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.