North Carolina Newspapers

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.