f^nSinnnsHnninHHr.'irinrjTiinns:::::;:^:::!:::
T'own
opies
Plymouth Junior Chamber of
Commerce meeting tentatively
scheduled for Friday night, has
been called off altogether, accord
ing to Thomas F. Hopkins, presi
dent of the group. Mr. Hopkins
/JJid that every member of the
'locjJ Jaycees should be busy
enough working on some phase
of the Sesqui-Centennial Celebra
tion and at the ball park too, and
a meeting was not deemed neces
sary. He urges all members of
the Jaycees to make arrange
ments to work every night at the
ball park during the play-off
games.
Merle J. Bowen, who, with his
family, is home on vacation from
his job in the Philippine Islands,
was puzzled by all the bearded
men when he walked down town
Saturday evening. He said some
of his friends he grew up with
here were hard to recognize be
hind their “bushes." The Bowens
said they received several copies
of the Beacon before they left
Manila containing information
about the sesqui-centennial cele
bration being planned, but they
hadn’t gotten news of the beard
growing business.
Walter F. Williams, director ot
the Sesqui-Centennial historical
spectacle. “Carolina Cavalcade of
Washington County,” is seeking a
surry, two covered wagons, a
nr«|el T Ford, and five persons
who won horses and can ride
them, for the spectacle to be per
formed here next month. Per
sons who can furnish any of the
above are asked to get in touch
with Mr. Williams at celebration
headquarters in the Leggett
Building here.
Thomas H. Davenport, of Cres
well, was among the graduates
receiving diplomas at Norfolk
Business University on Augus!
19. He received a certificate in
junior accounting and has accept
ed a position with a Norfolk firm
Mr. Davenport is a nephew of the
former Miss Susie Mae Daven
port, of Creswell.
American Legion Meet
Planned Friday Night
A forma] meeting for members
of the James E. Jethro Post No
164 has been scheduled for Fri
day night at 8 o'clock in theii
hf4p. accnr ’^g to en anr-—i'”’
ment made by Dal/as Waters* pos1
commander.
W. Ronald Gaylord, county vet
eran’s service officer is expected
to be the featured speaker of the
meeting.
-1
Creswell Youth
Receives Degree
Aubrey Davenport, of Cres
well, was one of the 133 members
of the State Future Farmers of
America Association who receiv
ed the Carolina Farmer Degree
at the 21st annual convention of
the organization held at State
College, Raleigh, last Thursday.
The degree was awarded for
meritorious service rendered in
farm and home improvement
iaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa«aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
The Roanoke Beacon
****** and Washington County News ******
A home newspaper dedicated
to the service of Washington il!
County and its 13,000 people, ii!
VOLUME LX—NUMBER 34
Plymouth, Washington County, North Catolina, Thursday, August 25, 1949
ESTABLISHED 1889
Draft Board's Office j
Here to Close Friday j
The Washington County Se
lective Service Board No. 95, lo
cated in the courthouse here, will
close Friday at 12 noon and its i
records will be moved to a sub- :
depot in Elizabeth City, Robert i
L. Tetterton, chairman of the
board, announced yesterday. \
Mr. Tetterton said that youths
are still required to register when
they attain their 18th birthday,
and that they should register with
W. Ronald Gaylord in the clerk of
courts office in the courthouse
in Plymouth. Mr. Gaylord has
been appointed the official regis-1
trar for this county.
All registrants of the county
should address any communica
tions for the local board to Se
lective Service Board No. 95.
Carolina Building. Elizabeth City.
Mr. Tetterton stated that he
was advised that closing of the
office here is part of the reduced
program necessitated by the lim
ited appropriation. He explained
that the board would continue the
function of classification and in
duction, should the latter be re
sumed.
Leaf Prices Lower at
Opening of Markets
j Will Use County
j Home lor Classes
Two rooms at the county
home will be used as class
rooms for Plymouth elemen
tary school pupils this year.
This was decided at a special
joint meeting of the boards of
county commissioners and edu
cation held here last night to
work out at least a temporary
solution for the acute housing
problem faced by the local
school this year.
J. S. Fleming, principal of the
Plymouth schools, said that two
sections of the third grade
would he assigned to the coun
' ty home classrooms.
District Lawyers
In Meet at Beach
Despite the bad weather, about
40 lawyers attended the annual
netting the oecunu judicial
I District Bar Association held at
Albemarle Beach last Saturday.
State Senator John C. Rodman,
of Washington, made the princi
pal address at the gathering.
Z. V. Norman, of Plymouth,
counsellor for the second district
bar, made his annual report. An
other speaker on the program was
Frank S. Spruill, of Rocky Mount,\
a member of the permanent ju
dicial council, the function of
which is improvement of the ad
ministration of the courts.
At the annual election of offi
cers, George M. Fountain, of Tar
boro, solicitor for the second dis
trict, was named president of the
association; and Clarence Griffin,
of Williamston, was elected vice
president. W. L. Whitley, of
Plymouth, was named a member
of the executive committee.
However, Few Tags Are
Turned; Official Aver
age for First Day Sales
Was $46.42
Several Eastern Carolina mark
ets set new records for poundage
at the opening sales Friday of last
week, although prices were gen
erally about S5 lower than on op
ening day last year. The govern
ment reporting service says 14.
003.756 pounds were sold Friday
at an official average of $46.42,
as compared with 9.646.810
pounds for an official $51.93 av
erage a year ago.
Despite the lower prices, very
few tags were turned by farmers,
according to reports from the var
ious markets. Quality of the offer
ings did not measure up to ex
pectations. Some very good quali
ty was reported on the warehouse
floors, but there were other
grades for which there was hard
Lly any demand.
Prices have fluctuated some
since the opening, but the general
average was said to be a little
lower on Monday and slightly
higher on Tuesday. A good many
tips were said to be on the mark
ets the first part of this week,
which would have the effect of
lowering the average price.
The "booking” system is in ef
fect on most of the markets, and
is said to be working out unusual
ly well. It has resulted in less
damaged tobacco than usual be
ing offered, as it is no longer
necessary to get the leaf on the
floors several days ahead of the
selling time, as was the case be
fore the new system was adopted.
Reporting on the opening, the
Federal and State Departments of
Agriculture said:
Leaf grades sold for lower
prices on the opening sales for
Eastern "North Carolina flue-cur
ed tobacco Friday. However,
primings and low to good lugs
were generally higher when com
(See TOBACCO, Page 12)
AN OPEN LETTER
To All the Citizens of Washington County:
We are just before taking part in the largest celebration in the history
of Washington County, which was founded in 1799. The Sesqui-Centennial
Celebration of the formation of the county will begin September 18 and con
tinue through the 22nd. There will be parades every day, addresses by noted
men, historical displays in local stores, crowning of the queen of Washington
County to reign over the festivities, a huge street ball in all its gaiety, a square
dance, anc^ a pageant to be presented each night, portraying some feature in
the history of Wahington County, on a 250-foot stage located in the Plymouth
baseball park.
All the history you have ever heard of, and then more which will amaze
you, will be reproduced in action. You must not miss a single performance
if you wish to gain knowledge of what our fondling fathers wrought 150 years
ago—through their blood and the sweat of their brows—to make possible the
many good things we are enjoying today.
Patriotism is a blessing to all mankind, and right here in Washington
County we are beginning to celebrate the blessings that were bestowed upon
us by our forefathers—the passing parade of 150 years of existence.
If you are civic-minded, and surely you are patriotic, then you cannot
afford to let anything pass you by when it comes to helping put on the largest
celebration ever with a bang.
If you have not been assigned to a committee or have not been given a
part in the peagent, you still are a part of the celebration, and you can help
spread the news. Let your tongue sound out; do not be afraid to talk, because
we have something to talk about. When the celebration is over, and everyone
has settled down to normal life again, you just will not be able to keep that
mouth of yours closed, because you will have so many pleasant memories to
talk about.
At this very moment, it is time for all our good civic-minded citizens to
show their willing efforts when a committeeman asks you to take part in the
Sesqui-Centennial and have your name go down in the history of the cele
bration. Remember the dates: September 18-22—and do your full part to help
put it over.
Thank you,
WASHINGTON COUNTY SESQUI-CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION COMMITTEEMEN.
hl
Schedule Outlined
For Lunch Periods
At Local Schools
No Program Planned for
Opening Here; Regis
tration Largely Taken
Care of Last Spring
J. S. Fleming, principal of
Plymouth High School, said that
no special program had been
planned for the first day of school
here next Thursday, other than
getting down to the business of
regular school work.
Registration was largely taken
care of last spring and students
will receive their schedule of
classes in the home room period
Thursday morning. Only the new
students will have to register the
first day of school.
The school lunch room will be
open on the first day of school
again under the management of
Miss Carolyn Brinkley and Miss
Blanche Davis, both of Plymouth.
The lunch period will be stag
gered to take care of the expected
increase in attendance as was the
case last year. The schedule is as
follows: 11:15 to 11:45 a. m..
grades 1. 2 and 3: 11:45 a. m. to
12:10 p. m., grades 4, 5 and 6:
12:10 to 12:35 p. m., grades 6. 7
and 8; and 12:35 to 1:05 p. m.,
grades 9, 10. 11 and 12.
School officials emphasized
there is nothing compulsory about
patronizing the lunch room. Stu
dents who desire may bring their
lunches or they may go home to
lunch if requested by their pa
rents and if they have sufficient
time.
An activity period for all the
students in the school is schedul
ed from 2:05 to 2:35 each day. On
Mondays, during that period, the
schedule calls for guidance in
struction: Tuesday and Thursdays,
physical education; Wednesdays,
an auditorium program and Fri
days, club meetings.
Thursday, being the opening
day of school, a chapel program
will be held in the auditorium,
instead of physical education dur
ing the activity period. Mr. Flem
ing said that a speaker from out
side the school would give a short
talk, but he didn't know who it
would be. School announcements
will be given at the time also.
Final arrangements will be
made at meeting of the teachers
in the high school auditorium
next Tuesday at 10 a. m.
Change Set-Up of
Farm and Home
Agents' Districts
—♦—
Verona Joyner Langford,
Of Greenville, and C. S.
Mintz, of Goldsboro,
New District Agents
Effective September 1, Washing
ton County, along with 15 other
counties in this area, will be un
der a new administrative district,
known as the eastern district of
farm and home agents, according
to announcement made Monday
by, John W. Goodman, assistant
director of the State College Ex
tension Service, Raleigh.
The formation of the new dis
trict was necessitated by expan
sion of the extension program and
employment of increased person
nel, Mr. Goodman said.
Mrs. Verona Joyner Langford,
of Greenville, will assume the
duties of district home agent and
Colon S. Mintz, of Goldsboro, will
take the position of district farm
agent director.
Counties in this district besides
Washington are: Beaufort, Cam
den, Carteret, Chowan,, Craven,
Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde,
Jones, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquo
tank, Perquimans and Tyrrell.
♦
Want Information
On Flood Control
W M. Darden, president of the
Washington County Farm Bureau,
and W. V. Hays, urge all farmers
in the southeast section of the
county to see them and get flood
control questionnaires. The ques
tionnaires should be filled out and
returned to Mr. Hays or Mr. Dar
den.
Representative Herbert C. Bon
ner, of the First Congressional
District, recently secured author
ization for an Army investigation
into the need for flood control
and drainage in the Pantego and
Cuckold Creek basins.
As soon as Messrs. Hays and
Darden receive the information
called for in the questionnaires,
it will be sent to Army engineers
in Wilmington for consideration.
All Schools in County Ready for
Opening of New Term Thursday
Total of 108 Teachers in
System This Year, 59
White and 49 Colored;
2 More Than Last Year
-♦
There is only one vacant teach
ing position in the county, the
principalship and the first seven
grades in Sound Side colored
school, according to information
received from the office of the
county school superintendent,
with the fall term only a week
away. All the county schools op
en next Thursday. September 1.
There are no vacancies in the
white schools.
I There will be a total of 108
I teachers in the county system
'this year. 59 white and 49 colored.
This is an increase of three over
the total last year, Plymouth
white and colored schools each
earning one teacher and Creswell
white school received an extra
teacher.
The complete list of teachers
| follows:
White
Plymouth, Hampton School:
Miss Ethel G. Perry, principal;
Mrs. Etta B. Hardison and Mrs.
Selma B. Chesson. first grades;
Mrs. Selma B. Crofton. Mrs. Mary
G. Lowry and Mrs. Mattie Dav
enport. second: Mrs. Virginia W.
Andrews, third.
Plyrr uth High School Build
ing: Mrs. George H. Harrison,
third: Miss Isabel Davenport and
Mrs. Janie C. Dunning, fourth;
Miss Nellie Tarkenton and Mrs.
Mary S. Dinkins, fifth: Mrs. Eloise
M. Owens and Mrs. Audrey T.
Dunbar, sixth: Mrs. Helen White
Peele and Mrs. Hortense D. Long,
seventh: Charles A. Hough and
Mrs. Anne Thomas Beach, eighth;
J. S. Fleming, principal and so
cial science; Mrs. Ethel G. Hop
kins, band: Mrs. Ethel T. Gurkin,
English and French; Mrs. Irma K.
Hough, commerce; Miss Carolyn
D. Brinkley, home economics;
Joseph <ftV. Foster, mathematics
and athlfctics coach: Mrs. Ruth K.
Norman, science; Miss Iola W.
Hofler. English and social science;
and Miss Helen Carr, public
school music.
Roper: Harold F. Brown, prin
cipal. French and general science:
(S^Tl'EACHER s7~Pa gT 7)~'
-•
Military Funeral
For Rex Harrison
A firing squad from the Eden
ton Marine Base, a bugler from
the Cherry Point Marine Base,
and pall-bearers from the local
posts of the American Legion and
Veterans of Foreign Wars assist
ed in the military burial of W.
Rex Harrison, who was interred
in the Vail Cemetery near Ply
mouth last Friday afternoon.
Mr. Harrison, a former resident
of Plymouth, died in a Norfolk,
Va. hospital the previous Wed
nesday. He served in the U. S.
Navy during World War II.
-♦
Install New Lights
In Grace Church
Workmen have been installing
new lighting fixtures in Grace
Episcopal Church here this week
and are expected to finish Satur
day, according to the Rev. Ed
ward M. Spruill.
The eight new light fixtures
are memorials, each being a sepa
rate memorial. A complete list of
all persons commemorated and
the donors of the lights will be
disclosed later, Rev. Spruill said.
A dedication service in the church
is being planned early in the fall.
Eight lanterns will be hung in
the nave of the church and spot
lights will be placed on each side
of the chancel. A New York con
cern designed the new lights.
A Proclamation |
♦
THE ROBIN HOOD HAT j ;
"Let it be known that we. in our official capacities as Mayors : :
of Creswell, Roper and Plymouth, in Washington County, re- j
spectively, do hereby proclaim that the official headwear for the : 5.
Sesqui-Centennial Celebration shall be the Robin Hood Hat. j 1
Any citizen, male or female, young or old. when appearing in ! •
public in Washington County, will depart from the usual staid j
chapeoux by bedecking themselves in the gaily feathered Robin ■ ,
Hood Hats. :
"We further decree that the members of all clubs, civic, •
fraternal, social, patriotic, as well as all organizations in Wash- j
ington County, when conducting meetings or luncheons, shall :
don themselves in the Sesqui-Centennial Celebration hats. Also, j
wherever there is a gathering of one or more people, the same :
shall apply. ;
“Those failing to adhere to this order will be subject to the :
tender mercies, whims, fancies and punishments of the Kangaroo ■
Court. The Court is presided over by an “over-a-barreir judge, •
backed by a staff of secret police, which meets at its own con- •
venience and very much to the inconvenience of all those citi- j
zens not complying with this gentle proclamation. j
"We hereunto affix our names this the 25th day of August, :
1949.”
(Signerl) William Alexander, [j
Mayor oj Creswell. \ \
Reynold Spri.'ill, ;
Mayor oj Roper.
A. J. Riddle, ■
Mayor oj Plymouth. I
Celebration Queen to
Be Chosen in County
-♦- «
Will Preside Over Festiv
ities During Observance
Of Sesqui - Centennial
Next Month
Rules of the contest to select
a queen to reign during the
Washington County Sesqui-Cen
tennial Celebration were an
nounced this week by Ralph Hun
ter, chairman of the contest com
mittee, and an advertisement ex
plaining the details is carried on
page 8 of this issue of The Bea
con.
The purpose of the contest is to
select the young lady living in the
county who shows the most inter
est, initiative and ability, Mr.
Hunter stated. One of the ways
of selecting the queen will be on
the basis of her ability to sell ad
vance tickets to the outdoor spec
tacle.
Rules of the contest are as fol
lows:
The contest is open to any girl
16 years of age or older who lives
in Washington County.
The coupon publ shed in the
advertisement will give an initial
1,000 votes to the contestant se
lected by any reader, provided
anly one nomination vote of 1,
500 will be allowed each contest
ant
The nominating coupon should
be mailed to “Miss Washington
bounty” contest, Sesqui-Centen
lial Headquarters, Plymouth.
Information concerning addi
:ional votes will be published at
:he conclusion of the nominat
ng period, which ends Saturday,
September 3. Nominations open
Saturday of this week, August 27,
md close the following Saturday,
September 3, at 5 p.m.
Return From Virginia
Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Dinkins re
urned Tuesday after a week’s
/isit with Mr. Dinkins’ brother,
3. B. Dinkins, and family at Chil
lowie, Va. 1
Next Wednesday
Is Last Holiday
Plymouth stores and busi
ness houses have only one more
Wednesday half-holiday before
returning to the regular sched
ule of hours on Wednesdays aft
er September 1.
Some of the stores started
closing on Wednesday at 12 o’
clock in March, this year, while
others did not start until after
the Easter Monday holiday in
April. However, it is under
stood that all of them will re
main open until 6 p.m. on all
Wednesdays after September 1,
with the exception of the A&P
and Pender stores, which are
closed Wednesday afternoons
the year around.
To Hold Revival
At Zion's Chapel
A series of revival services will
begin Monday night, August 29,
at the Zion Chapel Christian
Church in Roper, according to J.
C. Knowles, an official of the
church. The Rev. George W. Bon
Durant, president of the Roanoke
Bible College, Elizabeth City, will
be the guest preacher; with the
Rev. Joe Brickhouse, of Columbia,
acting pastor, assisting.
Services will be held each night
at 8 o’clock, starting Monday and
continuing through Wednesday
light, September 7. The public
;s cordially invited to attend.
Mr. Knowles stated that Sun
lay school would be held Sunday,
August 28, at 10 a. m., as usual,
;hat being the only service sched
aled for the day. On the follow
ng Sunday, September 4. Sun
lay school will be held at 10 a. m.,
and preaching services at 11 a.
n. and 8 p. m.
Larger Enrollment Ex
pected in Most Locali
ties; Books and Sup
plies Distributed
-♦
Schools throughout the county
vill open for the 1949-50 fall
erm next Thursday morning,
September 1.
Increased enrollments in the
irst grades is expected to up the
mticipated total enrollment by a
:onsiderable sum. according to
toy F. Lowry, superintendent of
■ounty schools.
Books and supplies have nearly
ill been delivered to the various
;chools.
Final arrangements for school
spenings are being made in meet
ngs of principals and teachers.
White principals met in the office
){ the county superintendent yes
:erday afternoon. Colored princi
aals met in the same office this
morning. A county-wide meeting
af white teachers is scheduled for
next Wednesday morning at 10
o’clock in the Plymouth High
School auditorium. All county
colored teachers are planning to
meet next Wednesday afternoon
at 2 o’clock in the Plymouth Col
ored School.
Plymouth white school teach
ers are expected to meet next
Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock in
the Plymouth High School aud?
torium. Creswell white and Roper
white teachers plan to meet in
their respective schools next Wed
nesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock.
Creswell High School is expect
ed to receive 10 typewriters soon
to begin a commercial course.
More typewriters will be ordered
as the need arises, the county
superintendent said. There are
hopes of adding shorthand and
bookkeeping to the course later
on.
Painting was the biggest item
on the summer program of school
building repairs. Five rooms were
painted in the Plymouth Colored
school bui'ding, two in the Roper
school, two in J. J. Clemmons at
Roper and the entrance ways of
the Plymouth High School build
ing were painted.
Lavatories at the J. J. Clem
mons School were repaired. Plym
outh Colored School had 24 win
^See~SCHOOLs7^Page~7)
-*
S. R. DavenDort
Funeral Monday
Stewart R. Davenport, retired
rural mail carrier and farmer of
the Creswell section, died in a
Norfolk hospital last Sunday
morning at 5:30. following an op
eration. Mr. Davenport. 77 years
of age. had been ill for about,
three weeks.
Son of the late Mr. and Mrs.
Jim Davenport, Mr. Davenport
had lived in the Creswell section
for most of his life. He retired
in 1936 after serving as rural mail
carrier for more than 29 years.
Since that time he had engaged
in farming. He was an active
member of Philippi Church of
Christ for many years.
Funeral services were held
from the Philippi Church of
Christ Monday afternoon at 2:30,
conducted by the Rev. G. C.
Bland, pastor, and interment fol
lowed in the family cemetery.
Pall-bearers were Jim Davis,
Hardy Craddock, Phillip Spruill]
Jennings Davenport and Landie
Davenport.
Mr. Davenport is survived by
me daughter, Mrs. Woodley Am
arose, of Creswell; and five sons,
H. R. Davenport, McCoy Daven
aort, Earl Davenport, Ernest
Davenport, all of Creswell; and
F. D. Davenport, of Portsmouth,
i7a. He also leaves one brother,
Mva Davenport, of Norfolk, Va.;
me sister. Mrs. Ella Stillman, of
Soper; 27 grandchildren and 7
Sreat-grandchildren.
Series to Open With Colerain Here Saturday
—•— —•— —«— —*—
The Plymouth Hams will open i
the Albemarle League post-sea
son series in the local ball park
Saturday night at 8:30, when they
meet the Colerain Trappers in the
first of a four-out-of-seven-game
series, with the winner advanc
ing to the finals. League directors,
meeting in Edenton Tuesday aft
ernoon, decided to make arrange
ments for the series, and Plym
outh drew Colerain for the open
er, with the first game to be
played here. Edenton will play
the team finishing in fourth place
at Edenton Saturday night.
It was ruled that all regular
season games not played before
Saturday night would be can
celed, but games which have a
bearing on the final stands of the
clubs may be played as late as
Saturday afternoon. The Plym
outh club had four games to play
as of yesterday afternoon, one
with Elizabeth City and three
with Hertford. Some of the oth
er teams had as many as six
games remaining in their season
schedule.
Yesterday afternoon Plymouth
was sure of finishing the regular
playing season at least in second
place. The Rams were only one
and a half games out of first place
at that time and will be trying to
finish on top, despite the fact that
they are assured a place in the
post-season series. Winners of the
two semi-final series will meet in
the finals for the league cham
pionship.
There will be no Sunday games
in the series. After playing the
opening game here Saturday
night, Plymouth will go to Cole
rain Monday night, returning here
Tuesday and going back to Cole
rain next Wednesday. After that
the games will alternate until
one team has won four. In case
a seventh game is necessary, the
proceeds will be divided between
the clubs.
Admission price for all series
games was fixed at 75 cents for
adults by the directors Tuesday.
Clubs which do not have full ros
ters will have until Saturday to
hire one additional pitcher; and
clubs with full rosters are per
mitted to replace one player by
Saturday night.
As of Wednesday, it was fairly
well settled that Edenton, Plym
outh and Colerain would finish
one-two-three, with all three of
the other teams fighting for the
fourth spot. Only three games
separated the bottom three teams,
and some of themjbad upwards of
a half dozen games to play, which
had them all scrambling for a
place in the play-offs.