The
Roanoke Beacon
* and Washington County News *******
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, December 14, 1944_
Those Boys Need
ESTABLISHED IS#*3
VOLUME LV—NUMBER 50
DON'T LET IT BE SAID THAT YOU FAILED—BUY THAT EXTRA $100 BOND TODAY!
Tr.own!
OPICSj
.mmmmmmmwwmmmmj
The senior class of the local high
school is sponsoring two performances
of Uncle Rufus’ hillbilly show here
Friday afternoon and night. Pro
ceeds will be used to defray expenses
of class projects. The public is urg
ed to attend.
Pfc. Lacy M. Warren, son of Mr.
and Mrs. M. G. Warren, of Roper,
Route 1, is now in a hospital in Eng
land, where he is being treated for
injuries received in an accident while
serving with the American Army in
France.
A copy of the so-called “G. I.
Bill of Bights” is now on file at
the office of the Washington
County Selective Service Board
here. Members of the office
force will be glad to advise or as
sist discharged service men in
securing the benefits available to
them under the terms of this
act.
Several county principals and
teachers attended a district meeting
and banquet for home economics
teachers in Robersonville Tuesday
night. Principal Roy I. Boyd and
Mrs. Wamie Gurkin, local home
economics teacher, attended from
Plymouth. The other home econom
ics teachers in the county are Mrs.
Lucy Klttrell, of Roper, and Miss
Beulah White, of Creswell.
Alison Grady Lamb, now serving
with the Navy in the Caribbean area,
has been advanced to the rating of
seaman, first class. He is the son of
Era Irene Lamb, of Plymouth. He
enlisted in the Navy on March 24,
1944, and has been in the Caribbean
area since June 10.
In a recent letter, Cpl. Leland L.
Riddick writes that he enjoys receiv
ing the Beacon every week, although
it is a bit late and he is a long ways
from home. He is serving with a mo
bile repair unit somewhere in Italy
and has been away from Plymouth
for three years, two of them overseas,
in England, North Africa and Italy.
He is well and sends greetings to his
many friends back home.
Members of the local rationing
board's office force are looking
forward to their lone annual of
ficial holiday on Monday, De
cember 25. Although there are
a few occasions during the year
when the office is closed to the
public, members of the office
force are at work behind the
closed doors, and Christmas Day
is the only official holiday recog
nized by the OPA.
Cpl. Stuart Bateman, who is sta
tioned at Myrtle Beach, S. C„ with
an Army Signal Corps unit, is visit
ing his sister, Miss Ursula Bateman,
county superintendent of public wel
fare. Corporal Bateman has been in
sendee since April, 1941.
George Harrison, electricians mate,
first class, of the U. 8. Naval Reserve,
is spending about a week here with
relatives. He is now stationed on the
West Coast and expects to be assigned
to overseas duty shortly after his
return to duty.
Cpl. Tom Gardner is spendng a few
days at home. He is now stationed
at Camp Claiborne, La., where his du
ties are connected with the main
tenance and operation of a petro
leum pipe line.
Son of R. T. Warren
Wounded in Action
-A
Robert T. Warren, of Washington,
who has been employed at the ACL
station here for the past two years,
was advised Monday that his son,
Pfc. Robert T. Warren, jr„ 25, had
been slightly wounded In action No
vember 27 In Germany. The advice
was contained In a telegram to the
young man's mother in Washington.
Mr. Warren received a letter from
his son yesterday, stating that he had
been slightly wounded in the back
but was getting along very well In a
Paris hospital. He wrote that he ex
pected to be in the hosiptal for about
a month.
Young Warren was serving with an
Infantry regiment. He entered the
service on February 7, 1942, and went
overseas on December 4, last year. He
was stationed in northern Ireland
for sometime before going to France
in August of this year.
Over Million Dollars' Worih of Bonds
Bonghl in County Since January 1st
Washington County people
have bought well over a million
dollars’ worth of War Bonds this
year, it was learned yesterday
from H. E. Beam, chairman of
the County War Finance Com
mittee. This total embraces all
types, from “E” bonds to tax
and Treasury certificates of in
debtedness.
Mr. Beam did not have a
break-down for all the issuing
agencies in the county, but the
Branch Banking A Trust Com
pany here alone has Issued t,
087 "E” bonds since the first of
January, the maturity value of
whfch is $368,575. Mr Beam
said he was sure the three post
offices had probably Issued more
than this number of bonds, al
though the amount represented
might not total as much.
Coupon bonds, certificates of
indebtedness and tag cert.ficates
issued during the year will
amount to considerably more
than the total of “E” bonds, Mr.
Beam said, although he did not
have any accurate figures as to
actual sales. There are four is
suing agencies in the county, the
local bank and post office in
Plymouth, Roper and Creswoll.
; Beacon Schedule To Be Changed Next
| Two Weeks Account oi Repair Work
Announcement is made this
week that The Beacon schedule
will undergo some changes dur
ing the next two weeks, due to
repair work underway in the of
fice. Next week, the Beacon will
appear a day earlier, on Wednes
day, Decembr 20; while the fol
lowing week, the paper will be at
least a day late, com jig out Fri
day, December 29.
A new concrete floor for the
office is to be poured after the
paper is published next week.
Due to the necessity of moving
all machinery and allowing time
for the concrete to set, the inter
vals between papers is being in
creased. The office will not be
open for business from Decem
ber 21 through December 26, in
clusive; and we trust our patrons
will bear with us during this
emergency.
Articles and correspondence
for next week s paper must be
in the office by Monday to in
sure publication. Subscribers, ad
vertisers an'! correspondents are
requested to please bear the
changed schedule in mind.
Empty Stocking Fund
To Care for Couuty’s
Needy This Christmas
NOW OVERSEAS
Gerald C. Spencer, 19, son of
Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Spencer, of
Roper, is now serving overseas
with the Marine Corps. He is a
graduate of the Roper High
School and went Into the service
last June. He trained at Parris
Island, S. C., New River, N. C„
and Camp Pendleton, Calif. He
qualified as an expert rifleman at
Parris Island, shooting the high
est score in his platoon and the
fourth highest for the regiment.
His brother, Marvin E. Spencer,
jr., serving with the Naval Air
Forces overseas.
Retail Business Up
Here as Christmas
Buying Nears Peak
Toys and Displays Not as
Elaborate as in Past on
Account of War
Despite shortages, gasoline ration
ing and other restrictions brought
about by the war, retail business in
Plymouth is showing the effects of the
approaching Christmas season. The
volume of sales has been picking up
rapidly during the past two or three
weeks, with the peak expected to be
reached during the coming week.
Most of the stores have put up
their green and red Christmas deco
rations, and displays of suggested
gift items are varied and colorful.
Most of the toy assortments are pret
ty well picked over by this time, be
cause Santa Claus will make his
rounds to visit the smaller children,
war or no war.
Toys are not as elaborate as they
once were, and there are very few
items of metal and rubber to be
found on th counters. The variety
of games shows no lessening, how
ever; and plastic, wood and card
board are being used as substitutes
for the metal devices seen in pre-war
years. New wheel toys are almost
™Tsee BUSINESS, Page 4)
Worthy Cases Will
Receive Certificates
Good for Necessities
Welfare Department Aids
By Certifying Need To
Committee Members
Some measure of Christmas cheer
is assured for the needy of Wash
ington County this year by an an
nouncement made yesterday by the
Rev. William B. Daniels, jr„ chair
man of the Empty Stocking Fund
Committee. Approximately $400,
raised during the recent United War
Fund Drive, is available for this
fund this year, and Dr. Daniels said
arrangements had been completed for
its distribution during the coming
week.
The plan adopted last year will be
used again this year. Empty Stock
ing Fund coupons, valued at 50 cents
each, will be issued so that needy
families in the county may purchase
their own Christmas supplies, sub
ject to certain restrictions, Mr. Dan
iels said. Every family to which
coupons will be issued has been cer
tified as a worthy case by Miss Ursu
la Bateman, of the County welfare
department. So far, 88 needy cases
have been certified, as compared with
about 30 a year ago.
The number of coupons issued per
family is based on the number in
the family and the degree of need.
The Branch Banking & Trust Com
pany of Plymouth will honor the cou
pon.'! lit face value when they are pre
sented by any merchant of Washing
ton County.
The coupons may be used by reci
Ts^NEEDY CASES, Page 4)
Over 100 Attend
Masonic Banquet
Past Masters tfonored and
Anniversary Celebrated
Tuesday Night
-♦
More than 100 members and guests
were present Tuesday night at the
Legion Hall for the 133rd anniver
sary celebration and 25th annual
Past Masters’ Banquet of Persever
ance Lodge, No. 59, A. F. & A. M.
The occasion was also observed as
ladies’ night, and it was declared to
be one of the largest and most suc
cessful occasions of its kind In the
history of the lodge.
Edward L. Owens, master of the
lodge, served as toastmaster and re
viewed some of the activities of the
order here during the past year.
Present officers of the lodge were
recognized, as also was Mrs. Hilda
Gurganus, Worthy Grand Matron of
the Order of the Eastern Star.
The proceedings at the Legion Hall
followed a short meeting of the lodge
at the hall. The banquet was served
by members of the Young Matrons’
Circle of the Christian church. For
mer State Senator Carl L. Bailey
made the principal address, which
was described as one of the best
Masonic speeches ever heard here.
John W. Darden, secretary of the
lodge, reviwed the history of the
lodge very briefly; and a memorial
address was made by State Senator
W. Roy Hampton in honor of the
Masons who had passed away since
the last Past Masters’ Day. He also
paid tribute to all members of the
lodge now serving in the military
forces. Perseverance Lodge has seven
members in the service; and one of
them, Harley Lee Johnson, was killed
in action during the past year.
Tire roll call of past masters was
made by H. H. McLean, district
deputy grand master; and there were
several other interesting features on
the program. Shep Brinkley pro
vided the piano music for the oc
casion; and the Rev. E. B. Quick and
Rev. Lee A. Phillips made the invo
cation and benediction, respectively.
Board of Educaiion
Members To Confer
With State Officials
Will Go To Raleigh Next!
Week for Meeting With
State Superintendent
County school authorities will leave
Tuesday for Raleigh, where they will
confer Wednesday with Dr. Clyde
Erwin, state superintendent of pub
lic instruction, and other state of
ficials relative to a program for in
creasing and improving school fa
cilities in Washintgon County. Plan
ning to make the trip are H, H. Mc
Lean, county superintendent, and all
three members of the board of edu
cation: L. E. Hassell, chairman, of
Roper: P. B. Belanga, of Creswell:
and James W. Norman, of Plymouth.
School conditions in the county are
at the lowest level they have been in
many years, due to a number of caus
es. Due to deterioration, several
school bui'.dings are in serious need
of major repairs; and a number of
new structures are needed on account
of increased enrollment and inade
quacy of present facilities.
County officials have been giving
the problem consideration for several
months, and some time ago they re
quested the aid of state officials in
working out a long-term plan to al
leviate existing conditions. The di
rector of schoolhouse planning in
North Carolina, W. F. Credle, came
here and made a survey early in No
vember, when he was accompanied by
Dr. Ray L. Hamon, of the U. S. Of
fice of Education, Washington. D. C.
It is understood that these men
have a preliminary report and recom
mendations about ready for consider
ation. and the county school authori
ties asked Dr. Erwin for an appoint
ment to talk the matter over with
him. Details of the recommendations
have not been transmitted here, but
it is expected some of them will be
available after the meeting in Ra
leigh next Wednesday.
Farmers Urged To
Make ^Bplicalions
For 'ScIfPayments
25 Per Cent of Those Eli
gible Have Not Applied;
Some Checks Here
-®
Applications for soil conservation
payments have been made by ap
proximately 75 per cent of Washing
ton County farmers who are eligible
for them, it was stated this week by
Miss Miriam Ausbond, AAA secretary
at the agriculture building here. She
requests all farmers who have not
applied to do so as soon as possible,
preferably before Christmas, so that
their aplications may be forwarded
to state and national headquarters
for approval.
Miss Ausbond said there were 850
farms, and possibly 1,000 or more
farmers and tenants, eligible to par
ticipate in the soil building program.
However, about 100 to 150 of the
farms did not carry out the soil
building practices required, and
hence they will not receive payments
this year.
So far, 530 aplications for pay
ments have been forwarded from the
local office. Seventy-two checks
have been received and are being dis
tributed to farmers and tenants, the
amounts ranging from a low of 90
cents to a high of $380.85, it was stat
ed. The total amount represented in
the 72 checks thus far issued Is
around $5,000 to $6,000.
-®
Musical Recital at Roper
Next Monday Afternoon
-$
Roper.—Tire music class of Mrs.
Roy Hopkins will give a duet recital
of Christmas carols Monday after
noon at 2:30 in the school auditorium.
The public is invited to attend.
8 Shopping Days
Until Christmas
For the convenience of shop
pers who are not able to visit lo
cal places of business during
daylight hours, Plymouth stores
will remain open each night un
til 9 o’clock, beginning Wednes
day of next week, December 20.
This schedule will be followed
Wednesday. Thursday and Fri
day nights, and they also will be
open until 10 o’clock Saturday
night, the last shopping day be
fore Christmas.
With only eight more shopping
days until Christmas, gift seekers
are advised to make their pur
chases as early as possible. The
morning hours are best, as stores
are not as crowded then as they
are later in the day. Stocks arp
fairly complete up to now, but
patrons are advised to remember
that there can be little replace
ment between now and Chirst
mas.
County Still Below "E” Bond
Goal With Few Days To Go
Elberi Lee Woodley,
Creswell, Reported
Missing Last Week
Was Resident of Plymouth
For Three Years Before j
Entering Army
Mrs. Sybil Spruill Woodley, of
Creswell, received a telegram last
Thursday from the War Department,
informing her that her husband.
Pvt. Elbert Lee Woodley. 23. has been j
missing in action in France since No- j
vember 14th. Private Woodley is well;
known in Plymouth, where he lived i
for about three years while employed j
at the plant of the North Carolina;
Pulp Company. He is the 23rd Wash- ]
ington County man to be reported
killed or missing in line of duty since
the present war began. His parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Cyfle Woodley, live j
in Creswell .
Private Woodley was accepted for j
service in the Army on December 3.!
1943, and actually entered the serv- I
ice on December 26, last year. He i
trained in South Carolina and was;
later assigned to a camp at Indian-'
town Gap. Pa. He received special!
training in mountain warfare in West1
Virginia after that and then returned j
to the Indiantown Gap camp as an 1
instructor.
His last visit home was early in
July this year, and he left for over
seas shortly afterwards, on July 25.
In a letter to his wife, received a few
weeks ago, he wrote that he was driv
ing a truck, hauling ammunition to;
the front.
At the time he entered the service
he was working for the Post Office
Department, carrying mail from Wil
Iiamston to Columbia. He had been
in this work for about a year; and
prior to that he was employed for
three years at the North Carolina
Pulp Company here.
He was a member of the Christian
church at Cherry and a graduate of
the Creswell High School. About
four years ago he was married to Miss
Sybil Spruill, of Creswell, and they
have two children, Elbert Felix, 2
years of age; and Robert Drane, 4
months old. One brother, Joe Wood
ley lives in Plymouth while his par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Cyfie Woodley,
and another brother, Richard Wood
ley. live in Creswell.
Legion Auxiliary Will
Meet Monday Night
A cook-book dinner party, honor
ing the past president of the Ameri
can Legion Auxiliary, will be held
Monday, December 18, at 7:30 p.m.,
in the Legion Hall. All members of
the auxiliary are invited and re
quested to bring their Christmas gifts
for exchange at this time.
School Holiday Is
Nearly Two Weeks
Close After Classes Next
Wednesday; Reopen on
Tuesday, January 2
-®
Washington County school child
ren will get almost two weeks away
from their studies during the Christ
mas season, it was learned this week
from H. H. McLean, county superin
tendent of public instruction. All
schools in the county, white and
colored, will close after classes next
Wednesday, December 20, and will
resume sessions on Tuesday, Janu
ary 2.
Due to the late start of schools last
fall, opening of which was delayed
by the Infantile paralysis epidemic,
it is expected that the term will not
finally end until about the middle of
June. The closing date cannot defi
nitely be determined yet, as bad
weather this winter may block ope
ration of school busses and extend
the term.
Another factor that will cause later
closing next spring is the addition of
a month to the school term, which
became effective this year. Prior to
the current term, schools of the state
had eight-month sessions, but this
year started on nine-month terms.
Pvt. Lloyd R. Waters at
Army Hospital in Florida
Daytona Bleach, Fla.—Pvt. Lloyd
R. Waters, who formerly lived in
Plymouth and Jamesville, has re
cently arrived at Welch Convalescent
Hospital, the Army's new recondi
tioning center in Daytona Beach. The
carefully planned reconditioning pro
gram here will speed his convales
j cence and assist his return to the best
| of health.
The sen of Lloyd C. Waters, of
| Plymouth, N. C., Pvt. Waters was in
I jured while undergoing basic train
j ing. His wife. Mrs. Beulah'Ange Wa
' ters, lives in Jamesville.
I SERVING IN ITALY
Pvt Bob Thomas Furlough, son
of T. E. Furlough, of Roper, Is
now in Italy with an engineers
outfit. He has been overseas for
three years, and was waarded the
Purple Heart Medal after being
wounded in the foot by sharpnel
in North Africa on February 2,
1943. He recovered completely
after three months in a hos.ptal
and returned to active duty. In
a recent letter, he wrote that he
was getting along fine and hoped
to be home soon.
Tax Supervisor and
Township Assessors
To Meet Next Week
To Work Out Schedule for
Uniform Listing of Per
sonal Property
Township tax listers end boards of
assessors will meet at the courthouse
with the tax supervisor next Wednes
day night at 8 o’clock to receive in
structions about their work, which is
•scheduled to get underway through- [
out the county on January 1st. Coun- 1
ty Commissioner J. C. Knowles, of
Roper, is tax supervisor and will as
sist the list-takers and assessors in
working out plans for making the j
listing as uniform as possible in all •
four townships. I
All real estate in the county Is;
subject to review and revaluation
next year, pursuant to state law,;
which requires such action every four |
years. The last revaluation was In j
1941. Beards of assessors for the res-!
pective townships were appointed by j
the commissioners at their meeting!
December 4. They w ill be sworn in j
at the meeting next Wednesday and,
instructed as the manner and method
to be followed in listing.
It is understood that the boards
of assessors will serve as list-takers;
except possibly in Plymouth 1 own
ship, where It Is usually necessary to
have a list-taker for personal pro
perty in addition to the there asses
sors.
At the meeting next week, a uni
form schedule of values is to be work
ed out for listing personal property,
including cattle, hogs, sheep, mules
and horses. The object is to make
the valuations as nearly uniform as
possible throughout the county.
Roper Parents-Teackers
To Meet Next Tuesday
—--ry-—— ■ .
Roper.—The Roper Parent-Teach
er Association will meet Tuesday
evening of next week, December 19,
at 8 o'clock, in the high school audi
torium. A special Christmas enter
tainment has been planned by the
program committee for this meeting,
and patrons and friends of the school
are urged to attend.
A Christmas pageant will be pre
sented by the grammar grades, and '■
the gree club will sing a selection of I
Christmas carols. 1
Sales To Yesterday
$62,585; £5 Per Cer.l
Of Ihe $113,000 Quota
All Bonds Sold This Month
Will Be Credited To
Sixth War Loan
-$
•E" Bond sales in Washington.
County in the Sixth War Loan Cam
paign are running just about the
same as the national average, ac
cording to reports yesterday. Hov'
ever, that is not good enough; and
unless there is a sudden spurt in
sales between now and Saturday
night, Washington County is due to
fall short of its quota. The Sixth
War Loan officially ends Saturday
night, but it was announced this week
that all bond sales during the re
mainder of the mon'h would be cred
ited tc the county quotas.
As of yesterday, "E" bond sales
since the start of the drive amount
ed to $62,595; while the county quota
is $113,000. Thus the county has
sold slightly mere than 55 per cent
of its quota, according to H. E. Beam,
chairman of the War Finance Com
mittee. This percentage is about the
same as that for the nation as a
whole up to this time.
The sale or negotiable bonds and
tax certificates will add to the over
all total for the county, the quota for
which is $219,000, but it is the “E"
bond quota which is causing con
cern. The total sales reported above
do not include sales at the post of
fices in Cre-well, Roper and Plym
outh since December 7th, but does
include sales at the local bank up to
yesterday.
Those who plan to buy bonds are
requested not to wait for canvassers
or solicitors to call on them, but to
go ahead and buy them now, so that
the county may get credit during the
present- drive. Also thoc" who have
sufficient stamps on hand are asked
to turn them in on bonds, as the o
will count just the same as cash pur
chases.
County Chairman of the Sixth War
Loan, W. R. Gaylord, Ls making a
final appeal to canvassers to see all
those in their respective areas dur
ing the few days remaining if pos
sible, so that no one may be missed
in the drive. Every emphasis should
be put on the sale of “E’ bonds, as
it is believed the quota of other than
"E" bonds will be leeched before the
end of the week.
No report, has been received of the
amount of “E” bonds bought by men
in the service and credited to this
county. In the last campaign such
sales amounted to about $8,000. Last
minute bond purchases for Christmas
gifts are expected to swell the total
somewhat, but the margin is entirely
too close for comfort at this time:
and it will require every sale possible
for the county to reach its goal by the
end of the drive.
County Board To
Meet Next Week
The county board of commissioners
will hold an adjourned meeting in the
courthouse here next Wednesday
night. Unable to finish all the work
that came before them last first Mon
day, the board recessed until Decem
ber 20, when it will resume where it
left oil last week.
Among the items scheduled for
consideration next Wednesday am
election of a county attorney, audi
tor, tax collector, farm superinten
dent and courthouse janitor. Other
matters wil probably receive atten
tion also.
-*
Services Sunday at St.
Luke's Church in Roper
The Rev. William B. Daniels, Jr„
wiil conduct, service and deliver the
sermon at St. Luke’s Episcopal
Church, Roper, Sunday morning, De
cember 17. The service will begin at
11:15 a.m.
] Much Money Paid Oui by Local Bank I
I In Past Three Weeks for Glif Buying |
The local bank has paid out a
large amount of cash during the
past two or three weeks, princi
pally to be used for Christmas
shopping, it was learned this
neck from H. E. Beam, the cash
ier The exact amount was not
divulged by the banker, but it Is
indicated that it will total more
than $100,000.
Although the Branch Banking
& Trust Company here docs not
have the regular Christmas sav
ings accounts, as in years past,
a number of thrifty people set
up special Christmas accounts
every year, adding a little each
week in order to provide a fund
for them to draw on for Chr st
mas shopping. He also said that
a number of these people found,
when Christmas time rolled
around, that they could get along
without drawing on these ac
counts ar.d kept them In the
bank or bought War Bonds.
Incidentally, Mr. Beam said
there had been no wholesale
“cashing in" of War Bonds here
in order to get Christmas money.
The rate of redemption is still
ralher h gh, but it has not no
\ ticeab’y increased since the
Christmas shopping season be
i tan.