r \ 1 I ) I I * I'own opics g Patrolman “Red” Walters, of Columbia, is now assisting Carl Gilchrist, of Plymouth, in Wash ington County, due to the recent resignation of Patrolman J. E. Morton, of Roper. It is thought that Morton’s vacant post will not be filled by the State Highway Patrol until after the completion of the next patrol school at Chapel Hill sometime in the Spring. The popular Walters re ports that he has not been called upon to investigate any wrecks in the county as yet and that he is “taking it easy” while he can. The H. E. Newlands are expect ed to return to Plymouth next Monday from a holiday trip to Indiana. They left here Thursday of last week for Mitchell, Ind., where they were to visit Mrs. Newland’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Conley. From there the schedule called for stops at In dianapolis, Louisville, Ky., and way points. A good many tobacco growers about the county were busy this week treating tobacco bed sites with gas for control of weeds, in sects, and like things detrimental to the production of good, strong tobacco plants, County Agent W. H. Pruden reported. Pruden inci dentally, highly recommends the use of gas in treating beds. He also hints that irrigation for to bacco is a splendid idea, what with the dry weather current and also predicted to come. Hugh B. (Junior) Pierce is back in Plymouth, looking decidedly “in the pink.” He was recently discharged from Uncle Sam’s army, after considerable service overseas, including a starring stint on one of the crack service football elevens. The Plymouth boy, who made a name for him self at Plymouth High School and at N. C. State before being snap ped up by the above-referred-to Uncle, coached the line on his service team and reports that the team used the same multiple of fense style of play now being taught members of the State Wolfpack by Head Coach Earl Edwards, who came to the West Raleigh School last year from Michigan State College. Pierce, a standout center, plans to re-enter State College in February for the SeeT TOPICS, Page 6 ~~~ -® * ► ♦ % Commissioners in Routine Meeting Here On Monday — ' ♦ Unanimously Adopt Reso lution Asking That Croa tan Sound Bridge Be Named for Umstead ——♦ The Washington County Board of Commissioners held a brief, routine meeting at the courthouse here Monday of this week and adopted a resolution calling on the State Highway and Public Works Commission to name the Croatan Sound bridge, when completed, the “Umstead Memor ial Bridge” in memory of the late William B. Umstead. Umstead was governor of the State at the time the decision was reached to construct the bridge and it was largely through his efforts that the appropriation was secured. The motion was made by Com missioner Hubert L. Davenport, of Skinnersville, and was second ed by Phillip M. Spruill, of Scup pernong .The resolution unani mously carried and Clerk J. Robert Campbell was instructed to send copies of the resolution to A. H. Graham, chairman of the State Highway and Public Works Commission, and to J. Em mett Winslow, of Hertford, chair man of the commission for the First District. Frank I/. Brinkley, of Plym outh, and A. R. Phelps, of Roper, were reappointed to five-year terms on the board of trustees of Washington County Hospital, the terms to begin January 1, 1955. E. J. Spruill, county tax col lector, reported the sum of $25, 324.43 collected by his department during the month of December. Routine work reports were sub mitted to the board by County Agent W. H. Pruden and by Mrs. Frances M. Darden, home agent. The Roanoke Beacon *★*★** and Washington County News ***★*★ A home newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington County and its 13,000 people. VOLUME LXVI—NUMBER 1 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, January 6, 1955 ESTABLISHED 1889 ) PROVEN WAY TO REMOVE DRAINAGE PROBLEM / • r »- r ■ The above photo shows a drainage ditch on the D. M. Rober son farm in the Lake Phelps area and is only one of many such ditches which have been dug during the past year in this county and adjoining ones. H. E. Newland, of the Soil Conservation Serv ice, reports that great progress was made in the county last year in solving drainage problems with the use of draglines. As many as 13 such machines have operated at a time in the county during the year.—Photo by Newland. Polio Campaign Gets Underway in County RECEIVES CITATION 1 Maj. Stewart E. Nestor, ITSAF (retired), former Plym outh resident, received a com mendation medal and citation from the Air Force during the Christmas holidays while he and Mrs. Nestor were nere visiting their daughter, Mrs. W. F Ruffin, and family. Air Force Major, Former Resident, Receives Citation -+ Slewarl E. Nestor Commend ed for Work in Rewriting Portion of Air Force Man ual Last Year — ♦ A commendation medal and rib bon, with accompanying citation, was awarded recently by the United States Air Force to Maj. Stewart E. Nestor, former Plym outh resident and purchasing agent for the North Carolina Pulp Company. Major and Mrs. Nestor spent the Chirstmas holidays in Plymouth with their daughter, Mrs. W. F. Ruffin, and family, leaving early last week for Flori da. Major Nestor, a native of West Virginia, lived in Plymouth from 1937 to 1942, serving as purchas ing agent for the pulp company here during that time. He volun teered for service with the Air Force in 1942 and served contin uously since that time until his retirement last October 2nd at Norton Air Force Base, San Ber nardino, Calif. Prior to his serv ice with the Air Force, Major See~CITATION, Page 12 Tom F. Hopkins Accepts Di rectorship of 1955 March Of Dimes; Goal Set at $3, 500 Thos. F. Hopkins, local furni ture dealer, this week accepted appointment as Washington Coun ty director of the 1955 March of Dimes, it was announced by Jack McGhee, state chairman of the anual polio appeal. Mr. Hopkins has been a volun teer in the local March of Dimes campaigns of the past five years, and served at one time as a dis trict. director. Noting advances made in the study of the salk trial polio vac cine, Mr. Hopkins stated, “We open the 1955 drive with bright prospects for eventually conquer ing polio. “In Washington County, as in counties throughout the United States, people are giving an in creased measure of their time, money and skills to the fight against this dread disease.” This is important, he empha sized, because in the meantime the Washington County chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis must continue the long-term care of several polio victims of former epidemics. “If the Salk vaccine gives us the hoped-for answer in 1955, the victory in great part will be the result of our unstinted and faith ful participation in the March of Dimes,” the county director de clared. The 1955 campaign is getting underway in this county and will be climaxed by the annual March of Dimes Ball next month. The goal has been set at $3,500 for the county, Mr. Hopkins said. Can nisters were placed in Plymouth business houses Monday and were to be put in places of business at Roper, Creswell and other parts of the county later this week. The county organization is expected to be perfected in time for publi cation next week, it was stated. Anyone wishing to volunteer services or suggestions for prose cuting this worthy effort should contact Mr. Hopkins. The cooper ation of everyone will be ap preciated, he stated. -« Stockholders of Country Club To Meet Wednesday -• Annual meeting of the stock holders of the Country Club of Plymouth, Inc., will be held Wed nesday of next week, January 12, at 8 p. m., in the clubhouse, it was announced recently. Officers and directors are to be elected, and probably there will be other business matters to be considered. Forest Fire Burns Over 9,000 Acres A big woods fire which burned over some 9,000 acres of land in this county was finally brought under control Saturday. Tom Wynne, of Elizabeth City, district state forester, reported that four tractors and a crew of 20 or more men were still work ing early this week to contain the fire. The blaze started Thursday of last week and swept over an area of peat bogs near Wenona. The fire was fanned by stiff winds from the coast, it was said. / The area in which the blaze started and spread rapidly was dense and the peat bogs served to spread the fire underground, making control difficult. The un derground fires were reported still smoldering late Tuesday and it was explained that sufficient rainfall to raise the water table will be the only thorough means of dousing the fire. The ground is unusually dry for the time of year, although a light rainfall was recorded Sun day night. Another fire in the nearby Pan tego section of Beaufort County was also brought under control, that one on Friday. It had burned over an area of about 1,000 acres, it was reported. Much of the land burned over in Washington County belongs to the Roper Lumber Company and men were employed by the firm to help fight the big fire. They reportedly worked around the clock when the blaze was at its worst. Church Here Asks Sizeable Sum for Lot From Counly Delegaiion From Church of God in Christ Presents Written Request Which Education Board Rejects -« The Washington Coilnty Board of Education at its meeting Mon day of this week conferred with the Rev. J. S. Spruill and three members of the congregation of the Church of God in Christ con cerning a written agreement to move the church from Adams Street, so that the lot could be used as a much needed addition to the Plymouth School campus. At a meeting last November 10 the Rev. Mr. Spruill had informed the board that the church con gregation had agreed to move the church from Adams Street to Madison Street and exchange the lot which the church owned on ; Adams Street for one which the board purchased for the purpose of locating the church on Madi I son Street. At the board meeting Monday the church presented a | written request that the county I board of education pay them $6, I 000.00 and move the church or I $8,000.00 providing the church ! paid for all expenses incurred in moving the church. The board of education rejected this pro posal. The board received a bid on December 11, 1954, from H. D. ! Craddock, to move the church for $887.00. It had been hoped that a writ ten agreement could be signed at this meeting with the trustees of j the church. The board was in formed that all the trustees had not been elected. It was promised that the edu cation board would be informed by Friday night of this week con cerning the church board of trustees personnel. Meanwhile, the matter is “hanging fire.” The contract of Mrs. Evelyn Faison Cooper to replace Mrs. Evelyn Johnson Hargrove, first grade teacher at Plymouth Color ed Elementary School. Mrs. Har grove resigned because of illness. All members of the board were present: L. E. Hassell, chairman, J. W. Norman, Mrs| K. S. 8row bridge, J. Whitford Swain and P. B. Belanga. Attorney Carl L. Bailey, j r., of the firm of Bailey and Bailey, was also present. -« Special Session; Highway Men in Meet With Beard -♦ Dislricl Highway Chairman, Divisional and Disirici Engineers, Discuss Roads With Commissioners J. Emmett Winslow, of Hert ford, district highway chairman, W. N. Spruill, of Ahoskie, divis ional engineer, and W. F. Ses soms, of Plymouih, district en gineer, met with the board of county commissioners in a special session here Tuesday afternoon. The mee’ng opened at 1:30 o’clock and a general discussion of the road situation ensued. The commissioners explained that there were a number of petitions for road improvement in the | county on file, some of which had | been on file for years. Mr. Winslow stated that the facts tended to show that Wash ington County had received its just share of road work in the past and also stated that now no funds are available. A definite answer was given the members of the county board as to why cer tain petitions for road improve ment had not been acted upon. It was shown that on many such roads daily traffic had been measured at less than 100 cars and that in such instances and particularly where few people lived along the roads the expense of improvement could not well be justified. The district chairman promised that the county would always get its pro rata share, just as in the past, of any monies spent for road improvement in the district. The chairman of the board ot commissioners, Frank L. Brink ley, of Plymouth, was absent be cause of a meeting held simul taneously at N. C. Pulp Com pany. All other members of the board were present as follows: J. C. Knowles, Lees Mill; H. L. Davenport, Skinnersville; Phillip M. Spruill, Scuppernong; and A. R. Latham, Plymouth. Following the meeting, which lasted about an hour and a half, the district chairman, engineers and members of the county board went out to look at the Morrat tock Road, one of those cited as in need of improvement. Real Estate Revaluation Will Be Completed Soon — » i R. M. Byrd, Head of Revalu ation Project, Hopes To Complete Work by End of March —t “We hope to be able to notify all taxpayers of their new valua tions by February 1st,” R, M. Byrd, who is in charge of the re valuation project in this county said late yesterday. Mr. Byrd said he did not know whether the taxpayers would be notified by publication or by post card, but that everyone would have the opportunity to come to the courthouse and compare his new valuation with those of oth ers in the county. Byrd said that the average citi zen thinks of revaluation only in terms' of higher valuation and higher taxes, but that the project undertaken by Washington Coun ty is more of an equalization than revaluation. All townships except Skinners vilie have been completed inso far as appraisals and mapping are concerned, he said. However, it was added that in the com pleted townships there are a few scattered places w’here improve ments or additions have been made since the appraisal was completed and these, of course, will have to be rechecked. The project head stated that it is hoped to complete the work in Skinnersville Township by the last of this month. It w'as pointed out, though, that January is nor mally a fairly wet month and ex tensive rain could delay the work considerably. Information gained in the course of the field work is set down on work sheets and later transferred to permanent record cards. Houses, for example, fall int r some 32 general classifica tions and a table to go by to as certain the price per square foot is used for the particular cate gor.’. There are variations, of coi rse. Then there is a plumbing tat*e, ’ sting so much per souar See KEVALCATOTPagc 12 Services Monday For J. W. Chesson -* Joseph Wilson Chesson, 80 year-old retired carpenter of Plymouth, died at 3:30 p. m. last Saturday in a Norfolk, Va., hos pital. He had been in declining health for the past four years and had been confined to his bed for three years of that time. Mr. Chesson was born in Wash ington County October 27, 1874, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Chesson. He was a mem ber of Zion’s Chapel Church of Christ near Roper. Surviving are his widow, Min nie Chesson; five daughters, Mrs. Roy Crumpler, Mrs. R. W. Beard, Mrs. R. C. Whittenburg, Mrs. Elizabeth Harris and Mrs. G. D. Ainsley, all of Norfolk; three sis ters, Mrs. Ada Patrick, of Wash ington, D. C., Mrs. Delia Sykes, of Portsmouth, Va., and Mrs. Col lie Campen, of Norfolk; a brother, Jack Chesson, of Lake Lure; 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Funeral services were conduct ed at 3 p. m. Monday at Holly Neck Church of Christ near Roper by the Rev. J. D. Waters, of Plymouth, assisted by the Rev. L. M. Ambrose, of Creswell. Burial followed in the church cemettly. To Start llal?-lloli«lay Here Next Wrclorsciar Plymouth stores, at least in the main, will begin the Wednesday half-holiday closings next week, it was learned late yesterday. There had been considerable in terest and discussion among local merchants ancl their employees concerning the date when the closings would begin, so a petition was circulated among the busi ness houses this week and a ma jority signed to begin the closing next week. Thos. F. Hopkins, president of the local merchants association, said yesterday afternoon that he 1 plans to call a meeting of the j merchants to consider a date on ---- which to terminate the half-holi-1 day closings in the autumn sea- J son and also to decide on other matters relating to the closing, such as whether or not to remain open all day Wednesday of Easter, week in view of the Easter Mon- j day holiday. Hopkins did not say when he expects to call the meeting but j it is presumed it will be in the | near future. Last year the merchants held a meeting the middle of January and decided to begin the Wednes day closings January 20 and to continue through the last Wed- j nesday in September. Tax Listing Is Off To Slow Start in County Only 75 Persons Lisl in Plymoulh Township Up To Wednesday Afternoon, List Taker Reports —♦ The annual task of listing prop erty for taxes, begun in this coun ty Monday of this week, is off to a slow start, judging by figures released late Wednesday after noon by Plymouth Township List Taker Paul Swain and Plymouth Town List Taker Mrs. Wade Adams. Reports from the various listers throughout the county were not available and County Tax Super visor Hubert L. Davenport, of Skinnersville, could not be con tacted late yesterday for a state ment, but it is believed that the report here indicates the general ! Mr. Swain, who is serving as list taker for the first time, hav ing replaced Clarence L. Blount, said that only 75 persons had list ed with him late Wednesday af ternoon. Mrs. Adams stated that only 45 property owners in the Town of Plymouth had listed with her through the same period. For a like period a year ago, about 100 persons had listed in Plymouth Township, so the job is off to an even slower start this year than last, it seems. The citizens of the township should note the change in place of listing this year. In past sea sons listing for the township has been done in the courthouse but since the commissioners’ room is in use as an office for the revalu ation work the listing is being done in the kitchen at the Agri culture Building. Both Plymouth Town and Township property may be listed there. The hours from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. Monday through Saturday will be observ ed throughout the month of Jan uary. There will positively not be | any extension of time, it has been j pointed out, and late listers will : be penalized 10 per cent. Both Mr. Swain and Mrs. Adams have pointed out that list ing is usually heaviest the first and last of the week and is gen ; erally heavier in the forenoon ; than in the later hours of the day, so property owners who have not j listed are urged to act accord I ingly. 5 » | Board leceives j j Call for 37 Hen j The regular monthly session ; of the Plymouth Town Council, ! scheduled to have hecn held j here Monday night of this . week, was postponed due to the illness of Mayor A. J. Kiddle. Mayor Riddle wras confined to his home Monday but was out again Tuesday morning. The council meeting is now scheduled to be held at 8 p. m. Monday of next week at the Municipal Building. Only rou tine matters are expected to be taken up at the confab. Hope Negroes To Be Tried in' 'Big Court' Next Week -♦ Roy Chester Price and Ken neth Governor Morris Out On Bond Awaiting Trial For Assault, Robbery Roy Chester Price and Kenneth Governor Morris, young Roper Negroes, are out on bond awaiting trial at the January term of Su perior Court which opens here Monday of next week. Price and Morris, both of whom have criminal records, are charg ed with assaulting and forcibly robbing the persons of Jesse Vo liva of more than $60 and valu able papers here Saturday night. Voliva, young Columbia white man who said he has been a mer chant seaman for 12 years and has been home for several days, complained that after his car ran out of gas near the Gaylord Serv ice Station in Plymouth he was picked up by two Negroes and subsequently robbed. According to the story Voliva told on the stand, he was return ing to Plymouth from Mackeys after having taken his date of the evening home and was on his See COURT, Page 7 ~~ OFFICERS OF F.H.A. CHAPTER AT PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL l Officers of the Plymouth Chapter, Future Homemakers of America, elected shortly after the new term began last fall, are pictured above as follows: Front row: Sue Carol Lassiter, presi dent; Jolene Hollowell, vice president; Ruby Boyd, secretary; and Mary Ach, treasurer; back row: Jane Swain, reporter; Dottie Thompson, historian; Betty B. Davenport, parliamentarian; Betsy Barnhill, song leader.—Polaroid 1-Minute staff p hoto. Total 36 Cases Is Set for Trial at Court Term Here - ■ ♦ One Case Removed From Criminal Calendar and Two Added; Mixed Term To Open Monday -« The regular two-week January mixed term of ’Washington Coun ty Superior Court is slated to open here Monday morning of next week, with Judge Malcolm C. Paul, of Washington, on the bench. Judge Q. K. Nimocks, jr., of Fayetteville, is schedouled to preside over the second week of court. At the time the calendar was prepared, 35 cases were listed for trial, 19 criminal cases and 16 civil actions. However, since that time one of the criminal cases was tried in Washington County Recorder’s Court when the charges were lessened, bringing the case within the jurisdiction of the lower court. That was the Patrick case, tried Tuesday be fore Judge W. Ronald Gaylord and reported elsewhere in this paper. Also, two other cases are due to be heard at the January term of superior court which were not listed on the calendar originally Roy Chester Price and Kenneth Governor Morris, young Roper Negroes, face assault and robbery counts following a preliminary hearing Tuesday at which Judge Gaylord found probable cause. Jesse Voliva, Columbia merchant seaman, is the prosecuting wit ness. Price and Morris are out under $200 bond each. Morris also faces a speeding charge on which he was tried Tuesday, found guilty and fined $50 and costs. He noted appeal to superior court and bond was set by Judge Gaylord at $100. The first week of court will be devoted to the trial of criminal cases, with the exception of sev eral divorce actions, while Judge Nimocks will hear civil actions during the second week which is expected to be concluded Wed nesday, January 19. Owens and Phelps Go to Raleigh for Assembly Sessions -i Slale Senator and County Represenative Left First Of Week to Attend Party Caucus Tuesday State Senator Edward L. Owens of Plymouth and County Repre sentative Dr. J. M. Phelps of Cres well left the first of the week for Raleigh to attend the biennial session of the North Carolina General Assembly, scheduled to begin yesterday. Mr. Owens left Monday night and Dr. Phelps went up Tuesday, accompanied by Tyrrell Representative Delbert M. Sawyer, all three of them planning to be there in time to attend the Democratic caucuses set for Tuesday night. Dr. Phelps said Monday that he had no local legislation in mind at the present, although some may develop during the course of the session. He stated he would be glad to hear from any of his constituents about any matters that come before the assembly and would welcome their advice concerning pending legislation. Dr. Phelps said it was his plan to be at his home at Creswell on Saturdays and Sundays generally throughout the session. The state senate was scheduled to begin its sessions at 11 a. m. yesterday, with the house meet ing an hour later at noon. Politi cal observers believe the sessions will continue at least four months and possibly longer. Dr. Phelps and Mr. Sawyer have adjoining seats in the house, Nos. 116 and 115, respectively, while Senator Owens has Seat No. 4 in the state. All three of them will live at the Sir Walter Hotel while they are in Raleigh. Hangings Presented To Roper Church Recently At the Christmas service at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Roper, a set of white liturgical hangings of damask was presented to the church by the congregation. The hangings were given to the Glory of God and, in honor of Miss Augusta C. Carstarphen, who has been a faithful and zealous mem ber of the Roper church for many years. The rector, Rev. E. M. Spruill, blessed the hangings at the Christmas service, Saturday eve ning, December 25th. it

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