North Carolina Newspapers

Only 8 More Shopping Days Until Christmas-Try Your Home-Town Merchants First for Better Buys own opics S/Sgt. and Mrs. H. B. Johnson, jr., and baby, of Rapid City, S. D., arrived In Plymouth Tuesday to spend the holidays with his par ents, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Johnson. Sgt. Johnson has been in the U. S. Army for over seven years, three years of which were spent in Eng land. He is in photography and has been stationed in South Da kota for one year. Boys taking their first cruise aboard the Sea Explorer Ship Albe marle last Sunday were Eddie Daw ley, Larry Hopkins, Golden Simp son, A1 Cox, Morgan Williams, Henry Bragg, Melvin Stalls and Darrell Kelly. Others aboard were Scouts Mack Graham, Phil Ange, Larry Watson, Frank Dew, Billy Waters, Howard Walker, Bobby Lovic, Harvie Hill and Buddy Har rison, Skipper Alban Papineau and Jerry Ashwill and Elliott Ashwill, of Williamston. In a recent letter to The Beacon, “Mack” G. Waters, head of the M. G. Waters Lumber Company firm in Washington, told of his in terest in a recent article concerning demolition of the old Christian Church building in Plymouth. Ask ing for some additional copies of the paper, Mr. Waters wrote “I was living there at the time it was built and did quite a bit of work as a kid around the building while they were doing the work and later attended church and Sunday School there for several years before moving away.” Several of the old er members of the church have said they very pleasantly remem fber Mr. Waters, who was a fre quent visitor in Plymouth up to a few years ago when his health be gan to fail. Needy Get $1,400 In Commodity Aid About 7,000 pounds of surplus commodities valued at nearly $1, 400 were distributed Tuesday of this week to 68 families in this county. The families had been certified as in need by local screening com mittees. The food, consisting of flour, cornmeal, butter, cheese, drier beans ried milk, lard and rice, was shipped from Raleigh by truck and unloaded Monday at the agriculture building. The surplus commodity aid is made available through the State Department of Agriculture for re lief of families hard hit by hurri cane damage. The job of distributing the food items was done by agricultural workers at the building, assisted by Mitchiner Banks and his FFA boys from Roper. Mrs. Ursula Spruill, county wel fare superintendent, said that ap plications are coming in every day and that the delivery of commodi W ties to the county scheduled for January is expected to be much heavier than the one this week. Stocking Fund Drive Over Halfway Mark The drive for money contribu tions to the annual Washington County Empty Stocking Fund was well past the halfway mark Wed to, nesday of this week, according to James H. Ward, of Plymouth, chair man of the Rotary-sponsored proj ect. , Money already reported approxi mates $1,500, the chairman said, with other reports to be received. It is believed that more than $2,000 will be needed to take care of all needs, besides donations of cloth ing, food and toys. The job of collecting cartons to be used in the packaging of gifts to the needy has been successfully completed, Mr. Ward said. This - work was done by the Boy Scouts under supervision of Foster Per +% kins, the boys making regular ‘ rounds of the stores to collect empty boxes. An ample quantity is now stored to be used in packag ing, it was said. Mr. Ward express ed his thanks to the merchants and to Mr. Perkins and the scouts for doing a good job. Merchants who plan to donate toys to the fund should note that a representative of the Stocking Fund committee will call either Friday or Saturday of this week to pick up the toys, Mr. Ward stated. Clothing items and shoes have been donated by individuals while the school lunchrooms and indivi duals have donated items of food. - if there are persons who would like to donate usable clothing, food or toys and desire that these arti cles be picked up they should con tact Mr. Ward and arrangements for pick-up service will be made. It is urged that all area finance committees get their final report in to the finance chairman, Carl L. Bailey, sr., of Plymouth, not later than Saturday of this week. This is urgent, it was emphasized. Actual work of packaging the ( items for distribution will begin Tuesday morning of next week in the auditorium of the county agri culture building here, the chairman said. This task will be done by volunteer workers under the super vision of Mrs. Ursula Spruill, coun ty welfare department superintend ent. Delivery is scheduled to begin next Tuesday, also. Deliveries are slated to be made that day in Plym outh Township, with deliveries in Lees Mill Township slated Wednes day morning and in Skinnersville and Scuppernong Townships Wed nesday afternoon. The various high school princi pals are arranging for high school students to assist in making de liveries of the gifts to the needy families, the chairman stated. Pick up trucks will be used for the pur pose, it was said. J. . I | Cop j for Next B<*acou | j Must Be in Saturday j In order to give employees a longer holiday The Beacon’s Christmas issue will be printed Tuesday of next week. The office will be closed until the following Tuesday morning, December 27. Since the paper is to be printed early, it will be necessary for all copy to be in the office not lated than Saturday of this week. Correspondents are requested to please get their conv in as soon as possible, preferably by Frid The cooperation of advertisers and correspondents will be great ly appreciated. Church notices and related items should be turn ed in just as soon as possible to insure publication. The Christmas issue, as usual, will carry the greetings of our advertisers to their patrons. For a cheery message that will mean more than just a couple of days off from work, read these greet ings; they carry a sincere mes sage to all. Although members of The Bea con Staff will not report back to work after the holidays until Tuesday morning, December 27, every effort will be made to get the issue of that week out on time. However, there is a possi bility that it may be a bit late. If that should prove to be the case, the indulgence of our adver tisers and subscribers is asked. The Roanoke Beacon ****** and Washington County News ****** VOLUME LXVI_NUMBER 50 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, December 15, 1955 tSSBHHS A home urnfafer MImM to th« niriw •( WuM County and its 13,HO ,empU. ESTABLISHED 1S89 1 NATIVITY SCENE MOUNTED ON FRONT OF MARKET BUILDING HERE | I ■■ ■■■■■ i " ■ ■■ 11 ■" . One of the most striking items of Christmas decorations in this section is the Nativity scene pictured above, mounted on the front of the City Market Building at the foot of Washington Street. Flood-light ed at night, it has brought many favorable comments from those who have see nit. Figures in the scene were painted and cut out of heavy board by Jesse Cirter, while the mounting was prepared by city workmen under the supervision of Thomas F. Hopkins and Raymond Smith. The scene will provide a background for the community singing planned on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights of next week.—Staff photo. Time Is Extended For Making FHA Emergency Loans Authority for Making Pro duction and Economic Emergency Loans Now Through Next Year The local Farmers Home Admin istration office advised today that the authority for making Product ion Emergency loans to eligible ap plicants who suffered substantial damage and losses as a result of Hurricanes Connie, Diane and lone has been extended through Decem ber 31, 1956 in 38 northeastern North Carolina counties including Washington and Tyrrell. At the same time, authority for the' making oi iAonomic Emer gency Loans was also extended through December 31, 1956. The extension of authority for making Production Emergency loans and Economic loans opens up a new realm of credit for farmers who have suffered losses and are un able to obtain the necessary credit from private sources, according to W. Willis Bowen, county supervi sor also many more farmers will be eligible to receive needed cre dit and assistance offered through the Farmers Home Administration. Both types of loans, Production Emergency and Economic Emer gency, bear 3 per cent interest on See FHA LOANS, Page 8 Bloodmobile Goal Is 110 Pints Wednesday Bulb Snatching Reported Here Light bulbs from the holiday decorations which entwine the light poles on Water and Wash ington Streets have been remov ed by someone having no authori ty to do so. Police Chief P. W. Brown stated this week that about 40 bulbs were missing. If the prac tice continues, said the chief, town workmen will be forced to take down the Christmas deco rations on the two bus'ness streets. The chief asks that any one who sees bulbs being re moved report the matter to the police department. Native of County Buried on Sunday -♦ Charles M. Kelly, 82, husband of the late Neeoda G. Kelly, died Friday afternoon at 3:15 o’clock at the home of his daughter, Mrs. T. E. Gladson on Farmville Boule vard in Greenville. Mr. Kelly had been in declining health for sev eral years. Funeral services were held Sun day afternoon at 3:00 o’clock from the Christian Hope Church near Plymouth. Rev. Z. B. T. Cox, min ister of the Farmville Christian Church officiated, assisted by Rev. C. N. Barnette, pastor of the Christ ian Hope Church. Interment fol lowed in the Kelly family cemetery near the church. The Christian Hope Church choir rendered “Where We'll Never Grow Old,” "Abide With Me” and “Does Jesus Care?” accompanied by Mrs. Raymond Browning at the piano. For the postlude, the pianist selected “Face To Face.” Mr. Kelly was a retired farmer of Pitt and Washington Counties. He had been a member of the Christian Hope Church for more than sixty years. He was a native of Washington County. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Robert Briley, Winterville, Mrs. Harry Dixon, Farmville, Mrs. Thomas E. Gladson, Greenville, Mrs. Walter Jarvis, Maury; one son, Clarence 0. Kelly, Plymouth; two sisters, Mrs. Lena Gurganus, Farmville; Mrs. Alice Waters, Rocky Mount; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Need for Blood Great and Local Bank Leaders Hope To See Quota Surpassed On 20th Visit When the Red Cross’bloodmobile from Tidewater Regional Blood Center, Norfolk, Va., comes to Plymouth Wednesday of next week it will mark the 20th appearance in Washington County since inau guration of the blood program here December 15, 1950. In 19 viists to this county the bloodmobile has secured a total of 2,343 pints of blood from dori'''-?. A total of 306 pints was secure' on the previous three q'dV i. trips this year, including 113 pints on March 9, 82 pints June 22 and 111 pints September 28. The bloodmobile is sponsored here by the James E. Jethro post of the American Legion, Bosie Bateman post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and ladies auxiliaries of the two posts. The set-up, as usual, will be made at the veterans building, near the Washington County Hospital, and donor hours have been announced as 10:30 a. m. to 4:30 p. m. The Plymouth Woman's Club, Mrs. Charlie Robertson, president, will donate refreshments for blood donors. The same clerical help as usual will be furnished this time, it was stated. The Tidewater Blood Center is drastically short of blood, it has been pointed out, and local blood bank leaders are hoping that the quota of 110 pints will be sur passed. A $5 prize is being offered again to the home room at Plymouth High School or at Plymouth Color ed Elementary School which is credited with the greatest number of blood donors. Dr. R. Vernon Jeter, chairman of the blood program here, has point ed out that the greatest Christmas gift you can give is a pint of blood. A good response is anticipated next Wednesday. -® Riles Here Today For L. M. Mooney Lee M. Mooney, 58, of Wilson Street Extension, Plymouth, died at 5:15 p. m. Tuesday at a Washington hospital following a critical illness of several hours. Mr. Nooney was an employee of N. C. Pulp Company as mechanic in the maintenance department and had lived here since 1937. He was born July 27, 1897, near Asheville, son of the late John and Sarah Mooney. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was mar ried to the former Ethel Dellinger of Tennessee, who survives. Funeral services will be held from the home Thursday at 4 p. m. by the Rev. Robert L. Combs, min ister of Plymouth Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in Wind ley Cemtery. -- Shrine Club Here Will Elect Oiiicers Monday W. A. Roebuck, president of the Washington County Shrine Club, announces that election of new of ficers will be held at the meeting of the group Monday night. The meeting will be held at the Lodge Hall and is slated to begin at 8 o’clock. All members are urged to be present. _ Special Programs For Christmas at Various Churches Several Town and County Churches Announce Can tatas, Plays, Pageants, Special Programs Music Several churches of the town and county have announced special Christmas programs of one kind or another, including plays, pageants, cantatas, candlelight services, pan tomimes and special programs of music. Churches from which announce ments of special programs for the Yuletide season have been receiv ed include Ludford Memorial Bap tist Church, First Christian Ch\rch of Plymouth, Church of the Naza rene, Plymouth, Zion’s Chapel Church of Christ, Roper, Pentecos tal Holiness Church, Philippi Church of Christ, Plymouth Pres byterian Church, and Trinity Free Will Baptist Church near Pungo. The Ludford Memorial Baptist Church senior choir will present its annual Christmas cantata Sunday at 7:30 p. m., with Mrs. Roy T. Hopkins directing. Mrs. W. D. Wal ker will be at the organ. This year the choir has selected “Gloria in Excelsis” arranged from the music of Felix Mendelssohn, with text by Elsie Duncan Yale. Members of the choir are Mesdames W. H. Peele, J. E. Swain, R. E. Dunning, Ottis Davis, Ada Virginia Cahoon, Paul Spencer, Wells Rog ers, C. W. Burnham, Paul B. Nic kens, R. H. Lucas, jr., Miss Gail Harrison and Raymond Smith, Har vey Lucas, Paul Spencer, Phil Ange and Paul B. Nickens. Sunday evening at 7:30 o’clock the choir of First Christian Church, Plymouth, under the direction of Charles Hutchins will present a Christmas cantata, “The Music of Bethlehem,” by Fred B. Holton. The service will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the new Christ ' :an Church building on Ea^v Third Street. Everyone is cof ..aid < - vited. A Christmas program will be pre sented at the Plymouth Presbyter ian Church Tuesday of next week, beginning at 7 p. m. A pantomime of the first Christmas is planned under direction of Mesdames Rob ert Combs, R. Vernon Jeter and K. S. Trowbridge. After the pro gram a party is planned for the church members and their freinds. This will mark the first Christmas See PROGRAMS, Page 8 Tarkington Rites Held Last Friday Last rites were held Friday at 2 p. m. from Piney Grove Free Will B' ptist Church for Jimmie W. Tarkington, 58, of near Roper. Willie Twiddy, minister of the church, officiated, assisted by L. A. Ambrose. Burial was in the church cemetery. Mr. Tarkington died at 7:30 p. m. December 7 at his home. He was the son of the late Janies S. and Alethia Swain Tarkington of this county where he was born June 11, 1897. He spent his entire life in the county and was occupied in farming. Mr. Tarkington was a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church. He was married at Cres well April 7, 1918, to Miss Mary Ethel Dunbar, of near Roper, who survives. Other survivors include two daughters, Mrs. R. F. Abernathy, of Glen Allen, Va., and Mrs. Frank Spruill, of Edenton; four sons, Clarence W. Tarkington, James S. Tarkington and Thomas Nixon Tar kington, all of Roper, and William L. Tarkington, of Glen Allen, Va.; a brother, W. D. Tarkington, of Roper; a sister, Mrs. Maggie Mc Gowan, of Roper; and seven grand children. Two Finish Work At East Carolina " ■■ » Two Plymouth young men are among the 76 students who com pleted their work at East Caro lina College, Greenville, at the end of the fall quarter, Registrar Orval L. Phillips, has announced. Both will receive bachelor of science degrees, which at East Carolina is conferred upon those taking courses preparing them as teach ers. The two from here are Lee Vic tor Landing and Albert Louis Singleton. Landing is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. V. Landing and Singleton is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Singleton. As gradu ates, they will receive their diplo mas with their classmates at com mencement exercises next May. Cyanamid Firm Plans To Locate Alum Plant Here — ♦- 1 Designed to Serve Needs of Paper Induslry in Two States, According to An nouncement in New York -♦ American Cyanamid Company, already a major producer of alum, will immediately build a liquid alum plant in Plymouth, it was an nounced Monday by R. E. Sumner, general manager of the Industrial Chemicals Division. The plant will be of sufficient size to care for the current and expanding needs of the paper industry in Virginia and North Carolina, it was stated. According to Mr. Sumner, the building of the Plymouth plant was prompted by the rapid growth of the paper industry in these two states. The new plant will provide an additional and important link in Cyanamid’s alum-producing facili ties to serve the paper industry. Although the announcement from company headquarters at 30 Rocke feller Plaza, New York City, made no mention-of the specific location of the plant here, it was learned locally that it would be construct ed adjacent to the plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company about one mile west of Plymouth in Martin County. According to the local report, it will be built just across the highway back of the pulp company’s filter plant. At the present time, the North Carolina Pulp Company uses a large amount of liquid alum pro duced by the company and shipped here from Georgetown, S. C. It is understood the new plant will con tract for steam and possibly power from the pulp mill here, and the finished product used by the North Carolina Pulp Company will be pumped di^-ctly to the plant by pipeline. • .c new unit is u:so designed to serve other paper mills in North Carolina and Virginia. While neither the size nor cost of the plant to be built locally was mentioned in the announcement by Mr. Sumner, an official of the pulp company here said it was his understanding that not more than about 10 persons would be required to operate the new plant. American Cyanamid Company i produces large quantities of sulfur ic acid and operates bauxite mines in Arkansas and Georgia. These are the basic raw materials used in the production of alum. One of the na tion’s leading chemical companies, Cyanamid produces thousands of See CYANAMID, Page 5 County Cotton Farmers Favor Marketing Quotas County cotton farmers voted unanimously in favor of marketing quotas for the 1956 crop in the referendum held Tuesday of this week. Of 400 eligible voters in the county, 55 cast ballots. There Ivere no challenged votes. The county committee met at the agriculture building here Wednesday after noon to certify the vote. A total of 23 votes was cast at Creswell, 17 at Plymouth and 15 at Roper. School Closing Tuesday Noon The longest holiday during the school year will begin at 12:30 p. m. Tuesday of next week for some 3,500 school children in Washington County. Roy F. Lowry, county superin tendent, announced this week that all county schools will close at that time for a two-week Christmas recess. Regular classes will be resumed at all county schools on Monday, January 2. Seal Sale Stands At $877.90 Figure, Chairman Reports Response Termed Fairly Good But More Needed For Effective Control Pro gram; Six Deaths in 1954 The annual Washington County Christmas Seal Sale stood at $877.90 Wednesday morning, Mrs. Durand Keel, county chairman, re ported. Several hundred letter contain ed seals were mailed to county citizens November 16, Mrs. Keel said. The response has been fairly good, it was pointed out, but much more will be needed in order to in sure effective tuberculosis control work for the coming year. All pergon^Jh ving received let ters Wno . noi responded arc urgfed iflTtlg 3u. It is said that some 150,000 persons in America today have tuberculosis without knowing it. This brings the question to mind, just how many are there in this county who have the disease without knowing? The mobile chest x-ray unit that will visit the coun ty next March will give free x-rays to enable everyone to know the condition of his lungs. This pro gram is supported, as well as the many other research educational and remedial programs carried on, by funds from the seal sale. In 1954, the Washington County Health Department reports, there were 18 cases of tuberculosis in the county and six deaths were attributed to the disease. Community Festival Program Is Outlined The Plymouth Community Festi val groups were busy with last minute details this week in con nection with Santa’s annual visit Friday afternoon, the Christmas decorations contest, Holiday House, and the massed choirs and carol singing slated for Monday, Wednes day and Friday of next week. Santa’s visit will be sponsored Community Sing Program Monday, December 19—7 P. M. Master of Ceremonies Rev. P. B. Nickens Carol (3 verses) “The First Noel” Prayer. Rev. J. II. Canning Carol (3 verses) “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear'' Carol (3 verses) “0 Little Toum of Bethlehem" Solo: “The Holy City” Charles Hutchins Beulah Cratch, Pianist Song “White Christmas" Song .“Jingle Bells" Wednesday, December 21—7 P. M. Master of Ceremonies Rev. E. M. Spruill Carol (2 verses) “O Come All Ye Faithful” Prayer.Rev. R. L. Combs Carol (3 verses) “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” Carol (3 verses) “Angels From the Realms of Glory” Solo, “Voices of the Sky" Myrtle Gray Jackson Shep Brinkley, Pianist Carol (3 verses) “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen” Carol (3 verses) - “Deck the Halls” Friday, December 23—7 P. M. Master of Ceremonies Rev. C. N. Barnette Carol (3 verses) “Joy To the World” Prayer Rev. P. B. Nickens Carol (3 verses) “Away in a Manger” Carol (3 verses) “We Three Kings of Orient Are” Solo, “O Holy Night” Mrs. Darrel Cahoon Mrs. W. D. Walker, Pianist Carol (3 verses).“Silent Night” Benediction*. Rev. R. L. Combs ■■■■■■■■■■•■■■■■■■■■■■■a«BBBaaaaaaaaaaBBaaaBaBaBBBBBBBaaBBBBBBBaBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBaBBBBaBBaBBaaaa' Special Sessions Of Commissioners Thursday,Monday Low Bid of Oak Ciiy Firm Approved for Electrical Work al New Health Cen ter; Talk Drainage The county commissioners ap proved a new bid for electrical work at the new Washington Coun ty Health Center, appointed tax listers in three townships, heard a report on proposed drainage work for this county and approved a road petition at two special meet ings held Thursday night of last week and Monday night of this week. Only two firms submitted bids for electrical work at the new health center here. A low bid of $2,800 by a Merritt firm had been approved here October 28 but was later rejected by the State Medi cal Care Commission .on the grounds that the firm—E. R. Ed wards and Son—was not licensed in this county. Bids were accordingly advertised for again. The low bid of $2,794.80 of J. S. Ayers of Oak City was ap proved by the board. The only other bid submitted was that of O’Neil Electric Company of Wash ington in the amount of $3,525. Tax listers for the January list ing period were named for three of the county’s four townships. The Plymouth Township list taker must be named later, probably between now an next Monday when the oath of office is scheduled to be ad ministered. W. W. White was named to the post in Skinnersville Township, Dewey S. Spruill in Scuppernong, and Wade S. Hardison in Lees Mill. At the meeting Monday night Henry Bragg of the Soil Conserva tion Service met with the board and discussed proposed drainage in the county. He estimated that 12 to 18 months will be required to do the work which must first be ap proved by the department of civil defense in order that federal funds can be secured. Mr. Bragg also esti mated the total cost at near $100, 000. The work would consist of snag ging, clearing and excavating and would entail considerable hauling, it is understood. Projects listed include Scuppernong River, Mall Creek, Deep Creek, Chapel Swamp, Mackeys Creek, Little Creek and extensions of Conaby Creek and Mill Pond. Cost to the county, designated as labor, possibly would amount to $7,500, it was said. The board approved a petition to improve the Otis Chesson road and the petition will be forwarded to the highway department. 'OL ,-ws by Plymouth business men. A pa rade in his honor is scheduled for 3 p. m. Friday of this week and will feature the bands from Plym outh High School and Washington County Union School, Roper, as well as a special contingent of ma jorettes from Washington. Thos. F. Hopkins will be master of ceremonies and Santa will be stationed in front of the City Mar ket Building where he will receive letters from the kiddies and give out free candy. “Holiday House” will be spon sored Sunday by the Plymouth Garden Club and will be held at the home of Mrs. Louise McGowan on Main Street between the hours of 3 and 6 p. m. The club will be host for refreshments at which time a silver offering will be taken for the benefit of the club’s civic enterprises. To encourage home decorations and build community spirit, the Plymouth Garden Club is also of fering a $5 prize for the best deco rated doorway. Mrs. A. Lloyd Owens is chairman of this proj ect. The county schools, through the cooperation of principals and faculty members, are decorating the school lawns, also. A gesture of the planning com mittee is the nativity scene in front of the City Market Building. Mrs. Luther Nobles is chairman of this committee. Special thanks go to Atlas Plywood Corporation and to Jesse Carter who furnished the paintings. The courthouse lawn decorations are the undertaking of the Plym outh Junior Woman’s Club, Mrs. Borden Kornegay, president and project chairman. Distribution of programs and carols to be passed out on the street during the community sing See FESTIVAL, Page 8