T'own opics R. F. Lowry, superintendent of public instruction for Washing ton County, has been invited to serve on a committee represent ing North Carolina on the study of school finance for the South ern States Work Conference which meets annually in Day tona Beach, Florida. The meeting I is scheduled for June 6-11, 1955. State committees will be called to meet at North Carolina Edu cation Association headquarters at Raleigh prior to the conference in order to prepare information for presentation at the annual meeting. Owner J. Shepherd Brinkley reports enthusiastic response to showings at the Plymouth Thea tre on the newly-installed wider screen. A good-sized crowd was on hand for the first showing using the new Cinemascope screen Sunday and near-capacity crowds have turned out since that time, it is said. C. E. Steeley, Plymouth mer chant who was stricken ill some time ago, continues in critical condition in McCain Sanatarium, near Southern Pines, according to word received here by his wife and son. Sales of State licenses for motor vehicles have been averag ing about 20 a day at the local license bureau since the plates went on sale December T, a check of records at the local office shows. Sales through business of Wednesday of this week showed a total of 279 sales as follows: autos, 205; trucks, 48; and trail ers, 26. Cpl. James H. Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Allen, of Plym outh, has returned home after three years of ser/ice with the U. S. Air Force, stationed at Hic kam Field, Honolulu, Hawaii. Prior to that Cpl. Allen was sta tioned at Chanute Field, Illinois, and at West Palm Beach, Florida. He arrived in California in Oc tober and has now been separat ed from the service and plans to enter Boston University this Fall. Twice lately County ASC Of fice Manager Miriam Ausbon and * stall nave been cited ny tne state office for special commendation and notice in ASC headquarters newsletters. The county force was commended for having over 50 per cent of farms in the county signed1 to participate in the ACP program. Then Miss Ausbon came in for orchids for her “in*crest ing, completely original news letter. You’re doing a good job of keeping the farmers up-to date,” the commendation con cluded. Speaking of Thanksgiving, which nobody was but we will, Airman 3/C Frank C. Bickerstaff, jr., recently sent his mother a copy of the Thanksgiving menu at Webb Air Force Base, Big Spring, Texas, thrt is out of this world. It reads: “Tomato juice cocktail with lemon wedges and crackers, roast young tom tur key, baked Virginia ham, bread dressing, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, snowflake potatoes, can died sweet potatoes, buttered green peas, corn O’Brien, waldorf aalad', olives, carrot sticks, pic kles, celery hearts, parkerhouse rolls, whole wheat bread, white bread, fruit cake, mince meat pie, apples, bananas, grapes, dates, tangerines, ice cream, mixed1 can dy, salted nuts, coffee - tea, fresh milk, sugar, butter.” In a fore word, Col. Cleason E. Freeman, the base commander, wrote: “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and. it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” The boys at that base were more surprised about the Air Force than they were about the Lord. Roper Firemen To Canvass Town for Stockinn Fund «r Roper Firemen will make a house-to-house canvass in Roper Saturday night of this week, starting at 7 o’clock, on behalf of the Empty Stocking drive. Toys, food and usable clothing, contributions of money with which to buy commodities for needy families, and other miscel laneous items will be appreciated. Church bells will ring out at 7 to mark start of the canvass. Tobacco Allotments To Be Cut 5 Per Cent It has been announced by County ASC office manager Mir iam Ausbon that all flue-cured tobacco growers will take a 5 pci cent allotment cut in 1955. Thic allotment reduction is necessary because tobacco sup plies have far exceeded the de mand, Miss Ausbon said. She quoted several reasons for the reduced consumption of tobacco among them being the curren' scare over cancer, reduced pur chases by foreign importers, anc a greater per acreage production which has been increasing dur ing the last few years. However, the office manager emphasized the fact that tobacco will be supported' at 90 per cent of parity in 1955 and any loss re ceived by farmers due to a small allotment cut will be more than offset by the privilege of being able to sell on a somewhat guar anteed market. Also, a 15 per cent out has been announced for cotton. However, comparatively little acreage is planted to this crop in the county The Roanoke Beacon ****** and Washington County News ****** A home newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington County and its 13,000 people. Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, December 16, 1954 VOLUME LXV—NUMBER 50 ESTABLISHED 1889 Copy for Next Beacon Must Be In SilliiimIav In order to give employees a longer holiday The Beacon’s Christmas issue will be printed Monday of next week. The of fice will then be closed until the following Tuesday morn ing, December 28. Since the paper is to be print ed three days .early, it will be necessary for all copy to be in the office not later than Sat day. The cooperation of all advertisers and correspondents and related items should be in the office just as early as pos sible, and no copy can be ac cepted for publication in the next issue later than Saturday. The Christmas issue, as usual, will carry the greetings of our advertisers to their patrons. For a cheery message that will mean more than just a couple of days off from work, read these greetings ads. Although members of the Beacon staff will not come back to work after the holidays until Tuesday morning, December 28, every effort will be made to get the issue of that week on time. However, there is a pos sibility that it may be a bit late. 20 Plant Employees Will Get Recognition For Lengthy Service I School Closing j i Friday at Noon j The longest holiday during the school year will begin Fri day of this week for some 3,400 school children in Washington County. County Superintendent of Schools Roy F. Lowry announ ced this week that all county schools will close at 12:30 p. m. Friday for a two-week Christ was recess. Regular classes will be resumed at all county schools on Monday, January 3, at the usual hour. 99 Respond Here To Blood Unit's Quarterly Visit Thirteen Rejects During Day With Only 86 Pints Of Blood Secured on Last Visit of Year A total of 99 potential blood donors responded here on the last visit of the Red Cross bloodmo bile, it is reported. The blood mobile unit made its regular quarterly visit to Plymouth Wed nesday of last week and 86 pints of blood were secured. The quota had been set at 110 pints. The amount donated swelled the grand total for the 16 visits to this county since inauguration of-the program in December of 1950 to 2,017 pints Those who responded on the recent visit of the unit were list ed by blood program clerks as follows: C. A. Cratch, Edgar Bateman, S. W. McNair, L. Ronald Waters, J. F. Cox, Wiley Moore, colored, C. S. Gardner, Mrs. Marie Simp son Robert G. Johnson, S. M. Carpenter, Mrs. A. J. Ange, sr. Also, Rodney Rodgerson, Hen ry Silver, Leora Hudson, colored, Mrs. Doris M. Manning, Charles Fowler, Herbert Sawyer, Howard Davenport, Norman White, Ervin Hassell, J. D. Mallory, Donald Taylor, Hugh Midyette, Raymond Phelps, Also, Dorothy J. Sutton, H. B. Gaylord, Ed Stuart, H. E. New berry, Leslie J. Darby, William Waters, John Davenport, Sidney W. Spruill, Jack Weaver, John Wood, Nicholas Ange, Roswell Cox, Fred Doscher, Mrs. Ruth Mc Nair, John H. Rodgers, Also, Dallas Waters, J. P. Tur ner, Mrs. Fred Spruill, Robert G. West, Marvin Campbell, Ro bert Winesette, Benton L. Tetter See BLOODMOB1LE, Page 8 No New Members 25-Year Group This Year; Five Get Silver and Fifteen Bronze Pins Next Monday Recognition for loyal service will be given to several groups of North Carolina Pulp Company employees next Monday, it was learned yesterday from L. J. Dar by, industrial relations manager, who is in charge of arrangements for the event. For the first time in a number of years, there are no new mem bers of the “Old-Timers' Club," composed of employees with 25 years or more service with the Kieckhefer firm. However, there are five employees who will re ceive silver lapel pins denoting 20 years’ service and another group of 15 will receive bronze pins for 15 years’ service. Pins for the 15 and 20 year groups will be presented at the personnel building next Monday. The presentation is usually made by H. M. Kieckhefer, president of the North Carolina Pulp Com pany, and it is expected he will be here for the ceremony. The “Old-Timers’ Banquet" for the 25-year men will be held at the country club Monday night, starting at 6:30 p. m., with a full program of entertainment ar ranged for the evening. J. A. Auchter, manager of the Plym outh plant, will preside as toast master, and Mr. Kieckhefer is ex pected to be present for a brief talk. Most of the evening will be devoted to the cocktail hour and bingo, with a large number of valuable prizes furnished by the company to be awarded. There are 32 members of the “Old-Tim ers’ Club,” and most of them are expected to attend, including sev eral who have been retired. The five men who will receive silvr pins for 20 years’ service are Charles H. Painter, Roy If. Ragland, Jennings B. O’Dell, Mor rison L. Brockhard and Hugh B. Pierce. The 15 men who will receive bronze pins for 15 years’ service are: Fred Ausbon, Alton Baker, Alexander Bond, John Boone, Harry Browning, Woodrow R. Collins, Howard W. Davenport, Thomas H. Davenport, George Finlinson, Derwood Sadler, Leon ard S. Skiles, Gartel L. Skidmore, Tom West, John Williams and Luther Williams. Members of the 25-year “Old ”secTEMPLOYEES, Page 5 j Clothing Items j | For Needy Ones! Local Empty Stocking Fund leaders were emphasizing this week the urgent need for usable clothing for distribution to needy Washington County fam ilies at Christmastime. It was pointed out that many persons have the idea that clothing is not included in the items de sired. The fact is that clothing is much needed and any usable items of apparel will be great ly appreciated. Some clothing has already been collected, along with canned foods, toys and miscellaneous items and is being sorted and stored by vol unteer help in the basement of the courthouse here, under supervision of Mrs. Ursula Spruill, county welfare super intendent. Anyone having any clothing or other contributions for the fund can have them picked up by contacting James T. Boyce or other Empty Stock ing leaders. Nominations for Plymouth's Young Man of Year Soon December 31 Announced As Deadline for Receiving Nominafions; To Be Hon ored Jaycee Week Plymouth’s most outstanding young men between the ages of 21 and 35 for 1954 will be honored again this year at a banquet which will be given in his honor during Jaycee Week, January 14 through 21. The exact date has not been determined yet. Jaycee clubs all over the coun try will be honoring the young man who has contributed most in the way of achievements, leader ship and service to his communi ty for the calendar year 1954 dur ing Jaycee Week. Although the recipient of the award is in the age classification of the Jaycees, he need not be, or have been a Jaycee. The award has no relation to Junior Chamber of Commerce membership. The judging com mittee is made up of a secret committee of prominent local citi zens over the age of 35 and the recipient of the award is select ed from nominations received. The Jaycees are urging every one who would like to nominate some outstanding young man for this award to make their nomi nation before the deadline for re ceiving nominations which is De cember 31, 1954. Nominations should include name of nominee, date of birth, address, sponsor, address of sponsor, achievements and nature of service: (List and merits, nature of service, nature of participation and leadership of nominee, bearing in mind that judging will be done on follow ing basis: contribution to com munity and state welfare and beterment; participation in all round community and state ac tivities and civic enterprises; evi dence of lasting contribution to community and state welfare; evidence of leadership ability, success in own vocation and sonal and business progress; iS> operation with individuals and civic organizations. All activities for which judging is to be made must have been performed while nominee was 35 or younger.) The Jaycee D.S.A. committee is made up of D. Marvin Weaver, chairman, Ralph Hunter and Bill McCombs. -- - Mrs. Hooker Dies At Local Hospital Services were conducted from Plymouth Christian Church Sun day at 2:30 p. m. for Mrs. Matilda (Sade) Hooker, 72, of Plymouth. Officiating was the Rev. Cary Dannelly, assisted by the Rev. C. N. Barnette, Interment was in Windley Cemetery. Mrs. Hooker died at 10:30 p .m. last Thursday at Washington County Hospital. Mrs. Hooker, widow of the late H. C. Hooker and daughter of the late Sam and Josephine Bow en Cutler, of Beaufort County, was born there September 20, 1882. She had lived here for 56 year and was a member of Plym outh Church of Christ. She leaves six daughters, Mrs. Vonnie Purgason, of Portsmouth, Va., Mrs. Rose Ange and Mrs. G. C. Richard, both of Plymouth, Mrs. Vergie Reitmeier, of Cam den, N. J., Mrs. W. L. Guil ford, of Aurora, and Mrs. Mar garet Bray, of Philadelphia, Pa.; j son, G. C. Hooker, of Plymouth; four sisters, Mrs. Strawford Can r.ady, of Washington, Mrs. George Buttry, of Southern Pines, Mrs. Newsom Harrison, of Plymouth, and Mrs. Mollie Cutler, of Wash ington; a brother, George Cutler, of Bath; 24 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. School Sites To Owens Brothers The firm of E. L. Owens and A. L. Owens was the high bidder on both the Mt. Delane School and the former Kelly School Site which were bid off at the Wash ington County Courthouse last Saturday at 11:30 a. m. The Mt. Delane School sold for $350.00 and the Kelly School Site was bid in at $50.00. According to State law, anyone desiring to raise the bid may do so within 10 days from Saturday, December 11, 1954. The Mt. Delane School is a two room building located on a 100’ by 100’ plot on the road leading from the Mackeys Road to Roper. The former Kelly School Site is a one acre plot located about 10 miles from Plymouth on the Pine town road. Record Crowd at Christinas Parade -4- -T- -4 Young and old saw banta here Saturday afternoon of last week and observers say it was an even larger crowd that gathered for the annual parade and visit of the merry gentleman in ithe red coat and white wlhiskers than that which turned out here a year ago. Estimates placed the crowd this year at about 3,500, includ ing a host of youngsters who re ceived gifts of candy from Saint Nick. Over 2,300 bags of candy were County Voles for Marketing Quotas Cotton Next Year Only Two Dissenling Ballots Cast in County in Tues day's Referendum; 93 Per Cent Margin Seen -♦ Washington County cotton growers went along with the rest of the State in the marketing quotas referendum held Tuesday of this week. With 344 farmers eligible to cast ballots, the county vote was overwhemingly in favor of quotas on the 1955 crop, 70 for to only two against. The two negative votes were cast at Creswell, along with 30 votes favoring the quotas for next year. The two other polling places, Plymouth and Roper, failed to turn up a “no" vote. There were 22 votes cast at Plymouth and 18 at Roper. The unofficial returns from 77 of the 79 counties in North Caro lina involved in the referendum were reported at 30,959 in favor of quotas and 1,867 opposed. Plymouth and Long Acre farm ers voted at the Agriculture Building here, while voters from Pleasant Grove and Roper com munities used the polling p'ace at Knowles Grocery, Roper, and Cherry, Mt Pleasant and Cr» well farmers voted at'C. N. DaV enport Garage, Creswell. Referendum committeemen ser ving for the day were Cyril Ange, J. C. Snell and Oliver Lucas. Plymouth; Roy C. Chesson and Wade Hardison, Roper; and C. N. Davenport, L. L. Davenport and D. H. Furlough, Creswell. The vote in North Carolina will be added to those of other cotton states. Unless the quota issue car ries overall by two-thirds majori ty, price supports of 90 per cent of parity will drop to only 50 per cent of parity. Preliminary re turns from seven other partici pating states indicated a margin of 93 per cent in favor of the quotas. The North Carolina vote fell far under the 50,616 ballots cast in a similar referendum a year ago. Glee Club To Present Concert Here Sunday The Plymouth High School Glee Club will be presented in concert at the high school audi torium Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Director Ed Taylor an nounces. There will be a mixed chorus of 50 voices with Miss Beulah Cratch serving as pianist. Several numbers appropriate to the season have been selected, it was said. The public is invited. DISTRICT COLLECTION OF FOOD FOR CHURCH OF GOD ORPHANAGE Five of the six ministers of the Church of God in the Elizabeth City district are pictured above in front of boxes of food collected by their church members to be sent to the denomination’s orphanage at Kannapolis. There are 62 children in the orphanage, and the food collection in this district was said to have been very gratifying. Left to right in the photo above are the Rev. I. C. Morris, district overseer of Elizabeth City; the Rev. F. E. Evans, of Williamston; the Rev. James Briley, of Creswell; the Rev. James Ferguson, of Plymouth; and the Rev. Mitchell Evans, I of Edenton. Not present when the picture was made was the Rev. Miss Lennora Jones of Ahosfcie. —Photo by Weaver Studio. given out between z and .5 o clock, it was reported. Thos. F. Hopkins acted as master of ceremonies and a number of volunteers aid ed police in patrolling the crowd. Mr. Hopkins declared that the crowd was the most orderly ever for such an event here and that the kiddies lined up and filed past Santa in good order. Christmas Carols were played alternately by bands from Plym outh High School and Washing ton County Union School, Roper, before the parade was disbanded | and candy was distributed to the youngsters. The bands led the parade from the high school to Water Street, accompanied by Santa in a jeep. The crowd on hand for the visit last year was estimated at about 3,000 persons but nearly 2,500 bags of candy were given out then. Santa arrived in Plymouth somewhat earlier in the day this year than on previous visits. Stocking Fund Drive Over Halfway Mark Cash Goal About in Sight, Chairman States; Pack aging of Commodities To Begin Monday The drive for money contri butions to the annual Washington County Empty Stocking Fund was well past the halfway mark Wed nesday afternoon of this week, according to Carl L. Bailey, jr„ of Plymouth, county chairman of the project, Bailey said in addition to the funds already in hand there are several “substantial” contribut ions pledged. With nearly $1,000 in hand and quite a bit more in sight, the chairman expressed the feeling that the tentative goal will be reached and that there will be ample money, together with contributions of food, cloth ing, toys and other items, to in sure success of the venture again this year, as in past seasons. About 30 persons, white and colored, attended a meeting at the courthouse Friday night pre sided over by Mr. Bailey and heard a report by general finance chairman Carl Bailey, sr. The finance chairman said that $800 was “in sight” for Plymouth alone and that with anticipated amounts from o ner’ sources at least $1,250 was in sight. Du ' ‘.he^JW^ting individual reports were made by several colored community chairmen as follows: Lily Webb, Bethel community, $22.25; Mary Wilkins, Mackeys, $19.25; and Gladys Hassell and A. R. Lord, Plymouth, $67.80. Actual work of packaging the items for distribution will begin Monday afternoon of next week at the Agriculture Building here, County Chairman Bailey stated Wednesday. He said shifts of volunteer workers would con tinue the task Monday night, Tuesday and Tuesday night and that distribution to needy families would begin Tuesday Contributions of toys are being stored at East Carolina Supply Company pending packaging, and other items such as food and clothing are being sorted and stored in the basement of the county courthouse. Persons having light trucks they wish to lend for use in dis tributing the gifts to the needy about the county are asked to get in touch with Carl Bailey, jr., or other fund leaders. Those who know of needy families may sub mit these names to Mrs. Ursula Spruill, county welfare depart ment superintendent. Boys from Plymouth Colored Ellementary Scbfool and Wash ington County Union School, of Roper, will assist in the work of distribution, it was stated. There are about 300 needy fam ilies in the county, it is estimated. Stores Open To j 9 Every Night j Beginning Friday of this week, Plymouth stores will re main open each night until 9 o’clock through the remainder of the pre-Christmas shopping season. Stores will be closed Christmas Bay and the Mon day following, resuming their regular business hours Tues day of next week at the usual time. The majority of stores have remained open each Friday evening during the past two weeks for the convenience of late shoppers. Draw 70 for Jury Dufy Here During Court in January -4 Names of 40 County Citizens Listed for First Week and 30 for Second Week of - Superiji Xoui^ Names ’t>f 70 county citizens to serve for jury duty at the Jan uary term of Washington Coun ty Superior Court were drawn here recently by the county com missioners. Forty were selected to serve for the first week of the two-week mixed term, and 30 for the second week. The court will open here Mon day, January 10. Drawn for first week duty were 13 each from Plymouth and Scup pernong Townships, eight from Lees Mill Township and six from Skinnersville. The 'list for the second week includes names of nine persons from Scuppernong, eight from Plymouth, seven from Lees Mill and six from Skinners ville. The list (first week): Plymouth Township—A. M. Kelly, Stewart L. West, Nellie Allen, James H. Clifton, David H. Bowen, Jessie L. Hardison, Mrs. Blanche Edens, David Williams, M. W. Jefferson, Chester Brewer, Elvin H. Fur lough and W. H. Leary; Skipnersville—Jessie J. Hassell, E. J. Barber, F. L. Everett, Robert S. Spruill, Raymond E. Patrick and Henry E. Clifton; Lees Mill—Garland Gurganus, W. J. Vaughan, Hoyt LeFever, Michael Trueblood, Marvin H. Rose, David Hollis, D. W. Ches son and W. D. Styons; Scuppernong — Alton G. Fur lough, Howard Odell Furlough, SetTJU RY^Page 5 Construction Gate Of Pulp Mill Still Is Being Picketed No Results So Far From Series of Conferences; Or ganizer Says Agreement Has Been Violated Pickets representing workers formerly employed by contractors engaged in construction work at the plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company here were still on duty yesterday at the special con struction work gate. However, spokesmen for several of the con tracting firms said this week that sufficient workers had been em ployed and were crossing the picket lines to carry on all the projects presently underway. Paul Askew, chairman of a special AFL organizing commit :ee representing 10 building trade jnions, said Tuesday that several neetings had been held with com pany and contractors’ representa ‘ives, but nothing definite had been worked out. He was still lopeful that the difficulties could oe solved satisfactorily. Askew also said that the com pany had violated at least two of the agreements worked out on December 1, when pickets were removed from main gates of the plant and stationd only at the special construction gate. One of the violations charged was that materials for construction work were being received at the plant through gates other than the spec ial one designated for that pur pose. Another violation, he said, the mill on work connected with construction. The union spokesman said Tuesday that he was expecting a Mr. Glenn, of the law firm of Thatcher, Wall & Glenn, of Wash ington, D. C., to arrive in Plym outh Wednesday afternoon to ad vise with the unions involved con cerning the construction dispute existing at the plant. Further de velopments, he indicated, would depend on the outcome of con ferences with the attorney. Operations in the mill itself have continued without incident since December 1, when pickets were removed from the main gates of the plant after the com pany agreed to require construct ion workers to use a special gate, located several hundred yards south of the main employees' en trance. A possible shutdown of the big plant was averted by the act ion, as some of the production workers were hesitant about crossing the picket lines, although none of them were directly af fected by the dispute. The dispute originated Novem ber 17, when spokesmen for the organizing committee said nearly 70 construction workers were dis charged after they attended a meeting November 16 to discuss organizing. Contractors said the men were laid off when con struction work was discontinued on November 17. -$ $90 Raised for Memorial Fund A total of $90.32 was collected in Washington County Schools recently for the Sir Walter Ra leigh Memorial Fund. The annual Sir Walter Raleigh Day was marked December 3. The North Carolina General Assembly has authorized the State Superintendent of Public Instruction “to permit voluntary contributions to be made by the school children of the State in such amounts as they may desire to give” for erection of a memor ial to Sir Walter Raleigh. Each teacher had the privilege of presenting the matter to her pupils. Collections, by schools, were reported as follows: Plymouth White School, $68 22 Creswell White, $10; Roper White, no report; Plymouth Col ored, $5; Washington County Un ion School, no report: Creswell Colored, $7.10; total, $90.32. Christmas Cantata Set For Methodist Church The Plymouth Methodist and combined choirs will present a cantata, “The Story of Christ mas,” by H. Alexander Matthews Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock at the Methodist Church. The solo parts will be taken by Miss Myrtle Gray Jackson, Mrs. W. H. Peele, Mrs. E. W. Fur gurson and Zeb Vance Norman, jr. J. Shepherd Brinkley will serve as organist and director. An offering will be taken for the benefit of the choir, it is an nounced. The public is cordially invited to attend.