< T. own opics H. E. Beam, cashier at Branch Banking & Trust Company here, attended a meeting in Kinston Tuesday night at which plans were discussed for conducting the annual oratorical contest con ducted by the North Carolina . .Banking Association. John Stead "man, of the Scottish Bank, Lum berton, addressed the group and compared conditions 50 years ago when he was a schoolboy with those of today. Mr. Steadman is president of the bankers’ associ ation. Subject of the contest will be “The Big Change.” Details will be available within the next three weeks. Mrs. Georgie Frost Barnes, Washington - Tyrrell County school supervisor, is in Tarboro today attending a meeting of su pervisors of the Northeastern district at the Annex Building. The meeting is in charge of Miss Vera M. Keech, supervisor of Edgecombe County Schools, who is outgoing district president. In coming president is Miss Annie Lee Jones, of Greenville, Pitt County supervisor. Dr. A. S. Hurlburt, assistant state superin tendent in charge..of instruction, and Homer Lassiter, area super visor with the State Department of Public Instruction, are the principal speakers. R. F. Dowry, county superin tendent of schools, left early yes terday for High Point to attend the Superintendents’ Winter Con ,4«rence being held at the Shera ton Hotel with John Hough, presi dent, in charge. Mr. Lowry is ex pected to return to Plymouth late Friday or Saturday. The three day meeting ends Friday. Joe David, who used to operate a drug store here, was in town for a while Wednesday of this week. He was renewing acquaint ances on the street in the after noon and stayed over to attend a surprise birthday party given for the Rev. C. N. Barnett that night. Joe is now working in a drug Store at Kenly, in Johnston Coun ty. He still finds a little time now and then to fish, he reports. Principal E. C. Woodard, of Hertford, president of the Albe marle Conference, presented the Tri-Champion football trophy to Plymouth High School at chapel i exercises here yesterday morning. Plymouth, Ahoskie and Perqui mans, which tied for the confer ence title during the recent foot ball season, received identical trophies emblematic of the championship. Co-Captains Wil liam Earl Phelps and Ken Trow bridge accepted the trophy in be nalf of the local team, and it is being displayed, in the trophy case at the school here. When a defendant in Washing ton County Recorder’s Court Tuesday stood up to receive sen tence he toppled to the floor. Most spectators reasoned that the man had fainted but Judge Gay lord held that he had only feint-g ed. Anway, a doctor was sent for and upon arrival the doc examin ed the man but couldn’t find any thing wrong. Maybe he just couldn't stand up to the sentence. Slrong Effort To Destroy Program Cited by Rawlings Virginia Man Scores 'Ridic r ulous Proposal of Vested Interests' To Do Away With Peanut Support In view of the well organized and heavily financed outside ef forts to confuse and discolor the real issue in the peanut referen dum on December 15th by some with a vested interest in seeing peanut producers receive disas trous prices for their peanuts; it is extremely important for each producer to understand the sole issue to be decided by producers on December 15, declared Wil liam V. Rawlings, Executive Sec retary of the Association of Vir ginia Peanut & Hog Growers, Inc. The sole issue is whether pea nut producers desire a support level of 90 per cent or 50 per cent of parity. The question of whe Jfher or not producers must com ply with adjustments in acreage to avoid heavy surpluses in order to be eligible for price support is not an issue. Rawlings stated that under existing legislation neither the 90 per cent or 50 per cent level of support would be available to producers who har vest in excess of allotted acreage. Stating that the most often used approach is to suggest to pro ducers they would be much bet ter off to “harvest all you want to for just a little less price,” Rawlings said the trick here is who would assure the price would be “just a little less?” Producers remember what the price was 1 prior to our present support pro gram and know there is no as See PROGRAM, Page 12 ~~ The Roanoke Beacon ****** and Washington County News ****** A home newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington County and its 13,000 people. VOLUME LXIV—NUMBER 50 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, December 10. 1953 ESTABLISHED 1889 Peanut, Cotton Vote Next Tuesday Peanut and cotton growers of Washington County will go to the polls Tuesday of next week to vote on the continuance or dis continuance of marketing quotas for peanuts and the imposition of quotas on cotton. A two-thirds majority vote is necessary to insure quotas on the two crops, peanuts for the years 1954, 1955 and 1956 and cotton for 1954 only. There will be three polling places in the county, at Creswell, Roper and Plymouth. Farmers of Creswell, Cherry and Mt. Plea sant communiting will vote at Mike Davenport's garage at Cres well. Pleasant Grove and Roper Farmers will vote at Knowles Grocery Store at Roper, while the polling place for farmers of the Plymouth and Long Acre communities will be at the Agri culture Building here. The polls will open at 8 a. m. and voting will continue to 5 p. m. Farm operators, tenants and sharecroppers all are eligible to participate in the referendum. Should the referendum on cot ton and peanuts carry, it would mean that the two crops will be supported at a price which is 90 per cent of parity, cotton for next year and peanuts for the next three years. Failing to carry would mean that government support levels would drop to only 50 per cent of parity. Planters Bank Begins Business Here Today | BANK PRESIDENT U„ . -■ , ■ __-.. ... Archie W. McLean, of Rocky Mount, president, heads the list of Planters National Bank & Trust Company officials who are in Plymouth today for form al opening of their first branch. Mr. McLean, formerly vice president of the Wachovia Bank & Trust Company of Charlotte, has been president of the Rocky Mount institution since 1950. Mrs. Trowbridge Named President Women's Council Organizational Meet Held at Grace Episcopal Church Here on Friday of Last Week * Mrs. K. S. Trowbridge, of the Plymouth Presbyterian Church, was elected president of the Plymouth Council of Church Wo men at an organizational meet ing in Grace Episcopal Church, Plymouth last Friday. The meeting was attended by representatives of the wo men’s organizations of the Bap tist, Christian. Episcopal, Metho dist and Episcopal Churches of Plymouth. Mrs. Thomas S. New bold, president of the North Car olina Council of Church Women and Mrs. C. C. Todd, past presi dent, addressed the group and helped in the organization of the local council. Outlines and plans of the council, which will be af filiated with the state organiza tion, were made. Meetings of the council will be four times a year, including an annual meeting. There will be an official repre sentative from each participating church. Wives of the ministers are ex-officio members of the board. Projects and programs to be car ried out throughout the year were discussed. Particular emphasis will be placed on the three serv ices sponsored regularly by the council; World Day of Prayer on the first Friday in Lent; May Fellowship Day the first Friday in May and World Community Day the first Friday in Novem ber. The group decided to choose a secretary-treasurer at the next meeting of the council which will be called by the president early in 1954. Special Gifts Announced in Connection With Formal Opening With Open House Until 7 P. M. -* A new enterprise made its debut on the local business scene today. A crowd conservatively esti mated at between 150 and 200 persons filed into the Plymouth unit of Planters National Bank & Trust Company here within the first half hour after the formal opening for business at 9 o'clock despite a steady drizzle from Jupiter Pluvius. At least 50 persons stood in line outside the main entrance before the opening and customers were at both drive-in windows when the new bank officially opened for business. The striking interior was made even more lovely with a profus ion of beautiful bouquets from various firms as expressions of congratulations on the opening of the new banking business here. Early patrons received gifts from the bank and souvenir favors were distributed through out the downtown business area. Several officials from the home office of Planters National in Rocky Mount were on hand to greet patrons as they entered. Contributing to the gala occas ion was the Plymouth High School band which marched down from school in the rain and stood on East Water Street facing the bank, resplendent in the new uni forms, to serenade the opening. The opening not only means another new business enterprise for Plymouth but also marks the first time in nearly two and a half decades that the county has had more than a single bank to serve its business needs. At one time there were two banks each in Plymouth and Cres well and one at Roper serving this county and section. The only other bank presently in opera tion in Washington County— Branch Banking & Trust Com pany—has served the town and county continuously since estab lishment of the Plymouth branch in 1925. In connection with the opening, officials announced a series of gifts for patrons. According to the announcement there will be “gifts for the first 100 depositors, 100 special gifts for depositors of $100 or more, 10 savings accounts given to lucky depositors on opening day and other gifts to our friends and guests.” Personnel of the bank have been on duty since December 1st and many townspeople have visit ed the quarters in advance of the opening. The first drive-in bank for this immediate section, the new insti tution is handsomely finished and equipped throughout. There are two drive-in windows so equipped that patrons can trans act any normal business without getting out of their automobiles. Surfacing of the drives was completed Monday of this week and shrubbery has been set, greatly enhancing the outside ap pearance. A lighted corner sign identifies the bank, replacing the temporary sign which was erect ed on the lot prior to start of construction. Reflecting flood lights have also been mounted on the lawn. Optional Stock Now Offered by B&L Here Issuance of a new type of cer tificate, known as optional stock, was announced this week by the Plymouth Building and Loan As sociation. Z. V. Norman, Plymouth attor ney who heads the building and loan organization, made the an nouncement. Mr. Norman pointed out that the amount and regu larity of payments are left to the option of the stockholder in the new type stock. Payments may be made as the subscriber desires and annual dividends of three per cent are compounded semi-annually and when payments and dividends amount to the total of subscribed stock the amount may be with drawn by the stockholder or a certificate of full-paid stock will be issued to him. Mr. Norman called attention, also, to the fact that loan appli cations are now accepted daily and long-term loans may be se cured if desired. Numerous Matters Discussed Monday By Town Council Highway Officials Handle Sireel Surfacing Work for Town's Share of Powell Bill Funds Street surfacing, roofing for the new fire department building and several routine matters were discussed at some length by mem bers of the Plymouth City Coun cil at their December meeting Monday night. Mayor A. J. Riddle presided, and all members of the council were present, as follows: E. D. Keel and W. C. Hall, first ward; J. B. Latham and George W. Harrison, second ward: J. B. Cruickshank and John F. Daven port, third ward. Mayor Riddle reported that he had talked with N. W. Spruill, district engineer for the highway commission, and had reached an agreement to have street surfac ing projects approved by the council last month completed for the amount of money the town received from Powell Bill funds. This means total cost of the seven projects approved will be $14, 322.77, the town’s share of Powell Bill funds. The work is to be done by the highway commission, and Mayor Riddle said he had been promised the work will be started as soon as possible. The seven projects include Winesett Circle: Darby Circle and Country Club Drive; resurfacing part of Golf Road; two blocks in Brinkley Forest subdivision; two blocks in Little Richwood; one block in Stillacres; and three blocks on Adams Street, between Fourth and Seventh Streets. The council voted not to allow U-turns at the intersection of Adams and Water Streets, inter section of Water and Washing ton Streets, and intersection of Water and Jefferson Streets. Po lice Chief P. W. Brown was di rected to have signs installed at these intersections, after which no U-turns will bo permitted there. The Virginia Electric & Power Company was granted a release from any liability for damage that may occur as a result of in stallation of Christmas lights in the business district. W. T. Freeman advised the board by letter that he would not be willing to pay more than $25 per month after January 1 for the office space he now occupies in the City Market building. The council voted to receive sealed bids for rental of the office, which will be considered at its January meeting. Three bids were received for roofing the new fire department building. However, there were some details to be cleared up be fore letting the contract, and a SeTcOUNCIL, Page 7 Board of Education Accepts Tile Bids -• The Board of Education of Washington County at its meeting on Monday, voted to accept the bid of the Rocky Mount Tile Com pany of Rocky Mount to install quarry tile in the toilets at the Plymouth Colored, Roper White and Creswell Colored Schools for $1,975.00. The Board also accepted the bid of A. G. Pinkham to do the plumbing work in connection with the job for $652.00. As a part of the bid, the two contractors agreed to do the work during the Christmas holidays from Decem ber 19 through January 3, 1954. The board approved the low bid submitted by the W. M. Wiggins Company to install for $2,836.00 a heating plant in the Plymouth School Gymnasium. The meeting was held in the offices of the county superintend ent of schools at the courthouse and opened at 10 a. m. All board members were present as follows: L. E. Hassell, Roper, chairman; J. W. Norman and Mrs. K. S. Trowbridge, Plymouth; P. B. Bel anga, Creswell; and J. Whitford Swain, Roper. Commissioners in Routine Session Here On Monday -* Hubert L. Davenport Reap pointed as County Tax Supervisor for 1954; Re ports Heard The county commissioners dis posed of a number of routine matters in the regular monthly meeting here Monday, reappoint ing Hubert L. Davenport as coun ty tax supervisor for 1954, hear ing routine reports and taking up the usual road matters. Mr. Davenport, a commissioner himself, was reappointed in the capacity of tax supervisor on mo tion of Commissioner Pritchett, seconded by Commissioner J. C. Knowles. The board will meet again on Monday of next week at 7:30 p. m. to appoint tax listers for the several townships. The board voted to request the State Highway Comission to con struct a new road and maintain it, beginning at the state-owned park in Scuppernong Township between the 30-Foot Canal and Herring Canal and continuing in a straight line to the old road. A petition was also received and approved to be forwarded to the highway commission ask ing that improvement be made to a certain road from the “Gus town" Road to the R. A. Gibbs and Percy Craddock farm, being 400 yards in length and lying in Scuppernong Township. The clerk was instructed to write to McMullan and McMul lan, attorneys, in Washington, stating that the board would again take up at its next meet ing December 14 the matter of selling them 988 acres of county owned land in the Wenona sec tion and that the board would write them about the matter. The clerk was also directed to wri: 'e highway commission re questing fimf w6tk bi speeded up oA a vond which runs from Highway 32 at Shadberry Lane north about half a mile to Albe marle Sound and along the sound shore seven tenths of a mile to a point 100 yards south of the Sound Bridge on Highway 32. Routine monthly reports were spbmitted by W. If. Pruden, coun ty agent, Mrs. Frances M. Dar den, home agent, and E. J. Spruill, county tax collector. Spruill reported the sum of $22, 119.09 collected by his depart ment during November. The renewal bond of Mr. Spruill, who is also county audi tor, was received by the board. The commissioners voted that $35 be sent to the Caswell Train ing School, Kinston, as a Christ mas Fund donation. All members of the board— Frank L .Brinkley, chairman, and A. R. Latham, Plymouth: J. C. Knowles, Roper; H. L. Davenport, Skinnersville; and H. W. Pritch ett, Creswell, were present for the meeting. Cantata Set Here Sunday at Church -« The choir of the First Christ ian Church will present the Sa cred Cantata “King of Kings” by Daniel Protheroe on Sunday eve ning at 7:30 o’clock. The Cantata consists of three parts—The Promise of the King, The Coming of the King and the Adoration of the King. Part One opens with the bass solo “Behold, the Days Come” which will be sung by Charles Hutchins. The Phillips Brooks words “O Little Town of Bethlehem” sung by the Women’s chorus opens the second part. The third part opens with the entire choir singing “Fairest Lord Jesus” and ends with the chorus “Hallelujah, Amen.” Soloists will be Mrs. Frances Lucas, Misses Myrtle and Betty Jean Jackson, and Charles Hutch ins. Mrs. Harry Newland, organ ist and director. The public is cordially invited Santa Claus To Make His Annual Visit Here Friday 1 BOOKKEEPING DEPARTMENT AT NEW BANK HERE This picture shows a portion of the bookkeeping department of the Planters National Bank & Trust Company, which is open ing for business in Plymouth today. On the left Mrs. Vonnie Midgette is operating a posting machine, while Mrs. Dorothy An derson is at the keyboard of the proof machine and check sorter at the right. Micro-filming equipment and viewer are shown in the background. All furnishings and equipment at the bank are new and of the latest design.—Polaroid 1-Minute staff photo. 150 Pints Blood Goal Of Bloodmobile Unit Red Cross Bloodmobile Unil From Regional Center To Make Last Appearance of A minimum of 150 pints of blood will be sought here Mon day of next week. when the ted terly visit of 1953 to Plymouth and Washington County. The bloodmobile will set up for operations at the Veterans Build ing near the Washington County Hospital and donors will be re ceived between the hours of 11 a. m. and 4:45 p. m., it is an nounced. The visit is again being jointly sponsored here by the James E. Jethro Post of the American Legion and the Bosie Bateman Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Refreshments will be provided by the VFW Auxiliary. Attention has been called to the continued urgent need for whole blood and blood plasma for the gamma globulin program and for the use of civilians. Part of the blood collected during the visit here Monday will go into the local blood bank. More than ordinary means have been employed here to stimulate an interest in the coming visit of the bloodmobile unit. Plymouth High School's band has turned out in an effort to help, a booth manned by volunteer students has been set up to solicit pledges, and a canvass has been made. It is hoped that a large number of persons, both white and color ed, who have not given blood time after time, will donate blood on this visit in order to relieve those who have borne the brunt Corn Survey Being Made On All Farms of County A survey is being made in Washington County of all farms to determine whether or not corn was planted during the three year period 1951-53. Cooperation of farmers is urged by the county ASC office which is having the survey made. It is requested that each farmer have the information available when he is contacted by the reporter who has been asked to help with this work. The corn survey must be com pleted by Tuesday of next week. 1953 -* rjf*'.le from the Tirie .Jill Woo-' Cent' . makes his last quar I visit after visit | Veterans Class j j Deadline Soon | Attention of veterans is called to the fact that those interested in enrolling; for mg' class s gt • school :iust not later than Monday of next week. All applications must be cleared through the state office by December 20 and it is neces sary in order to have time for clearing that the deadline for [ making application be set at December 14. Classes will start January 1 at the Jamcsville school. Those interested should immediately contact I. R. Dav enport, Dardens, or V. B. Ilaire, vocational agriculture teacher at Jamesville. SomeFromCouniy At Soil Meeting Held in Greenville -* County Supervisors, Conser vation Workers and In terested Farmers at Pitt Meeting -) By II. E. NEWLAND “Will a Man Rob God? Yes ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." With this quotation from Malachi, Jim Sargent of the Soil Conservation Service, in speaking to the joint meeting of the Pamlico and Coastal Plain Soil Conservation districts, went on to explain “Why Soil Conservation.” On Friday from 2:30 o’clock until 8 p. m. supervisors, farmers, bus iness and professional men as sembled in Greenville to report conservation progress and discuss conservation problems and ex plain the needs of Greene, Edge combe, Pitt, Martin, Beaufort, Hyde, Dare, Tyrrell and Wash ington Counties to the State Soil Conservation committee. One of the members of the State Committee is Jim Graham, president of the N. C. State As See SOIL MEET, Page 7 Lag in Christmas Fund Donations James Boyce, chairman of the Empty Stocking Fund for 1953, stated late yesterday that dona tions of food, clothing, toys and cash were “slow.” Boyce said an all-out effort would be made to raise at least $1,500 need to provide Christmas cheer for needy persons within the county. The chairman emphasized the importance of those persons who wish to take care of cases noti fying Mrs. Ursula Spruill, county welfare superintendent, in order that there be no duplication of effort. The Plymouth Rotary Club. [ sponsors of the Empty Stocking j Fund, will be glad for individuals j to take needy cases and help out but the point is that the welfare department be notified of the in dividual’s intention so that the name may be crossed off the huge list of needy families to be helped by the club project. Meanwhile, with the campaign for usable articles of food, cloth ing and toys as well as cash with which to buy more of the same lagging, the deadline approaches at which time wrapping and par celing of Christmas gift boxes will begin. That is Friday ol next week. The Agriculture Building is being used to store articles for packaging and the work of packaging will also be done there, it is understood. De livery of packages will be made at Christmastime by volunteei workers. At a meeting here Wednesday night it was decided to hold i final meeting of the workers ir the drive Tuesday of next weet at 8 p. m. at the courthouse. Wort details will be assigned at tha' time. Due To Arrive at 4 P. M.( Accompanied by School Bands; Free Candy Will Be Given Children Friday is the big day! Yes, to the youngsters of Plymouth and adjacent areas Friday will be just about as big a day as Christmas morning. They’ll see what Santa brought them come Christmas morning, but Friday afternoon they’ll see Old Saint Nick himself. All arrangements have been completed and everything is re ported in order for. the annual visit to Plymouth of the merry old gentleman from the North Pole. The visit is being sponsored by Plymouth merchants and a gala parade featuring white and colored school bands has been arranged in his honor. Thos. F. Hopkins, spokesman for the merchants’ group, stated late yesterday that it is a certain ty that Santa will come to town well-stocked with candy for Plymouth’s small fry set. The storied dispenser of good things to good folks is scheduled to ar rive here in mid-afternoon and he will travel into the town busi ness section by jeep. His arrival at the junction of Water and Washington Streets is set for 4 o'clock and he is expected to re main there for the space of an hour or so during which time he will give out free candy to the kiddies. Again, it is emphasized, par ents of children are asked to please instruct them on the neces sity of maintaining orderly con duct while Santa is the town’s guest. If children who are down town for the parade and visit will line up and patiently await their turn, everyone will be given an equal opportunity to receive candy and it will no doubt make a much better impression on Mr. Claus than otherwise. Also, all children are urged to bring their letters informing Santa of their wants for his later Christmas Eve visit. -4 Services Held for Charlie W. Bowen -♦ Funeral services were held from Union Chapel Free Will Baptist Church Wednesday after noon at 3 p. m. for Charlie W. Bo\yen, 66, of near Plymouth. Officiating were the Rev. L. A. Ambrose, of Creswell, and the Rev. C. N. Barnette, of Plymouth. Burial was in Windley Cemetery. Mr. Bowen suffered an attack and died near his home Tuesday morning at 8:45 o’clock. For a good while he had served as chairman of the county PMA (now ASC) committee and he was to have attended a meeting later that day. A county native, Mr. Bowen was born October 31, 1887, the son of the late George W. and El len Bateman Bowen, of this coun ty. He was married at Plymouth December 29, 1909, to Miss Mabel Weed, of Plymouth, who sur vives. Mr. Bowen was a prominent citizen of the county, retired farmer, and a member of Union Chapel Church. Surviving, other than the widow, are two daughters, Mrs. Clyde Revels, of WiUiamston. and Mrs. Carl Roberson, of Plymouth; three grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Sallie Lloyd, of Bethel; and two brothers, George W. and Jesse E. Bowen, both of Plym outh. The remains were left at Hor ner’s Funeral Home here until an hour prior to the service when they were carried to the church to lie in state. Belhaven Exhibit Creates Interest — + The paintings of W. Frith Wins low, recently exhibited at the Fannie Mebane Ralph Memorial Library in Belhaven, attracted much favorable attention from art lovers in that and surround ing communities, it is reported. Among paintings displayed there were several Nags Head scenes as well as other land scapes and a number of por traits. The Winslow exhibit was brought to Belhaven through the efforts of Mrs. W. E. Bateman, jr„ art chairman of the Belhaven Library Association. Mrs. Bate man, herself a painter, has been largely responsible for the grow ing interest in art in the Bel haven area.