, happened to:
pass that way and saw a blaze on
she steps. They extinguished it and j
found that kerosene had been poured
in the steps where the fire had start- 1
;d. Several families live in the old
frame hotel building.
Investigations are underway of both
pccurrences by police. Local people
are asked to notify the authorities
immediately if they observe anything
suspicious along similar lines.
Although the firemen have been
palled out an unusually large number
pf times in recent days, it is not be
lieved that any of the alarms which
they answered were caused by "fire
bugs.” In most of teh cases, Fire
Chief Miller Warren definitely estab
lished carelessness or neglect as the
pause. i
Counly Tax Listing
Will End Tuesday;
Far From Complete
-<$
No Extension of Time Au
thorized; Last-Minute
Rush Developing
J. C. Knowles, assistant tax super
visor, said last night that no exten
sion of time had been granted for the
listing of taxes; but Washington
County property owners will get an
extra day, anyway. Due to the fact
that January 1 was a legal holiday
and listing did not actually begin un
til Monday, January 3, he has ruled
that the list takers shall remain on
the job through Tuesday, February 1,
which tacks the extra day on at the j
end of the tax-listing period, where j
it will do the most good.
Mr. Knowles said a large number
of property owners still had not listed,.
and he looks for a big last-minute
rush during the four days remain
ing—Friday and Saturday of this
week and Monday and Tuesday of
next. However, after next Tuesday,
February 1, the books will be closed,
and those who have not listed by
then will be subject to the penalties
provided by law for their delinquency.
Mrs. Hermine Ramsey and Mrs.
Moye W. Spruill, list takers for Plym
outh Township and the Town of
Plymouth, respectively, estimated yes
terday that possibly 60 per cent of
the property in the town and town
ship have been listed so far. They
are kept busy now, and are expect
ing a land-office rush during the re
maining few days as late listers stam
pede to get under the wire.
There were no direct reports from
list-takers in other sections of the
county, but Mr. Knowles said he un
derstood some of the townships were
not as far advanced in the work as
this one. However, it is believed that
a big majority will get their holdings
listed before the books are closed
Tuesday night, although it will mean
a lot of waiting for some of those
who have delayed so long.
Girl From Here in
Cadet Nurse Corps
Miss Ruby rtlilwson, of 308 Wash
ington Street, Plymouth has enlisted
for training in the United States
Cadet Nurse Corps. For the past few
months, Miss Roberson, whose home
is in the Farm Life section of aMrtin
County, has been employed at the
plant of the North Carolina Pulp
Company here.
She will enter the School of Nurs
ing at Park View Hospital in Rocky
Mount next Tuesday, February 1,
when a new class is to be organized.
The Cadet Nurse Corps provides an
excellent opportunity for high school
graduates who are interested to help I
their country and themselves. The
need for nurses becomes greater ev
ery day, and girls who have good
scholastic records and are in good
health are urgently needed. Each
girl who becomes a student nurse re
lieves a graduate nurse for military 1
or other duties.
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Pic. James E. Harrison
Visiting Mother Here
-<s>
Pfc. James E. Harrison, of the U. S,
Marine Corps, is spending a few days
with his mother, Mrs. Bertha Hardi
son, who lives on Park Avenue at
Little Richwood. Hardison enlisted in
the Marine Corps in January of last
year, when he became the five thous
andth Marine to be sworn in at the
Raleigh recruiting office. He is a
member of a military police company
now stationed at Parris Island, S. C„
where he received his training.
It is expected that two of his bro
thers, Marvin Hardison, machinists’
mate, second class, of the U. S. Navy,
Norfolk, and Pfc. L. B. Hardison, of
the Marine Corps, will be home to
join him later in the week. Pfc L. B.
Hardison, who enlisted in the Marine
Corps in July of last year, was re
cently assigned to sea duty on the
Atlantic. Marvin Hardison, the other
brother, enlisted in the Navy in Sep
tember, 1942.
Plenty of Wool at
Red Cross Room
There is plenty of wool on
hand at the Red Cross room in
the Harney Building, but few
persons are calling for it, it was
stated this week by Mrs. T. W.
Earle, chairman of the local
chapter. More local women arc
needed in order for the chapter
to complete its quota of knitted
articles for men in the military
service, and the chairman ur
gently requests volunteers to call
for the wool as soon as possible.
The Red Cross room will be
open every morning for the next
week between 10 and 12 o’clock,
Mrs. Earle said. There are eight
boxes of wool on hand here, while
other chapters are said to be run
ning short; and if the local sup
ply Is not called for soon, it will
be packed up and returned.
Meet Tonight To Map Plans
For Fouith War Loan Diive
District Meeting ot
Christian Churches
Will Be Held Here
Roanoke Convention Con
venes With Local Church
Saturday, Sunday
The Roanoke District Convention
of Christian churches will meet with
the local Christian Church Saturday
and Sunday, January 29 and 30,
There are 59 churches in the 9 coun
ties of the district. Twenty-seven
ministers serve a total church mem
bership of 11.192. The total Bible
School enrollment is 5,267.
The theme of the convention will
be, ' Evangelism." B. F. Leggett, sr.,
of Washington, is the president of
the convention. Rev. J. M. Perry,
of Robersonville, will be song leader.
The convention will open Saturday
at 10:30 a.m., with a service of song
followed by a devotional service led
by the host pastor. Rev. E. B. Quick.
The morning sermon will be delivered
by Rev. W. O. Henderson, of Eliza
bety City, on the subject, "Evangel
ism In the New Teastament Church."
At the close of the session a barbecue
dinner will be served.
The Saturday afternoon session
will begin at 1:30 p.m.. with a de
votional service led by Mrs. E. B.
Quick Rev. John L. Goff, of Wil
liamston, will deliver the afternoon
sermon, "Evangelism With Youth.”
Other features of this session will
be reports of churches and other or
ganizations, special music by Zions
Chapel church choir and reports of
committees and other business.
The Sunday morning session will
begin at 9:45, with a devotional serv
ice led by H. H. Allen, superintendent
of the local Sunday School. The Sun
day School lesson will be taught by
J. H. Latham, of Tranters Creek
Church. The president’s address, a
devotional service led by Rev. F. A.
Lilley, of Washington, special music
by the Elizabeth City and Plymouth
church choirs, the Communion serv
ice and sermon by Rev. D. W. Davis,
of Williamston, on "Personal Evan
gelism" will be additional features of
the Sunday morning session which
1 See CHRISTIANS. Page 4>
Thieves Break in
Two Places Here
Two chewing-gum vending ma
chines were stolen from places of
business here during the past week.
The Owens pool room on Water
Street was entered sometime Satur
day night and one machine stolen
from there. An identical machine
was stolen from the Standard Serv
ice Station at the comer of Main and
Washington Tuesday night.
It is believed that young boys broke
into the two places of business, as
nothing was taken from either ex
cept the chewing-gum machines. The
machines are owned by a syndicate
which leases them to the Local Lions
Club. Profits from their operation
go to the fund raised by the Lions to
provide glasses for children who are
unable to pay for them.
Several other cases of attempted
break-ins have been reported recent
ly. Leroy Ange, who lives at the cor
ner of Jefferson and Main Streets,
heard someone prowling about his
nouse last Friday night and took a
shot at the intruder with a .22 rifle.
Landmark Is Being
Razed This Week
The old Brinkley Building, located
on teh north side of Water Street at
the intersection of Jefferson, is be
ing torn down and moved away this
week. Built some 35 to 40 years ago
by the late D O. Brinkley, the old
structure has housed a variety of
business establishments in that time
and has become one of the Water
Street landmarks.
It was bought five or six years ago
by John L. Phelps and hold by him
early this month to J. R. Manning,
owner of the Plymouth Motor Com
pany. A two-story frame and gal
vanized iron structure, the building
was condemned some years ago by
the town council, and has seen little
use since.
Mr. Manning said this week that
he hoped to be able to build a two
story brick building on the lot, which
he plans to utilize as a used-car de
partment in connection with his ga
rage business. If he can secure per
mission from the WPB, he wants to
start construction of the new build
ing immediately.
The lot has a frontage of 50 feet
and extends back 67 feet to the Nor
folk Southern right of way bordering
the river front. Mr. Manning sold
the old building to Ivory Keyes, who
is tearing it down and selling the
lumber and other material.
j RECEIVES WINGS j
Billy Wells Bateman, son of
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Bateman, of
Creswell, received his silver wings
and commission as second lieu
tenant in the Army Air Forces
after graduating at an advanced
pilot school in the Randolph
Field, Texas, area earlier this
month. He recently returned to
duty after spending a brief leave
at his home in Creswell.
No Change Effected
Yel in Personnel of
Two County Boards
Arps To Continue on Board
Education Until He As
sumes ABC Job
There has been some discussion,
but no action yet on the changes to
take place in two county boards in
the immediate future. P. M. Arps,
present chairman of the county board
of education, who was elected chair
man of the ABC board recently, has
not yet qualified for his new office
and is continuing his work as chair
man of the school-governing board.
Mr Arps has indicated that he will
not take over his new duties until
after the next regular meeting of the
board of education, which is sched
uled for the first Monday in Febru
ary. When he formally qualifies as
chairman of the ABC board, he will
automatically vacate his plac on the
school board, and ills successor on
the latter group is to be named by
the county Democratic executive
committee.
The law provides that vacancies on
the board of education shall be filled
by action of the county Democratic
executive committee, and that a per
son so appointed shall serve until the
next session of the legislature.
The Washington County Demo
cratic Executive Committee is com
posed of the following: E. G. Arps,!
of Plymouth, chairman: W. Ronald
Gaylord, Plymouth precinct; W. Ed
ison Knowles, Lees Mill precinct:
Walter W. White, Skinnersville pre
cinct; C. N. Davenport, jr., Scupper- ;
nong precinct; and Jesse Vaughn, of
Wenona precinct.
Eastern Union at
Concord Church
The Eastern Union meting of the
Primitive Baptist church will be held
with the church at Concord, between
Creswell and Cherry. Saturday and
Sunday, January 29 and 30, it was
announced this week by Noah L. Am
brose. assistant clerk of the church
Elder S. Gray, of Kinston, the pas
tor, will be in charge of the services, \
it w’as stated.
In addition to Elder Gray, Elder J
R Baker, of Rocky Mount, and El- !
der A B. Ayers, of Williamston, will1
also be present and take part in the
services. Dinner will be served on
the church grounds Sunday if the
weather is favorable.
The public is cordially invited
E. F. Still Accepts
Task of Heading
County Campaign
Upwards of $50,000 Worth
Of Bonds Sold Here
This Week
Eugene F. Still, president of the
Plymouth Box and Panel Company,
this week accepted 'he task of serv
ing as chairman of the War Loan
Campaign in Washington County:
and complete plans for the drive will
be worked out at a meeting of inter
ested persons in the agriculture build
in- here tonight at 8 o'clock. Mr. Still
is confident that Washington County
will not only reach but surpass its
goal of S228.000 in bonds during the
remaining period of the drive.
H. E Beam, chairman of the
county war finance committe and
cashier of the local bank, said yes
terday that sales had already begun
to pick up, and up to that time the
bank alone had sold upwards of S50.
000 worth of bonds, which will be
credited to the county during the
drive. By the end of the week, it is
hoped that at least one-third of the
county quota will have been raised.
In announcing his acceptance of
the chairmanship of the campaign,
Mr. Still addressed a letter to a num
ber of leading citizens throughout the
county, asking them to lend their
help in carrying on a successful cam
paign by attending the meeting to
night. when the organization w-ill be
perfected and plans formulated.
Mr. Still explained that when he
was first approached about serving
as chairman, his first thought was
that there was possibly someone else
who could give more time to the drive
than he could However, "after con
sidering the fact that the most one
can do towards furthering the war
effort is not enough when we think
of the sacrifices that our fighting
boys are making," he accepted, call
ing upon all who feel the same way
to work together in the drive, which
is alreadv underway throughout the
country.
With nearly ; wo weeks of the cam
paign already lost, it behooves every
loyal citizen of the county to rally
to the support of the workers by not
only buying all the bonds possible,
but to see that everyone in the coun
ty has the same opportunity. There
is little point in reviewing here the
reasons wiry everyone should buy all
the bonds lie possibly can. It has been
gone over a thousand times through
the press, radio and every other
means of communication. With mil
lions of soldiers and sailors poised to
launch the big invasion of Europe
scores of them from Washington
County—it is the least we can do to
lend our money to furnish the sup
plies on which their lives may de
pend.
To sell $228,000 worth of War
Bonds in the next few weeks is a job
for all of Washington County, and
this is a direct appeal to you to do
all you can—which is your full part.
Nephew of Mrs. S.
F. Darden Missing
Wesley Allen, jr.. of LaGrange.
nephew of Mrs. S F. Darden, of
Plymouth, was reported missing in
action after an aerial raid over Ger
many on January 5th. it was learned
here this week. The young man, an
aerial gunner on a heavy bomber, was
the son of Mrs. Darden's brother,
Wesley Allen, sr.. of LaGrange.
He had been in the Army Air Forces
for a little more than a year and had
been overseas only about two months,
Mrs Darden said Tuesday. His
grandmother. Mrs. J. D. Allen, who
lives here with Mrs. Darden, received
a letter from the young man last
week. It was dated January 2, only
three days before the raid over Ger
many in which he was reported miss
ing. His relatives and friends here
are hopeful that he landed safely in
Germany and was taken prisoner.
Pulp Company Gives $200 for Purchase
Playground Equipment at School Here
11 ivas announced this week
that tlic North Carolina Pulp
Company had authorized a con
tribution of S200 for the purchase
of playground equipment to be
placed at the local school. The
Plymouth Parent Teacher Asso
ciation is sponsoring the move
ment to raise money for the play
ground equipment.
The local Lions Club last fall
authorized a contribution of S100
for the same purpose. Definite
plans for the purchase of the
equipment have not been made.
hut with S300 on hand, it is ex
pected that steps to this end will
be taken shortly.
H. M. Kieckhefer. secretary
treasurer of the Kieckhefer
Container Co., of Delair. N. J..
was here lust week and autho
rized D. 15. Kuhe, resident man
ager of the local pulp company,
to make the S200 contribution,
following the Lions Club meeting
Thursday night, when needs of
the local school system were dis
cussed by members of the Plym
outh Parent-Teacher Associa
tion.