T'onn
opies
Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Terry attend
ed the funeral in Goldsboro Tues
day afternoon of Mr. Terry’s bro
ther, W. D. Terry. Services were
held from Goldsboro Baptist
Church, with the pastor officiating,
and burial was in a Washington
cemetery. Mr. Terry died at a
Goldsboro hospital at 1 a. m. Mon
day after a week's illness. He
leaves a daughter, Mrs. Mildred
Jones, Kinston; two sons, Raymond
Terry, Thomasville, Ga., and W. D.
Terry, jr., Charleston, S. C.; and
five grandchildren.
Washington County will be host
to the Pamlico Soil Conservation
District Supervisors meting Thurs
day of this week. The meeting will
be held in Plymouth at the Agri
culture Building, the morning ses
sion to consist of a program there,
while in the afternoon a tour will
be made of Tidewater Research
Station.
Mrs. J. R. Campbell, chairman of
the Washington County Library
Board, announced today that the
board invites the citizens of the
county to attend '‘Open House” at
the new library Friday night of
next week between the hours of
7:30 and 9:30 p. m.
Dr. A. L. Whitehurst will leave
Friday for Durham where he will
attend the North Carolina Chiro
practic convention being held this
week-end. Dr. Whitehurst plans to
return to Plymouth on Sunday.
Among 11 students at East Car- •
olina College, Greenville, chosen {
for their outstanding records in
academic work to be initiated into ,
Kappa Delta Pi is Miss-Ann Lee
Mayo of Plymouth. The 11 were 1
initiated into the national honor
ary education fraternity at the an- 1
nual spring banquet of the organi
zation held last Wednesday at the ;
Greenville Woman’s Club. Dr. J. K.
Long, director of the department
of education at the college, was
received into the fraternity as an
honorary member. Dr. Long joined
the East Carolina staff in 1947.
Annual Flower Show of
Garden Club Here Today
The annual Spring Flower Show,
sponsored by the Plymouth Gar
den Club, is being held at the Epis
copal Parish House here Thursday
of this week from noon until 9
p. m., it is announced.
Theme is “Flowers on Parade.”
The staging committee lists Mrs.
M. L. Nobles, Mrs. L. M. Cushing
and Miss Ida Davis.
There will be no charge for the
event but a silver offering will be
taken.
Exhibits will be in ten classes.
-•
Summary of Aclivily of
Police Department, April
A summary of activity for the
month of April by the Plymouth
Police Department shows that 17
warrants were sent to county re
corder’s court for the period.
Other acivity for the month: pub
licly drunk, 9; speeding, 8, fail
ure to dim headlights, 1; non-trans
parent materials in car window, 1;
worthless checks, 3; stop sign vio
lations, 4; public nuisance, 2; im
proper brakes, 1; courtesy calls,
12; red light violations, 3; acci- ,
dents investigated, 6; robbery re- j
ported, 1; robbery solved, 1; lights ]
out, 12; radio calls, 272. I
Chesson Rites To
Be HeldFriday
Funeral services for Edward O.
(Ed) Chesson, 88, of near Plym
outh, will be held Friday after
noon at 3:30 o’clock from the home.
Officiating will be the Rev. C. N.
Barnette and the Rev. Paul B.
Nickens. Burial will be in Windley
Cemetery.
Mr. Chesson died at 9:30 a. m.
Wednesday at Washington County
Hospital after an illness of two
months. He had been in declining
health for three years.
He was a native and lifelong resi
dent of this county, born May 22,
1807, son of the late Edward an!
Nancy Leary Chesson. His wife
was the late Florence Oliver Ches
son.
Mr. Chesson was a retired farm
er and a member of First Christian
Church here. He leaves two daugh
ters, Mrs. Burton Ange of near
Plymouth and Mrs. Ben Ange of
Jamesville; a son, George Chesson
of Plymouth; and five grandchil
dren.
Farmers Can Get Gas Tax Refunds
T. Reynold Spruill, reporter for
the Washington County Farm Bu
reau, this week issued information
of importance to farmers relative
to the gasoline tax refund.
Mr. Spruill pointed out that the
gasoline tax refund law was passed
by Congress this year after a long
and determined effort by Farm
Burea to secure action in the in
terest of farmers.
The Internal Revenue Service
has approved forms and proced
ures relating to the refund of the
federal gas tax for gasoline used
on farms. These forms will be
available shortly after June 1 at
county agents’ offices, post offices,
and probably at local banks.
Form 2240, which will be used
for this purpose, is a double card
which is filled out in duplicate.
One copy is to be sent to the dis
trict office. One copy is to be re
tained by the farmer. Instructions
for the use of the form are ex
plained on the reverse side of the
rare!. The first refund will.be for
the period January 1 to June 30,
1956. In subsequent years the re
fund will be on a fiscal year basis
from July 1 to June 30.
The amount of the refund as
shown on the card is two cents per
gallon for each gallon used on the
Farm. If Congress enacts legisla
tion providing for an increase in
the federal gas tax to three cents
i gallon, the refund will be three
:ents for each gallon used on the
Farm.
}
The Roanoke Beacon
and Washington County News
★ ★★★★★
A home newspaper dedicated
to the serrice of Washington
County and its 13,OM people.
VOLUME LXVII—NUMBER 19
Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, May 10, 1956
ESTABLISHED 1809
M? M/ 1%T M mj ■ ■■rV| Here are the May Queen at Plymouth
PPPJ »J1m! IP P^PPPJ I • P I High School and her court of prin
V cesses. Shown third from left and
wearing crown is Marion Ragland, the queen. Others, left to right, are Carol June Windom, Lynda
Harrell, Grace Skeen, Nancy Jackson and Joan Asby. Nyal Womble and Charlotte Nunley were absent
when the photo was made. Miss Ragland was crowned by R. F. Lowry, superintendent of county
schools, in ceremonies on the school campus last Wednesday.—Staff photo.
Democrats of County
Meet Here Saturday
Bread Sale Set
Here Next Week
The Plymouth Junior Chamber
of Commerce will conduct a
bread sale here Thursday night
of next week in an effort to
make up the deficit in the Red
Cross drive and save the local
blood bank program, Dr. A.
L. Whitehurst announced. Dr.
Whitehurst is project chairman.
Others on the committee are
Foster Perkins, Robert L. Combs,
Billy Blackburn, Walton Swain
and Ralph Basnight. ’’’he to—n
will be divided into territories
and canvassed house-to-house,
beginning at 7 p. m., Whitehurst
stated.
County Precincts
Pick Committees;
Delegates Named
kittle Interest Evident at
Frecinct Meetings Last
Saturday; Few Democrats
In Attendance
Democratic precinct executive
■ommittees were set up in at least
ive of the six county precincts
ast Saturday morning, according
o reports reaching here. It could
lot be learned if a meeting was
leld at Wenona, but sessions were
leld at the other five polling
ilaces in accordance with the call
ssucu mat nccn uy van u. nauvj,
hairman of the county Democratic
xecutive committee.
Where meetings were held, five
aembers were elected to each of
he precinct committees, including
wo women; and, except in one
irecinct, one of the women was
lected vice chairman.
Interest was not too high in the
lootings, although attendance gen-;
rally was better than two years
go. So far as could be learned
’lymouth Precinct No. 2 had the [
argest gathering, with 11 Demo
rats in attendance. There were
even or eight at the No. 1 pre
inct meeting; and somewhere
round these numbers at other pre
incts from which reports were re
eived.
Delegates were supposed to be
lectcd from each precinct to at
end the county convention on
laturday of this week. Due to the!
mall attendance, however, most of
he precincts simply designated all
Jemocrats who wished to attend
See PRECINCTsTPagc~ 10
Will Name Delegates to Dis
trict and State Convention
Next Week; Also Choose
County Chairman
Washington County Democrats
will hold their biennial convention
in the county courthouse here Sat
urday morning at 11 o’clock, pur
suant to call issued last week by
Carl L. Bailey, chairman of the
county Democratic executive com
mittee. The county Democratic or
ganization will be perfected at the
convention, and delegates will be
elected for the party’s district and
state conventions to be held in
Raleigh on Thursday of next week.
At the convention i,«.»», Satur
day, each precinct will have one
vote for every 25 Democratic votes
cast for governor in the 1952 elect
ion. According to that formula,
county precincts will have the fol
lowing number of votes in the
meeting Saturday: Plymouth No.
1, 22; Plymouth No. 2, 34; Lees
Mill, 16; Skinnersville, 4; Scupper
nong, 10; and Wenona, 1.
Under the Democratic Party
plan of organization, Washington
County will be entitled to 14 votes
in the state convention at Raleigh
next week, and the county conven
tion Saturday is entitled to elect
one delegate and one alternate for
each vote, or 28 in all. This is
based on one vote for every 150
Democratic votes cast for gover
nor in the last general election.
Washington County cast 2,166 votes
for Governor William B. Umstead
in November, 1952, giving it 14
votes in the state convention.
The county Democratic execu
tive committee will also be organ
Jiv-u aw uu; tuuvcmiuu uwxu uai
urday morning. The chairman of
each precinct executive committee
is automatically a member of the
county executive committee. That
group will elect a chairman, vice
chairman and secretary, who need
not be members of the executive
committee, but all of the officers
will be ex-officio members of the
committee after their election.
Precinct chairmen elected at
meetings last Saturday, who auto
matically become members of the
county executive committee, are
as follows: Plymouth No. 1, J. R.
Campbell; Plymouth £lo. 2, S. F.
Darden; Lees Mill, L. E. Hassell,
jr.; Skinncrsvillc, W. W. White;
Scuppernong, T. F. Davenport. No*
report has been received from We
nona, and it is not known whether
or not a meeting was held there.
Chairman Carl L. Bailey urges
a good-sized crowd of Democrats
to be on hand for the convention
Saturday morning. It is understood
that most of the county precincts
“All Democrats in good standing”
as being eligible to attend the
meeting as delegates.
Hopkins To Enter
Furniture Field
In Edenton Soon
Local Man Disposes of In
terest in Store Here, Ef
fective Monday of This
Week
Thos. F. Hopkins, prominent
young Plymouth business and civic
leader, has sold his interest in
Norman Furniture Company here
and announces that he will enter
the retail furniture field in Eden
ton soon.
Mr. Hopkins, a native of Tyrrell
County, was asisstant superintend
ent with a life insurance company
in Charlotte before entering the
U. S. Army. During World V* 'it
he served with the First Infantry
Division in France, Belgium and
Germany.
Upon his discharge from the
army Mr. Hopkins was employed
for five and a half years with
Norman Furniture Company, then
owned by J. W. Norman. January
1, 1951, he obtained half interest
in the business and with C. Clyde
Hardison operated for five and a
half years as Norman Furniture
Co., Inc. Mr. Hardison became sole
owner of the business, effective
Monday of this week.
Mr. Hopkins has compiled an en
viable record of community serv
ice here. He is a past president of
the Junior Chamber of Commerce,
won the Jaycecs’ Distinguished
Service Award in 1950, served in
1949 as chairman of the Wash
ington County Sesqui-Centennial,
served for six years as chairman
of the Washington County March
ter chairman and one year as state
director, three years on the board
of directors of Plymouth Country
Club and as Entertainment chair
man for four years, president of
the Plymouth Merchants Associa
tion for several terms, a member
of the VFW, secretary of the In
dustrial Development committee
and chairman for five years of the
Activities committee. In addition,
Mr. Hopkins has found time to
serve as teacher of the Intermedi
ate department of the Sunday
School of Ludford Memorial Bap
tist Church for three years.
Mr. Hopkins is married to the
former Mary Nooney, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Nooney, of
Plymouth, and they have three
children, Steve, 1(1, Larry, 14, and
Ken, 12.
Mr. Hopkins’ host of friends wish
him every success in his new ven
ture.
-».— — -
Lamb Pool Slated
Here on May 22nd
-» —
The annual Lamb Pool will be
held here Tuesday, May 22, it was
announced this week by County
Agent W. H. Pruden.
The pool will be held at the At
lantic Coastline livestock pens be
hind the depot on East Water
Street. Grading will be done by the
N. C. Department of Agriculture
and county agents from the east
ern counties involved will help
with the pool.
Weighing and grading of Iambs
will begin at 7 a. m. and it is re
quested that all lambs be in the
shed by 10 a. m.
The wool pool will be held in
Washington in June, Pruden said,
and the date will be announced
later.
Set Calendar and
Approve Teachers
At Board Meeting
Washington County Board
Of Education Holds Regu
lar Monthly Meeting Here
On Monday
The Washington County Board
of Education, at its regular month
ly meeting here Monday, adopted
a school calendar of events for the
1956-57 school year and approved
the contracts of all teachers which
had been elected by local school
committees in the county.
The school calendar adopted
calls for the following closings dur
ing the year:
October 26, white schools closed
for district teachers’ meeting; No
vember 9, Negro schools closed
for district teachers’ meeting; No
vember 22, 23, all schools closed
for Thanksgiving; December 20
through January 1, 1957, all schools
closed for Christmas; April 22,
1957, all schools closed for Easter
Monday; end of first semester,
January 24, 1957; school closing,
May 31, 1957,
Teachers whose contracts were
approved are:
Plymouth High School — J. S.
Fleming, principal; Mrs. Gale W.
Lucas, Mrs. Lucia Long, Mrs. Ethel
T. Gurkin, Joseph W. Foster,
Charles E. Inabinett, Mrs. Irma K.
Hough, Julian R. Rawls, jr., Miss
Carolyn D. Brinkley, Andrew M.
Wood, Charles A. Hough, Andrew
J. Holliday, jr., Mrs. Lucy R. Liver
man, Mrs. Annie Lou J. Gurkin,
Miss Elizabeth Topping, Mrs. Au
drey T. Dunbar, Mrs. Bruce M.
Davenport, Mrs. Helen White
Peele, Mrs. Mary S. Dinkins, Miss
Nellie Tarkenton, Mrs. Janie G.
Dunning, Miss Isabel Davenport,
when the vote was ordered, and
spoke to the group in favor of hav
ing a vote on the matter. He said
he intends to vote for the bond
issue and he feels it should and
will be carried.
On other school matters, the
representative said he was in favor
of increasing salaries for teachers
and other school employees, as
ell as two weeks' extended cm
See BOARD, Page 10
Dr. Phelps Slates
He Favors County
School Bond Issue
County Representative Also
Outlines His Position on
Other Matters of Interest
To Voters
-♦—
Dr. J. M. Phelps, of Creswell,
Washington County Representative
who is a candidate for renomina
tion in the Democratic primary
Mav 26th. this week issued a state
ment outlining his position on sev
eral matters of interest to county
voters. He has opposition in the
primary this year from two former
county representatives, W. J.
Woolard, Plymouth furniture man
who served at the 1951 and 1953
sessions of the legislature, and E.
0. Arnold, Skinnersville farmer
and business man who represented
the county in 1949.
Discussing the school bond issue
to be submitted to county voters
at the November general election,
Dr. Phelps said he h-d been work
ing for several months i,n the mat
ter. He attended the county com
missioners’ meeting last month,
SeelpHFXPS, Page 10 "
ELEMENTARY COURT:
court of elementary princes
ses during the annual May Day Festival held Wednesday of last week at Plymouth High School.
Shown in the photo, left to right, are Ann Carter, Kay Bowen, Mary Katherine Sundeen, Judy Mobley,
Mary Stuart Joyner, Jean Tetterton, Lois Swain, Robin Horner, Mary Latham Mizelle, Jannet Bruce and
Martha Rodgers. Miss Tetterton was crowned Elementary Queen by R. F. Lowry, superintendent of
county schools_Staff photo.
Council Votes To Reduce
Tax Rate From $2 to $1.80
j liaise Over SHOO Here
jBy Mai l)nv Program
• • • W
Profits realized from the annual!
May Day Festival at Roper last
Wednesday totaled S857.18, it is
reported. This money will be used
to buy drapes for the auditorium,
it was said.
The program opened with a play
by the Ninth grade entitled, "The
Shock of His Life.” Parts were
taken by Linda Norman, Daphne
Snell, Margaret Davenport, Ron
ald Craft and Ralph Rawls.
The students then took jeep
rides and watched movies, refresh
ing themselves with candy, drinks
and hot dogs.
The high school girls played the
Creswell girls in a softball game,
Roper winning 3-2.
Dinner and supper were served
in the lunchroom, consisting of
barbecue and chicken salad platesJ
The May court was held in front j
of the building at 2 p. m. Daphne
Snell and Roger Chesson, jr., were
crowned as queen and king by the,
former queen, Diane Gaylord. Run
ners-up were Buck Davenport and
Toledo Cammon. Crown bearers
were Karen and Mike Trueblood.
Creswell boys topped Roper boys
in softball, 18-4.
The Coronation Ball was held in
the auditorium at 8 p. m.
County Budget Calls
For Tax Rate of $1.70
General County Budget of
$268,673.14 and School
Budget of $73,641 Tenta
tively Approved
The county commissioners ten
tatively approved the general coun
ty budget for the next fiscal year
at the regular monthly meeting
held here Monday afternoon.
The budget, as presented, calls
for the sum of $268,673.14, about
the same figure as for the present
fiscal year, it was said. E. J.
Spruill, county auditor, presented
the budget. The tax rate was ten
tatively set at $1.70 on the $100
valuation same as last year. Final
approval will come later, subject
to review by the institute of Gov
ernment.
The clerk was asked to write
a letter to the state highway de
o#; ;>oi . and to Congressman Her
| bert C. Bonner informing them
that the county is still opposed to
| construction of a fix-span bridge
at Columbia.
It was found that through an
oversight the board of equalization
and review failed to complete its
, work in March. It was resolved to
set up the board to complete its
business and on motion of Com
missioner Phillip M. Spruill, sec
onded by Commissioner H. L. Dav
enport, it was voted to allow 40 per
cent depreciation on the old coun
ty home property now owned by
J. L. Horner, of Plymouth.
Also, it was agreed by Horner
and the board that a monthly rent
of $120 be paid Horner for use of
the health department offices in
the county home building, to be in
effect from April 1 until the de
partment vacates.
A resolution was passed to in
clude the part-time employees of
the county under social security.
It was ordered that $50 be paid
for the dinner meeting of the exe
cutive meeting of the Southern Al
bemarle Association held at Cres
well in March.
E. J. Spruill, county tax collect
or, reported $8,094.21 collected in
April.
County Agent W. H. Pruden
gave his report for work done in
April.
The board members enjoyed a
chicken dinner in the Agriculture
lluilding with the executive com
mittee of the Woman’s Home
Demonstration Clubs.
Banks Observe
Holiday Today
Thursday of this week. Con
federate Memorial Day, will be
observed by the banks as a holi
day. No other business houses
are to observe the day as a holi
day and will carry on operations
as usual.
Other holidays on the sche
dule for the banks are Mecklen
berg Independence Day on May
20, and National Memorial Day
on May 30, the latter being a
national holiday.
Saturday Is Last
Day To Register
For Primary Vote
Books Will Be Closed May
12; Few Persons Have
Registered in County So
Far, Reports.Show
Saturday of this week is the last
day for registering in order to
vote in the Democratic primary on
Saturday, May 26. Registrars will
be at the six polling places Satur
day for the purpose of registering
those who have not registered pre
viously, or for those who have be
come qualified or moved since the
last election.
There seems to be little interest
in politics this year, it being re
flected in the few names put on
the poll books since they were
opened April 28. A few transfers
have been recorded along with
even fewer new voters. Saturday,
May 19, will be challenge day.
Figures were obtained from reg
istrars in both Plymouth precincts
yesterday hut those from others in
the county were not available.
Mrs. James H. Ward, registrar
in Plymouth Precinct No. 1, report
ed a total of 14 new registrations.
Four of these were new voters and
10 transfers, Mrs. Ward said.
Mrs. A. T. Darden, registrar in
Plymouth Preicnct No. 2, said only
three new voters had registered
during the period, with four trans
fers also recorded.
Means Saving of 10 Per
Cent for Town Taxpayers;
Action Taken at Meeting
Here Monday Night
The Plymouth Town Council, at
its regular meeting Monday night,
took action that virtually assures
town taypayers a 10 per cent re
duction in their taxes for the 1956
57 fiscal year beginning July 1st.
Although the town budget has not
yet been prepared or presented
for approval, the council members
by unanimous vote approved a mo
tion to reduce the tax rate from
52 to $1.80 per $100 of assessed
valuation.
The matter was brought up by
Mayor A. J. Riddle, who favored
reducing the rate, and, following
a brief discussion, Councilman J.
B. Latham made the motion to put
the reduction into effect and it
was carried without a dissenting
vote. Mayor Riddle presided at the
session, with all members of the
council present as follows: E. D.
Keel and W. C. Hall, first ward;
J. B. Latham and Ralph Hunter,
.-A r I? „ ,1
J. D. Mallory, third ward.
The tax reduction will go into
effect in spite of the fact that the
council is planning to contract for
a new 250,000-gallon water tank
for the town within the next few
months. It is estimated the tank
will cost somewhere around $50,
000. Part of the necessary funds,
understood to be about $13,000,
will come from a sinking fund set
aside during the past few years for
the purpose. It is also expected
the town will wind up the current
fiscal year with a surplus which
may also be used for constructing
the tank.
Town officials have sent out let
ters to several firms which build
tanks asking for tentative esti
mates of the cost. There has also
been some discussion about instal
ling a water-softening plant at the
time the tank is installed, and
estimates are also to be received
about the cost of this.
Town revenue has picked up
considerably since the property re
valuation was completed early last
year. Last year's valuation was
over half a million dollars greater
than the year before, while this
year the valuation increase was a
little less than $10,000. The in
crease can be seen from the valu
ation figures for the past three
years, as follows: 1953-54, $4,034,
116; 1954-55, $4,177,392; 1955-56,
$4,731,089. This year the estimat
ed valuation of town nomertv is
$4,740,693. Thus, in the four-year
period the valuation has increased
by $706,847. Revenue from the new
$1.80 rate at the present valuation
will be substantially more than it
was at the $2 rate four years ago.
About the only other business
transacted at the council meeting
Monday night was appointment of
the budget committee, which is to
make its report to the next meet
ing of the council on June 4th.
E. D. Keel is chairman of the bud
get group, J. B. Latham and J. D.
Mallory are the other members.
The committee expdets to hold a
meeting within the next week or so
to go over the proposed budget
figures for the coming fisi il year.
To Be Speaker ai
Roper High Finals
Dr. Leo W. Jenkins, vice-presi
dent and dean of East Carolina
College, Greenville, will be the
speaker at graduation exercises at
Roper High School, it was announ
ced this week.
T. A. Hood, principal of the
school, made the announcement in
releasing the schedule for com
mencement exercises at the school.
Class Night will be held Thurs
day, May 24, at 8:15 p. m.
The commencement sermon will
be preached Sunday, May 20, at 8
p. m. by the Rev. P. W. Aitken,
minister of Hebron Methodist
Church, of Roper.
Graduation exercises will be held
Friday, May 25, at 8 p. m.
Thirteen Qualify for Wings
And Certificates at Roper
Thirteen observers at Roper
Ground Observer Corps post quali
fied for wings and certificates dur
ing the past two weeks, Jesse E.
Rawls, post supervisor, reports.
Those qualifying were Mrs. Ida
Oliver, Mrs. Hattie Mizell, Alvin
Jones, R. M. Armstrong, Mrs. Neil
T. Stout, Mrs. Mary Alice Hassell,
Miss Alma Knowles, Timothy Gay
lord, A. R. Hooker, Sylvester Lil
ley, Elbert Tarkenton, Herbert Al
len and Miss Theresa Phelps.
Post strength is now listed as
214, Rawls stated. The post has
been unattended for only 22 hours,
31 minutes since February 1, 1956.