<• T'own opics According to reports the Plym outh High School band made a good impression ait Wilmington last Saturday in the annual Aza lea Festival parade which is said to have drawn a crowd of about 275,000 persons. Between 150 and 200 units took part in the giant parade. Weather was good for the event and there were quite a few Plymouth people on hand' for the parade. The condition of Brinson Cox, of Plymouth, who was seriously injured in an automobile accident here some weeks ago, continues to improve, it was reported Wed nesday. Mr. Cox, a patient ait the Washington County Hospital here, was able to receive com pany Wednesday. It didn’t look like Wednesday afternoon here Wednesday of this week. There were far too many oars parked on the business streets for a normal Wednesday afternoon. Reason was, of course, that the stores decided to remain open all day since it was so close to Easter. The old, deserted Look will be back in vogue next Wed nesday, however. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clarence Everett, of near Plymouth, were injured1 in a two-car accident on US 64 near Wiliiamston Monday afternoon. Mr. Everett was dan gerously cut on the face, requir ing about 25 stitches, and Mrs. Everett suffered a bruised left leg. Mrs. Neva Bell Tetiter.ton, of Washington, driver of the other car, suffered shock, reports from Wiliiamston said. Mrs. Tetterrton reportedly got something in her eye and the car veered1 to the left of the highway. Mr. Everett swerving sharply, according to reports, to avoid a head-on col lision. Mr. Everett, seeing the crash coming, jumped' in front of his wife to shield her and his head crashed through the wind shield, it was said. James H, Ward, cne of the ope rators of the Plymouth Produce Auction Market, and County Agent W. H. Pruden will appear on a television program at Green ville Thursday night of this week. They will appear on the Farm Facts program ait 6:45 and will discuss vegetable production and ■the local produce market which began operations last year. Mis. Frank Askew, of Plym outh Route 1, re- jntljv spent sev eral day? iln Charleston, S. C., with a group of 22 home demon stration Club women of Beaufort County. While there members of the party visited the famous gar dens, art galleries, military in stallations and several places of historic interest. Mis. Askew re turned to her home last Friday. Mrs. Francos M. Darden, of Plymouth, and Mrs. H. L. Harris, of Creswell, spent Tuesday and Wednesday of last week in Ra leigh. Mrs. Darden attended the meeting of the State Home Agents Association at State Col lege. Mrs. Darden is treasurer of the organization. Mrs. Harris, who ScTtOPICS, Pago 10 Valuation Bill Passes Senate On March 30 an amendment was adopted to completely re write Senate Bill 287 which was introduced by Senator Edward L. Owens, of Plymouth, on March 15 and which is in regard to Plymouth property valuations. The bill would authorize the town to reassess all taxable prop erty within the town for ad fi lorem taxes. The governing board is to be governed by General Sta tute, chapter 105, subchapter II. The town clerk or some other person designated by the town board is to perform the duties of tax supervisor, and the town board is to act as a board of equalization and review. Reassessment is authorized as of January 1, 1955, or in any quad rennia' reassessment year fixed by Section 300 of the Machinery Act. The town board may con tinue taking the town tax lists and valuations from the county records, and may determine whe ther realty is to be revalued hor izontally (using county values), by appraisal or both. If reassess ed, valuations would apply to the town tax only. The bill passed the Senate last Friday night. The Roanoke Beacon ****** and Washington County News ****** . ~§ A home newspaper dedicated Hj to the service of Washington II; County and its 13,000 people. jij VOLUME LXVI—NUMBER 14 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, April 7, 1955 ESTABLISHED 1889 LOCAL FIREMEN HOLD "OPEN HOUSE" IN NEW QUARTERS LAST FRIDAY Nearly 600 S a 1 k Vaccine Requests From This County t if tv* Parents of 584 County Chil dren, White and Colored, Ask for Use of New Polio myelitis Vaccine Parents of 584 first and second grade children in this county have requested use of the new Salk vaccine for poliomyelitis, Miss Elizabeth Wood, county health nurse, reported this week. Use of the new vaccine is con tingent upon its being licensed for administration by the Nation al Institute of Health, it was ex plained. If approved, the vaccine is expected to be available for distribution during the month of April. Enough, vaccine -to imnoculate 9 million first and second grade children in the nation is being manufactured toy the National Foundation and will be distribut ed without cost for use through state and local health agencies. If the vaccine becomes avail able, each unit must furnish its own equipment and personnel, for administering, it was saiid. To complete vaccinations, each child is to receive three innocu latioms of the vaccine over a per iod of five weeks. Requests were broken down among white and colored by com munities as follows: Plymouth white, 174; Plymouth colored', 118; Roper white, 55; Roper colored, 95; Creswell white, 104; Creswell colored, 39. Slate Tax Deputy Here On Thursday and Friday E. R. Fnoneberger, of William ston, deputy collector, will be in the courtrom at the county court house here Thursday and Friday of this week to assist taxpayers in filing their state income tax re turns. There is no charge for the service. The deadline for filing was changed from March 15 to April 15 this year to conform with the new federal deadline date for filing. 300 Visit Fire j House Friday j About 300 perrons visited the local Volunteer Fire Itepart ment Friday night between the hours of 7 and 10 o’clock. The occasion was “Open House,” and the firemen were proudly showing off their modern building, recently completed in side. Many favorable comments were heard on every side and firemen said a number of per sons here expressed amazement at the well-appointed lounge, locker room, shower room and basement work - shop. Free drinks were furnished through the courtesy of the local bot tling plant. Cooking School Here Next Week Miss Doiris Leggett, home eco nomist with the Virginia Electric and Power Company, will be in charge of a cooking school to be held ait Plymouth Television Cen ter Thursday and Friday of next week in connection with the firm’s second anniversary cele bration, Owner Jimmy Kitchengs announced today. Miss Leggett will be assisted by the power company’s home economist from Elizabeth City. Also, Parker Peele, VEPCO rep resentative from Williiamstom, and appliance factory representatives will be present. Thursday morning a cooking demonstration will be given for Roper and Plymouth students and other communities, Kitdhengs said. A cooking school for the general public will be held on Thursday from 4:30 to 5:30 p. m. and Friday from 2 to 3 p. m. Meals to be cooked will be given away as door prizes. Other prizes will also be offered and the drawing will be held1 at 8 p. m. Friday. The store will be open until 9 o’clock each night. Refreshments will be served and measuring glasses will be given to the ladies and souvenirs for the children. Joint Service Here on Good Friday -« The public is invited to attend a special service of meditation and devotion in Grace Episcopal Church here Friday of this week, ■the rector, the Rev. E. M. Spruill, has announced. The service, in its sixth con secutive year, will begin at 12 o’clock noon and end at 3 p. m. It is sponsored by the Plymouth Ministerial Association and will -♦ commemorate the crucifixion and passion of Jesus Christ. Ministers taking part in the service will be Mir. Spruiill, the Rev. Jesse H. Lamming, pastor of Plymouth Methodist Church, the Rev. Paul B. Nickens, pastor of the Ludford Memorial Baptist Church, the Rev. C. Neil Bar nette, pastor of Plymouth Christ ian Church and the Rev. Ernest H. Carter, pastor of the Plymouth Church of the Nazarene. Persons unable to remain for the entire service may enter and leave the church during the sing ing of the hymns. “The participat ing ministers urge a large re sponse of the Christian people of the community in this special way of seriously considering our Lord and Saviour’s seven last words from the cross.” Plymouth firemen celebrated completion of their new quar ters recently with “open house” last Friday night, attended by approximately 250 to 300 peo ple. Members of the volunteer department finished the inter ior themselves, including wir ing, installation of lockers, showers and paneling the club room. The picture above shows the front of the building with the two main pieces of equip ment, while a portion of the clubroom is shown at left. The building also housed a workshop at the rear, where the firemen have a number of power tools used for work on their hobbies and repairing equipment of var ious kinds.—Polaroid 1-Minute staff photo. Huge Foresl Fire Is Under Control After Long Fighj Rains of Wednesday Aid in Bringing Huge Blaze Un der Control; Damage Said In Millions A forest fire which started in Washington County on the eastern side of Lake Phelps and swept into Tyrrell and Hyde Counties was said laite Wednesday to be “under control for the time be ing.’’ Rains that day helped to contain the blaze. Said to be the largest forest fire in the history of this state and perhaps the entire south, it has swept over an estimated 203,000 acres of woodland, swamps and scrub growth in the three coun ties. Most of the timber' land burned over is said to be that of West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, very little of it being owned by the Jclhn L. Roper Lumber Company. K. S. Trowbridge, woods and land manager for 'the North Caro lina Pulp Company here, has esti mated the damage art from three to four million dollars. Trow bridge, who has about 18 years’ experience in forestry in this area, figures an average value of $10 to $15 an acre on the burned over land. Paul W. Tillman, assistant state forester, said1 there is no question but that the fire was deliberately set and an investigation is already underway. Military personnel from Camp Lejeume, Fort Bragg, nearby Coast Guard installations, as well as National Guard units have aid ed in fighting the fire. The guardsmen, from Washington, were relieved and returned to their homes Tuesday midnight. They had been called out by Governor Hodges. Broom-Mat Sale Amounts to $550 -».— The Plymouth Lions Club sold about $550 worth of brooms and mats in, Plymouth Thursday of last week, C. W. Dinkins, project chairman, reported. Mr. Dinkins said Stillacres and Pulp Mill Vil lage were not covered and will be worked this week. Response was termed “mighty good,” both in the business and residential areas. Participation by members of the club was said to be excellent. The sale, an annual Lions Club project here, offered products of a non-profit firm which provides year-round employment to 40 blind persons. Workers in Drive For Cancer Funds In Couniy Listed Campaign To Continue Dur ing Month of April; Coun ty Organization Named By Mrs. Craft The organization of volunteer workers, still incomplete, was an nounced this week by Mrs. Ed Craft, county campaign chairman, for the 1955 Washington County Cancer campaign. The Washington County unit of the American Cancer Society in cludes Dr. Alban Papineau, con sulting physician; Miss Elizabeth Wood, chairman of the executive committee; Mrs. Harry Drowning, county commander; Mrs. Craft; H. E. Newtland, publicity chair man; Aubrey Liverman, treasur er; Mrs. Woodrow Collins, coun ty treasurer; Mrs. Nyal Womble and Mrs. Duranit Keel, trades and industry. Workers were listed as follows: Mesdames Jce Arps, A. J. Riddle, Ed Jackson, Homer Naylor, E. G. Arps, Tavas Ivachiew, Elizabeth Williams, Seaton Overton, C. A. Cratch, Louise Swain, Gladys Bratten, Mary Grady Barnhill, J. F. Keys, R. M. Allen, Gilbert Nobles, C. R. Bowen, C. E. Jones, W. R. McCombs, Steriling Mc Combs, Joe Early, Robert John son, Louis Price, Roy Cutler, Nor ma Chesson, Bill Manning, Bill Gurganus, Burma Brown, Mel vin Stalls, James Boyce, Maurice Smith, Tom Cole, Pauline Wynn, L. Simpson, Audrey Everett, Mil dred Pairoff, Helen Watson, Rich ard West, Gilbert Mobley, G. L. Jackson, Mildred Clark, Brownie Goodman, Janie Dunning, Harold Nelson, Olga Furbee, Belva Dav enport, Walter Barnes, and Har vey Hobbs, Letha Staton, Undine Coudon, Elsie Hyman, Ruth Pugih, Luther Williams, Lonnie Young, Fona Hines, Clara Halsey, Gladys Hasseli, Lueaithai Cooper and Prof. A. R. Lord. Plymouth business district: Mrs. Elmer Browning; Roper: Mrs. Beulalh Gaylord, J^ier High School biology rVss, Mrs. Tom Norman, Prof. WitT.ins, Hubert Downing; Mapheys: Mrs. Johnnie Dawson, Mrs. Hterbent Cbesson; Creswell and Cherry: Woman’s Club, chairman, Mrs. Mina Hamp ton. The campaign will continue throughout the month of April. Endowment Share To Hospital Here -« Tuesday of this week the board of trustees of the Duke Endow ment appropriated $732,217 to 111 hospitals and child-caring insti tutions in the Carolinas on the basis of their 1954 work. The Washington County Hospital here will receive as its share the sum of $278. This marks the 30th year of assistance to hospitals and child caring institutions since estab lishment of the endowment by heirs of the Duke tobacco fort unes. At the same time the board an nounced that additional institus tions whose applications have not been completed will be consider ed for appropriations at the April meeting of the trustees. Under the endowment, hospi tals are aided at the rate of $1 for each free day of care render ed, and child-caring institutions receive aid at the rate of about 22 cents per day for each day of care to orphans or half orphans during the past year. Allocate $10,000 for New County Library Building | Easter Monday To lie j [ General Holiday Here j Easter Monday, April 11, will be observed as a general holi day by most business establish ments in Plymouth. The post I office and restaurants will be open, but stores, county, town and federal offices, both banks, garages, and most other busi ness places will be closed for the day. Drug stores and filling stations are expected to observe Sunday hours. The North Carolina Pulp Company will continue opera . tions as usual, but the True Temper Corporation plant here will be closed for the day. R. M. Bruce, menager, of Atlas Ply wood Corporation plant was out of town and could not be con tacted, but Atlas closed for the holiday last year. School stud ents throughout the county will also have the holiday off, re turning to classes at the regular time Tuesday morning. Stores here remained open all day yesterday, but will re sume their regular weekly half-holidays next Wednesday. Three File for Offices In Next City Election Mayor Riddle Announces For Reeleciion; C. B. Hol liday Seeks Third Ward Post as Councilman Town politics continue at a very low ebb for the municipal elect ion, which is scheduled for Tues day, May 3, a little over three weeks away. Mayor A. J. Kiddle announced Monday night that he would be a candidate for reelect ion, and one more candidate for councilman from the third ward was filed; but so far no opposition has developed for any of the seven positions to be filled. C. B. Holliday, of Little Rich wood announced this week that he would be a candid ate for coucil man flora, the third ward. Harvey H. Hobbt also of little Richwood, filed fc, „ne of lie two positions from tr' tfrtrd ward last week. WMV £ • w -#.me talk of pros per ■ actually only tliL.ro three paid their filing fee and filled formal notice of their caedidaelAA with Town Clerk W. A. Roebuck. A mayor and Abe coumoilmen are to be elected on May 3, two of the latter from each of the town’s three wards. Ail terms are for two years. The deadline for filing of candidanicies is Saturday, April 23, at 6 p. m. Mr. Holliday, a native of Mar tin County, is an employee of the North Carolina Pulp Company and has been living in Little SeTELECTIONrPage5~~ Hear Complaints AtTnesdayMeet About 25 property owners, practically all from Plymouth, appeared before the board of equlization and review at the courthouse Tuesday to register complaints about the property revaluation for taxes. The complainants thought the valuation too high and wanted to compare the valuation of their property with that of other property owners, Clerk J. Robert Campbell reported. The board scheduled night meetings for Thursday of this week and Monday of next, at which time consideration will be given to the complaints, it was said. Both meetings have been set for 7:30 o’clock. MAYOR ANNOUNCES j Mayor A. J. Riddle filed for | tvi’ection -allowing the city council meeting Monday night. He has been mayor of Plym outh for a little over eight years, having been first ap pointed to the office in Jan uary, 1947, and reelected in 1947, 1949, 1951 and 1953. Gardner Funeral At Roper Friday -► — Funeral rites for Herbert S. Gardner, 71, of Roper, RFD, will be 'held from, the Roper Pente costal Holiness Church Friday at 2 p. m. by the pastor, the Rev. J. D. Jayroe. Burial will be in Holly Neck Church Cemetery, near Roper. Mr. Gardner, a retired farmer, died at noon Wednesday a't Wash ington County Hospital after a short illness. He had been in de clining health for three years and was confined to has bed for four days. Born in Washington County August 16, 1883, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Gardner, he was a lifelong resident. Mr. Gardner married Miss Essie Phelps of Roper at Ropier Octo ber 14, 1923. He was a member of the Roper Pentecostal Holiness Church. Surviving are his widow; one daughter, Mrs. Agnes Wade, of Kinston, a son, Herbert A. Gard ner, of Roper; one brother, Na than Gardner, of iKnston; and five grandehildre*. TRUCK ROLLS OVER FOUR TIMES - BARELY MISSES RESIDENCE _ ■ William C. Gibbs, colored truck driver of Pantego, was seriously injured when thrown from the above truck in an accident on the Long Ridge Road seven miles south of Plymouth last Friday morning. The truck failed to make a curve and rolled over four times before stopping only a few feet from the home of Leslie Cole, as shown here. Warren Waters, of Pinetown, was owner of the truck. Gibbs was charged with reckless driving by Patrolman Carl Gilchrist, who investi gated.—Polaroid 1-Minute staff photo. E. M. Leavitt Tells Commis sioners Plymouth Civic Clubs Will Foot Any Cost Above That Figure A new building to house the Washington County Public Libra ry was a step nearer to reality this week. Monday the Washington. Coun ty Board of Commissioners Voted unanimously to appropriate $10, 000 fcT erection of a county libra ry building here, provided' it can be done without the use of ad valorem tax funds. The motion was maide by Com missioner A. R. Latham, of Plym outh, and seconded by Commis sioner J. C. Knowles, of Roper. E. M. Leavitt and E. E. Harrell, a committee from the library board, appeared before the com missioners and again stressed the need for more space to house the library and for the convenience of ground floor space. Chairman Frank L. Brinkley asked the committee who would be responsible for building the library if the money were appro priated. He was informed that the library committee would secure plans and oversee the work, and that the plans selected would be presented to the commissioners for their approval. Leavitt said the request for $10,000 with which to erect the library building, made February 7 by a delegation which appeared before the board, would not take care of the expenses. However, he stated, various Plymouth civic organizations had informed him that they would provide what ever amount above the $10,000 is needed. A suitable lot for the structure has already been donated by Mr. and' Mrs. Z. V. Norman, of Plym outh. The lot is located on the corner of Adams amdi Third Streets. Other action taken by the com missioners ,in regular monthly session, included requests to the state highway department for three additions to the state-main tained county road system, a re quest to Representative Phelps for the introduction of certain legislation, and the hearing of routine reports. The new road maintenance re quests included a quarter-mile length on the Folly Road begin ning .8 of a mile from the Mac keys Road and running south; a See LIBRARY, Page 10™ -« Air Spoiler Unit At Roper Making Splendid Record New Observalion Post Built By Community Volun teers; Response Good on Recent Alert, Said The Roper Ground Observer Corps post is making good pro gess, it is repented. A new obser vation post has been built and nearly completed. Considerable funds have come from Washing ton County. The construction work is being done by volunteers under the supervision of Jack Leary and Mitchiner Banks. The building was designed by Jesse Rawls who is the post supervisor. The project is sponsored by the Roper Volun teer Fire Department. Equipment necessary to this type of project is beinb sought by a local com mittee from the Air Defense Command. The Roper post took part in the recent “Operation Eat Iv Spring,” a statewide 56-hour alert. The post was fully manned for the en tire period, town and nearby com munity people standing watch. No one failed to respond when called and 143 calls were handled during the operation. The number of planes sighted” and identified was quite large, it was said. High School students played a big part in the success of the post operat ion, according to officiafs. The organization set-up is as follows: Jesse Rawls, chief supervisor; T. W. Norman, chief observer; Jack Leary, J. D. Jayroe, Worth Chesson, Jake Swain, Wade Har dison, Mitchiner Banks and Au brey Dixon, assistant chief ob servers. These officers are responsible for instructing new observers, scheduling duty shifts, keeping required post records, notifying observers of coming shafts, daily records of poet individual data. Officials stated that the post hopes eventually to become one of the strongest units in the state.