T'own ||
opics 1
Both local banks were repre
sented at the meeting of Group
One of the North Carolina Bank
ers Association held in Washing
ton Tuesday of this week. Regis
tration was at the Louise Hotel,
the business session was held at
the county Agriculture Building,
a special hour was held at the
Washington Country Club in the
afternoon and the banquet was
at Washington High School at 7
p. m. Following the banquet dan
cing was enjoyed at the country
club to complete events of the
day. W. Marvin Weaver and Gene
Ange, from Planters National
Bank and Trust Company, and
J. W. Allen, jr., and Mr. and Mrs.
H. E. Beam, from Banch Banking
& Trust Company, attended.
R. F. Lowry, county superin
tendent of schools, will leave Fri
day morning of this week for St.
Louis, Missouri, where he will
attend the meeting of the Ameri
can Association of School Admin
istrators .The meeting opens Sat
urday. Mr. Lowry plans to re
turn to Plymouth Friday of next
week.
Dr. A. L. Whitehurst, director
of the Plymouth Ground Observ
er Post, was in the office this
week discussing the air spotter
work here and mentioned the co
incidence at the recent alert. Doc
said there were exactly 13 voun
teers who reported for duty at
the post, it was on the 13th day
of the month, there were 13
planes and 13 reported. Incident
ally, more volunteers are urgent
ly needed by the local post and
anyone interested should contact
Dr. Whitehurst, Carl Bailey, jr.,
M Charles Gardner.
The springlike weather -of the
past week, coming on the heels of
the almost unprecendentedly cold
spell of the past month or two.
has defrosted most of the creek
fishermen in the area, according
to reports. They have been
breaking out their tackle and
traffic was said to be so heavy
on Conaby Creek the first of the
week that traffic cops were need
ed to get around some of the
turns. A few made pretty good
catches, according to reports, but
most of them found all their fav
orite “tops” occupied by fisher
men from all over the eastern
part of the state, some from s*
jar away as Scotland Neck and
Rocky Mount.
In a recent letter to his folks
■here, young Jack Booker, who is
stationed in France with an Air
Force unit, said he had run into
Leroy Singleton, also of Plym
outh, while on a recent week-end
trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
Germany, a winter sports resort
in the Bavarian Alps. Young
Singleton is in the Navy, with a
unit that was based at Malta at
t'he time but was supposed to Joe
heading back to the United
States this week. Jack has almost
another year on his present tour
of duty. He said they both were
in beginners’ classes in skiing,
something that won't do either of
them much good when they re
turn unless they go to a much
colder and more hilly country
than that around Plymouth.
bcoutnounaiaDie
Meet Held Moflday
Six communities in the Wai
marty District were represented
at a Boy Scout Roundtable meet
ing held Monday night of this
week at the Mayflower Restau
rant. V. B. Haire, of Jamesville,
district finance chairman, pre
sided.
The camporee to be held in
Plymouth March 18, 19 and 20 was
discussed, as was last year’s fin
ancial drive and the forthcoming
appointment of finance officials
for this year.
Dr. Alban Papineau, skipper
of the Plymouth Sea Scouts, in
vited the group to meet aboard
the Albemarle in April and enjoy
a cruise in the local Sea Scout
ship. The invitation was accepted.
Communities represented were
Williamston, Bear Grass, James
ville, Columbia, Creswell and
Plymouth.
Cub Scout Pack 84, of Plym
outh, received an honor banner
for its selection as the best pack
in the district, and Chet Brewer,
of Plymouth, was given a tie
clasp for his outstanding efforts
on behalf of the pack.
The Roanoke Beacon
*★★★*★ and Washington County News
HI IH
A home newspaper dedicated Hj
to the service of Washington
County and its 13,004 people. Ill
VOLUME LXVI—NUMBER 8 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, February 24, 1955
ESTABLISHED 1889
j HIGHWAY DISTRICT OFFICE AND EQUIPMENT SHOP NOW IN USE
I ■■■■■■-- 1
Thursday of last week the office for Highway District 3 was moved from the old County
Home building on Washington Street Ext. to the handsome new hncfc q“arters pictured ab®ve.
The new office building and equipment shop, recently completed, are located on US 64 by-pass
on a five-acre site which was formerly a part of the Lucas farm. The overall dimensions of the
shop are 40 by 96 feet and the office is 30 by 50 feet. The construction began early in September
of last year with labor furnished by the Highway Bridge Department. Completion of the project
was retarded by adverse weather.—Polaroid 1-Minute staff photo. ^
Civic Clubs To Hear
Talk by DuPont Man
SPEAKER NEXT WEEK
,> . j
Wyatte F. De Loache, south
ern manager of the Extension
Division of E. I. Du Pont de
Nemours and Company, Inc.,
who will address a joint meet
ing of Plymouth Rotary, Lions
and Jaycees at the Fellowship
Hall of Plymouth Methodist
Church Tuesday night of next
week.
Former Plymouth
Nurse Found Dead
In Florida Home
Bodies of Mrs. Carrie Rober
son Drake and Estranged
Husband-Discovered Mon
day by Neighbor
The dead bodies of Mrs. Carri<
Roberson Drake, former Plym
outh resident, and her estrangec
husband, E. B. Drake, were dis
covered by a neighbor Monday ir
Mrs. Drake’s apartment, 1101
North Palafox Street, Pensacola
Fla.
The coroner ruled murder anc
suicide. The report stated tha1
Drake, after fatally slashing his
wife’s throat from ear to ear with
a butcher knife, cut his owr
throat with the same instrumenl
and died a short time later. The
deaths came early Monday morn
ing, it was said.
Mrs. Drake, a night superin
tendent at a Pensacola hospital
had been s°parated from her hus
band for some time and it was
reported that he had made his
home in Georgia following the
separation. There had reportedlj
been trouble about a year ago.
Mrs. Drake lived here for <
time several years ago while sh<
'~See~NURSETPage 10
Obtain Good Results
In Religious Census
About 100 volunteer workers
took part in the religious census
conducted here Sunday by the
Plymouth Ministerial Association,
it is reported. The census was
directed by the Rev. Jesse H.
Lanning, minister of Plymouth
Methodist Church.
The group assembled at the
Methodist Church at 1:3-0 o’clock
Sunday afternoon where instruct
ions were given. The workers
were divided into pairs and thei
called from house to house be
tween the hours of 2 and 4 p. m
The town was covered excep
for the not-at-homes and 5 p. m
Wednesday of this week was se
as the deadline to get informatioi
cards in to Miss Lorena Snell
it was stated.
A meeting at which cards wil
be turned over to the severa
churches is set for next Monda;
at the Methodist Church.
iWyaile De Loaiche, Exten
sion Division Manager, to
Address Joint Meeting oi
Rotary, Lions, Jaycees
Wyatte F. De Loache, an ex
perienced speaker on industrial
progress and chemical develop
ments, will address a joint meet
ing of three local organizations in
th Fellowship Hall of Plymouth
Methodist Church Tuesday night
of next week, it was announced.
The speaker’s visit is being
sponsored by Planters National
Bank and Trust Company and the
three organizations holding the
joint meeting will be Plymouth
Rotary Club, Lions Club and Jun
ior Chamber of Commerce.
The meeting will open at 1
o’clock.
Mr. De Loache will demonstrate
and give a behind-the-scene dis
cussion of some of the more re
cent developments in chemica
research as practiced by a large
business organization, showing
how research and production have
contributed to individual welfare
and national security.
Mr. De Loache, who is southerr
manager of the Extension Divis
ion of E. I. Du Pont de Nemours
and Company, Inc., maintains
headquarters in Memphis, Tenn
A native southerner and a form
er newspaperman, he has bear
with Du Pont since 1940 in a va
riety of Assignments in the field
of human relations.
Before joining the extensior
division in 1953, he was a plani
personnel superintendent, a spec
ialist in community relations, anc
a consultant on industrial jour
nalism. He has traveled extern
sively and made frequent appear
ances as a public speaker befon
civic groups, industrial meetings
educational gatherings and tech
nical societies.
-$
Legion Post Meeting
Here on Friday Nigh
♦
The James E. Jethro Post of th<
I American Legion will hold iti
regular meeting Friday night o
this week at the Veterans Club, i
is announced. The meeting wil
open at 8 p. m.
Commander Ronald Water;
urges a full attendance of the
, members.
-$
Surprise Trustee
In Dwelling House
Henry Cox, Negro prisoner whc
is serving time at the prison camg
near Creswell for breaking anc
entering, was given a preliminarj
hearing here Tuesday before
Judge W. Ronald Gaylord on <
: charge of entering a dwelling
with intent to steal money. Prob
able cause was found and Co;
was sent back to the prison cam]
to continue serving his *ent*nci
and to await trial at the nex
term of superior court here.
According to Sheriff J. K. Reid
Cox had been a trustee at the
camp for sometime, was cam]
cook and also served as fenera
handy man around the house o
. H. L. Harris, prison camp sup
erintendent.
: Cox saw the back porch ligh
. on at the Harris residence am
t knew that meant that no one wa
i home. He also knew where t
, find the key to the back door am
doing so, unlocked the door am
1 walked in. The Harris family re
1 turned home and surprised th
r prisoner as he was making
search about the house.
World Church Day
To Be Observed
At Local Church
Plymouth Council of Church
Women Sponsoring Pro
gram at Baptist Church
Friday of This Week
Ludford Memorial Baptist
Church will be the scene of the
annual World Day of Prayer ob
servance Friday of this week.
The service is sponsored by the
Plymouth Council of Church Wo
men and will begin at 3:30 p. m.
The World Day of Prayer is a
day set apart for prayer for mis
sions, home and foreign. It was
first observed in 1887 by some
Presbyterian women. By 1919
other groups had joined them in
the observance of the day, and
it became a world day of prayer
in 1927. Christians around the
world are united o'n this great
day in a common service of pray
er and praise.
In 1954 the day was observed
in more than 19,000 communities
in the United States and in 119
countries around the world. The
program this year was written by
Miss Jorgelina Lozada, of Buenos
Aires, Argentina. The theme of
the program is: “Abide in Me”—
John 15:4. The periods of adora
tion, meditation, penitence, inter
cession, thanksgiving and dedi
cation will be led by women from
the churdhes of the town. Mrs.
W. D. Walker will be the organist
for the service and Mrs. Paul
Spencer and Mrs. K. S. Trow
bridge will be the soloists.
Mrs. W. J. Weaver, president
of the council, extends a cordial
invitation to the public to attend
this service. The church nursery
will be open for the convenience
of mothers of young children who
wish to attend the service.
-$
Final Services for
Former Resideni
Ivan D. Pyshny, a former resi
1 dent of Plymouth and husband of
■ the former Mabel Hardison, of
Plymouth, died at his home at
■ Elizabeth City Wednesday night
of last week following a long
illness. He had been confined to
his bed for eight weeks.
Mr. Pyshny was a native of
Russia who came to this country
as a young boy and lived here
for some time. He had made his
home at Elizabeth City for the
past 23 years. v
He leaves his widow and one
daughter, Joan, of the home.
Services were conducted at the
Toxey - Berry - Lynch Funeral
Home, Elizabeth City, Friday at
2 p. m. by the Rev. Mr. Finlator,
Baptist minister of Elizabeth City.
Burial was in the Elizabeth City
; cemetery.
W. Douglas Starr
Found Dead Last
Week in Havelock
-4
Body of Creswell Native Dis
covered in Parked Car by
Mrs. Starr; Evidence In
dicates Suicide
Nothing had been learned here
late Wednesday concerning de
velopments in the investigation
of the death at Havelock recently
of a former county man, Walter
Douglas Starr, 43.
A report last Saturday stated
that Craven County authorities
were probing for possible signs of
foul play in the rifle death of the
Creswell native whose decompos
ing body was discovered in his
parked automobile near his home
at Havelock that day.
The body, obviously lifeless for
several days, was discovered by
Starr's wife. It was slumped in
the rear seat of a car owned by
Godwin Motor Company, of Cres
well, for whom Starr worked as
a salesman. A .22 caliber auto
matic rifle was found in the front
seat.
. According to Craven Coroner
R. Clyde Smith, who along with
Sheriff Charlie Berry was sum
moned immediately following dis
covery of the body, Mrs. Start
stated that her husband left home
Wednesday night of last week
with the announced intention ol
returning to his job at Creswell
Friday she received a telephone
call from the auto agency at Cres
well asking information as tc
why Starr had failed to repor
for work. Neighbors subsequent
ly told Mrs. Starr of the cai
which had been parked about <
block away for some time. I
proved to be the car Slarr drove
The man had been shot in thi
right temple and death was ap
parently instantaneous.
According to the coroner, th
1 undertaker who prepared th
body for burial said it was im
possible to detect powder burns
although it was possible that th
condition of the wound when th
corpse was found eliminated th
; jjejbility of seeing such burn!
*Fr8m circumstances, it v, .is sat
it appeared that the victim die*
by his own hand. It looked a
though he might have sat on th
edge of the back seat, leaned ove
to the front seat with the rifl
and placed it against his temple
His waliet was found on the floo
of the car but there was no mone;
in it. Change amounting to $1.3'
was found in a trouser pocket.
Sheriff Berry said no finger
prints other than Starr's wen
found in the vehicle.
One of the two Starr childrei
reportedly told of seeing his fa
ther place the rifle in the ca
during the past week and tha
upon mentioning the rifle to hi
father was warned to leave i
alone.
Mrs. Starr said her husbani
complained of a sore throat Wed
nesday night before leaving sup
posedly for Creswell. She statei
that she reminded him that h
had hospitalization.
See STARR, Page 10
I
Interest Goes Up
OnUnpaidTaxes
Taxpayers in the town are
reminded that the rate of in
terest on unpaid 1954 taxes ad
vances 1 to 2 per cent after
March 1, next Tuesday. The
interest rate is fixed by State
law, and local units do not have
the right to waive the extra
charge, according to the col
lectors.
Interest on delinquent taxes
is fixed at 1 per cent during
the month of February; 2 per
cent during the month of
March; and Vi of 1 per cent for
each, month thereafter until the
tax sale is held. Property is
supposed to be advertised in
May and sold on the first Mon
day in June.
Band Realizes $400
On Show Last Week
i All ticket sales had not been
1 reported late yesterday but it was
E expected that about $400 would
be cleared by the Plymouth Band
t Boosters from the local talent
1 musical revue, Club Top Hat,
5 given here last week.
> Good-sized crowds attended the
i showings Thursday and Friday
i night at Plymouth High School
- auditorium and the entertainment
j was so well received that plans
i are now being laid to present the
show at Roper, provided a spon
sor can be obtained there t
handle ticket sales, etc.
Proceeds from the entertair
ment will be ear-marked fc
transporting the high school ban
to the Wilmington Azalea Fest
val this spring, it was said.
The show was directed by Mr
W. D. Walker, while Band Direc
or Eld Taylor headed the big
school orchestra which furnishe
music and Mrs. Iris Shelley Eth<
ridge directed the dance choru
Mrs. Walker and Miss Beula
Cratch were pianists.
Whirlwind Drive Planned
For Red Cross Next Month
I MARCH OF DIMES QUEEN AND TWO PRINCESSES |
I- .'
r
Miss Sandra Leggett (center) was crowned March of Dimes
Queen at the annual ball climaxing the infantile paralysis cam
paign in this county Saturday before last. She is flanked by
Miss Beulah A. Cratch (right) and Miss Ann Hardison (left), who
were second and third, respectively, In the queen’s contest. The
three above accounted for more than $200 of the $412.77 raised
by the 17 contestants for March of Dimes Queen. Miss Leggett
was crowned by Miss Jo Hoobs, last year’s queen.—Polaroid 1
Minute staff photo.
Figures Tell Growth
Of County Hospital
1 Number of Patients Served
Gradually Increases; Self
; Supporting Since Soon
After Opening
: The Washington County Hos
i pital, opened in May of 1950, has
! shown steady progress under the
. business administration succes
1 sively Mjfea, I »teUe ,-JJ. Jones
i Mrs. aLlH8Hk^d«ft and Mrs
Vivien Lindsey.
The institution began to func
tion with $5,000 out of the gen
eral county fund, with an addit
ional $500 donated from that fund
in July, 1950. Since that time th<
' hospital has been self-supportinj
1 and at the end of the calendai
year 1954 the books showed casl
• on hand in the amount of $6,
! 625.59.
On March 1, R. M. Byrd wil
1 assume the duties of business ad
' ministrator. The present admin
, istrator, Mrs. Lindsey, will re
_ main on the staff as superintend
’ ent of the nurses.
From its opening in 1950 unti
I the end of the calendar year the
hospital cared for 416 cases, 32<
adults and 93 newborn babies
I according to records. At the ent
, of the year, cash on hand totalec
$1,386.05.
During 1951 there were 1,011
cases, 812 adult and 199 newborr
babies. Cash on hand at the enc
of the year amounted to $551.20
The 1952 figures: 1,178 tota
cases, 948 adult and 230 newborr
babies. Cash on hand at end o:
| year, $2,452.76.
i Total cases in 1953 was 1,159
932 adult and 227 newborn ba
bies. Cash on hand at end of year
$1,615.80.
In 1954 the total cases jumpec
to 1,349, 1,054 adult and 295 new
born babies. Cash on hand at enc
of year, $6,625.59.
See HOSPITAL, Page 5
-®
Potaio Growers
Meeting Today
All county sweet potato grow
ers are invited to attend a meet
ing on production practices to b«
h«ld Thursday afternoon of thi:
week at the Agriculture Buildinj
here, County Agent W. H. Pruder
has announced.
I H. M. Covington, extension hor
I ticulture specialist from Stati
College, Raleigh, will be ii
charge of the meeting. '“He prob
ably knows more about scientifi
“ sweet potato production than any
one in the state and has arrange!
0 an informative program for us,
Mr. Pruden commented.
The following subjects will b
r covered during the afternoon
1 seed selection and treating; bed
- ding, including electric hot beds
spacing, cultivation, fer^ilizatior
;. harvesting and curing.
“Our sweet potato acreage ha
h increased every year for the las
d three. Farmers who are new ii
this production can profit by th
5. information which will be pre
h sented here Thursday,” the coun
ty agent added.
Turkey School
Dales Changed
County Agent W. H. Prucen
this week called attention of
county poultry men to a change
In date and nature of the poul
try and ted^ay scp 5» #riglni I
ly slated to Js W* M^denton
Monday, March 7.
Mr.' Pruden said date of the
meeting has been Changed la
March 10 and will be for turke r
producers only. Hie meeting
will be held in the Chowan
County Agriculture Building
beginning at 10 a. m. A fast
moving program, designed to
stimulate efficient production,
has been planned, Pruden
stated.
Need $50 Million
For Schools, Unii
Meeting Is Told
Assistant State Superintent -
ent of Public Instruction
Addresses County NCEA
Unit Here Monday
Fifty million dollars more is
needed during the next ibiennit.m
to take care of an increase oi
37,000 new students each year and
to maintain school services at the
present level in this state, J. E
Miller told the dinner meeting
of the Washington County unit ol
North Carolina Education Associ
ation here Monday night.
Mr. Miller, w^ho is assistani
state superintendent of public
instruction, spoke on the subject
“Education and Current Legisla
tion.”
The banquet meeting was helc
at Plymouth High School and £
three-course Smithfield Ham din
ner was enjoyed. Entertainmen
included a piano solo by Mis:
Beulah Cratch and a vocal sole
by Miss Gail Harrison.
The speaker reminded hi:
audience that Dr. Charles F. Car
See^SCHOOLsTPagTTo
Dne - Week Campaign in
County To Start Either
First or Second Week in
March, Whitehurst Says
Present plans call for whirl
wind campaign early in March in
in effort to secure Washington
bounty’s quota in the annual Red
Cross Fund Drive, Dr. A. L.
Whitehurst said today. Dr. White- •
lurst is dhairman of the county
;hapter of the American Red
Cross.
A meeting to plan the campaign
was held at the courthouse here
ruesday night of this week with
Dr. Whitehurst presiding. Several
:ounty organizations were repre
sented but the attendance was ra
ther disappointing, it was said.
No definite dates for the drive
were selected at the meeting but
it was decided to hold a one
week campaign for funds, begin
ning either the first or second
week in March.
Tom Hampton represented the
Creswell Ruritan Club, Hilton
Chesson the Lake Phelps post of
the American Legion, Bryan Har
ris the Roper Ruritan Club, Vic
Alexander and Bill Porter the
Plymouth Junior Chamber of
Commerce, and Post Commander
Ronald Waters of the James E.
Jethro Post of the American Leg
ion. Mrs. Frances Jones, execu
tive secretary of the county chap
ter, was also present.
Vic Alexander was named fund
dhairman for the Plymouth area.
It was also announced that the
principals of the colored schools
at Plymouth, Roper and Creswell
would head up the drive among
the colored population in their
respective communities.
Creswell Ruritans will hold a
meeting Monday of next week,
Dr. Whitehurst said, at which
time they will decide whether or
not to accept sponsorship of the
campaign in that area, and if not,
will name someone as chairman
of the effort. Roper Ruritans will
meet Thursday night for the same
purpose, it was stated.
Many interesting facts about
the various programs of service
of the Red Cross were brOJMM
out. For instance, duria|'4MHw‘**
1953-J4, $11,778,000 was sped la
financial assistance to servicemen
and dependents. Another $799,
000 went as financial assistance
to veterans and surviving depend
ents. A total of 109,000 service
men was helped each month at
military installations and hospi
tals; and 213,000 families were
served each month by chapter
home service.
Figures were given on the
blood program as follows: dona
tions of blood for the year 1953
54, 2,896,400; for civilian use, 1,
811,900; for national defense, 1,
See RED CROSS, Page 10
dll by mips
Would Sel Fees
-♦
A bill introduced in t'he House
last Wednesday by Representa
tive J. M. Phelps, of Creswell,
to fix certain fees of the register
of deeds and clerk of court in this
county was referred to the Com
mittee on Salaries and Fees.
The bill, known as House Bill
253, would “fix certain fees of
the register of deeds of Wash
ington County for recording maps
and chattel mortgages and to also
fix the probate fee of the clerk
of superior court of Washington
County for chattel mortgages.”
The- bill would set fees for photo
static copy of map, at $4, $1 for
recording map and 75 cents for
registering regular chattel mort
gage form. The fee for probating
the regular oh.attel mortgage
form by the clerk of court would
be established at 25 cents.
The Washington County Board
of Commissioners, in regular
monthly session here February 7,
requested introduction of the bill
by the county representative.
Numbering Houses
To Start Next Week
The Jaycees’ house-numbering
, project is scheduled to start next
. week.
The Plymouth Town Council,
. at a recent meeting, authorized
’ the Jaycees to carry out the pro
ject here.
3 Serving on the committee with
t Swain are Doug Gurkin and
! Ralph Hunter.
; The plan calls for luminous
- numerals that can be seen easily
- night or day to be sold to house
holders by members of the Jun
ior Chamber of Commerce. Pur
pose of the project is to get a
better degree of uniformity in
street numbering in the town.
Apartment houses or duplexes
will carry only one number, it
was said, and letters will be used
to distinguish separate apart
ments. The cooperation of all citi
zens is urged. Swain explained
that the Jaycees do not feel able
to donate the numerals, but tiiey
will not be expensive individ
ually.