North Carolina Newspapers

Do Your Par! To Make Victory Final and Complete by Buying Bonds in the 7th War Loan ■■■■■■■■■ i Town op ICS T Sgt. A. B. Davenport. jr„ is vis iting his parents. Mr. and Mrs. A. E Davenport, in the Roper section fo the first time in six years. He wa stationed in the Pacific when wa broke out in 1941, and this is th first opportunity he has had to re turn home since. The “brownout" came to an en yesterday, when the War Productio: Board revoked its order against un necessary lighting following Presi dent Truman's proclamation of vie tory in Europe. This means tha theatre marquee lights, advertisin signs, and show windows may agaii be lighted up. The Plymouth Parent-Teacher Association will meet Thursday night of this week at 8 o'clock, in the high school auditorium. All patrons and friends of the local school are urged to he present. Pvt. Lutlrern N. Allen, of the Arm Air Forces, is spending a brief fur lough with his parents. Mr. and Mr: J. H. Allen, of Plymouth. He recent ly completed a course in radio me clianics at Truax Field. Wis., an Scott Field. 111., and will report t Sheppard Field. Texas, for assign ment at the conclusion of his fur lough. S. Sgt. R A. Lang, husband of Mr: Kathreen Mobley Lang, manager c Rose's store here, is now in an Arm hospital in Georgia and expects to b home shortly for 30 days' leave. Serg eant Lang was reported in Januar as missing in action in German during the "Battle of the Bulge." H parents live in Ayden. After being closed since April fi, the season for taking bass, perch and other game fish in in land waters will open on Satur day of next week. May 19. Local fishermen are planning to return to the streams of this section in big numbers when the season reopens, provided bait enough to go around can be located within another week. County Auditor E. J. Spruill wa back in his office at the courthous Monday for a short while, after be ing out for more than a month whil receiving medical treatment at Rocky Mount hospital. He is sti weak and does not expect to be i the office regularly for a while unt he regains his strength. Pfc. Tim L. Warren, who has bee serving with the American Fift Army in Italy, was recently awarde the Good Conduct Medal, his par 'See TOPICS, Page 4) The Roanoke Beacon | ^444444 and Washington County News ★★★★★★★ VOLUME LVI NUMBER 19 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, May 10, 1945 : ___- - .1 — =" ■■ —=■ " ■ ------ ■ . ■—. T" -TV. ■ ■; ■ ■ Hock-'emMp/ \ HtKPBUrMGWAKBOfflsI ESTABLISHED 1889 V-E Day Is Quietly Observed in County —-----—--+ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ i ’Still Wins Mayoralty; I Five New Councilmen Elected Here Tuesday ELECTED MAYOR Eugene F. Still, president of the Plymouth Box & Panel Com pany and a former councilman, was elected mayor of Plymouth for the coming two years at the town election Tuesday. He will head a nearly completely new city government, since but one member of the old council was reelected. e a il a 11 a it d Mr. and Mrs. Whitley Now Operate Williford's Tavern Mr. and Mrs. Harold Whitley re cently purchased Williford’s Tavern and took over its operation Monday of this week. As soon as building restrictions are lifted. Mr. Whitley plans to erect a modern cafe on the vacant lot adjoining the tavern pro perty. First Steps Taken for School Bond Election Needs, Purposes Sei Forth in Resolution Financial Statement Shows Present Net School Debt Is $257,300 County authorities took prelimi nary steps at their meetings last Monday for calling and holding the special election to vote on issuance of $250,000 worth of bonds for con struction of new school buildings and repairing and making additions to present buildings. The procedure being followed was recommended by New York bond attorneys who will pass on the validity of the proceed ings before any bonds can be issued and sold. The board of education, at its meeting, adopted a resolution pre sented by County Attorney W. L. Whitley. It recites the necessity for the election and formally requests the county board of commissioners to take the required steps to call an election ‘as soon as practicable.’ ’ It also sets out the purpose for which the bonds are issued, including “the erection and purchase of new schoolhouses and to remodel, recondition and add to existing buildings’’ in order to maintain the constitutional school term. In turn, the county commissioners received the resolution and entered it upon their minutes at Monday’s meeting. This constitutes formal acknowledgement of the request, as required by the special act passed at the last session of the legislature. The commissioners also received and en tered a certified statement from the county auditor showing the school bonded indebtedness now outstand ing against the county, as required by the county finance act. This statement shows an outstand ing debt for school purposes of $303, 300: from which is deducted $46,000 now in the school sinking fund, leav ing a net school bonded indebtedness of $257,300 at present. With an as sessed property valuation of $6,730, 344 in the county, this indicates a present net school debt of 3.82 per i ent of the total valuation, well with - in the 10 per cent maximum allowed by the state constitution. , i See FIRST STEPS, Page 4) New Schedule in j Effect at School j . ...i Schedules for local school hours have been changed so that students now get out at 2 o'clock instead of 3:15 p.m. in order that those who work on farms may help with spring planting. Be ginning Monday, the schedule was altered with school beginning at 8:20 a.m. and running five shortened periods before lunch hour at 12:30 p.m. This allows one more period when the after noon sesion begins at 1:15 p.m. The schedule will be maintained until the end of school June 6. Mrs. Allie Roberson Rites Held Saturday Mrs. Allie Bullock Roberson, widow of the late Ira Roberson, of Plym outh, died in a Rocky Mount hospital last Friday morning at 6:45 after an illness of only one week. She was 55 years of age. Daughter of the late Jessie B. and Luvenia Bullock, Mrs. Roberson was bom in Pitt County on August 24, 1888, and lived there until about three years ago, when the family moved to Plymouth. She was married to Ira Roberson, also of Pitt Coun ty, who died about two years ago af ter they had lived here about a year. Mrs. Roberson was a member of the Gum Swamp Baptist church in Pitt county. Funeral services were held from the Horner Funeral Home her Saturday aftrnoon at 3 o’clock, with the Rev. P. B. Nickens. pastor of the local Baptist church in charge. In terment was made in the family cem etery near Bethel. Mrs. Roberson is survived by six sons: Sam Roberson, of Tarboro: Alton Roberson, of Elizabeth City; Harvey Roberson, of the U. S. Navy, somewhere in the Pacific; Hugh Rob erson, of the U. S. Navy, stationed in California; Carl Roberson, of the U. S. Army, stationed at Daytona Beach, Fla.; Ira Roberson, jr., of Plymouth; and one daughter, Miss Doris Rober son, of Plymouth. She also leaves on* brother, Howell Bullock, of Pitt County. New Group lo Meet Monday to Organize Riddle, Harrison, Brinkley, Keel, Byrd and Marrow Compose Council Plymouth voters elected almost a completely new slate of town officials in the municipal election held here Tuesday. Only one member of the old council Henry E. Harrison, of the first ward, was returned to office: and Eugene F. Still had a substantial lead in each of the three wards over the incumbent mayor. B. G. Camp bell. The new council is composed of Mr. Harrison and A. J. Riddle, from the fust ward: E. Durand Keel and J. Shepherd Brinkley, of the second ward; and A. J. Byrd and J. Wesley Marrow, of the third ward. The mayor and new council mem bers took their oaths of office and en tered upon their duties shortly after noon yesterday, as soon as the of ficial canvass of returns was com pleted. The oaths were administered by Representative W. H. Peele. Im mediately afterwards. Mayor Still made a brief talk, expressing his ap preciation for the honor accorded him and the privilege of serving with the new council members. It also was announced that the new council would hold a meeting next Monday night for the purpose of or ganizing and studying the fiscal af fairs and condition of the town. The city clerk was asked to prepare a fi nancial statement and have it ready for consideration at that time. In the election Tuesday, 437 votes were cast, a new high but still far short of the potential voting strength of the town. There were 181 ballots cast in the first ward. 99 in the sec ond, and 157 in the third. Mr. Still led the ticket in both the first and third wards, while both successful candidates for councilmen in the sec. one! ward received more votes than did either candidate for mayor. The total vote for mayor was 360 for Still and 77 for Campbell. Voting among the councilmanic candidates was close in the third ward, there were five candidates, in cluding both members of the old council. A. J. Bvrd. a late-comer in the race, announced last Saturday and led the balloting with 80 votes. J. Wesley Marrow was second, with 75: and G. R. Leggett, incumbent, missed out by only 8 votes, polling 67. C. O. Kelly, the other incum bent, polled 43, and R. E. Bowen 37. In the first ward, A. J. Riddle was top man for the council, with 130 votes, while Mr. Harrison came next, with 128. Edward L. Owens received 47 and P. H. Darden 34 votes. Shep Brinkley was high man in the sec uSefTciTY ELECTION, Page 41 -$ Owners Requested To Call for Photos -® The photographs of Washington County service men lent by relatives to the Plymouth Theatre for repro duction on the screen have been re turned. and owners are requested to call for them at the theatre, Shep Brinkley stated this week. A total of 462 photographs wf re received by the theatre management. Groups of the photographs are be ing shown on the screen here at all shows Saturday and Sunday of each week. About 50 appear in each group, and the series will continue for six or seven weeks more before they are all run. A. D. Basinger Died Friday at Gastonia Home of Daughter Had Been Resident Here Since 1910; In Failing Health Three Years A. D. Basinger, well-known resi S dent of Plymouth for 35 years, died as the result of a stroke at the home of his daughter. Mrs. W. L. Wilson, of Gastonia, last Friday evening at 11 o'clock. Mr. Basinger had been in failing health for the past three years, and for the past six months lived at the home of his daughter in Gastonia. He was 76 years of age. Son of the late D. A. and Mary Ellen Basinger, he was born in [Richmond. Va.. on June 28, 1868. On June 28. 1891. he was married to Miss Annie L. Mills, also of Rich mond. Va., and they continued to live there until 1910. when they mov ed to Plymouth. Mr. Basinger was an exceptional master mechanic, and he came here to work with the old Wiltz Veneer Company. Later he went into busi ness for himself as proprietor of the Basinger Machine Works. About three years ago his health began to fail, and he sold out his business and retired. He was well known through out the county for his ready wit and capability, and he leaves many friends here. For 35 years he was a member of the local Methodist church, and he also was an active member of the Masonic lodge here for a long period of time. Funeral services were held from the Billips Funeral Home in Richmond, Va., Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, by the Rev. Mr. Morris, of the Metho dist church. Interment was made in the Oakwood Cemetery at Richmond. Besides his widow. Mrs. Annie L. Basinger, of Gastonia and Plymouth, Mr. Basinger is survived by five daughters, Mrs. W. L. Wilson, of Gas tonia; Mrs. H. W. Latham, of Ar lington, Va.: Mrs. W. D. Powell, of Norfolk, Va.: Mrs. E. E. Adcock, of Lowell: Mrs. William Linkins, of Washington, D. C.; and two sons, Dan A. Basinger, of Plymouth: and Ira M. Basinger, of Richmond, Va. He also leaves a sister Mrs. W. R. Mill, of Richmond. Va.: and a bro ther. J. S. Basinger, of Richmond. Va. Five Cases Tuesday In Recorder's Court Charges Include Assault, Burglary, Larceny; One Held for High Court Judge W. Ronald Gaylord tried on ly five cases in the recorder’s court here Tuesday but defendants had a variety of charges including assault, burglary and larceny. Pines centered around $25 although one defendant was found not guilty, while another was bound over to the superior court under $1,500 bond. Following are the court proceedings: Joe Lassiter, colored, of Plym outh, was given 60 days on the coun ty farm for being publicly drunk. Robert Minton, USMC, white, charged with temporary larceny of an automobile and assault, was fined $25 and costs and required to be of good behavior for a period of two years. Joseph W. Joyce, USN, white, charged with assault with a deadly weapon, was given a six months sen tence, suspended upon payment of $25 and costs and leaving the county for two years. Willie Moore, colored, of Plymouth, age 16, was given a hearing on charg es of burglary. Probable cause was found and Moore was bound over to the superior court under $1,500 bond. Z. T. Tarkenton. white, of Gates County, was found not guilty of dis posing of mortgaged property. r ] 3,000 Applications for Canning Sugar j Made To Rationing Board Last Week Approximately 3,000 applica tions for canning sugar were made at the school registration sites in the county last week, it was learned from the office of the war price and rationing board. This is about the same number as applied last year. Half the total, or 1,500. appli cations were. received from resi dents of the Plymouth-Wenona sections. The Roper community had about 700 applicants and Creswell approximately 800, ac cording to a tentative survey made this week. All applications most be indi virtually considered and acted up on by the rationing board. Sugar allotments will be mailed out just as soon as possible, it was stat ed yesterday. It is emphasized that such sugar is to be used only for canning purposes, with severe penalties provided for vio lations. Rationing board officials ex pressed their appreciation to principals and teachers of all the schools for their help in prepar ing and receiving the applica tions. The registration was con ducted at all schools in the coun ty Wednesday. Thursday and Friday of last week. German Surrender Officially Proclaimed 9 A. M. Tuesday Review Indicates Over 1,050 From County in Service End of War in Europe Finds County Record Good in All Phases of Effort When official proclamation of Vic tory in Europe was being read by President Truman Tuesday morning, the thoughts of most Washington County people turned back over the past three and a half years. They were remembering the changes wrought in the manner of living, the hundreds of familiar faces now miss ing from the local scene, some of them forever, and they also thought ahead to the task of winning a com plete victory by the eventual over throw of the Japanese Empire. On December 7. 1941. there were possibly less than 100 men from this county in the armed forces of the na tion. There were few on the scene in Pearl Harbor, when the treacher ous Jap blow fell. At least one Er nest J. Davenport, of Creswell, is be lieved to have lost his life on that day or shortly afterwards, since the Army transport on which he sailed a few days previously was reported overdue at its destination on Decem ber 10, and he was officially declared dead a year later by the War De partment. His name is the first to bear a gold star on Washington County's roll of honor. Since that date, more than 1,050 men from this county have entered the armed forces of the nation. This number represents almost 10 per cent of the 12,323 total population of the county in 1940. Twenty-seven have been killed or missing in line of duty: upwards of 100 have been wounded in various degrees, many of them returning to action, and at least one has been wounded on four dif ferent occasions. At least five men were reported prisoners of war of the Germans or Italians during the course of the war; and. so far. relatives have received no news concerning their release. So far as known here, none has been of ' See 1.050 IN SERVICETPagelT" Take Steps To Sel Up Soil District --fc Vote in Five Counties of This Section Approved by State Committee -® The recent referendum on organi zation of a soil district in this sec tion was approved at a meeting of the State Conservation Committee on May 3. County Agent W. V. Hays was informed this week by A. A. Cone, assistant state conservationist. T..l proposed organization was approved over whelmingly by vote of landown ers last month in the counties of Washington, Beaufort. Tyrrell, Dare and Hyde. The state committee appointed Al len D. Swindell. of Beaufort Coun ty, as soil conservation district su pervisor for a term of two years and C. E. Morris, of Tyrrell County, for a term of one year. In the near fu ture these two men will execute an application for charter of the Pam lico Conservation District and file it with the proper authorities. The next step will be the election of three supervisors from the dis trict for three-year terms. This elec tion will be on a district-wide basis, it is stated. Further details about this referendum will be announced next week. Organization of the soil conserva tion district was largely favored be cause it will make possible securing surplus government equipment with out cost that may be used in drainage work in this section. Honor Students at Local School Announced Today Jack Harris won the honor of be ing valedictorian of the Plymouth High School graduating class, with a yearly average on all subjects of 92.43, it was announced at the school this morning. Joe A1 Latham, with an average of 91.35. will be the sa lutatorian. The next highest aver ages were made by Janet Bowen, 91.33; and Zeno Lyon, jr. 91.18. It will be noticed that there was less than one-fifth of 1 per cent differ ence in the averages of the latter three students. j Sunday Will Be ] ; Doubly Observed ] Next Sunday, May 13, is Mo ther's Day. and special sermons around this theme are announced at most churches and Sunday schools of the county. Everyone whose mother is living is expect ed to wear a red flower, while those whose mothers are dead will wear a white flower in her honor. Sunday has also been pro claimed by President Truman as a day of prayer throughout the United States, dedicated to the memory of those who have given their lives to make possible the victory over Germany. Combined observance of Mother's Day and the Day of Prayer doubtless will bring record crowds to churches of the town and county. Regular Meeting of Board Held Monday Bond Election and Routine Matters Before County Commissioners -- Mostly routine business was dis posed of at the meeting of the Coun ty Board of Commissioners here Mon day. with commissioners H H. Allen. A. R. Latham. J. C. Knowles and T. P. Davenport present A financial statement of the school bond indebt edness in this county was presented and the board received the resolu tion from the Board of Education pertaining to the pending bond elec tion. In addition, the tax on some i property was adjusted and a wine li- ] cense was granted to a local store. The report of Mrs. Prances M. ■ Darden, covering work in April was ■ accepted by the board. A resolution was passed to the ef fect that the land belonging to Wynne C. Mighell, previously listed in Plymouth Township, lies in Beau-,| fort County and was removed from the tax records of this county. The secretary was instructed to write to the State Highway Commis sion for a map of the proposed all weather highways that was consider 'See BOARD MEET, Page 4> News Signaled by Fire Siren; Stores Close for Services Edge Taken From Official Announcement by Ear lier Reports Proclamation of Victory in Europe by President Harry Truman at 9 o'clock Tuesday morning was received very quietly by the people of Wash ington County. Official announce ment of the unconditional surrender of all German armed forces lacked but three days of being exactly three years and five months from the date Germany's Third Reich and Fascist Italy formally declared war on the United States. Germany's formal capitulation came at 2:41 a.m, French timei Monday. May 7 '8:41 p.m.. Eastern War Time. Sunday. May 6>. Official announcement was delayed for 30 hours until the heads of state of the United States. England and Russia could make simultaneous statements that complete victory in Europe had been achieved. However, the news was unoffioiallv known many hours in advance of the formal announce ment. which served to take the edge off the enthusiasm which might have been generated otherwise. Tire fire siren in Plymouth signaled end of the war in Europe a few mo ments after President Truman com pleted reading the formal announce ment. A few factory whistles joined in the chorus. Merchants gathered in another few minutes and agreed to close stores and places of business from 11 to 1 in order that all might attend prayer services of thankful ness at the various local churches. Children in the schools were dismiss ed shortly after 9 o'clock to attend the first church services, but they had returned and classes were re sumed about 10 o’clock. In such manner local people re ceived their most momentous news since Sunday. December 7. 1941, when the Japanese launched their sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. They were following the advice contained in President Truman's address. ‘‘Let us not forget the sorrow of our neighbors,” he said '‘Only by work can we repay our debt to them. We must work, work and work to finish 'See V-E DAY, Page 4) J. W. Norman Heads 7th War Bond Drive Bonner To Speak j Ai School Closing j It was announced this week by Principal Roy I. Boyd that Rep resentative Herbert Bonner jjould make the commencement address at the school finals here on Wednesday, June 6. The place and hour have not been definite ly decided as yet, but it is under stood the exercises will take place during the morning. Congressman Bonner is a favorite in Washington County, and it is expected that a large crowd will greet him. There will be about 30 in the graduating class this year at the local school. Two Wounded On Iwo Jima Home -■'£> Privates Raymond Earl Phelps and Herald Spencer, of the United States; Marine Corps, both of whom were bounded in action at Iwo Jima. are ,'isiting their parents and other ‘rela tives in the county this week. They ire the first of the group of seven or ught Washington County men who ook part in that battle to return rome on furlough. Private Phelps was wounded in he right side, just above the belt, by i sniper, the bullet coming out Ihrough the left breast pocket of his shirt. He has almost completely re covered from the injury and will re :urn to duty after a 25-day furlough it home. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler Phelps, of Roper. Officially Begins Monday, May 14 People Called Upon To Re spond in Usual Whole Hearted Manner James W. Norman. Plymouth mer chant and member of the county board of education was this week ap pointed chairman of the Seventh War Loan campaign in Washington Coun. tj-. it was announced yesterday by H. E. Beam, chairman of the war finance committee. The campaign will get underway officially Monday morning. May 14. and continue through June 30 Mr. Norman plans to get in touch with local committees in all sections of the county and arrange for an organization meeting within the next few days. The county has a larger bond quo la than it had in the Sixth War Loan last November and December, aut it has more time to raise the in n-eased amount and it is a job that has to be done, according to Mr. Norman The overall quota this time >vill be $243,000. while the ‘ E” bond juota alone is $163,000. It is believed dial the $80,000 quota of other than 'E bonds wil bo achieved without iitficulty. and the main effort will be •entered on the "E" goal. Mr. Norman is appealing for the whole-hearted support of all county aeople. both workers and bond buy ?rs, in achieving the goal. “Buy More and Bigger Bonds for the Migh ty Seventh” is the slogan of the irive: and it is pointed out that the Victory in Europe achieved this week should serve as an added incentive to but the county- “over the toil” again. Names of local committee mem bers and canvassers wil be announced next week by Mr Norman,