North Carolina Newspapers

•■■••n-nHnnnninnnnnnnnn-HSaiS®^ T^ownl opic§ | iSHE-s-a Mrs. W. J. Woolard, of Plym outh, attended the furniture ex position at High Point early last week and spent the latter part of the week in Raleigh with her husband who is in the legislature there. While in Raleigh, Mrs. Woolard, with her husband, at tended the reception for the legis lators and their wives at the Exe cutive Mansion, given by Gover nor and Mrs. Scott, from 8 until 11 o’clock Thursday evening. Miller Warren, Plymouth fire chief and auto-supply store ope rator, left Sunday for a buying trip to New York City. He is ex pected to return to Plymouth sometime today. W. A. (Bill) Roebuck Plym outh city clerk, injured his hand and came down with pleurisy in his left side all in one day. Bill touched a hot stove while filling the tank with fuel and in hastily drawing back, cut the top of his right hand, requiring eight stitch es. Later in the day, he was con fined to his bed with pleurisy, his second attack in three years. He was resting rather comfortably yesterday. The distinction of being first to break out in a new straw hat during 1951 goes to James Boyce, who was parading one during the height of last Saturday’s snow ftorm here. This news is going to 'lake Lue Read mighty unhappy, because Lue usually claims pre eminence in the straw bonnet de partment. John Brown beat Lue to it a few years ago, and he’s never got over it. Now along comes Boyce and a mid-winter snowstorm to add to his misery. When last seen, Boyce was at tracting a lot of attention—and snowballs. Local supporters of the saying about the groundhog seeing his shadow are now gleefully point ing to last Saturday’s snow and the bitter cold weather which followed. Of course, the old boy did see his shadow February 2nd at noon—unless he was blind, that is. -* J. M. Willette To "* Leave Plymouth -♦ J. Max Willette, employee of the North Carolina Pulp Com pany and member of the Plym outh City Council, is leaving this week-end to accept a position with the Navy Department at Ar lington, Va. Mr. Willette, who has lived in Plymouth since April 1940, with the exception of four years while he was in the Navy during the war, is going with the Bureau of Yards and Docks at Arlington, and will move his family to that city within the next few weeks. He was elected to the city council as one of two members from the third ward in 1948. In addition to his civic work, he has been a leading figure in la bor circles here since returning from the service in June, 1946. He has served as secretary of Lo ^ral No. 356, International Bro therhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers, and also as secretary of the Plymouth Cen tral Labor Union. He was ; mem ber of the grievance committee at the mill for three years and also served on the negotiating com mittee for the past three years. While in the service he receiv d several promotions and now holds a reserve commission as lieutenant. He and his family have many friends in Plymouth who regret to learn that he is leaving. -4 Board ol Education In Routine Session Monday -♦ The Washington County board of education held its regular monthly session in the courthouse here Monday morning with the Chairman L. E. Hassell, of Roper, presiding. The other members of the board, J. W. Norman, of Plymouth, and P. B. Balanga, of Creswell, were present, along with County Superintendent of Schools Roy F. Lowry, of Plym outh. A few routine matters were discussed in the brief session, it was said. The Roanoke Beacon y ****** and Washington County News ****** A home newspaper dedicated to the service cf Washington County and its 13.000 people. ."_ J VOLUME LXII—NUMBER 6 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, February 8, 1951 ESTABLISHED 1889 Official Department Of Defence Photo SNOWBOUND—U. S. Marines, entrapped in Korean storm, wait on the roadside for signal to resume their march over icy terrain. Representative and Board Members Talk Proposed Legislation I Close One Block j } Of Local Street | Plymouth Police Chief P. W. Brown announced today that traffic will be halted on one block of Washington Street, be tween Main and Third Streets, Monday morning if the wea ther is favorable. The street will be blocked off at those points until a spot can be ce mented which was recently torn up by town workmen I while repairing a sewer. It is expected that the street will be closed to traffic between Main and Third for several days. County Not To Be Represented At Bureau Meet -♦ President Liverman of the County Farm Bureau Re ports None to Attend State Convention at Asheville •—-♦— The North Carolina Farm Bu reau will hold its 15th annual Satewide convention in Ashe ville, February 11-14. E. H. Liv ei man, of Plymouth, president of tl e Washington County. Farm Bu reau, said late yesterday that he knew of no one from this coun ty who planned to attend the convention. A full program has beqn ar ranged, beginning with a vesper service Sunday which will bo {resided over by Mrs. B. B. Everett, of Palmyra, state chair man of Farm Bureau women. Monday night’s program will in clude an address by Mrs. Charles W. Sewell, of Otterbein, Indian, former administrative director of the American Farm Bureau As sociated Women. President Alonza Edwards, of Hookerton, will give his annual message at Tuesday morning’s program. The Tuesday morning session will also include an ad dress by Governor Scott. The an nual banquet is scheduled for Tuesday night. Wednesday will feature general business I Firemen Called Out Four Times in Week Plymouth's volunteer firemen were called out twice during Sat urday’s cold snowfall and again early Monday afternoon, but very little damage resulted from any of the fires. Monday’s fire was in the up stairs apartment at Horner Fun eral Home on Washington Street. The apartment is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Asby. Mrs. Asby was drying some baby clothes on a cardboard box be fore the stove. The box caught fire it was said, and a gas heater was ruined by the blaze. The floor was blistered and smoke damage resulted to the walls. I The first alarm Saturday oc i curred about 3:30 in the after noon. The blaze was at a colored house on East Water Street. A sill adjoining the chimney had caught fire. Firemen chopped the burning sill away with axes. The second alarm was at a colored house on Wilson Street where a chimney fire caused practically no damage. The local firemen answered a call at about 7 o’clock Wednes day night when a wood heater got too hot at the home of Mar tha Bailey, colored, on Fourth Street. No damage resulted. To Fix New Schedule of Fees for Register of Deeds; No Action on Several Other Matters -«— Representative W. J. Woolard and members of the Washington County Board of Commissioners discussed a wide variety of mat ters at the regular session of the board here Monday morning. In cluded in the discussion were some items of proposed local leg islation which may be presented during the current session of the General Assembly. One of the first matters to come up was legislation dealing with hunting dogs that are permitted to run at large during the closed season on game birds and ani mals. The county game protector, J. T. Terry, and representatives of the county wildlife club, head ed by President E. E. Harrell, ap peared at this time, and it was de cided to look into present laws and determine if additional legis lation would be needed to deal with owners of dogs permitted to run at large. The county commis sioners explained that this was a matter of considerable concern to them, as they are called on practically every month to pay the damage caused by stray dogs killing sheep, poultry and other; farm stock. The wildlife club feels that much game is destroyed by the same dogs, and it is indicated that a determined effort will be made to limit such depredation. The representative assured his cooperation to this end. Mr. Woolard then explained to the commissioners that he had been approached by county citi zens who wanted passage of var ious items of local legislation dealing with county affairs. He stated that he wished to work in cooperation with the commis sioners, particularly in matters that call for expenditure of any county funds. The representative said he had been asked to present bills calling for salary raises for several county officers, but said he would be unwilling to pre sent such matters unless they were recommended by the board. The commissioners then explain ed that they felt such matters should be presented to them when the budget was being made up, indicating that they would look with favor on such propos als provided the budget would stand it. It was not felt that any special legislation would be need ed to effect these increases. The commissioners decided to have a new schedule of fees drawn up for work performed in the office of the register of deeds. It was pointed out that the pres I ent fees were fixed many years I ago, and they are inadequate in I "(See LEGISLATION Page 10) | -4 Waste Paper Collection By Sea Scouts Postponed -4 The scheduled canvass of Washington Street homes by the Sea Scouts last Saturday to col lect waste paper was called off because of the snowfall, Dr. Al ban Papineau, skipper of the Sea Scouts, explained this week. Barring bad weather again, the canvass of the same territory will be made this Saturday, Papineau said. Aid Voted Down By Commissioners On Activities Fund -- R. E. Bowen, Spokesman for Plymouih Lions Club, Asks $600 for Athletic Activities —+ The Washington County Board of Commissioners turned down a request of R. E. Bowen, spokes man for the Plymouth Lions Club, for $600 for the activities fund at Plymouth High School, in their regular monthly session here Monday. Bowen appeared before the board at the request of the presi dent of the Lions Club and pre sented the appeal on behalf of the Plymouth High School Activities Committee. He showed the need for funds there, explaining that in the past several years, these needs have been taken care of by the Lions, Rotary Club, Junior Chamber of Commerce, PTA and by money raised through school activities. It was felt that the activities fund would take care of itself in 1951 and since the various local organizations which had helped in the past were not approached this time, they have undertaken other obligations and so are in no position to help now. Bowen said that since 1946 $23,835 has been raised by school activities, PTA, JC's, Rotary and Lions Clubs, and has been used to salvage the gym and put it in useable condition, build dressing rooms, install showers, secure an athletic coach, home economics equipment, pavement at high school and grammar school, Vene tian blinds, flag pole, lights, new piano, heaters for the gym, band equipment and uniforms, and athletic equipment for the high school. The commissioners recognized the merit of the request, but ex plained that they had been forced to raise property valuations in the county in an effort to secure needed revenues and could not vote the appropriation now. W. J. Woolard, county repre sentative, appeared before the board and he was requested to introduce and support a number of local bills in the legislature. A motion was passed to request the State Highway and Public Works Commission to eliminate a sharp curve on the new high way to Mackeys and also to im prove the road at the south end of the old Mackeys bridge. A petition signed by 15 Wash ington County citizen was read and ordered forwarded to the Highway Commission, asking 1% miles of road from the Long Ridge Road in front of Elwood Wynn farm to Harmen Harrison line beyond Ausbon Station be graded and the bridge fixed. The petitioners agreed to furnish any help within reason if so request ed by the Highway Commission. E. J. Spruill, county tax col lector, reported $29,445.03 collect ed in his office in January. Mrs. Frances M. Darden, home agent, read her report. H. E. Newland, See~BOARD^Page^To)^ Three Inches of Snow Here Saturday The first sizeable snow in near ly three years blanketed Wash ington County and other points in eastern Carolina last Saturday, when an official measurement of 3 inches was recorded at the Tidewater Test Farm, near Plym outh. The snowfall was coupled with the lowest temperatures to be recorded in the section this winter, creating hazardous driv ing conditions that continued un til Sunday afternoon. The first flakes began to fall here about 4 o’clock Saturday morning, continuing with more or less intensity throughout the day. It was an exceptionally dry powdery snow, and the low tern perature prevented any melting before noon Sunday. According to records at the Tidewater Farm, the mercury dropped to 6 degrees above zero early Sunday morning, the lowest recorded here in several years. Despite the hazardous condi tion of roads in this section, only [ oie accident directly caused by the icy roads was reported here, although there were numerous Arrecks in adjoining counties. The snow was limited to the extreme eastern portion of the state, and only a trace or two was reported west of Martin County. Several bus schedules were canceled here, although traffic was report ed normal from Williamston west. The temperature started rising Sunday, and the ice began melt ing Sunday afternoon. Warmer weather also prevailed Monday and Tuesday, and all evidence of the snowfall was gone by Tues day night. The snow last week-end did not approach the depth record ed here on February 9 and 10, 1948, when an average blanket of 9 inches covered the section. The grand-daddy of all snows in this section occurred in 1927, when a record 24-inch fall was recorded at the weather station. High School Boys May Be Enlisted Near End of Term —♦— Same Regulation Recently Applied to College Stu dents Extended to Youths in High School National selective service of ficials this week finally got around to giving high-school stu dents the same right to volunteer in the last 30 days of the school term that were granted recently to college students. Instructions to this end were received Monday by the office of the local draft board. Under the new regulation, stu dents in high school who have received calls for pre-induction examination, but whose induction has been postponed at the stu dent’s request until the end of the school term, may have their cases opened for reclassification during the last 30 days of the school term. During that 30 days they may apply for enlistment in any branch of the armed forces which they prefer, subject to quo tas in those branches not being previously filled. The order was received too late for some local high-school stu dents, however, as several mem bers of the senior class here have already vrHinte<?r«d 'or the ’^ir Force. TW9 of them, Hugh Mod lin and Luther Hobbs, left Sun day for service in that branch. There is also another angle that affects this order, it was learned from the Air Force re cruiting officer here Tuesday. He stated that Air Force quotas are limited at this time, and he has a lengthy waiting list. Volunteers with the highest educational qua ifications are given first chance at the existing vacancies, the re cruiter stated, and his waiting list includes quite a number of two, three and four year college men who probably would be given preference in filling quotas. The recruiting officer said he expected to have a big rush of volunteers as the end nears for college and school terms, and un less quotas are materially in creased many students who prefer to enlist in the Air Force will TsefTsCHOOL BOYS Page 10) i Seek Low Lake Level The Lake Phelps Flood Project Committee, formed at a meeting at Creswell last Friday, held its first meeting there Tuesday. Two resolutions were agreed upon. The first resolution was that gates be installed in six canals, the Moccasin, Western, Thirty Foot, Transportation, Magnolia and Bee Tree. The committee agreed that the gates should be installed so that the water in Lake Phelps could be lowered three feet below its present level of 11 feet: that the openings of these gates should be cleaned out from the water’s edge so that the water might drain down to the desired 8 foot level; that the farmers whose lands these canals traverse should regu late the opening and closing of the gates, so that the water in Lake Phelps can be lower at times when these canals arc not carrying excessive farm water, and to have the lake at a level so that it can be used as a stor age basin to hold flood rains. The second resolution was that an appropriation be made by the state for $50,000 to clean and im prove these six canals. It was agreed, that the farmers whose lands have been damaged by the flood waters would repay the | state $25,000 or half the expendi ture over a period of ten years , with 4 per cent interest. It was brought out that for the past three years, the flood waters have greatly damaged the near I by farms, greatly reducing the farmers’ incomes, j Members of the committee are: J. A. Morris, chairman: Mike Davenport, secretary; Dave Ro berson, Chester Hopkins, Milton Cahoon, Roy Davenport and Jen nings Davenport. Scout Parade Friday Local scouting officials an nounced yesterday that the par ade of various scouting units orig inally set for today (Thursday) here has been postponed to Fri day. The parade will begin at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and will include units of Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, Cub Scouts and the local colored troop of Boy Scouts, as well as the Plymouth High School band, and possibly others. The annual Father-Son ban quet will be held Friday evening at the Legion Hall here. It was announced that a 20 minute film, “The Making of a Yankee,” would be shown. The film is about base ball and should prove of interest to scouts and their parents, also. It was said that about 125 persons are expected to attend the ban quet. A court of honor for the scouts will be held at Ludford Memor ial Baptist Church Sunday eve ning. Details of this program were not available. Sunday, the scouts will can vass Plymouth to collect old clothing which will be shipped overseas for the relief of unfortu nate persons. This is part of a national drive and is also tied in with the annual celebration of Boy Scout Week which is being observed this year from February 6th to 12th. Polio Campaign Now Near Quota County Director Thomas Hopkins Announces the Amount Near $2,900; Ball Slated for Saturday -4 Washington County's $3,000 March of Dimes quota had been so nearly reached by noon yes terday that the county director of the drive, Thomas F. Hopkins, of Plymouth, was confident that the campaign could be success fully terminated Saturday. The drive, originally scheduled to end January 31, was extended indefinitely when it was report ed last Wednesday that slightly less than two-thirds the quota had been reached. As of yesterday noon, between $2,850 and $2,900 was in hand, Hopkins reported. He declared that he felt certain the annual President’s Birthday Ball would climax the campaign, as original ly intended. The ball was origi nally set for last Saturday night but was postponed a week be cause of the bad weather. It will be held in the Plymouth High School gymnasium Saturday night, beginning at 9 o’clock, un less bad weather again forces a postponement. The X 3. Jieinmons High School orchestra of Roper is slat > ed to furnish music for the dance. The proceeds will go into the county polio fund. During inter mission, the coronation of the queen, Miss Shirley Daniels, of Plymouth, will take place. Miss Daniels won the honor in com petition with several other con testants by collecting the largest amount of money for the March of Dimes. The amount turned in by her was $100.50. Hopkins stated that Principal J. S. Fleming, members of the faculty, and the student body of the Plymouth schools, have mer ited much praise for their splend. id efforts on behalf of the polio fund. He said that a total of $904.89 has been raised through the school, this being almost one third the county quota. The primary grades (1-3) raised $163.37; the grammar grades and high school (4-12) contributed $208.81; and the queen's contest netted $532.71. A contest was held among the pri mary, grammar and high school groups and the winners have been announced as follows; pri mary group, Mrs. Harrison’s room, $27.46; grammar group, Mrs. Dinkins' room, $30.10, and high school, Mrs. Hough’s room, (including queen) $179.37. Director Hopkins reported that the bake sale, held last Friday and Saturday, in the show win dows of Norman Furniture Com pany on Water Street, netted $80. The recent recital given by Mrs. Marie Newland and several young soloists at tin' First Christ ian Church swelled the fund by $25.50. Hopkins also stated that the Plymouth Colored schools are ex pected to report around $200 raised. He said that schools at Roper and Creswell have not turned in complete reports but they are expected by next week. With all these late returns, the county director stated he was confident that the county would net $3,000 above all expenses for the fund. Hopkins wishes to thank every group and each individual that has helped to bring the campaign so near its goal. Musical Program Sunday al Colored School in Creswell ~ ♦ Creswell.—The Golden Eagle i Quartet, of Portsmouth, Va„ will present a program of spiritual . music at the Creswell Colored [ School on Sunday, February 11, [ at 3:30 p. m., it was announced . this week by P. W. Littlejohn i principal. The event will be , sponsored by the P. T. A. pro ! gram committee. ; The public is invited to hear the quartet, one of the most famous of the tidewater area. s I Funds lor Parly ! Day Now Raised H. H. Allen, chairman of the Democratic executive commit tee of Washington County, an nounced today that the county has reached its quota of $150 set by state party leaders as its share of funds being raised in the state in connection with the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner to be held Saturday night in Raleigh. The money has already been sent in, Allen said. W. J. Woolard, Washington County representative, will at tend the dinner and it is ex pected that two other persons from the county will go. Allen stated that he might attend. Board Looks With Favor on County Group's Proposal —♦ Four Couul} ^ Aiir Appear Before Commissioners in Interest of County Wild life Resources -♦ A group interested in the con servation and development of wildlife resources in Washington County appeared before the board of county commissioners in session here Monday and made two proposals which they would like to see enacted into law dur ing the present session of the General Assembly. The group was composed of E. E. Harrell, president of the Washington County Wildlife Club, J. T. Terry, county game warden, and E. J. Spruill, all of Plymouth, and Marshall Spruill, of Mackeys. The first proposal was that Lake Phelps be opened for the opera tion of pound nets and traps, but no seines, by permission and un der strict supervision of the State Wildlife Department. The purpose of permitting operationg of pound nets and traps is to ferret out so-called “rough" fish, such as catfish, carp, gars and eels which destroy game fish, their food, and spawning grounds. It was emphasized that should such become law, those who fish nets should be accompanied by a game protector to see that game fish would not be taken. The second proposal was that Lake Phelps be excepted from the law which gives the State Department of Conservation and Development the power to charge for launching boats on the lake, inasmuch as no adequate facili ties have been provided there by the department The board of commissioners was favorable to the proposals and agreed to recommend their in troduction and support in the form of local bills in the House of Representatives by County Representative W. J. Woolard. Plymouth Extends Generous Welcome To Polish Family —♦— Destitute Displaced-Persons Family of Eight Given Food, Clothing, Furniture by Community Help -♦ By JAMES L. BOND That the community of Plym outh has a generous heart was convincingly demonstrated last Friday. And because of that dem onstration, a Polish family of eight persons—including a seven month old baby—was lifted out of a very real slough of despond ency by being provided with necessities badly needed. The family, Mr. and Mrs. Jan Wcsner and six sons ranging in age from 17 years to seven months, was moved last Wednes day to Plymouth from near Kin ston by a Catholic priest, appar ently in the hope that the father and oldest son could secure work here. The Wesners came to this coun try from East Germany in Febru ary, 1950. transportation being arranged through the Displaced Persons Bureau in New Jersey. A farmer near Kinston had agreed to take the family on his farm and so they came to North Carolina. It was stated by the oldest son, Eddie (the only one of the eight who speaks English) that the father was hired to work at $3 a week and the son was to get $2.50 per week. The family was not able to live on so meager an amount and the priest is said to have paid the farmer $46 which the latter claimed the Wes ners owed him when they left. The priest, so the boy said, rented a house nxt to the Bus Station here and moved the fami ly in. He also gave the father $10, the boy said. The Wesners had no clothing to speak of, aside from what was on their backs, there was no food, pitifully little furniture, insuf ficient bed cover, and the wea ther was bitterly cold. They had no cook stove, no table or chairs, and no heater with which to warm the house. Neighboring families brought a coal heater and some food. Then the news began to get around Plymouth. A local merchant and a photographer got busy, neglect ing their own business, and pro ceeded to solicit donations for the aid of the needy family. By mid afternoon Friday, the merchant’s truck was backed up to the house and a cook stove, breakfast table and chairs, chairs for the living room, food and clothing were un loaded. The Wesner boys helped to get the things into the house while their mother, holding the ' (See^AMHLYlPageTo) , Services Friday For L. H. Phelps -♦ Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Holly Neck Church for Lindsey H. Phelps, 73, of Roper, who died at 10:15 o’clock Wednesday morn ing at his home. Mr. Phelps had been in declining health for about a year. The son of the late Kirby and Betty Hopkins Phelps, he was born in Washington County Feb ruary 18, 1877. He was married in Roper, February 9, 1901, to Miss Maggie Burgess, of Cres well. He was retired, having be ing employed by Atlas Plywood Corporation, of Plymouth. Mr. Phelps was a member of Holly Neck Church which he attended regularly. Surviving besides the widow are two sons, Nathan and Theo dore Phelps, both of Roper; one daughter, Mrs. William Edwards, of Roper; 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild; two bro thers, Jim and Lonnie Phelps, both of Roper; and a sister, Mrs! [ Nan Everett, of Mackeys. Funeral services will be con ducted by the Rev. Walter Arm | strong, pastor of Holly Neck ■ Church. Burial will follow in the 1 church cemetery. Fourth of Township Property Not Listed i , The township list takers com I pleted the job of tax listing Wed nesday of last week, but there ■ are a number of property owners 1 throughout the county who fail l ed to report their holdings, ac l cording to reports. The work pro. , ceeded about as usual, most list 1 takers reported as they started on the job of tabulating returns ■, on the scroll books. ■ J In Plymouth township, the re sponse was not too good, with d ! only three-fourths of property 3! owners listing their property for 11951 taxes. C. L. Blount, list tak er, reports that only 1,720 per sons listed during the month of January, against a total of 2,310 names on the tax books. Of the 590 who failed to list, 245 are white and 345 colored. W. A. Roebuck, city clerk, who ; the property of residents for the town of Plymouth, said i the percentage of those failing to list town taxes was considerably • less than the township average i although he did not have the ■ actual figures. All persons who failed to list are subject to the penalties provided by state law.