s^n^srsssiiunns-SHissa-i
T’own
opics
Mr .and Mrs. M. J. Bowen and
son, Johnny, of Manila, P. I., ar
rived here last week for their tri
ennial vacation with relatives and
friends in their native section. They
are living at the home of Mr. Bow
en’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. George
W. Bowen, on Jefferson Street. Mr.
Bowen has been employed since
shortly after the end of the war by
the Manila Electric Company, an
American corporation, and he gets
a six-month vacation in the States
every three years.
A2/c Robert H. Gurganus, jr.,
m is spending several weeks here
with his parents after returning
from more than a year with the
Air Force Far East Command. He
was stationed in Korea for about
a year and at the conclusion of his
leave will report for duty at Lare
do, Texas.
Dr. A. L. Whitehurst was host to
and presided over a meeting of
the North Carolina Chiropractice
Research Society at his office Sun
day at 2 p. m. There were 13 doc
tors from Eastern Carolina towns
in attendance. Addresses were
made by Dr. G. O. James, of Dunn,
and Dr. E. H. Oakley, of Farmville.
The Beacon hereby tenders its
most abject apologies to little Miss
Mary Elizabeth Dinkins, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Dinkins. She
was in the picture printed last
week showing members of Mrs. B.
G. Campbell’s kindergarten class
at a Halloween party, but in some
manner her name was unintention
ally left out in identifying those in
the photo. Mary Elizabeth was
third from the right in the front
row, and the Beacon is sincerely
sorry that her feelings were hurt
because her name was omitted.
* -
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Allen, jr.,
were among a number of business
and professional persons from
North Carolina and Virginia who
were guests last Saturday of the
National Bank of Commerce, Nor
folk, Va., at a luncheon at Norfolk
Yacht and Country Club and at the
ninth annual Oyster Bowl football
game at Foreman Field, Norfolk,
between North and South Carolina
University elevens. Mr. Allen, who
holds a position with Branch Bank
ing & Trust Company here, re
ports an enjoyable day.
Miss Harriet Linnie Keyes, of
Plymouth, is one of 176 Duke Uni
versity Women’s College students
who have been pledged by the 13
national social sororities at Duke.
Miss Keyes is a pledge of Alpha
Phi, according to a recent release
from the Duke University Bureau
of Public Information. She is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Fred
Keyes, of 29 Golf Road.
-®
Needy F amilies T o
Receive Aid From
Commodities Here
^ Commissioners Approve Ap
plication for Aid Through
Surplus Food Commodi
fies Government Program
Needy families in Washington
County stand to get help in the
way of food through the Surplus
Food Commodities program, it was
learned this week.
Mrs. Ursula Spruill, county sup
erintendent of welfare, appeared
before the county commissioners
^ Monday and stated that she had
-Jr been informed by J. P. Davis, of
Raleigh, agent in charge of surplus
commodities with the government
program, that since Washington
County has been listed for Hurri
cane Disaster Aid it will be en
titled to receive certain commodi
ties such as flour, dry beans, oleo
margarine and cheese.
Under the plan, each member of
the welfare board will act as chair
man in his respective community,
it was explained, and the chairman
will ask for four volunteers to
serve on a local board which will
decide on eligibility of persons ap
plying for commodities.
The commissioners voted in fa
vor of making the proper applica
tion to the Agriculture Department
in order to set the program in
motion here. Storage and refrigera
tion will have to be provided, it
was pointed out.
Details of the prgram are ex
pected to be forthcoming soon.
Creswell Homemakers Hold
Regular Meeting Thursday
Old and new business was trans
acted at the regular meeting of
the Creswell chapter, Future Home
makers of America, held Thursday
The meeting was called to order
by the vice president, Corinne Dav
enport. The secretary, Betty Jo
Williams, called the roll.
All girls who are working toward
a degree were asked to make every
effort to complete requirements.
The president, Barbara Daven
port, asked all girls to work for
the success of a Stanley party
which is scheduled for November
14, and to invite mothers to the
party.
The Roanoke Beacon
****** and Washington County News ******
VOLUME LXVI_NUMBER 45 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, November 10, 1955
A home newspaper dedicated ~
to the service of Washington
County and its 13,MO people.
ESTABLISHED 1889
1 OFFICERS OF PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL BAND
Officers of the Plymouth HiglT School Band for the current
school year are pictured above as follows: Front row, left to right:
Lynn Magee, president; Linda Lipscombe, vice president; Nancy
Jackson, reporter. Back row: Ronnie Matheny, secretary and treas
urer; Steve Hopkins, reporter.—Staff photo.
Street Paving Topic
At Council Meeting
i;.
j Air Observers
) Alert Sunday
Dr. A. L. Whitehurst and
Jesse Rawls, supervisors respec
tively of the Plymouth and Roper
Ground Observer Corps posts,
report a successful alert last Sun
day.
There were 19 volunteer ob
servers participating at Plym
outh and 29 at Roper, with 19
calls turned in by the Plymouth
observers and 15 at Roper.
Board Here Lists
Five Delinquents
Selective Service Board No. 95
here lists five men as delinquent,
with a sixth having delinquent
charges removed when it was
shown that he had not been receiv
ing his mail through no fault of his
own.
The latter was listed as Gurtha
R. Barrow, who had failed to re
turn his questionnaire.
The five registrants listed on
the delinquent sheet had either
failed to report for examination,
for pre-induction, or to return ques
tionnaire.
They are.
Henry Edward Downing, failure
to report for examination;
Eugene Baker, failure to report
for pre-induction;
Ira Wayne Nobles, failure to re
port for pre-induction;
Linwood Earl Dail, failure to re
turn questionnaire;
Roger Edward Clifton, failure to
return questionnaire.
Entrance Walkways Poured
Monday at Local Hospital
Cement walkways leading from
the parking area to the front en
trances, white and colored, at
Washington County Hospital were
poured Monday of this week.
Patrons were still using the
emergency entrance at the rear of
the hospital Wednesday but the
walkways were expected to be suf
ficiently hardened to allow use
Thursday.
Projects Probably Will Not
Be Started Until Some
time Next Year; Other
Matters Considered
Members of the Plymouth City
Council had a wide variety of sub
jects for discussion at their regu
lar meeting Monday night, includ
ing street surfacing, truck bids,
traffic control and Christmas lights
on the streets here. Mayor A. J.
Riddle presided, and all members
of the council were present: E. D.
Keel and W. C. Hall, first ward;
J. B. Latham and Ralph Hunter,
second ward; J. B. Holliday and J.
D. Mallory, third ward.
Mayor Riddle reported that the
State Highway Commission was to
have an engineer here Wednesday
to go over the contract for sur
facing a number of streets. He also
said it was doubtful that the work
could now be done before cold
weather, as the highway commis
sion was holding up the projects
until an asphalt plant was located
nearer to Plymouth than at pres
ent. The mayor said he understood
a plant was to be located at Wil
liamston within the next few
months, and it is probable the work
will be undertaken next spring.
Councilman Holliday expressed
concern that the work had been
delayed so much but was informed
town authorities had not been able
to get the commission to act ear
lier. It was also explained that the
surfacing can be done much cheap
er by the state forces, which means
more streets will be surfaced, than
would be the case if a private con
tractor was secured.
On motion of Councilman Hunt
er, a three-way traffic signal is to
be purchased and installed at the
intersection of Washington and
Water Streets, in front of the city
market building. Stop signs are
also to be erected at the Water
and Jefferson and Water and
Adams Street intersections.
Newman Allen asked the council
to consider relieving him of taxes
on some swampland located back of
the “Sand Hill” along Welch’s
'Creek. He said it had just been
determined that this property was
located inside the city limits, and
he contended it had no potential
value as part of the town. He was
informed the council had no power
See COUNCIL, Page 8
Harvest of Soybeans,
Peanuts Progressing
It is believed that Washington
County tobacco farmers have al
ready marketed practically all of
the 1955 crop. The smaller markets
are closing down this week, with
the large markets such as Green
ville and Wilson to remain open
awhile longer to take care of the
remainder of the crop now in the
farmers’ hands.
Meanwhile, county farmers were
busy harvesting and marketing pea
nuts and soybeans. The weather
has been favorable and pickers and
combines were busy generally over
the section this week.
However, it is thought that some
farmers arc not moving their crops
immediately to market. Manager
E. J. Broughton of Farmers Cotton
and Peanut Company here said
Wednesday afternoon that deliver
ies of peanuts to the plant this
week have been “rather poor.”
Mr. Broughton said receipts have
varied quite a bit as to quality,
prices ranging from $10.92 per hun
| dredweight to $14.40.
Respected County
Official Passes;
Buried This Week
-f -
Luther L. Basnight, 70, Dies
At Washington County
Hospital Following Long
Illness
Deputy Sheriff Luther L. Bas
night, 70, of Plymouth, died at
Washington County Hospital Sun
day at 5:30 p. m. after an illness
of six weeks. Mr. Basnight had
been confined for a month at his
home before being transferred to
the hospital two weeks ago.
He was a native of the county,
born February 4, 1885, son of the
late Joseph B. and Nancy Oliver
Basnight of this county. He had
made his home at Plymouth for 30
years, moving here from Creswell.
Mr. Basnight served for many
years as chief ABC officer and as
deputy sheriff here.
Prior to that time he was for
many years superintendent of the
old county home farm here, which
was discontinued by the county
some years ago.
Mr. Basnight was well-known
throughout the county and was held
in high esteem. The floral offer
ings at the funeral were beautiful
and profuse.
He was an unusually active man
for his years and was busy with his
duties until taken ill six weeks ago.
Mr. Basnight was first mar
ried to Miss Carmelita Barnes in
January 1902 and she died August
9, 1952. On December 11, 1953, he
was married to Mrs. Hilda Gurgan
us, of Plymouth, who survives.
Other survivors include four
daughters, Mrs. Ray Spruill and
Mrs. Paul E. Sawyer, both of Nor
folk, Va., Mrs. Tom Freeman and
Miss Evelyn Basnight, both of
Plymouth; five sons, M. L. Bas
night, of Columbia, Eugene Bas
night, of Roper, Paul, Calvin and
Ralph Basnight, all of Plymouth;
a brother, J. W. Basnight, of St.
Brides, Va.; 30 grandchildren and
23-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held from
First Christian Church, Plymouth,
of which he was a member. Tues
day at 3 p. m. His'pastpr, -
C. N. Barnette, officiated. Burial
was in Windley Cemetery. The re
mains were left at Horner’s Fune
ral Home until one hour prior to
the service
Distillers Are Hit
Hard Blow During
Last Month Here
i -»
Six Stills Seized by Raiding
Officers Much Equipment
Confiscated, Several Men
Apprenhended
Six stills, a quantity of mash,
whiskey and sundry equipment
were confiscated and several per
sons were apprenhended in raids
conducted by Chief ABC Officer
Robert Sawyer, of Roper, other
county and ATU officers during
October.
A detailed report submitted by
Sawyer to the ABC board shows
that 2,800 gallons of mash were
confiscated, along with 11 Vi gal
lons of whiskey, nine worms, 11
coolers, 45 barrels and the six
stills.
Assisting in one or more of the
raids were W. C. Styons, W. S.
Ainsley, Deputy Sheriff Peele,
John Combs and ATU officers.
October 24 in Federal Court
Charlie E. Hassell was convicted
and given 12 months term, and
West Swain and Alvin Clagon were
fined $300 each for bootlegging;
Roosevelt Downing was fined $150
and his 1955 truck was ordered
confiscated.
Wilst Chesson having died, his
ease was dismissed.
On October 26 in Federal Court
Willie Bishop and Andrew Nor
man received 12-month sentences
each. Robert L. Green, caught at
a still the same day, was given
a hearing and bond was set at $300.
Earl Webb, indicted on circumstan
tial evidence, is also awaiting trial.
This was the strongest crack
down on the illicit whiskey busi
ness in this county in quite some
time.
-*
Former Local Pasior
Conducting Seminars
The Rev. D. L. Fouts, former
pastor of Plymouth Methodist
Church who is now serving as pas
tor of First Methodist Church,
Mount Olive, is conducting semi
nars on the circuit there this week,
according to an announcement
from the Rev. Paul Maness, circuit
pastor.
The first of the seminars was
held at Rones Chapel Church Tues
day night while Thursday night the
second will be held at Smith
Chapel Church.
No Program Here for Veterans’ Day
Friday of this week, which is
Veterans Day, will not be observed
here with any formal program, it
was learned from spokesmen for
the local veterans’ organizations.
Last year the first Veterans Day
observance (newly changed from
Armistice Day) featured a brief
address by the Rev. E. M. Spruill,
a parade of veterans units led by
the Plymouth High School band
Education Board
Passes on Minor
Matters Monday
Authorizes Use of Addition
At Plymouth Elementary
School; Approves Con
tract; Grants Easement
At its meeting here Monday of
this week the Washington County
Board of Education authorized that
the new addition to the Plymouth
Elementary School be occupied at
once. Except fr the installation ol
sinks and a few other minor jobs
the building has been completed
The contract of Mrs. Fannie A
Mills to teach in the elementary
department of the Creswell School
during the 1955-56 school term was
approved.
The board also approved the
granting of an easement conveying
to the Virginia Electric and Powei
Company the necessary right-of
way for an electric line proposec
to serve the athletic field at the
Washington County Union School
Roper.
J. W. Norman and Mrs. K. S
Trowbridge, of Plymouth, were
designated as delegates to the State
School Board Association meeting
at Chapel Hill on Wednesday oi
next week.
All members of the board were
present for the meeting as fol
lows:
L. E. Hassell, sr., of Roper, chair
man; J. W. Norman and Mrs. K. S
Trowbridge, Plymouth; P. B. Bel
->nge, Creswell; ard J. W. Swain
Roper.
Plan To Observe
Book Week Here
The Washington County Public
Library will feature special dis
plays during National Book Weel
which will be observed next week
it is announced. The event will be
observed throughout the nation.
Regular patrons and those wh<
do not frequent the library arc
urged to visit the library especially
during Book Week. The librarian
Mrs. C. E. Ayers, will gladly ex
plain the services the library car
render.
Also, those who are not habitua
readers are invited to register, take
out a book, and see how mucl
pleasure reading will give.
“Become acquainted with youi
library,” it is urged.
. " ■ —® —
Circulation Figures for New
Bookmobile Runs Released
Figures for the regular bookmo
bile runs in this county last weelc
were released today by Mrs. Eu
genia Babylon, director of the Pet
tigrew Library Region.
The circulation for the colored
totaled 634 for the three days, Mon
day, Tuesday and Thursday. Tues
day was high with 373, while Mon
day showed 130 and Thursday 131
and a barbecue dinner at the vet
erans building. However, partici
pation by veterans themselves was
said to be disappointing and no
formal program has been arranged
for Friday.
Veterans Day is a legal holiday,
having been changed from Armis
tice Day and so declared by the
83rd Congress on request of the
American Legion and with the sup
port of other veterans organiza
tions.
The holiday will be observed by
federal, state and county offices,
the banks and the post offices.
There will be no rural and city
mail deliveries but mail will be
received and dispatched and put
into lock boxes at the post offices
as usual.
Record Crowd Here
For Special Service
I
-1- ▼
Largest Homecoming Crowd
In History of First Christ
ian Church Here Sunday;
Ross Allen Speaks
The largest homecoming crowd
in the history of the church was
here Sunday for the morning wor
ship service in First Chirstian
Church and remained for the me
morial service and cornerstone lay
ing at the new church plant on
East Main Street in the afternoon.
The sermon at the homecoming
service held in the church on the
corner of Main and Washington
Streets Sunday morning was de
livered by the pastor, the Rev. C.
N. Barnette to a capacity audience.
A picnic lunch was served in the
Social Hall of the new plant at
12:30 o’clock. At 2:15 p. m. a pro
gram of music preceded the me
morial service and cornerstone
rites. After a hymn and the invo
cation, the Rev. Mr. Barnette in
troduced Ross J. Allen, of Wilson,
secretary of the North Carolina
Missionary Society, who spoke on
the significance of cornerstones.
Following the message the choir
rendered special music while the
opportunity was extended to any
one in the audience so desiring to
make memorial gifts at that time.
Many responded.
The audience was then dismissed
and gathered outside the building
far the cornerstone laying. The ses
•; ion .used v.'.-n prayer and tl j.
lingi »g of the* doxology.
The new church plant, a hand
some sprawling brick structure, is
rapidly taking shape. When com
pleted it probably will be valued
at more than $250,000.
Many ministers of the town and
section, former pastors of the
church, former members and
friends were in the huge crowd
which attended the Sunday serv
ices.
Among the visitors were some
who had not returned to Plymouth
in 40 years, it was said, and other
states represented included Virgin
ia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
Georgia and possibly others. Some
were present from as far away as
The Philippines.
Garden Club ai Rocky
Mount Slates Program
Local Garden Club devotees will
be interested to know that the
Rocky Mount Garden Club will
have its annual program on
“Christmas Decorations” at the
Ricks Hotel on Friday morning,
November 18, from 10 to 12
o’clock. Admission charge for
guests will be 75 cents, it was said.
Mrs. R. 0. Caviness, of Raleigh,
will have charge of this program.
She will bring many decorations to
show and will make others as she
lectures.
This meeting is open to all who
are interested.
LEAVES FOR EUROPE
f
2nd Lt. David T. Read, jr., left
last Saturday for Manhattan
Beach, N. Y., for an overseas as
signment in Europe. Unless his
orders are changed, he expected
to go to an Air Force base at
Dreaux, France, some 55 miles
southwest of Paris, where he will
be a supply officer. David, who
graduated at East Carolina Col
lege, Greenville, last November,
and was commissioned in the Air
Force Reserve, was called into
active service last April. Since
then he has been stationed in
Texas and !■' r attended the Air
Force u*> ,y sci -ol at Francis E.
Warre<* AFB at Cheyenne, Wyo.,
for 14 weeks. He was home with
his parents here for three weeks
before leaving for his overseas
assignment last Saturday.
Slale Roper FHA
Show Next Week
Two presentations of a Tom
Thumb Wedding sponsored by the
Future Homemakers of Roper High
School are slated for next week,
it is announced.
The event is scheduled for Thurs
day at 2 p. m. and Friday at 8 p. m.
in the high school auditorium.
The cast of characters:
Bride, Linda Leary; Groom,
Steve Itawles; Maid of Honor, Va
lerie Ashbell; Best Man, Boone
Chesson; Preacher, Tom Hood; Fa
ther of the Bride, Johnny Mizell;
Flower Girls, Daphne Jean Hud
son, Lucille Phelps; Ringbearers,
Lucille and Ronnie Hassell; Train
bearer, Steve Leary; Bridesmaids,
Sharon Swain, Donna Pierce, Nellie
Gail Furlough, Mary Edna Dawson,
Mary Gardner, Ester Marie Phelps,
Linda Tess; Ushers, Fred Daven
port, jr., Walter Waters, Sherman
Lowe, Phillip Davis, Neil Sawyer,
Wayne Rose, Jerry Styons; Soloist,
Yvonne Wallace.
Everyone is invited to attend.
Admission will be 25 and 50 cents.
MEMBERS OF "THE PANTHER" STAFF AT PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
Members of the staff of “The Panther,” Plymouth High School student newspaper, for the cur
rent school year are pictured above. They are, left to right: Nancy Jackson, assistant editor and busi
ness manager; Mike Estep, sports editor; Betty Davenport, society editor; Marguerite Latham, staff
typist; Mable Hardison, news editor; Gail Lewis, staff typist; Jessie Harrison, editor in chief; Betsy Barn
hill, art editor; Lynn Magee, humor editor; Betty Ann Burnham, business manager; Janice Johnson,
assistant feature editor; Gail Gaylord, assistant news editor; Carol June Windom, feature editor. Not
present when the photo was made were Billy Harden, assistant sports editor, and Mrs. Margie Lucas,
faculty sponsor. The first issue of “The Panthers” is due to be distributed next week.—Staff photo.
Commissioners in
Routine Meeting
Here on Monday
Request Reports From Coun
ty Hospital; Surplus Com
modities Will Be Made
Available Here
Washington County Hospital will
be asked to provide the board of
county commissioners with a fin
. ncial report of the operation of
the hospital during this year as
well as a summary report of the
financial condition from the insti
tution’s beginning through Decem
ber 31 of this year.
The commissioners voted Mon
day at the regular monthly session
to make request that the board be
furnished the two reports by the
first Monday in January.
Other matters taken up at the
session included naming of two
trustees on the hospital board, rou
tine reports and several road pe
titions.
Leroy Ange, of Plymouth, was
named to the hospital board of
trustees for a five-year term to be
gin December 1 and expire No
vember 30, 1960, replacing Mrs.
Frances M. Darden, of Plymouth,
whose term expired this month and
who did not seek reappointment.
A. It. Latham, of Plymouth, whose
term on the board also expires
this month, was reappointed for a
term of five years, also to expire
November 30, 1960.
Mrs. Ursula Spruill, county su
perintendent of public welfare, ap
peared before the board and stated
that she had been informed by
J. P. Davis, of Raleigh, agent in
charge of surplus commodities gov
ernment program, that this county
was listed for Hurricane Disaster
aid and would be entitled to re
ceive certain commodities. The
board agreed for application to be
made for such through the proper
channels.
E. J. Spruill, county tax collector
and auditor, reported $18,358.93
collected in his office during Oc
tober.
The auditor was authorized to
have the offices in the courthouse
finished painting.
Mrs. Frances M. Darden, home
agent, read her report c f work done
during the month ot October.
The 'ollowing road petitions were
approved to be forwarded to the
highway department:
1. Road in Plymouth Township
running from old Roper Road to
US 64 and NC 32 and known as
Roxie Reese Road;
2. Road in Plymouth Township
running from NC 32 about three
miles south of city limits of Plym
outh and known as old County
Road;
3. Road in Plymouth Township
running from NC 32 about \lk
miles south of Plymouth to circle
in front of Willie Sitterson’s store
on NC32;
4. Road in Plymouth Township
running from back of Sidney
Ward’s farm to Welch’s Creek to
J. B. Bland’s house;
5. Road in Scuppernng Town
ship running to Spruill’s Mill, a
length of one-quarter mile.
The clerk, J. Robert Campbell,
was instructed to ask the highway
department to continue to main
tain the old section of dirt road
near Chapel Hill schoolhouse
-■-$
Hallowe'en Event
Membership Drive
Encouraging Here
— ♦
Plymouth Parent - Teacher
Association Hear Reports
At Meeting Tuesday; 491
New Members
— i 4
The annual Hallowe’en carnival,
held here recently under Parent
Teacher Association sponsorship,
cleared $484.79 for the organiza
tion.
A report of the event, given at
the meeting of the PTA here Tues
day of this week, showed that the
turkey dinner in the school lunch
room netted $131.42, while the car
nival itself showed a profit of
$353.37. A total of 142 plates was
served in the lunchroom, with Miss
Blanche Davis lending valuable as
sistance. Miss Davis is supervisor
of the lunchroom.
Also, a very encouraging report
by the membership chairman, Mrs.
W. E. Manning, was heard at the
meeting. Mrs. Manning said 491
new members of the organization
have been secured, with dues
amounting to $245.50.
Three rooms at school tied for
the $5 prize offered in the member
ship campaign. These were Mrs.
Katherine Harrison’s third grade
section, Miss Nellie Tarkenton’s
fourth and fifth grade sections
and Mrs. C. A. Hough’s eighth
grade section.
Mrs. Louise McGowan addressed
the meeting on her trip to Europe.
A