T*own
opics
Louis Singleton, of Plymouth,
was installed as first vice presi
dent of the student government
association at East Carolina Col
lege in Greenville Wednesady
night. Other major officers of the
association .including the presi
dent, Wade H. Cooper, of Raleigh,
were installed at the same time.
In general elections held on the
campus in March, Singleton was
elected SGA first vice president,
second most influential student
office on the campus.
Jerry Trueblood is reported as
“somewhat better" at MaryView
Hospital, Portsmouth, Va„ where
he was rushed last Thursday. He
was suffering with symptoms of
poliomyelitis but a diagnosis re
vealed meningitis. He is the son
of Mr. and Mrs. Philip True
blood, of The Pines, near Plym
outh.
Local Methodists hope to have
their new educational building
completed in time for holding the
district conference there on May
4. Most of the work is being done
by volunteer workers who are
members of the church. The main
part of the church has just been
redecorated and was used the
first time for Easter services
Sunday. The main auditorium
was completely done over, new
ceiling panels installed, walls,
i pews and floor refinished and
painted.
Mrs. Sterling McCombs had a
close call at her home here last
Friday, when she was nearly
overcome by fumes from a highly
concentrated household bleaching
compound. She was removed to
the hospital and placed under an
oxygen tent, where she spent
most of the Easter season, re
turning to her home Monday
morning.
Television fans in this section
are looking forward to May 1,
when the Norfolk station change*
to Channel 3 and begins use of
a much higher tower. Power also
is to be greatly increased. At the
present time interference of other
stations sometimes ruins pro
grams telecast from Norfolk. A
gala program is being planned
by the station to mark the
change-over on May 1st.
-1
Winslow Talks al
Souih Albeurarle
Directors' Meet
Construction of Toll Bridge
Across Alligator River
Favored by First District
Commissioner
Additional funds will be needed
before the 'Croatan Sound bridge
can be constructed, J. Emmett
Winslow, of Hertford, First Dis
trict Highway Commissioner, told
members of the Southern Albe
marle Association board of direc
tors last week. Mr. Winslow was
principal speaker at the directors’
meeting, which was held in the
courthouse here last Thursday
The commissioner also told the
Southern Albemarle group that
he favored construction of a toll
bridge acrss the Alligator River
betlow Columbia on U. S. 64.
However, he said legislation
would be necessary at the next
General Assembly to legalize the
sale of bonds backed by the State
to provide funds for such a pro
ject. He did promise that ferry
service across Alligator River
would be improved as soon as the
Croatan bridge is completed.
Sneaking of the Croatan bridge,
Mr. Winslow said the allocation of
$750,000 by Governor Umstead fV
this project was only a starter
and that an additional $2,250,000
would be needed. The bridge will
See^WINSLOwT^Page 12
Easter Seal Sale
Closes This Week j
Mrs. J. M. Davenport, of Cres
well, county chairman, this week
appealed for a liberal response
to the Easter Seal sale, which is
being concluded this week. The
campaign is being conducted
through the county schools, civic
organizations and churches and
is due to end the latter part of
this week.
Last year between $300 and
$400 were raised through the sale
of Easter seals, with proceeds be
ing used for the care and treat
ment of crippled children. Mrs.
Davenport is hopeful that an even
larger amount can be raised in
the county this year.
The chairman requests all
workers to complete their reports
by the latter part of this .week
and send them to her, so that a
complete summary will be avail
able for publication next Thurs
day. "The need is urgent, the
cause is worthy, and I trust that
all those to whom seals were
mailed will send in their contri
butions right away,” Mrs. Dav
enport said Tuesday.
The Roanoke Beacon
****** and Washington County News ******
A home newspaper dedicated
to the service of Washington
County and its 13,000 people.
VOLUME LXV—NUMBER 16
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, April 22, 1954
ESTABLISHED 1889
Two County Contests in Primary May 29th
Two Ordered Held
For Court in July
On Slaying Charge
Preliminary Hearings Held
In Recorder's Court Tues
day for Men Involved in
Three Fatalities Recently
Following preliminary hearings
in recorder’s court here Tues
day, two colored men were order
ed held for trial at the July term
of superior court on charges
growing out of three deaths in
the county in the past two weeks.
Probable cause was found in both
cases by Recorder W. Ronald
Gaylord, one man being held
without bond and the other re
manded to jail in default of $5,
000 bond.
Nathan Thomas, Mackeys Neg
ro, was charged with the fatal
shooting of Aline Moore and Vio
let Chesson, both Negroes of Mac
keys. on Saturday night, April 3.
Thomas fled the scene and was
captured in Philadelphia, Pa., the
following Monday. He did not
fight extradition and was return
ed to the county the week after
the shooting.
He did not take the stand at the
hearing here Tuesday, and fol
lowing presentation of evidence
by the state, the recorder direct
ed that Thomas be held for first
degree murder, without privilege
of bond.
The other case was that of
George Skinner, Creswell Negro,
arrested by Sheriff J. K. Reid
last Thursday as the result of the
fatal beating of Calvin Wynne,
37 - year - old white logwoods
worker, in Skinnersville Satur
day night, April 10. Probable
cause of unlawful slaying was
found against Skinner, and he
was remanded to jail when he
failed to raise the $5,000 bond
required.
The state presented evidence
that Skinner and Wynne engaged
in an affray outside a colored
store in Skinnersville April 10,
during which Wynne was knock
ed to the ground and allegedly
kicked by Skinner. Wynne went
to his home and died early Sun
day morning as the result of a
ruptured spleen. Skinner did not
take the stand at the hearing
Both men are scheduled to be
tried at the July term of Wash
ington County Superior Court.
-»
Service Held for
Mrs. Della Phelps
Services were conducted Satur
day by the Rev. Walter Arm
strong, pastor, for Mrs. Della
Sawyer Phelps, 78, at Holly Neck
Church of Christ. Mrs. Phelps,
a native of Tyrrell County but
i resident of Roper RFD, died last
rhursday morning at 3:30 a. m. at
aer home, following a long per
iod of declining health.
She was the widow of the late
Winnie Phelps, of near Roper,
nd the daughter of the late Mr.
md Mrs. Lott Sawyer, of Tyrrell
County. She was 'born August 16,
1875, and had lived in this county
lor 58 years, coming here from
ler native Tyrrell.
She was a member of Holly
Seek Church.
A daughter, Mrs. .Minnie Bas- .
light, of Roper RFD, survives. .
Services were held at the J
hurch at 3 p. m. and interment ,
ollowed in the church cemetery. .
The remains were left at Hor- '
ler's Funeral Home here until an .
lour prior to the service
CONSTRUCTION OF SWIMMING POOL STARTED AT COUNTRY CLUB HERE
Construction was
as shown in the above
left and in front of the club building, a portion of which appears in the background. The work is
under the supervision of M. J. Polk, who saysjthe pool will be completed and ready for use by the
middle of June.—Polaroid 1-Minute staff photo.
---—
started last week on a swimming pool at the County Club of Plymouth,
ihoto. The pool, with an area of some 1,800 sauare feet, is located iust to the
Club Swimming Pool
Work Is Begun Here
1,800 Square Feet in Area;
Fully Equipped; Ready
For Use by Middle of
June, Officials Say
Work was started! last week on
a swimming pool at the Country
Club of Plymouth, and it is ex
pected to be ready for use by the
middle of June, according to M. J.
Polk, who is in charge of con
struction. Addition of the pool to
facilities available at the club is
expected to greatly increase its
membership, according to Robert
E. Bowen, chairman of a special
membership committee appoint
ed recently.
The pool will have approxi
mately 1,800 square feet of area,
according to the specifications.
Depth will range from 3% feet
to 9 feet, and its width is 30 feet
at the deep end by 38 feet at the
shallow end, and it will be 68
feet in length. Circulation pump,
filters and chlorination feed
squipment have been ordered, an
and the whole set-up is to be
completed by June 15th, prob
ably with the addition of a sepa
rate wading pool for smaller
rhildren.
Recommendations by the state
board of health officials are be
ng followed in construction of
be pool, although not required,
since the pool is not public but
restricted to the use of members.
Showers and dressing rooms also
ire planned, and a life guard will
ae on duty at all times when the
pool is open. A fence will be built
around the pool, and the gate
vill be kept locked when the life
juard is not present.
A new schedule of membership
lues was adopted recently by the
aoard of directors, to become ef- ;
ective on July 1st. Total costs of :
i family membership, including
hildren under 21 years of age”,
vill be $15 per quarter, plus a
15 initiation fee. This is for all 1
lub privileges, except golf, and J
See CLUB POOL, Page 12
1
OFFICIALS AT FIREMEN S MEETING IN R0PER~~|
Charles F. Gold (center), Insurance Commissioner of North
larolina, was principal speaker at the quarterly meeting of the
East Carolina Firemen’s Association held in Roper Tuesday of
ast week. Others in the photo above are, left to right: Henry
s. Everett, chief of the Roper Fire Department; Reynold Spruill
mayor Roper, who made the welcoming address; Mr. Gold; I. Miller
^Varren, Plymouth fire chief and president of the association- and
Ed Kinsay, of LaGrange, secretary.—Polaroid I-Minute staff photo
C
V,
lit
w
ci
fc
rt
b;
ai
20 Hen To Be !
Called in Nay j
Local Selective Service Board
No. 95 will have an induction
call for five men and an in-'
duction call for 15 men to fill
during May, it was learned here
this week.
Mrs. Lorraine Hunter, board
clerk, made the announcement,
stating that five men would
leave for induction Thursday,
May 20, while the 15 registrants
would be sent for pre-induction
examination on the same date.
A charter bus will leave
Plymouth at 8 a. m., promptly,
it was stated, and Mrs. Hunter
urges all registrants to report
to the local board office in the
basement of the courthouse at
7:45 a. m.—not later. Those fail
ing to report on time (7:45 at
the office) will be listed as de
linquent, the board clerk
warned.
Pre-School Clinic
Set for This Week
-1
Miss Elizabeth Wood, county
lealth nurse, this week calls at
;ention of the public to the next
■egularly scheduled pre-school
;linic, to be held Friday o£ this
veek at Creswell White School,
beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The schedule will be rounded
>ut with clinics Monday of next
veek at Creswell Colored School,
;ame hour, and at Roper Colored
school, Friday of next week, also
jeginning at 9:30 a. m.
The clinic held at Plymouth
Vhite School last Friday was at
ended by 78 persons, Miss Wood
eported.
-♦
.ions Club Will Stage
Bridge, Canasta Party
— t—
The Plymouth Lions Club is
taging a party Saturday of this
/eek at the Plymouth High
Ichool cafeteria, beginning at 8
. m.
Choice of bridge, set-back or
anasta may be played with door
nd table prizes being offered,
'ickets should be sent for door
rizes by those who purchase tic
ets and who will not be present
>r the drawing, since it is ex
lained that it is not necessary to
e present in order to win.
-1
Wednesday Closings
Planned in Creswell
Stores and business houses in
reswell will close at 1 p. m. each
ednesday afternoon, starting
ay 1st, it was announced this
eek by Harry. W. Pritchett. This
istom has prevailed in Creswell
r a number of years, and pat
ns are requested to cooperate
r doing their shopping as early
possible on Wednesdays.
Free Inspection
Service for All
Vehicles Coming
Mapager of Local Auto Firm
Announces Cooperalionin
New Voluntary Safely
Program
Ai.hough there is at present no
I*v ccmpeltirg North Ca-olina
motorists to undergo auto inspec
tion lanes similar to those in some
other states and in this state a
few years back, they will have
opportunity, for voluntary inspec
tion service, according to J. W.
House, manager of House Chevro
let Company here.
The local auto firm is authoriz
ed sponsor of a volunteer vehicle
safety campaign starting Monday
of next week, Mr. House said.
The check-up is entirely free
and without obligation, it is un
derstood. It is designed to make
for greater safety on the streets
and highways through better me
chanical condition of vehicles
generally.
Such important items as brakes,
steering, lights, horn, windshield,
wiper and rubber, etc., will be
gone over for defects and notes
made of items needing attention.
If the car is safe to drive, a sign
ed sticker placed on the wind
shield will tell the cock-eyed
world so.
Owners of all types and makes
are cordially invited to take ad
vantage of the service which is
being endorsed strongly by both
Governor Umstead and State Mo
tor Vehicles Commission Ed
Scheidt.
Challenge Ouiline
Will Be Given To
People Next Fall
County Agent, Speaking for
Committee, Advises of De
lay in Getting Covers for
Work
-*
Presenting of the Challenge
Program to the public will come
some time next fall, it was learn
ed here this week.
Originally, it had been planned
to have the program worked out
and ready for public presenta
tion within weeks but delay in
getting the covers made at Ra
leigh necessitated the postpone
ment, W. H. Pruden, county agent
who is head of the Challenge
group, reported this week.
The report came in the form
of a general letter to Challenge
Committee members from Pru
den and was mailed following a
meeting here last week of the
Washington County Agricultural
Workers Council. The council is
made up of the various agencies,
their representatives, farm work
ers and leaders in the county and
allied fields.
The letter from Pruden went on
to explain in part: The complet
ed Challenge PrrXram has been
ready for two weeks with the ex
ception of a cover. The commit
tees thought an attractive cover
was essential and much desired
for our program since so much
work had gone into developing
this long-range program. A com
mittee was appointed to work out
arrangements for this cover
which was to be printed in Ra
leigh. Arrangements were made
in due time and the cover sent
to Raleigh, but due to over-sur
plus of work in the Raleigh office
we will be unable to get these
covers until sometime in May.
[ Tn view of,, of Ciese crrcum
stan. , t..e -V.-i.-ington County
Agricultural Workers Council
voted to postpone presenting this
program throughout the commun
ities in Washington County until
sometime in the fall. It was felt
that farmers would be so busy
during the planting season trans
planting tobacco, etc., that they
would be unable to attend night
meetings and it is most import
ant that this program be placed
in the hands of every farmer in
this county. The Agricultural
Council has requested that each
of you on this committee inform
your neighbors of this necessary
delay and tell them the reason
for it.
All of us feel the importance
of this program and we would
like for each of you to use every
means at your disposal to keep
the interest that was developed
alive until the program can be
presented next fall.
The Challenge program, when
completed ,will cover every phase
of production, a complete land
use program, advance theories of
modern diversified agriculture
designed to keep farmers em
ployed on the farm the year
round, stress the need and profit
SeTcHALLENGEr^age^7
14 Candidates Filed
For Total 10 Offices
No Last-Minute
Filers Saturday
Contrary to usual custom in
Washington County, there were
no last-minute filers for politi
cal office last Saturday. Harry
W. Pritchett, who had prev
iously announced he would be a
candidate for reelection as
county commissioner from the
Scuppernong Township, paid
the filing fee and officially be
came a candidate Friday; and
filed Saturday for constable in
Lees Mill Township.
Several rumored candidacies
for various offices failed to ma
terialize, as did Republican op
position for county jobs. The
deadline was passed at 6 p. m.
Saturday.
Open Registration
Books in County
Saturday, May 1st
-» --
Remain Open Through Sat
urday, May 15; Service
Men and Wives May Vole
Absentee in Primary
Next item of interest on the
primary election calendar for
Washington County is opening of
books for registration, which be
gins in all six voting precincts
on Saturday, May 1. The books
will then remain open for the
following two weeks, with regis
trar;; ico.jiverfthe polling
places on each of the three Sat
urdays during that period. On
other days, persons qualified may
register at the residences or place
of business of the registrars.
No new registration is required
this year, and those who have
registered and voted previously
need not do so again, unless they
have moved from one precinct to
another or unless they wish to
change their party affiliation.
Those coming of age or who have
moved into the state, should also
register during the period from
May 1 through May 15.
Saturday, May 22, has been
designated as “challenge day,” al
though this is usually just a for
mality in this section. The pri
mary election will be held on Sat
urday, May 29, with the polls
open from 6:30 a. m. to 6:30 p. m.
The only persons allowed to
vote absentee in primary elect
ions are members of the armed
forces and their wives. Requests
for absentee ballots for members
of the service may be made by
letter to the chairman of the
board of elections in the vot
er’s behalf by husband, wife, fa
ther, mother, brother, sister or
child.
SOUTHERN ALBEMARLE ASSOCIATION OFFICERS HERE LAST WEEK
Gathered on the steps of the Washington County Courthouse here last Thursday are some ,
of the officers and directors of the Southern Albemarle Association here for a meeting of the
executive committee. Left to right in the front row are: Dr. W. T. Ralph, of Belhaven presi
dent; Mrs. Wilton W. Smith, of Bath, secretary; J. Emmett Winslow, of Hertford, First District '
Highway Commissioner and guest speaker at the meeting; Mrs. Scott Topping, of Pantego Beau- 1
fort County vice president; A. Corey, of Jamesville, Martin Countv vice president. Back row 1
N. W. Shelton, of Swan Quarter, Hyde County vice president; Julian Swain, of Columbia, Tyrreli (
County vice president; Harry W. Pritchett, of Creswell, Washington County vice president- Mel- ‘
vin Daniels, of Manteo, Dare County vice president; and Lindsay Tarkenton, of Manteo.—Pola- i
roid 1-Minute staff photo. ,
Eight Without Opposition
Certified as Nominees and
Names Will Not Appear
On Ballot
-♦
Fourteen candidates for county
offices, one for district senator
and one for a township office had
filed with the county board of
elections when the deadline was
reached last Saturday evening at
6 o'clock, according to W. T. Free
man, chairman of the board.
Only two contests are assured
for county offices, and voting in
one of them is limited to Scup
pernong Township. The contest
for district senators also will be
on the county ballot. Edward L.
Owens, of Plymouth, is the only
candidate to file with the county
board for senator, but two others
are known to have announced,
and it is expected their names
will be certified by their respec
tive county boards of elections
by the latter part of this week.
The seven candidates for coun
ty offices and one for a township
office who have no opposition
were certified as Democratic
nominees by the county board of
elections at a meeting held im
mediately after the deadline last
Saturday. Their names will not
appear on the primary ballot, as
they have no opposition. Contrary
to expectations, no Republicans
filed for any of the county of
fices, which means that none of
the Democratic nominees will
have opposition in the general
election next November.
Principal interest on a county
wide basis is centered in the race
for representative, enlivened last
week by the entry of another
candidate, former representative
Ben A. Sumner, of Plymouth,
who served in the 1943 legislature
Dr. J. M. Phelps, of Creswell, and
former representative E. O. Ar
nold, of Skinnersville, who serv
SeTcANDIDATESrPagr7~^
-♦
Auclion Sheds and
Other Buildings
Ready for Market
-♦
Warehouses To Be Made
Available To Growers for
Regrading and Repack
ing, Said
---
The Plymouth Produce Auction
Market will soon be ready for its
spring and summer season. Build
ings have been completed for all
phases of the operation. Ware
houses to be made available to
buyers for regradiing and re
packing, and unloading sheds for
the convenience of both buyers
and growers have been arranged.
The operators of the market
report that they are contacting
buyers daily to be on this market
when the season opens which will
begin with snap beans—probably
about the third or fourth week in
May. The exact opening date will
be announced later. Indications
from all over the 18-county area
are that growers have planted a
substantial acreage of snap beans.
Cucumbers and squash are now
being planted. Transplanting of
pepper and tomato plants to the
open field is now in full swing
and will continue until May 10
15th. The operators wish to ad
vise all growers that pepper and
tomato plants are available — if
interested in plants contact the
market operators.
Other vegetables are also be
ing planted — lima beans, okra,
field peas, watermelons, canta
loupes, sweet corn, and others,
rhe market operators also report
-hat they will sell flowers at auc
tion on this market—principally
gladiolus. A large number of
flower growers in the Terra Ceia
■ection near Plymouth have a
arge acreage and have indicated
bat they plan to sell on this mar
ket. A number of buyers have in
iicated their interest in this phase
>f the operation.
The outlook appears very fav
>rable for the ’54 season. With
he cooperation of everyone in the
area this new market will be a
great asset to Eastern North Car
ilina. The assistance of the N. C.
Department of Agriculture, the
ounty agents, the extension ser
vice has been most helpful in pro
noting the market. These agen
das have assured growers that
hey will continue to assist by
ontacting buyers, holding pack
ng demonstrations, and render
ng any other help that the ope
ators of the market request.