North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon glff ******* and Washington County News ******* VOLUME LV—NUMBER 49 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, December 7, 1944 ESTABLISHED 1*89 GET IN ON THE NEXT TOKYO ATTACK YOURSELF BY BUYING AN EXTRA $100 BOND Town opics Pfc. Robert C Spring, whose wife, Mrs. Maxina Spring, lives at Cres well, RFD No. 1, was recently pro moted to the grade of sergeant. He Is an assistant squad leader with the 65th “Custer” Division of Lt. Oen. Mark W. Clark's Fifth Army in Italy. The local rationing board was ad vised recently that no sugar could be authorized for the home curing of meats. Anyone who wishes to use sugar for curing meats must use that sugar from their regular consumer allotment or else use some of the commercially prepared mixes on the market. Two clerks at the store of W. F. Winslow are setting a pace In the sale of War Bonds during the Sixth War Loan Drive that will be hard to beat. Up to Wednes day Mrs. J. B. Willoughby and Mrs. Jerry Hayes had sold S8.300 worth of bonds, maturity value. Mrs. Willoughby's sales amount ed to S7.200. while Mrs. Hayes had sold SI.100 worth. Cpl. Howard B. Chapin, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Chapin, of Plym outh, was recently awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, his parents here have been informed. It is also learned that his squadron of the Eighth Air Force in England was re cently given a Presidential unit ci tation for its record in action against the enemy. Pvt. Thomas Edwain McNair was home Sunday visiting his wife, baby and parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. McNair. He is stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., where he is member of the post championship football and boxing teams. The Sixth War Loan premiere showing of "Dark Waters” at the Plymouth Theatre Tuesday night was very disappointing, it was learned yesterday from Shep Brinkley, manager. Only 26 peo ple attended the special showing, and bond sales amounted to but SI,818.75, issue value. Admission was by purchase of War Bonds only. Ensign and Mrs. Jack B. Stubbs, spent the w'eek-end here with En sign Stubb's parents, Mi. and Mrs. T. A. Stubbs. Ensign Stubbs is station ed at Camp Bradford. Va. Highway Patrolman and Mrs. M. B. Stewart were called to Lillington last week-end by the death of Mr. Stewart's uncle, Hubert K. Stewart. The latter died in the Fayetteville veterans' hospital Friday morning af ter an illness of only one day. The funeral was held from his late home Sunday afternoon. (See TOPICS, Page 4i Issuance of Liquor Books in Couniy Under Last Year Total of 2,003 Issued To De cember 1; About 3,000 Is sued Year Ago Issuance of ABC whiskey sales book No. 3 up to December 1 in Washing ton County was one-third less than last year, it was learned yesterday from P. M. Arps, chairman of the ABC board. No books will be issued during December, and those who failed to apply before last Friday are simply out of luck, so far as getting Christmas whiskey legally is con cerned, although some non-rationed items will be sold. Mr. Arps said 1,616 books were is sued at the Plymouth store and 387 in Creswell during November, for a total of 2,003. Last year approxi mately 3,000 books were issued. In comparison with a year ago, the is suance in Plymouth was about 600 less and than that of Creswell about 300 less. Already some of the un fortunates have been importuning the chairman to relent, but he points out that the law does not permit any books to be issued this month. The county chairman said there was plenty of brandy and rum on hand in the stores, and fairly large amounts of cordials, liquers, and champagne have been ordered and are expected to be here for the holi day trade. None of these items are rationed—which is about all the con solation he has for those who waited too long to apply for their ration books. Mow We Stand: 'Figures Furnished by H. E. Beam, Chairman of the Washington County War Finance Committee, December 6, 1944) Our Quota, Overall $ 219,000 Sales To Date 109,500 We Need To Go Over the Top $ 109.5Q0 “E” BONDS Our Quota $ 113,000 Sales To Date 47,000 We Need To Go Over the Top $ 66,000 Whal Are Yon Waiting For? - Let's Go! i# Property in County To Be Revalued in 1945 Tobacco Quotas Invoked for 1945 Quotas for the 1945 tobacco crop were invoked by the De partment of Agriculture last Fri day just a few hours before the deadline. The allotment system provides for the same acreage next year as was allowed this year. Since the 1944 plantings were less than the allotment, farmers with few exceptions are not expected to enter any objec tions to the control plans. Accompanying the order an nouncing the continuation of the production control program was an order fixing prices for the 1946 at the same figures In effect for the 1944 crop, and no serious objections are anticipated on that count. Soil Conservation District Sought by Farmers of Section Washington, Tyrrell, Hyde, Beaufort Represented at Meet Here Monday Between 30 and 40 farmers from Washington. Tyrrell. Hyde and Beau fort counties met in the agricultural building here Monday afternoon, v h n the groundwork was laid for organizing a soil conservation dis trict embracing the four counties. Tlie gathering was addressed by A. A. Cone, assistant director of soil conservation for the state department of agriculture, and B. T. Ferguson, district agent for the Extension Serv ice of State College. Both men talked on the advantages to be derived by formation of a soil conservation district, and the 8 to 19 representatives of each of the four counties represented unanimously ap proved the idea. It was explained that each of the four individual coun ties could secure some of the bene fits, but that a district set-up would doubtless prove more effective. One of the principal advantages offered by the Federal Soil Conser vation Service is assistance in drain '~iSee SOIL DISTRICT, Page 4) -$ Tax Collector To Be in Creswpll December 15th -« County Tax Collector J. E. Daven port said this morning that he would be in Creswell all day Friday of next week, December 15, for the con venience of taxpayers of Scupper - nong Township. He will be at the shoe shop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. He will have the tax books for Scup pernong Township for both the cur rent and past years, and requests people in that section who wish to pay their taxes to see him while he is there. 1057 A Cards Issued To Car Owners of County by Local Rationing Authority A lot of Washington County cars have gone off the highways in the past year or two, accord ing to Mrs. J. K. Reid, chief clerk in the rationing board of fices here. Up to Wednesday ex actly 1,057 A cards have been issued by the board, ay compared with approximately 2,200 of the previous issue outstanding be fore they became invalid. It is possibelb that some car owners have not yet called for their new basic gasoline allot ments; and, when they do, they will be docked the proportional part of the elapsed period before they get their new A book. How ever, it is evident that nothing like 2,200 of the new books will be issued. Coupons No. A-13 In the new books are now valid for four gallons of gasoline each. They will continue good until Decem ber 22, after which coupons No. A-14 become valid. The six A-14 coupons will then be good for four gallons each for the three month period ending March 22. Assessors and List Takers Appointed By Board Monday Will Begin Work January 1; Three Men Named for Each Township -<8> Machinery for the listing of real and personal property In Washington County during the month of Janu ary was set up by the county com missioners Monday as one of their first tasks after taking the oath of office and entering upon the work of their new terms. It was tentative ly agreed that the three assessors named for each township would serve as list-takers in addition to handling the quadrennial revaluation of real property, required by law neat year. County C om missionei J. Am Knowles, of Roper, wee appointed tea supervisor, with the following to serve as list-takers and boards of assessors for the four townships: Plymouth: A. J. Riddle. E. F. Still and J. R. Manning. Lees Mill: J. M. Clagon, J. E. Phelps, and R. W. Lewis. Skinnersville: Walter W. White, John W. Spruill, and M. F. Daven port. Scuppernong: P. B. Belanga and two others to be named later. The boards of assessors and'list takers named above will meet with ~~fSee~TAX LISTING~Page~4) Li. Jack Getsinger Mow Back in U. S. -s At Atlantic City Hospital; Seriously Wounded in Action in September It was learned this week that 1st Lt. Jack Getsinger, who was serious ly wounded in action last September in France, arrived recently in the United States and is now at an Army hosiptal at Atlantic City, N. J. His brother, Eddie Getsinger, and sister, Mrs. George Barden, accompanied by Mr. Barden, of Plymouth, left Mon day for Atlantic City to visit him at the hospital. Lieutenant Getsinger, son of the late John Getsinger, of Dardens, at tended the Plymouth High School and lived here for a good many years. He married the former Miss Ruth Kiker, who was a teacher in the local schools. With an armored force that saw considerable action in North Africa and France, Lieutenant Getsinger was wounded first more than a year ago, but recovered and returned to duty in time to take part in the European invasion. He was critically wounded in action the second time in Sep tember and has since been recouper ating at base hospitals overseas. Water - Sewer Lines Are Being Extended -9 The Plymouth Town Council held its tegular meeting Monday night of this week, with routine matters con stituting the bulk of the business transacted. Bills against the town were checked and ordered paid. There was some discussion of the waterworks and sewer extensions now being made to take care of the hous ing development here. It was learn ed that the council has authorized extension of water and sewer mains not only to the housing development an East Third Street Extended, but also out Highway 64 to the eastern edge of town at Conaby Creek. H. H. Wesley, of Washington, is engineer in charge of this project, which estimates indicate will cost In the neighborhood of $12,000 Officials of County Begin New -Terms; Sworn in Monday H. H. Allen Elected Chair man of County Board of Commissioners Although new terms began Mon day for a number of Washington County officers, there actually was but one change in the governing personnel. H. H. Allen succeeded E. G. Arps on the board of county com missioners, and wa. elected to the chairmanship, which position Mr. Arps has held for the past four and a half years. Oaths were administered by Wil mer M. Darden, clerk of the superior court, to all the officers who were be ginntr. n:-~ * -.r.r TV ’’’eluded J. Robert. Campbell, reci ’ r of deeds; W. Rora'd Gay'ovd. jrdr» of the re corder': court: J. C. Knc- !c=. Kar ry w. Pritchett, and Mr. Alien as members of the board cf county com missioners. W. Blount Rodman, elect ed prosecuting attorney of the coun ty recorder's court, is in France as first lieutenant with an artillery unit, hence could not be present to take the oath of office. Due to the multitude of other mat ters which came up for consideration Monday, the county board never did get around to completing the county governmental set-up for the next two years. The commissioners recessed at 5:30 p.m. until Wednesday, De cember 20, when they will continue the proceedings at an adjourned ses sion, At that time, a county attor ney, county auditor, tax collector, superintendent of the county farm and courthouse janitor will be elect ed, and other matters disposed of. Mr. Arps was present to call the commissioners into session Monday, morning and immediately after the oaths were administered he turned the duties of his office over to Mr. Allen. The commissioners then elect ed Mr. Alien chairman of the board and approved the bond of $2,500 pre sented by Register of Deeds J. R. Campbell. W. L. Whitley, president of the Southern Aibcmarlj^ Aeeociauon. ap tts «tdersement of the association’s road program. The resolution which was approved by the commissioners will be presented to officials of the Sta(te Highway and Public Works Commission at a later date. The jury list for the January term of superior court was drawn and bills against the county were checked and ordered paid. The commissioners al so reappointed W. S. Ainsley con stable for Scuppemong Township for the coming two years. Steps were taken to begin the quadrennial revaluation of real pro perty as well as listing of all property in the county January 1st. J. C. Knowles was appointed tax supervisor and assessors were named for each of the four county townships. Other details of this work will be worked out at the meeting on December 20. Five County White Men in Induction Call December 13 -e Pool of Men Available for Service Has Just About Been Exhausted The pool of Washington County men available for military service is Just about non-existant, it was learn ed yesterday at the office of the lo cal draft board. When the Decem ber Induction calls are completed, the board will have exactly 3 white men and 23 colored men in the list of those available for military service, it was stated. There are a few men, of course, who are subject to preinduc tion calls; but even these are getting few and far between, it was stated. Fifteen colored men left for Fort Bragg and induction into the armed services yesterday. Their names were published last week; and all of them except one showed up yesterday morning for the trip to Fort Bragg. The name of the lone exception, Clif ton Jones, formerly of Creswell Route 1, who did not show up and about whom the draft board can learn nothing, has been certified to the dis trict attorney as a delinquent. Five white men are scheduled to report Wednesday of next week. De cember 13, for induction. Two of them are from Plymouth, two from Creswell and one from Wenona. They have been ordered to report here at 10 a.m. next Wednesday and will leave on the 10:20 bus. Four of them are youngsters who reached the age of 18 years only recently, while the other has been employed recent ly by the Newport News police de partment, it was said. The call for December 13 is for the following men: Clinton Respass and Eli Phelps, of Plymouth; John nie Nicholas Mueller and Mervin Les lie Davenport, of Creswell; and Edi son William Patrick, of Wenona. The local board has received no pre-induction calls for the month of December. About Half of County s Sixth War Loan Quota Sold So Far Members of School Board Working on Plans for Future Appointment With State Superintendent Sought Later This Month Development of a building program for Washington County schools will be discussed by members of the board 'of education with State Superinten dent Clyde Erwin during the week of December 18. if an appointment with the state official can be secured, it was learned here today. County Superintendent H. H. McLean said the board of education had written Dr. Erwin asking for an appointment during that week; and all three mem bers of the board are expected to go to Raleigh for the conference when it is arranged. There have been no new develop ments in the county school situation since state and federal school-plan ning experts came here on November 1st to gather data on which to base recommendations for a long-term plan to improve existing facilities. W. F. Credle, of Raleigh.* director of schoolhouse planning for the state department, and Dr. Ray L. Hamon, of the U. S. Office of Education, Washington. D C., were here at that time. Mr. McLean said he received a let ter form Mr. Credle the early part of last week, stating that a preliminary report would be made soon, but that some additional information was needed. The state school official had an appointment with Mr. McLean Thursday of last week to go over the matter, but at the last minute can celled it because he had been called elsewhere. Mr. McLean said he had (See SCHOOLS, Page 4) -« Webb Jones, Sr„ Dies ai Home Here Funeral Held Tuesday Aft ernoon for Well-Known Local Citizen Webb Jones, sr., retired carpenter, died at bis home on West Main Street here Saturday night about 9:30 after a period of declining health that had continued for about a year. He was 57 years of age last September 11th. Although his health had not been good for a year or more, Mr. Jones was able to be up and about most of the time. He took a sudden turn for the worse Saturday evening and died shortly afterwards, news of his pass ing coming as a shock to members of the family and friends. Born in Tyrrell County on Sep tember 11, 1887, he was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Tom Jones. He moved to Creswell with his parents while quite young, and came to Plym outh to live about 10 years ago. On January 11, 1914, he was married to Miss Lucille Bateman, of Creswell,' who survives him. He was a mem ber of the Methodist church at Cres well. Besides his widow, Mr. Jones is survived by two sons, Webb Jones, .jr., a prisoner of war in Germany; Bob by Ray Jones, of Plymouth; five daughters. Mrs. Myriel Dillon, of Pottstown, Pa.; Mrs. J. P. Phillips, of Pasco, Wash.; Misses Vivian Jones, of Philadelphia, Pa.: Margaret and Betty Jones, of Plymouth. He also leaves one brother, Albert Jones, of Jamesville; five sisters, Mrs. Jen nie Sawyer, of Elizabeth City; Mrs. Carrie Vanhorn, of Hickory, Va.; Mrs. | Lucy Alexander, Mrs. W. C. Godwin j and Mrs. Alma Bland, of Creswell; j and several half brothers and sisters. • Funeral services were held from the I Methodist church here Tuesday af-; ternoon at 3 o'clock by the Rev. T. R.1 Jenkins, pastor, assisted by the Rev. William B. Danils, Jr., rector of the Episcopal church. Interment was made in the Windley cemetery. Creswell Juniors | To Present Play; -- Creswell.—A tliree-act play, “The Hoodoo,” will be. presented by the junior class of the Creswell High School in the high school auditorium Friday evening, December 8. at 8 o’clock. Everyone is invited to at tend. A small admission fee will be charged, with the proceeds going to the junior class. This hilarious three-act farce por trays the love affairs of a modern Casanova who is given an ancient scarab by an uncle. The scarab has magic powers which hoodoo the wed ding party. Edwin Norman plays the part of the basing groom and Norma Belanga, as the bride, is the heroine. I ! Merchants Change i Holiday Schedule Plymouth stores and business ! houses will be closed three days for Christmas this year, it was decided at a special meeting’ of the Plymouth Merchants Asso ciation, held Monday afternoon. Christmas Eve falls on Sunday, and naturally all stores will be closed then: in addition, the merchants voted to close Christ mas Day and the day following. Monday and Tuesday, December 25 and 26, thus .making .it a three-day holiday. The action taken Monday re verses the stand taken several weeks ago, when it was voted to close Christmas Day only. How ever, only a small number of merchants was present at the earlier meeting, while about 20 attended Monday’s session. Arranging io Move Test Farm Within Next Three Weeks Plans Outlined for Occupy ing Tidewater Farm by First of Year -<§> J. L. Rea. jr.. superintendent of the Blackland Test Farm at Wenona. is ; planning to move to the new experi i ment station bought some months ago, with in the next three weeks, j The name of the new farm, located : about five miles east cf Plymouth on ! Highway 64. will be the Tidewater Test Farm. It is announced that Mr. and Mrs. Rea will occupy the main residence on the farm until a six room brick home can be built. A house and lot has been purchas ed by the state near the farm, and Mr. Rea’s foreman will live at this place. After completion of the new home for Mr. Rea, the present main residence on the farm will be moved and used as a tenant house, accord ing to present plans of the State De , part.ment of Agriculture. It is also announced that A. G. Pruyser ,of Del Ray Beach, Fla... for merly of Amsterdam, Holland, is planning to move his workers to the old Farm at Wenona about the first of the year. Mr. Pruyser plans to devote the entire farm to the pro duction of tulips, it was stated when the sale was completed in September. Fred Miller, in charge of the Test Farm Division of the State Depart (See TEST FARM, Page 4) -<*> Vita! Statistics Registrars Named by Commissioners The Washington County Commis sioners, at their regular meeting Monday, appointed the following as registrars of vital statistics for their respective townships: Scuppernong: J, A. Combs, of Cres well; Skinnersville: Miss Alice White, of; Skinnersville; Lees Mill: J. J. Hassell, of Roper; Plymouth: Moye W. Spruill, Plym outh. -® Lester Crofton Back With House Chevrolet Company Lester Crofton this week returned to the employ of the House Motor Company as a No. 1 automobile me chanic. He came here abut five or six years ago with the House organi zation, but for the past three years has been employed at the North Carolina Pulp Company. He invites all his friends to call cn him in his new position. 'E' Bend Sales Still Lag With But Little Over Week To Go Canvassers Urged To Make Concerted Effort to Put Campaign Over It is beginning to look as if Wash ington County bond buyers are falling down on the job in the Sixth War Loan campaign. With only a little more than a week left b^fcre the drive officially ends, the county stands at just about the half-way mark on both its overall and “E” bond quo tas, according to figures furnished yesterday by H. E. Beam, chairman of the county War Finance Commit tee. The "E" bond situation is consider ed the most serious by W. Rona'd Gaylord, chairman of the Sixth War Loan Drive. With a quota of $113 - GOO, sales through Tuesday stood at $47,200, with some sales not yet re ported by the Plymouth, Creswell and Roper post offices. Tt is heiieved that today, with all sales reported, the to tal might be in the neighborhood of the half-way mark, or «RR.500; tat that still leaves a lot of work to be done in a mighty little bit of time. Mr. Gaylord seemed to think that the $108,000 goal of other than “E” bonds will be realized before the cam paign closes, but there Is a very real danger that the county will come up short of its "E" bond goal. The county chairman urges every canvasser to make one last effort to complete his or her rounds and “put the pressure" on to increase the “E'’ bond total. If all the people are reached and urged to buy bonds, It is believed the quota can be sur passed. Farmers especially are urged to rally to the support of the cam paign, as this is the season when they are better able to buy bonds than at any other time. Those who have been buying stamps arc requested to turn them in on bonds during the drive, as these count just the same as cash purchases. < SeT^OND^SALETPageTT^^ Name New Officers Al Masonic Lodge Plans Also Made for Annual Banquet Tuesday Night Of Next Week E. Durand Keel was elected master of Perseverance Lodge, No. 59, A. F & A. M., at the annua! election of officers held Tuesday night: H. H. Allen was elected senior warden and W. S. Bowen junior warden. John W. Darden, secretary: and B. O. Campbell, treasurer, were reelected. The new officers will be installed at the first meeting after the New Year, when Edward L. Owens, pres ent master, will become the imme diate past master. Appointive of ficers will be selected by the newly elected master and installed with him at the January mreting. The local lodge is preparing to hold its annual Past Master's Night Tues day night of next week, December 12, when a banquet will be served in the American Legion Hall at 7:20 o'clock. Tliis occasion will also serve as ladies’ night and mark the 133rd anniversary of the founding of the lodge. The original charter was is sued to Perseverance Lodge of Plym outh on November 29, 1811. A large number of Masons and their ladies are expected to attend the banquet next week. The pro gram has not been completed, but de tails are in the hands uf the com mittee on arrangements, and an en tertaining and interesting evening assured. It's Too Late To Mail Early, Bat Post j Office Asks Mailing Soon as Possible j Local people have obeyed pos tal requests to “mail early” this j year much better than ever be fore, it was learned at the post office. Parcel post, in particular, has been very heavy for more ! than a week, and Postmaster J. j Corbett Swain said that if the rate of increase holds up for an- 1 other week, the office will just i absolutely be blocked by the volume. However, the outgoing ; packages have been mailed at a very steady rate, with fewer peak j or rush days as in past years. Both the incoming and outgo- j ing mails have been much heav- < ier so far this December than they were in the same period last year. It is too late to mail 1 early now, but the overworked employees in the post office hope patrons will at least mail as early as possible from now until Christmas. In common with other offices, the local post office is experiencing a shortage of help, but these 0:1 the job are working early and late to keep the mails movin'. The postmaster especially urges local people to mail their Christmas greeting cards as early as possible, even for local de livery. Stamp receipts are run ning a little better than last year, which indicates another record crop of greeting cards is in prospect. In 1943 the local office sold some 50,000 to 55.000 l'i-cent stamps, used largely for greetings, and sales this year are expected to run about the same.