North Carolina Newspapers

T’own opics You really have to hand it to the members of the local Boy Scout troop. They got out on the streets last week-end and sold $100 worth of polio fighter bal loons. That is a lot of balloons and it took enterprise, industry and a good share of courage to buck the bitter cold wind long enough to make so many sales. Scoutmaster Jimmy Kitchengs di rected the effort. Some oif the high school set charged with advertising home basketball games had chalked on 4 the sidewalk on the drug store corner an appeal for all and sun dry to attend a twin bill here one night this week at the “coliseum.” Miss Janice Somerville, daugh ter of Mr. and Mrs. T. D. Somer ville, of Plymouth, was on the dean’s list at the College of Wil liam and Mary, Williamsburg, Va., the past semester, her par ents have been informed. Miss Somerville also recently became a member of Kappa Delta Pi, na tional education fraternity. She is in her senior year at the Vir ginia school. Jimmy Kitchengs, local scout master, was really squawking in his place of business Friday about paying employees a buck an hour to blow up balloons. “That’s what they did all afternoon yesterday,” Jimmy wailed. He was referring to the “Polio Fighter” balloons being blown up ready for sale to augment March of Dimes funds in the county. Scouts of Troop 284 will be the salesmen Saturday of this week when the colorful balloons are offered to the public in downtown Plymouth. Washington County was well represented at Raleigh yesterday at several different meetings. H. E. Beam and W. H. Pruden at tended a farm credit conference conducted by the North Carolina Bankers Association, while J. L. Knowles, Sidney Hassell and Ernest Grimes attended the an nual dairy conference. All of the latter three men produce Grade A milk in Washington County. Leon Dunbar, of Wenona, attend ed a short course on modern farming sponsored by the bank ers association and co-sponsored by Branch Banking & Trust Com pany and Planters National Bank & Trust Company here. Of course, Dr. J. M. Phelps and Senator Edward L. Owens were busy with legislative affairs downtown. - ■ ■ . Richard H. Lucas Honored by Local Masons Last Week *■ € r Z. V. Norman Principal Speaker at Banquet Fri day for Chaplain of North Carolina Grand Lodge Members of Perseverance Lodge, No. 59, A. F. & A. M., staged a banquet at the educa tional building of the local Metho dist church last Friday night to honor the Rev. R. H. Lucas, chap- ' lain of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. The occasion was also ’ observed as ladies’ night, with about 75 Masons and their ladlw in attendance. Following a course dinner serv ed by women of the Methodist church, an enlightening and en tertaining program was present- ; cd, with Past Master H. H. Allen serving as toastmaster. The wel- , come was extended by Hilton , Dunbar, master of the lodge, and • Mrs. Frances Lucas sang two vo- j cal selections, accompanied by , Miss Alvah Rose Hardison at the , piano. i Past Master Raymond Leggett j introduced the principal speaker, ] Zeb Vance Norman, who paid a j glowing tribute to the Rev. Mr. ( Lucas in a well-prepared address. , Mr. Norman reviewed some of the ] accomplishments of Mr. Lucas, \ especially in overcoming the ] handicap of increasing blindness ] and going on to render outstand ing service to his church, com See LUCAS, Page 10 The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News ****** A borne newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington jti County and its 13,*00 people. || gssaJ Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, February 17, 1955 VOLUME LXVI—NUMBER 7 ESTABLISHED 1889 I SCENE FROM REHEARSAL OF 'CLUB TOP HAT' This gives a hint of the hilarity that can be expected from “Club Top Hat,” a musical revue to be presented at the Plymouth High School auditorium tonight and Friday night for the benefit of the Plymouth High School Band. Above are some of the characters from the night-club scene, including Nancy Jackson (left), cigarette girl, and Gail Harrison (right), waitress, backed up by Cecil Craft and Ben Robertson, cooks, with Mrs. Beulah Bickerstaff in the background. There will be plenty of fun and music for everybody.—Polaroid 1-Minute staff photo. Band Boosters Show Here Tonight, Friday Holiday To Be | Observed Here The post office, banks and federal offices here will be closed Tuesday of next week in observance of Washington’s birthday, which is a national holiday. Lock box service and all dis patches will be made as usual at the post office, Postmaster J. C. Swain stated, but there will be no city and rural deliveries Tuesday. To Attend Bertie Loggers' Meeting -« Several logging operators, fore nen and others interested in the ogging business from this county ire expected to attend a meet ng at Thompson and Company Jawmill on Highway 13 about a nile north of Windsor Thursday >f next week. The program will concern itself with developments recently in he industry to eliminate sawmill vaste by turning edgings and ,uch into profitable by-products. Those on the program will in clude F. H. Claridge, state forest er; N. T. Barron, chief forester vith Camp Manufacturing Com >any; W. R. Smith, of Southeast ern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville; J. J. Forrer, engineer vith Camp Manufacturing Com >any; D. A. Wall, manager of ''rick Company Factory Branch, ialisbury ;Fred C. Simmons, log ;ing specialist, U. S. Forest Ser 'ice, Philadelphia; W. A. Turner, egging engineer, Camp Manu acturing Company; and person al from the N. C. Division of i’orestry. A barbecue dinner will be fur lished by the Windsor Lumber ndustries. Meet Next Thursday For Growers of Yams An important meeting for county sweet potato growers will be held at the Agriculture Build ing here Thursday afternoon of next week. County Agent W. H. Pruden has announced. H. M. Covington, extension hor ticulture specialist from N. C. State College, "Raleigh, will be on hand to conduct the meeting, Pruden said. Time is 2 o’clock. Mr. Covington will discuss all phases of sweet potato product ion. The sweet potato crop is one which requires great care in pro ducing quality and since potatoes are graded, grade is important since it determines the price per bushel the grower will receive. Acreage devoted to the crop in Washington County has increased for the past two years and more and more farmers are turning to the crop on a commercial basis, the county agent noted. A large acreage is in prospect for this year. It is reported that already all certified seed1 stocks are depleted and farmers are en couraged to make arrangements about seed stock immediately. The information which will be presented at the meeting next week will be of vital importance to farmers producing sweet po tatoes, Mr. Pruden said in urging attendance. Band Boosier - Sponsored "Club Top Hal," To Be Presented in High School Auditorium; Local Talent Good crowds are anticipated for the presentation of the musical show, “Club Top Hat,” here Thursday and Friday nights of this week. The local talent production sponsored by the Plymouth Band Boosters will be given in the high school auditorium with curtain time set for 8 o’clock. The show is dated in the early 30's with music and costumes of that period. An excellent cast has been assembled, according to Mrs. W. D. Walker, chairman of the show committee. Tom Hopkins, local furniture dealer, plays the part of the pro prietor of the club, with Mrs. Edith Womble in the role of host ess. The cigarette girl is played by Nancy Jackson and waitresses are Gail Harrison and Mary Elea nor Sanderson. Myrtle Jackson has the part of Pecola, a maid. Waiters are as follows: Junius, Vic Alexander; Jim, Mack Marrow; Sterling, Snooks Burnham; Happy, Charles Hutchins; Ernest Lee, Walter Furlough. Cooks are Cecil Craft, Ben Robertson, Ben Windley and Pete Brockhard. Sam Buford is listed as accordion soloist, while A. J. Ange will play the steel guitar. Dance specialists are Phil Ayers and Robin Horner. Members of the Band Boosters will serve as guests. Baton twirlers are Robin Horner, Jean Tetterton and Janet Bruce. Ed Taylor will direct the high school orchestra, with Miss Beu lah Cratch and Mrs. W. D. Walker serving as pianists. Harvey Lucas will be at the drums, Steve Hop kins, Gene Hollowell, Linda Lips comb and Nyal Womble, saxa phone, Barbara Johnston and Lar ry Allen, trumpets, and Ronnie Matheny and Burton Ange, trom bones. Dancers, directed by Mrs. Iris Etheridge, are Carol Ann Owens, Jackie Polk, Flossie Nooney, Ann Hardison, Gail Skiles, Mary Louise Cratch, Wynn Lindsay, Gloria Robertson, Narcissa Har rison, Mary Margaret Ataman chuk, Betty Lou Davenport, Ra chel Peele, Judy Harrison and Nyal Womble. --® Hunting, Fishing License Sales in County Increase Sales of fishing, hunting and combination licenses in this coun ty for the season just closed show ed a somewhat surprising in crease over sales of the previous year, figures released this week by Game Protector J. T. Terry, of Plymouth, shows. The total for the season was $7,907, Mr. Terry stated, as against $7,416 for the previous year. This is an increase of $491. World Church Day Set for Plymouth On February 25th -» - Announcement Made By Mrs. W. J. Weaver, Presi dent of Sponsoring Wo men's Church Group -t World Day of Prayer, an an nual event, will be held here Friday, February 25, under spon sorship of the Plymouth Council of Church Women, Mrs. W. J. Weaver, president of the council, has announced. The service will be held at Lud ford Memorial Baptist Church and Mrs. P. B. Nickens will have charge of the program. Details will be announced later. Plymouth, it was explained, is among 1,900 communities in which local councils of church women have assumed the respon sibility for the promotion of World Day of Prayer and increas ingly are forming interdenomi national prayer and study groups to carry on after the observance. An offering taken at the serv ice is divided between home and foreign missions, with home mis sions split into three groups: In dian Americans, low-income ru ral communities and agricultural migrants. Between 40 and 60 per cent of budget under these head ings depends on World Day of Prayer offerings, it is said. The purpose of the day, as stat ed by United Church Women, the sponsoring organization, is to unite all Christians in a bond of prayer and to make an offering for Christian missions at home and abroad. The Plymouth Council is made up of women from the Baptist, Christian, Episcopal, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches. -<$> Meeting Thursday Of Soil Men Here The regular quarterly meeting of the Pamlico Soil Conservation District will be held here Thurs day of this week. Morning and afternoon sessions will be held in the auditorium of the county Agriculture Building and a luncheon is set for the banquet room of the Mayflower Restaurant at 12:30 p. m. The morning session will open at 10 o’clock and the afternoon session at 2 o’clock. The meeting will be presided over by Allen Swindell, of Beaufort County, chairman of the district and also president of the State Association of District Supervisors. Joe Newberry, farmer who lives near Plymouth on the Wash ington highway, will make a re port to the supervisors of the dis trict on the benefits of the pro gram to him. Unique Twin Bill Set For Roper Community Everything is reported in readi ness for the basketball double header at Roper Thursday night of this week between Future Homemakers of Anjerica girls and a team of FHA mothers and the futher Farmers of America boys and a team. composed of FFA fathers. The girls’ game is slated to get underway at 7:30 o’clock. An ad mission of 25 cents for children and 50 cents for adults will be charged and proceeds will be used to finance the mother-daughter and father-son banquet. A full evening of entertainment is promised and the public is cordially invited. Real Estate Put on Books At Half of Assessed Value Board Acts After Learning Revaluation Had Added About $8,000,000 to Value Of Real Property The Washington County board of Commissnoners, in special ses sion here Tuesday night, voted to use a yardstick of 50 per cent to put the results of the revaluation project on the books for tax pur poses. The action followed a report by R. M. Byrd, jr., who has been do ing the revaluation work on real property in the county during the past 15 months. Mr. Byrd told the commission ers that he was just about through with the revaluation work. He stated that instead of using 100 per cent of the current market value on real estate he used the figure of 80 per cent. He then gave the following figures on the new valuation of property: Real estate, $15,664,886; per sonal $3,214,121, as against the old figures of $7,373,000 and $3, 272,000, respectively. By putting the real estate val ulation of $15,644,886 on the tax books at 50 per cent it will leave the total valuation substantially the same, with the possibility that the tax rate will remain un changed. The valuation of some tracts will show an increase and others will be decreased, but the overall figures will reflect little change, it is believed. Commissioner Philip Spruill then made the motion that the 50 per cent figure be used to put the new valuation on the tax books. Commissioner J. C. Know les seconded the motion and the ensuing vote was unanimously in favor of the motion. The new valuation totals $18, 879,007 against the old figures of $10,645,000, or an increase of $8, 234,007. See'^ALlJATKW,~Page 10~ -- Services Monday 'For County Man Funeral services were held Monday at 2 p. m. from Holly Neck Church of Christ for Samuel B. Davenport, 77, of near Roper. Mr. Davenport died at 10:30 a. m. Saturday at his home, following a long illness. He had been in declining health for the past 15 years. The Rev. L. M. Ambrose, of Creswell, officiated Burial was in the church cemetery. The re mains were left at Horner’s Fun eral Home until one hour prior to the service and then carried to the church. The deceased was a native of this county, born February 28, 1877, the son of the late Lafay ette and Harriet Marriner Daven port. He spent his entire life in the county and was a retired farmer and merchant. Mr. Davenport was a member Df Holly Neck Church, near Rop er, and was a deacon and regular attendant. He also was a justice af the peace for several years. His wife was the late Jane Phelps Davenport. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Eva J. Holton, of Key West, Fla., Mrs. Robert W. Pugh, of Morfolk, Va., and Mrs. Judia I’helps, of Roper; a son, Samuel li. Davenport, of Roper; one sis ■er, Mrs. S. M. Woodley, of Nor folk; two brothers, J. S. Daven aort, of Roper, and L. F. Daven aort, of Plymouth; 13 grandchil iren and nine great-grandchil Iren. SERVICE CERTIFICATE PRESENTED TO HEACON In the above photo Bob Howell, local Boy Scout chairman, is shown presenting a certificate for meritorious news service to W. H. Booker, of The Beacon. Others shown, left to right, are Billy Blackburn and Gilbert Vaughan, Beacon employees, Sea Scout Neal Carter, Tenderfoot Scout Jack Homer, and Club Scout Stanley Brewer. Before the presentation, the three scouts made brief laddatory speeches exprssing appreciation for publicity givn the organizations by the paper.—Polaroid 1-Minute staff photo. jlBiiilcliiig and Lot Sale! | Ordered by Christians j • The official board of the First Christian Church, Plymouth, has authorized the sale of the present church building. The building is of frame con struction and it is pointed out that it will yield considerable lumber suited for use in construction. Church officials said a satisfact ory arrangement will be worked out to make possible an orderly removal of the buildings. Inter ested persons are referred to Ben ton Liverman or LeRoy Ange. The lot on which the present plant stands has already been sold, it is understood. The congregation plans to erect a $160,000 brick church plant on a 150 by 400-foot lot extending from Main to Third Street in the near future. A successful drive for $75,000 toward erection of the new plant was made here early last year under direction of the Wells organization, a national fund raising concern. The amount was pledged on a 150-week basis. No word was available this week on just when start of the construction is planned. Quota of Polio Drive Near, Director States Total Now Stands at $3,000 With Receipts From Coin Collectors and Parking Meters To Come “The goal is in sight,” Thos. F. Hopkins, county director of the 1955 March of Dimes fund drive, declared Wednesday morning. Mr. Hopkins said that with $3, 000 now reported and town park ■ ing meter receipts and receipts from coin collectors in stores all over the county to be turned in it is virtually certain that the actual quota of $3,300 will be met. The goal toward which compaign ' workers are actually striving, however, is $3,500. Mr. Hopkins was high in his piiise of members of the local Boy Scout troop for their fine ef forts in selling the polio fighter balloons. Under the direction of Scoutmaster Jimmy Kitchengs tlie boys braved -the extreme cold ' end "ania have aheady sold $100 worth o< the balloons, the county ' director laid. Also helping to swell the total funds collected was the nice net profit shown by the annual March of Dimes Ball held here last Sat urday night. The amount realized from the affair, Mr. Hopkins said, was $158 above expenses. About 200 persons attended the ball and danced to the music of the high school dance band, de spite the bitter cold weather. An enjoyable evening was reported. At intermission Miss Sandra Leggett was crowned queen by the March of Dimes queen of last year, Miss Jo Hobbs. It is now believed- that park ing meter receipts here next week-end will be donated to the March of Dimes fund, although no definite announcement has been made. FuneralYesterday For J. B. Kinnear, Pro at Local Club Died Monday Nighl After Long Period of Declining Health; Was Native of Carnoustie, Scotland James Broomfield Kinnear, golf professional at the Country Club of Plymouth for most of the past 12 years, died in his apartment at the club here shortly before 11 o'clock Monday night, following a lingering illness. Mr. Kinnear had been in failing health for about two years, although he continued his work at the club until short ly before Christmas. Mr. Kinnear was a native of Carnoustie, Scotland, near where the game of golf originated, and he had served as professional for a number of clubs in England, Canada and the United States be fore coming to Plymouth in 1943. During World War I he served in the famous “Black Watch” regi ment of Scots in France and Bel gium. He was severely gassed during that conflict and never entirely recovered from its ef fects. Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Kinnear, of Carnoustie, Scotland, he was born on April 11, 1894. He early served his ap prenticeship in pro shops in his native Scotland and after the war was assistant professional at the Sandy Lodge club in London. He left England in the early twenties to become professional at a club jf last week See KINNEAR, Page 10 ] Early Morning j | Fire Wednesday j About 15 volunteer firemen were routed out of warm beds to answer a fire alarm in well below-freezing weather here Wednesday morning: at 4:15 o'clock. Prompt action saved a one-room shanty near Price Machine Shop on Wilson Street Ext. but another one-room col ored residence was a total loss, Fire Chief Miller Warren re ported. Owner of the property was listed as Eli Winesett. Origin of the blaze was not determined, an elderly colored man who stayed In one of the shanties telling the fire chief that when he kaa»v anything the houses were att ablaze. Riirfrfoday for Jim F. Hardison Jim F. Hardison, retired farm er of near Plymouth, died at his home Tuesday at 8:45 p. m. after an illness of three weeks. He had been in declining health for about three months. He was a native of Martin County, born August 12, 1887, son of Florence Hardison, of Plym outh, and the late L. C. Hardison, of Martin County. Mr. Hardison had made his home in this coun ty for 30 years. He was married in 1911 at Williamston to Mrs. Lizzie Gardener of that place. He was a member of Saints Delight Church of Christ, near Roper. Surviving are his wife; his mo ther; two daughters, Mrs. Dare Reason, of Williamston, and Mrs. Louis Hassell, of La Rochelle, France; six sons, Dewey, James, Herbert, Paul, Garland Hardison, all of Plymouth, nnd Bennie Hardison, of Wililamston; three sisters, Mrs. John Price, of James ville, Mrs. Lonnie Jackson, of Roper, and Mrs. Chris Styons, of Plymouth; three brothers, Pearlie and George Hardison, of James ville, and C. B. Hardison, of Edenton; and 19 grandchildren. Last rites will be conducted from Plymouth Christian Church Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock by the Rev. Preston Cayton, of Edenton, assisted by the Rev. J. D. Waters, of Plymouth. Burial will be in the Hardison Cemetery near Plymouth. The remains will be left at Hor ner’s Funeral Home until one hour prior to the service and then carried to the church. Annual Red Cross Fund Drive To Be Held Nexi Month Couniy Quota Set at $2,500; Definite Dates To Be Set At Meeting Here Next Tuesday Night Dates for the annual fund drive by the Washington County chap ter of the American Red Cross will be decided at a meeting Tuesday night of next week, Chapter Chairman A. L. White hurst has announced. The drive will be conducted during the month of March. Dr. Whitehurst was named chapter chairman at an organiza tional meeting held Tuesday night of last week. Mrs. Lawrence Jones is secretary. The meeting next week is to be held at the county courthouse here, Dr. Whitehurst said, and is scheduled to open at 7:30 o’clock. All civic organizations in the county are requested to have rep resentatives present. The chapter chairman explain ed that rather than have any one organization sponsor the cam paign this year, it is hoped that all county organizations will par ticipate. Most Plymouth civic organiza tions were represented at the or ganizational meeting, along with a few from other communities. It is planned to have several informative talks on the import ance of the Red Cross program both on the county and national level incorporated in the pro gram next Tuesday, Dr. White hurst stated. The Red Cross blood program, disaster work and home service work will be discussed by com petent speakers. The program will be designed to give ample infor mation to all organizations which will help in the annual drive. The county quota for this year is $2,500, it was said. -s Meeting To Fight Proposed Changes In Soybean Grade Commissioner of Agricul ture L. Y. Ballentine An nounces Meeting in Ral eigh Next Monday Washington County soybean growers will be interested in an announcement made this week by L. Y. Ballentine, state commis sioner of agriculture, concerning proposed changes in soybean grades. In making the announcement, Ballentine said an open meeting of soybean farmers has been scheduled for Monday of next week in Board Room 355 of the Agriculture Building, State De partment of Agriculture, Raleigh. Purpose of the meeting is for soybean farmers to express their desires in the matter and effect a possible solution to the problem. The proposed change in grades would decrease the maximum limit in foreign material by one per cent in each numerical grade, classify soybeans with green seed coat, which in cross section are yellow, as green soybeans instead of yellow soybeans as the stand ards now read, reduce the max imum limit of moisture by one per cent in grade no. 1, provide maximum,limits for heat damage and damaged kernels in each grade, and cause beans with blue mottling or stain to grade no higher than no. 3. The announcement stated: “We feel that these changes need the serious consideration of farmers, grain handlers, crushers and others interested in handling See SOYBEANS, Page 10 Will Make Religious Census Here Sunday A house-to-house canvass will be made by volunteer church workers here Sunday afternoon for the first religious census con ducted in two years, it has been announced. The census is sponsored by the Plymouth Ministerial Association and the work will be directed by the Rev. Jesse H. Lanning, pastor of Plymouth Methodist Church. Volunteer workers from the several churches participating will assemble at the l^pthodist Church at 1:30 p. m. for instruct ions, groupings and assignments, it was said. The canvass will be made be veen the hours of 2 and 4 o’clock and residents are urged to co operate. It was explained that such a census is not taken often and it is hoped to obtain as com plete information as possible. The entire town will be can vassed and possibly some of the immediate outlying areas, it was stated. Residents will be inter view'ed concerning church mem bership and other pertinent infor mation from which statistics val uable in church work will be for mulated and made available to all cooperating churches. The information, on cards, will be filed and will bring present figures up to date. The last such census was conducted here Feb ruary 22, 1963.