•ssSSSS
T'own
opic§
■a
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence D.
Jones left Monday for Webb Air
Force Base at Big Spring, Texas,
wihere their son, LawTenee, jr„ is
scheduled to graduate from flight
school and receive his wings and
commission as second lieutenant
in the U. S. Air Force this week.
Young Lawrence entered the Air
Force early last year and has been
through his basic and primary
courses and is now graduating to
advanced flight training in jets.
Miss Frances Garr, daughter of
i’ Mr. and Mrs. J. Richard Carr, of
Plymouth, graduated from Mere
dith College at Raleigh Monday
of last week, receiving an A. B.
degree in business adminstration.
While her plans for the future
are not definite at this time, she
ia considering offers of secretar
ial work in Raleigh or Charlotte.
Miss Carr graduated from Plym
outh High School with the class
of 1951 and has been at Meredith
since that time.
Dr. and Mrs. B. W. Cutler will
leave Sunday to attend the 48th
annual convention of the North
Carolina State Optometric Socie
ty at Atlantic Beach. The conven
tion and annual meeting of the
women’s auxiliary will continue
through Tuesday night, closing
with a banquet and dance. Dr.
Cutler will not be in his office
here Monday, Tuesday or Wed
nesday.
Miss Sara Giles, of Fayette
ville, began her duties here Mon
* day of this week as a student
trainee with the Extension pro
gicun. ivii.-5.-7 a. i i-Jiug |
at East Carolina College, Green
|' ville, is training for future work
as an assistant home agent. She
expects ,to be here for the next
two or three months and will
work during that time under the
supervision of Mrs. Frances Dar
den, Washington County home
agent.
Miss Louise Allen, secretary to
County Agent W. H. Pruden, may
be able to return to her duties
Friday of this week, it was learn
ed yesterday. Miss Allen was
taken ill and was sent to a Rocky
Mount hospital by Dr. T. L. Bray
Monday for examination, it was
said.
Rex Browning, son of Mr. and
Mrs. I. Raymond Browning, of
near Plymouth, graduated from
Campbell Junior College at Buies
Creek in the 67th annual com
mencement exercises last Friday
morning. During his high school
days in Plymouth, Rex was an
outstanding pitcher for the base
ball team, and he graduated here
with the class of 1952.
One Delinquent
Found by Board
Of the five delinquents ordered
by the local draft board to be sent
for induction Thursday of last
week only one showed up, 1Mj».
Lorraine Hunter, draft board
clerk, reports. The registrant re
porting was Gurtha Rayon Bower,
of Roper RFD.
Bower was not sent for induct
ion, however, when he cleared up
his status sufficiently. He had not
previously been ordered for pre
induction, it was explained, but
was listed delinquent for failure
to submit his questionnaire. It
was UtHCl UJUUCVl UIUI .l-rwyci. J man
had not been delivered to him.
B- The local board has received a
call for 23 men for pre-induction
examination on July 14, Mrs.
Hunter reported. There will be no
induction call for July, it was
said.
Ficol Rites Held
At Como Tuesday
Guy Carieton Picot, 98, son of
the late Capt. Julian Henri Picot,
of Plymouth, and Antoinette Sara
Vann Picot, of Como, died at his
?> ancestral Como home at 2 a. m.
Sunday after an illness of several
months.
For 42 years before his retire
ment he had been a merchant and
farmer at Como and for a num
ber of years had served as a mem
ber of the Hertford County Board
of Education. At the time of his
death Mr. Picot was Hertford
County’s oldest citizen.
Surviving are five daughters,
Miss Antoinette Vann Picot, Miss
Marian Barham Picot, Miss Mar
ietta Blount Picot and Miss Han
nah Barham Picot, all of Como,
and Mrs. Vernon Tucker, of Suf
folk, Va; three sons, Hugh Baird
Picot, of Como, Guy Oarleton
Picot, jr., of Richmond, Va., and
Harvey Baylis Picot, of Franklin,
Va.; a brother, M. W. Picot, of
Suffolk; and five grandchildren.
Last rites were conducted at
Buckhorn Baptist Church Tues
day at 2 p. m. by the Rev. E. Nor
fleet Gardner, of Laurinburg, the
Rev. R. D. Stephenson, of Nor
folk, Va., the Rev. L. E. Bailey,
retired, of Poweilsville, and the
Rev. J. E. Lanier, retired, of
Rocky Mount. Burial was in the
church cemetery.
The Roanoke Beacon
****** and Washington County News ******
A home newspaper dedicated
to the service of Washington
County and its 13,000 people.
& •:!
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, June 9, 1955
VOLUME LXVI—NUMBER 23
ESTABLISHED 1889
I DEPARTMENT AT PULP MILL SETS NINE-YEAR SAFETY RECORD
Members of the laboratory department of the North Carolina Pulp company nave women
since June, 1946, without a lost-time accident. During that period they have worked 717,178 man
hours. Workers in this department have worked more manhours than any other department in
the mill without a disabling injury. Reading from left to right in the photo above are: Frank C.
Brinkley, chief chemist; Harry Phelps, jr., paper tester; Johnny Norman- (extreme rear) janitor.
Roswell Cox, Fred Doscher, Tony Jurecic, routine analysts; Albert Martin, filter plant operator,
John Wood, routine analyst; Cecil Ange, filter plant operator; Edith Wolfe, paper tester; H. K.
Thompson, routine analyst; Adele Tetterton, paper tester; Cecil Hamilton, pulp mill chemist,
Douglas Copeland, pulp tester; Guy Dunshee, paper tester helper; Carrie Hamilton, routine ana
lyst; Wilbur Davenport, Billy Harrel, paper testers; Shirley Gurganus, secretary; Stewart Saun
ders, paper mill chemist; Joe Arps, routine analyst; and L. M. Cushing, technical director.
Donors of Blood June 22
To Be Presented Orchids
Drinks Lysol;
Treated Here
Alice Faye Equals, young
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. An
drew Equals, of Jamesville, was
given an antidote at Plymouth
Clinic Tuesday afternoon after
having swallowed a small
amount of Lysol at home. She
was rushed here by her parents
and was treated at the clinic
at 2 p. m.
Dr. E. W. Furgurson, the at
tending physician, explained
that Lysol is now relatively
non-tovic and does not cause
the strictures when taken in
ternally that it once did. The
formula was changed in 1952.
However, it still is not recom
mended as a drink.
Several Break-ins
Reported Monday
-4
Local officers are continuing
their investigation of a series of
break-ins here sometime Sunday
night, but with little to go upon,
according to Sheriff J. K. Reid.
Richard West discovered early
Monday that his office at his iron,
steel and glass business on U. S.
64 by-pass had been entered dur
ing the night and notified the
sheriff's office. Sheriff Reid, ac
companied by Plymouth Police
man Paul Basnight, investigated
and found that a safe in the of
fice had been “peeled.” No money
had been left in the safe, but the
safe itself was badly damaged.
Entry had been gained through a
window, the sheriff said.
The job appeared to have been
done by a man with experience
in tampering with safes, Sheriff
Reid stated.
Break-ins at the State High
way office and garage the same
night were also investigated ear
ly Monday. Entry appeared to
have been gained to the grounds
which are fenced by using a drain
under the fence, it was said. The
highway office was entered
through a window but the sheriff
said nothing was reported mis
sing there. However, at the gar
age a chisel and several screw
drivers were reported missing.
Local Lawyer Talks
To Ruritans at Roper
Attorney Z. V. Norman, of
Plymouth, addressed the Roper
Ruritan Club at its regular meet
ing Thursday night of last week
at the Roper community build
ing, speaking on the industrial
possibilities of Washington Coun
ty.
Industries which could be de
veloped on a local basis were list
ed by the speaker as grain ele
vator, meat packing plant, feed
mi'll and wood products. He was
introduced by L .E. Hassell, sr.
During the business session C.
L. Gleaves reported "progress in
the work of his special industrial
committee. A special classified
directory is in the making 'by this
commitee listing products avail
able in this area, natural resour
ces and potentialities for indus
trial development.
Reynold Spruill reported that
his committee is still working on
the project to secure a doctor for
the community.
President Bryan Harris ap
pointed a new program commit
tee made up of John Furlough,
Walter Grimes and Neil Stout.
The annual picnic will be held
.at the regular July meeting and
J. A. C'hesson and W. A. Dixon
were appointed to assist the pro
gram committee in making ar
rangements for the affair which
is to be held at Albemarle Beach.
A delicious ham supper was
served the group .by the ladies of
I Holly Neck Church of Christ.
Grateful Southern Pines
Florist Will Donate Pos
sibly 100 Orchids; Local
Florists Cooperate
Something new has been added.
Arrangements have been made
for blood donors to receive gift
orchids when the Red Cross
bloodmobile unit makes its regu
lar quarterly visit to Plymouth
Wednesday, June 22, it was learn
ed this week. There’s a story be
hind it.
Seven years ago Mrs. Karl
Bridges, who is the owner of an
orchid farm at Southern Pines,
was ill and was given little
chance to recover. Since that time
She ha'' received multiple blood
transfusions and some members
of her family have also been
given blood transfusions, as well.
Unable to repay the blood, Mrs.
Bridges decided to donate orchids
to various Red Cross blood banks
throughout the State with orchids
to be given to donors of blood.
Local blood bank leaders have
been informed that Mrs. Bridges
will donate as many orchids as
she can spare, 50, 75 or possibly
100. The three local florists will
cooperate by dressing the orchids
with ribbon.
Dr. E. W. Furgurson, a leader
of the blood bank here, said this
week that the orchids will be
given to productive donors while
they last.
Dr. Furgurson stated that be
sides donating orchids, Mrs.
Bridges also charges a small fee
to visitors who go through her
orchid farm and the proceeds are
donated to charity.
The bloodmobile unit will set
up at the veterans building June
22 as usual, it was said. The Plym
outh Junior Woman’s Club, re
cently organized’, will donate and
prepare refreshments for donors.
Vacation Bible School To
Open at Nazarene Church
The Daily Vacation Bible
School will start Monday of next
week at Plymouth Church of the
Nazarene, the pastor, the Rev.
E. H. Carter, has announced.
Sessions will be held daily,
Monday through Friday, [begin
ning at 9 a. m. and closing at
11:30 a. m.
Final exercises are scheduled
for Friday night at 7:45 o’clock.
Roper Spotters
Receive Praise
The “Operation Skytrain IV”
alert was carried out very suc
cessful at Roper last Saturday,
Roper Ground Observer ^Post
Supervisor Jesse Rawls reports.
There were 21 volunteers who
took part in the 12-hour alert
which was held form 9 a. m. to
9 p. m., Mr. Rawls stated, and
21 calls were turned in.
The post was also visited dur
ing the day by a mobile training
team from the Durham Filter
Center and the group praised
the post personnel for “doing a
good job” and were also high in
praise of the visibility offered
by the tower, Mr. Rawls de
clared.
Local Young Man
Gels Scholarship
At State College
Jimmy Jackson Receives
$600 Award Annually foi
Four Years From Pulp
And Paper Foundation
-«—
James Sherman (Jimmy) Jack
son, son of Mrs, Blanche Jackson
of Plymouth, was notified this
week that he had been awarded
cl ipul/l/ dUiuiaiaiup c»u iWi Hi
line State College for the college
year of 1955-56 by the Pulp and
Paper Foundation, Inc. He was
also advised that the $600 scholar
ship iwould be continued for foui
years, provided his work measur
ed! up to certain standards which
are made a condition of the scho
larship.
Announcement of the aware
was made toy J. R. Budhanan
chairman of the scholarship com
mittee of the Pulp and Papei
Foundation, Inc., which is con
nected with the School of Fores
try at State College. He alsc
stated that the award was made
on a basis of his high school rec
ord and grades made on a special
test given to Jimmy early in May
It is understood that five scho
larships have been awarded re
cently 'by the foundation, based
on the results of the test giver
high school seniors early in May
Jimmy made one of the five high
est grades to qualify for one oi
the scholarships. Winners of the
scholarships are also enabled tc
work in pulp and paper mills
during their summer vacations
J. A. Auditor and E. M. Leavitt
of the North Carolina Pulp Com
pany in Plymouth, are members
of the board of directors of the
Pulp and Paper Foundation, made
up of representatives of most ol
the leading paper manufacturing
plants in the south.
Services Next Sunday
At Morrailock Churct
Services will be held at Mor
rattock Primitive Baptist Churcl
near Plymouth Sunday afternoon
June 12, at 3:30, it was announce*
this week. The minister, Elder R
B. Denson, will be in charge. Th
public is cordially invited
This Roamer Has
Answer Tensions
Of Modern Living
-4
Youth Claiming To Be Mem
ber of Famous Hatfield
Clan Appears Here Tues
day, Sells Boat
By JAMES L. BOND
A young wanderer who claims
to be one of the Hatfield clan of
Hatfield-McCoy fame apparently
has his own answer to the awful
tensions of an atomic age.
A ruddy-faced youth Who said
he was Ray Hatfield, of Cedar
Grove, W. Va., arrived in Plym
outh Tuesday morning by canoe
and began to seek a buyer for his
boat and few utensils. He soon
found a taker in Bill Hardison.
Then he visited a barber shdp
where he got rid of quite a growth
of reddish beard and had' his
hair cut.
The fellow told a somewhat
fantastic tale of seemingly aim
less wanderings since he left
home when he was "betwen 10
and 11 years old.” He gave his
age as 27 and said his dad be
came a victim of the famous
mountaineer feud when Ray was
only 2Vi years old. The only re
maining member of his immedi
ate family is a brother who lives
in California, he stated.
According to his tale having
explored a number of rivers,
among which he mentioned the
Ohio, Kanawha, Johns, Catawba
and New Rivers, the young man
has traversed the Roanoke re
rentlv He said he left Roanoke
Rapids six weeks ago and after a
mishap leisurely drifted with the
current, making use of a small
oar to keep the craft clear of
objects in the stream.
Hatfield’s pattern of life seems
primitively simple. He was equip
ped with blankets, a hatchet,
hammer, frying pan and a few
fish hooks and lines. On his cas
ual journey along the river he
wi uld catch fish, then go ashore
to irepare and eat his catch. He
w< d sleep in the boat at nigh!
as' * slowly drifted. Upon read,
ing Williamston, however, h* seiei
he found river traffic too heavy
for him to travel without main
taining watch, so he went ashore
at night.
He proudly displayed a blank
check on the hack of which was
the signature of Raymond Rawls,
sheriff of Martin County. He said
the officer came upon him late
Monday at Daly’s Hill below
Jamesville where he had stoppec
to prepare and eat a small cat
fish. Rawls carried him to Wil
liamston, gave him a good' meal
and returned him to his boat. In
cidentally, Hatfield said he reck
onede it had been six month
since he had tasted bread. His
diet consists of fish, an occasional
rabbit which he snares and 'brew;
made from various roots. Among
these, he mentioned sassafras
spicewood and mountain ever
green. He said that he cured any
ills with tea made from roots.
See ROAMER, Page 5
Bible School To
Open on Monday
The annual Vacation Bible
School of the Ludford Memorial
Baptist Church will be held from
June 13-17. Classes will begir
promptly each morning at £
o’clock, and will continue through
11:30. Commencement exercise;
will be held on Friday night
June 17. Children ages 3-13 arc
invited.
Workers in the school are: Mrs
Harry Browning, Mrs. Thomas
Ward, Miss Linda Harrell, Mrs
Robert Wright, Mrs. Robert How
ell, Mrs. Joe Simon, Mrs. Roland
Coburn, Mrs. Seaton Overton
Mrs. W. H. Pruden, Mrs. Frazier
Humphreys, Miss Gail Gaylord
Miss Nancy Jackson, Mrs. A. L
Jackson, Mrs. Paul B. Nickens
Sonny Walker, Paul Nickens, jr.
Miss Narcissa Harrison will serve
as pianist and secretary for the
school, and the Rev. Paul B
Nickens, pastor of the church
will serve as principal.
Postpone Produce Market Opening
-—•— —•— —»—
The tentative opening date for i
; the Plymouth Produce Auction a
Market has been changed from ,
June 15 to Monday, June 20.
W. T. Freeman, one of the three j
partners ini the venture which
l will begin its second season this
month, explained that due to the '
cool weather which has retarded '•
i maturity of the cucumber crop, 1
, it will be necessary to delay the 1
1 opening somewhat.
Mr. Freeman will manage the 1
; market this season.
It is is expected that cukes, 1
eppers and tomatoes will pro- i
■ide the bulk of volume on the
narket this year. However, it is
planned to handle other produce
fferings just as last year.
The market will be operated on
. five-and-one-half day week this
eason and hours have been an
lounced Iby the owners as 10 a. m.
o 5 p. m. Monday through Fri
lay of each week and from 10
l. m. to 12 noon on Saturday.
Among buying firms which
iave contacted the market and
\
;xpect to be represented' is the
argest cucumber and pepper
juyer in ithe United States, it was
laid. The buying firm was listed
us the Frank W. Studstil Com
pany, with headquarters at
iVauchula, Florida.
Last year the local market
>pened late in May and handled
u quantity of snap beans as well
is other early produce. However,
/ery little acreage has been
planted to the crop in this im
mediate section this year, it was
said.
County Budget Approved
To Retain Same Tax Rate
| TYPE OF WELL THAT IS RARELY SEEN ANY MORE |
Contrasting the old and nev.', a modem tractor is shown here
beside a “sweep” type open well that is rarely seen in eastern
Carolina any more. This type of well dates back to Bible times
and once was common throughout this section, but has just about
disappeared with the coming of pumps and electric water systems.
The well pictured above is located at the old E. Pritchett home
place in the Scuppernong section, and that is W. A. “Ab” Spruill
on the tractor.—Staff photo.
Board Favors Plans
For County Library
Jtw Prepared by
Harry Hallman Presented
To Board Monday By E.
M. Leavill
-»
Plans for the proposed county
library building were approved
by the county commissioners
Monday of this week.
Mrs. J. Robert Campbell, chair
man of the library board, stated
Tuesday morning that it is now
expected that construction will
start in the near future. The
building will be erected on the
corner of Third and Adams
Streets across from Plymouth
Methodist Church, the lot having
been donated by Attorney and
Mrs. Z. V. Norman, for that pur
pose.
E. M. Leavitt, a member of the
county library board, presented
to the commissioners at their reg
ular monthly session Monday
blueprints of the 'proposed struct
ure which were drawn by Harry
Huttman. Mr. Hultman did the
work gratis.
The commissioners thanked Mr.
Leavitt for his time and effort
in assisting the architect in draw
ing the plans.
Recently, the commissioners
voted to allocate $10,000 to pro
vide a library building which, it
has been pointed out, is much
needed. The library is now hous
ed on the second floor of the
courthouse and is quite crowded.
At the meeting Monday, the
commissioners also transacted
several other items of business.
The county tax rate was set at
$1.70 on the $100 valuation, the
same as for the past 10 years,
and budgets wer tentatively ap
proved, as reported in a separate
story in this paper.
Since the first Monday in July
falls on the 4th, Independence
Day, it Was decided that the board
would hold its regular monthly
meeting Monday, July 11.
E. J. Spruill, county tax col
lector, reported $5,166.96 collect
ed by his department during May.
See BOARD, Page 10
M>M»(««. ■ >»MM MM»WtW »■»*»»»«■»*■«*
Dan Cupid On
The Wane Here
Marriage licenses issued at
the local register of deeds of
fice during the month of May
were the fewest In memory,
only four permits—all to white
couples—being Issued for the
period, according to the records.
Licenses were issued as fol
lows: John Norman, jr., Nor
ristown, Pa., and Betty Thomp
son, Roper; Robert Page Gorn
to, and Helen E. Girvin, both
of Norfolk, Va.; Ralph Perry
and Emogene Kohl, both of
Norfolk; James R. Barnes, Wil
liamston .and Joyce Ann Boone,
Two Injured in
Sunday Accident
Injuries to two persons re
quired hospitalization and prop
erty damage was estimated at
$500 in a two-car accident at the
intersection of US 64 by-pass and
NC 32 at 9 p. m. Sunday.
The two cars involved were a
1952 Chevrolet operated by Jesse
Revels, of Williamston, and a
1949 Frazier, driven by Blake
Hodges, colored, of Jamesville.
According to the report of
Plymouth Policeman J. E. Mor
ton, investigating officer, Revels
had stopped for a red light when
the Hodges car hit the rear of the
Chevrolet, doing approximately
$300 damage to the latter and
about $200 damage to the front
of the Frazier.
Warren Brooks and Leah
Hodges, both of Jamesville, were
hospitalized. Hodges was tried
and found guilty of careless and
reckless driving in recorder’s
court here Tuesday and drew e
fine of $100 plus court costs and
was further directed to pay $1CK
damages to Revels.
► -►-—
For Tenth Consecutive Year
County Tax Rate Set at
$1.70 by County Board of
Commissiners
The county commissioners re
viewed and tentatively approved
the general county budget and
several departmental budgets at
their regular monthly meeting
here Monday and voted that the
county tax rate remain at $1.70
on the $100 valuation for the fis
cal year ending June 30, 1956. The
rate has remained unchanged for
the past 10 years.
Both thv budget and the tax
rate are subject to review and
approval of the Local Govern
ment Commission at Raleigh, but
this is customarily a mere for
mality.
Departmental budgets tenta
tively approved included: divis
ion of forestry, $3,390; district
health department, $9,852.94; wel
fare department old age assist
ance, $6,840; aid to permanently
disabled, $3,127; aid to dependent
Children, -$1,816.50; aid to blind,
$1,150; county farm and home
agents department, county’s share
$7,465.94.
The tax rate is set on the basis
of 10 cents for general county
fund; 15 cents for poor fund; 10
cents for health fund; .075 for the
county's share of farm and home
demonstration agents salaries;
.055 for fire protection; .035 for
old age assistance; .01 for aid to
dependent children; .025 for aid
to P. T. D. fund; .36 for current
school expense; .09 for school
capital outlay; and .70 for debt
service fund.
Changes were made in three
categories and one category, re
valuation, was dropped. For the
present fiscal year .08 was allot
ted for revaluation, a project
which has been completed. Rate
for aid to dependent children was
reduced from a levy of .02 to .01;
was reduced for P. T. D. Fund
i from .035 to .025; and was raised
| from .60 to .70 for debt service
I fund.
i Estimated property valuation
| is $11,000,000, $500,000 increase
: over preceding budget estimate,
and the amount of tax levy is list
ed as $187,000, as against $178,
000 for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1955. Total budget re
quirements are listed in the esti
mate at $268,226.90, as compared
with $271,381.56 for the current
fiscal year, while estimated re
venue other than the tax levy is
put at $118,646.90, leaving $149,
580 tax levy needed to balance the
budget. For the current fiscal
year this latter figure is $142,800.
The estimated amount of uncol
lectible taxes and discounts is
listed at $37,420, same as for the
current year, and bringing the
See~BUDGETTPage~5
-®
Budget Committee
Named by Council
Councilmen E. D. Keel, Ralph
t Hunter and J. D. Mallory were
: appointed a committee to work
1 on the town budget for the next
fiscal year, at the meeting of the
, Town Council here (Monday night.
, Councilmen W. C. Hall and
| Keel were appointed to the Fire
, man’s Relief Fund committee.
Attorhey W. L. Whitley whs re
, elected for another term as town
attorney.
The only other action taken at
3 the session was the appointment
J of E. D. Keel as mayor pro tem
3 by Mayor A. J. Riddle who pre
j sided over the regular monthly
. session.
Methodist School
Will Open Monday
The Plymouth Methodist
Church i&ill hold/ a Vacation
Church School next week. The
school begins on Monday morning
at 9:00 o’clock and runs until
noon. This schedule will be fol
lowed throughout the week. The
set-up of the school provides for
lessons, activity, music, recrea
tion, audio-visual program and
worship.
The plan culminates in a family
picnic on the church grounds on
Saturday at noon and in a com
mencement or sharing service on
Sunday night.
The general theme for the
school is “Growing as Christians.”
The school is for children who
have passed their fourth birthday
and up to high school age. Some
twenty-five adult workers are
scheduled to take part in the
school. Mrs. Prances Sessoms is
the director.