North Carolina Newspapers

! J jtdi I) !J i VOLUME NUMBER SEVENTEEN KKNAiNSVll.LL, NORTH CAROLINA FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th., 1949 No. 40 Uq M & Com Fled ffil'"' "The Duplin Story rr .5 2 By: JAMES H. MeKOt .Wilmington, N. C. Sept 23. It w a miraciei i mw a miracle! felt a miracle coming to life about to. Seated on good board benches, ft: what way but a tew abort weeks ago a field of corn with, the plough ti rows bardly weather worn under foot; I was in the midst -of thous ands of happy, excited people. Still I' felt it was not true, it was not possible - for I had Journeyed aome twenty miles from borne to. where amy a mere eight hundred odd people ' lived. . There could not be Bat many people, .there. There aeuia not oe mat great stage ex panding high up a hill before me: there could not be a famous band playing stirring inarches; but I waa tfttre; for my family was with me. and I saw actually hundreds of feeople, from miles away, that I had not seen In years --and I was yell ing out to them with excitement tod happiness. But that waa only the beginning of a miracle In our aifdst for many, scenes were to M unfolded before my eyes each Wonderful and splendid In its own right. For ! was la Kenantvtlle, isuthelr quickly erected amphithea tre seeing and hearing the theartrc- al: masterpiece that Sam Byrd had wrought "THE DUPLIN STORY" vMnd yet X was at home among these thousands of strangers, for there were some four thousand of , them there last night Because the names and events were as familiar a thought I might be seated In an amphitheatre beside Greenfield Lake. The names were Wilmington names, the puce was once a part of -New Hanover County, the events were doss- to things we knew at home . so similar. I felt at home in as? many ways in that lovely spot The Duplin Story Is no mere page ant, it is a vast production on a tremendous scale --and it is a success! Saan Byrd wrote this story, be- directed the production and he supewtr flayed the teadtgree. But thaf is not the half " of' the ' Wry for he organised the company, the workers, the actors, the musi cians into a group that knew no obstacle to hinder effort that could keep this from being one of the most outstanding local productions I have ever witnessed. Space would not provide proper credit for the mdny eolorfuV and Interesting scenes of this historical play:, or for words about the hundreds of workers behind the scenes both before and during the presentation. Ills all good - it is all excellent Of course, there are professional touches, expected from experienced casta and crews, missing, but they are never noticed, for there is en tertainment and Interest holding scenes hero that build up more and more anticipation on the part of the audience as to what is coming next The vivid, the spectacular scene at the Command Post of Colonel James Kenan at Rockflsh Creek, la as thrilling and awe Inspiring as any similar scene I have ever seen on any stage or in any movie. The sight of the pathetic Utile band of unionists defending their stand be- re the oncoming might of tne I ritlsh Bed Coats is spine tickling. Marvelous sound effects of warfare, that are not only seen, but heard, chill you as you see the red coats come over the top of a far away hill to fight In formation as they drive back the brave colonists. Amid the light of fire from shot d shell you glimpse the British ' z arise over the crest of a hill ' be followed by company after tympany of soldiers what a scene what effects - what splendid pro duction! And, there Is comedy, it's not all historical events reviewed "tere Is comedyl Good old belly i iughs so foreign to events of this iiature. The scenes unfold before you not exactly In ttmexeeguence, , ut according to their entertaln ent merit Toull bear a great oir of excellently trained .voices I hymns and popular tunes you jm. You will bow reverently In ayer as their voices rise in glory ". a their singing of the "Ave Ma '"; "The Lord's Prayer". You'll snt to shout with the large colored oir as they alng their spirituals -socially when a modern - note mes with a grand moment of ?;yes Indeed". ,- :V. - It was a miracle - a miracle In a ornpatch that you must see Frl- ay or Saturday night to oeueve. You'll be proud you live close -to ople who with so little, can ac "lpiish so much. You'll treasure fine informative program that ws a .vast amount of historical arch: you'll want to see tne reds of antiques that are on y In ahop windows; you'll t to see the very buildings that s much of the action in which . story is depicted, you'll want a y of the forty-two rf rswt- t r rr''n Ti ; j' If "' t'" 1 ' -&4mmmq ALbSRT BANADYOA Mr. Banadyga, a native of Bur- gaw, currently Is completing re quirements for his M. S. degree in horticulture at State College. At we new test farm here in the coun ty he will have direct minrvlfnn of experiments, although the tests will be designed and much technic al work done by scientists working from Experiment Station head quarters in Raleigh. mingle and get to know the people of this county; that can work to gether and produce a miracle on the other side of Smith's Creek but actually on the upper waters of our own Northeast Cape Fear River. I am proud of Duplin. Letters To The Editor Greensboro, N. C. September 27, 1940 Mr. J. Robert Grady .- aluplin Times ,7 KenansvlUe, N. C. Dear Bob: I was truly carried away with the "Duplin Story". I thought that it waa a great production and. I would like to be able to tell every body who had a part in making it possible Just bow much I enjoyed. it I think you did an awfully good Job of publicizing it - enjoyed all the articles in the Duplin Times and I was so glad to find some write-ups in the Greensboro paper about KenansvlUe for .they, as a usual thing, are few and far be tween. I hope that enough money was cleared to finish the Kenan Memo rial Auditorium. From - what I could aee of It it iook like a beau tiful building and I am positive that it Is much needed in our commun ity. ,:- - ;--: Have had an awfully good time this week telling about the "Duplin Story" and commenting on the dif ferent scenes especially the one. in which my "red-headed" sister ap peared also, went ahead to tell my listeners that I was sure that Duplin is a great county and told of the fine cooperation between the communities. ' 1 Have done a very poor Job of telling you how impressed I. was with all of the efforts displayed in the celebration but I guess what I was really trying to put across Is that I am proud to be from Duplin. r !-- Yours very sincerely, Pattle S. Newlln. - ; Wilmington, N. C. September 27, 1049 Dear Mr. Grady, I jronder if you could send me a copy of the special "Duplin Story" edition of the paper. I believe 20 cents'is the price. " I don't see how it was possible for anyone to make'such a wonder ful production as the "Duplin Story." I've never seen, anything to quite compare with it Everyone that waa connected witn it certainty did a wonderful Job. v s , ' , , , w Thank you, ' ' ; -1 ' Eloise Starkey : (lEloise Dobson) 8800 Park Ave. Universalis!! Plan Sessions The Unlversallst church of N. C. will ODcn its 44th annual conven- tlon in .Outlaw's Bridge church be ginning Friday at 10 A. M. Among the speakers will bo the Rev. Maurice Cobb, formerly pastor at Clinton, now a graduate student at the University of North Carolina, and the Rev. Horton Colbert Bos tonj Mass., head of the df-parnt rf e ' 'tlon of the Univ . t "'."..'onv.-5'l t' s' What Other Papers Say Wilmington Morning Star September 25 WILL LIVE ON "The Duplin Story" is a sensa tional success. That statement may appear over enthusiastic and opinionated. But when 4,200 persons attended the first performance Thursday night xnd that figure was practically doubled the following evening, there should be no doubt about the quality of this outstanding histori cal pageant Practically everyone who has enjoyed It reports Produ cer Sam Byrd's presentation sur passes all expectations as to sin cerity of plot variety of scenes, thrilling drama and excellent mu sic. The acting is superb, thanks to the enthusiastic interest and effort of hundreds of Duplin's citizens. And the staging, lighting and other effects are as professional as any thing Broadway offers. But even better news than the highly favorable reviews is word from the KenansvlUe amphitheatre that the pageant will be presented again Monday and Tuesday nights. These performances were not in the original schedule. But the demand from throughout the state that the' run be extended has been too In slstent to be Ignored. Instead of about 8,000 persons viewing this colorful review of Duplin's long and honorable history, as was first anticipated, it likely will be enjoy ed by several times that number. The benefits from the commend able community undertaking will be permanent. All net proceeds will be used to suplement other funds for erection of the Kenan Memorial auditorium, needed acutely by both KenansvlUe and its schooled ' xnns -ine vupun story win live on. Not only has it recorded In drama the history of one of North Caro lina's good sections but It will help provide, through greater public re creational and meeting facilities, foundation for a future for the county that may be even richer than its past Mount Olive Tribune September 26 In the Duplin county section of Heaven, there must ba a special seat of honor set aside for Sam Byrd and the several hundred per sons who make up the cut In "The Duplin Story." Together they pre sented a spectacle in KenansvlUe Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights of last week, the likes of which it has never been our privi lege to witness before. Commemorating the 200th anni versary of the founding of Duplin, the story was so weU written and portrayed In its natural amphithea tre setting that persons in tne aua- lence actuaUy ducked bullets from the blank ammunition used In the Battle of Rockflsh scene. Seen through the memory's eye of a homesick sailor In London, the story unfolded Itself from colonial times right down to the present, In scenes so realistic we didn't mind the cold weather and hard seats. The entire cast strangers to the ways of the stage, was superb, and without the help of Dupun'a color ed citizens, would have been as a lame man without a crutch. The choirs, choir director, and especially the organist Mrs. Mar ietta Richards, simply conspired to confound us with their abUlty and timing; and Corwin Rife, painter and drummer-man extraordinary, and Stage Director A. M. Davis Shuchks, wa ain't got the words to tell you how it affected us - - go see It for yourself In Its final per formances Monday and -Tuesday nlghta of this weekl : ' '. .'' . There Is one edltoriaf lesson to be gained from the entire pageant which we would like to point out: the huge success which The Duplin Story is, stems from Just one virtue of the entire county: Cooperation! Without it the pageant, no matter how weU written (and it was a mas ternlece). or directed, would have been a flop. But, by forgetting . co::score 0H H. C.HI 611 a1 AS 4 KlUed Sept. 24-26 Injured same dates Y'"i tru f--1 21. 1949 0 87 189 - UK . I 1 I Sheriff Ralph J. Jones and aome of his deputies with the 100 gallon capacity still and part of the Ilauor that was confiscated last week In Gils son Township. Those in the picture, left to right are: Deputies Herbert Summerlin, C. H. Nicholson, Ressy Perry Smith, Sheriff Jones, S. W. Marriner, Oli ver Home and W. O. Houston. self In the interests of a common goal, Duplin citizens have produced and seen something which will be a credit to thera for years to come, and we predict the large-scale ac ceptance of the production on the part of the public will assure Du plin county of the necessary funds to complete their Kenan Memorial Auditorium. , , Every member of the cast pur chased tickets for the Derformance in order to incrfiSU the proceeds. Can you imagine how we felt whenfHistorlcal Association we learned this, after having hand ed the gate-keeper press passes? ' Kins ton Dally Free Press September 28 A MAGNIFICENT DRAMA "The Duplin Story"; historical pageant commemorating the 200th anniversary of the founding of Du plin County and which was extend ed two days to enable more people to see it, Is truly a magnificent drama, taken from actual history of Eastern North Carolina and the State as a whole. The first half of the pageant deals with the history of the county prior to the War Between the States and shows life in colonial times, giving an entertaining picture of some of the outstanding figures of that day. Plantation life and the effect of river commerce on the community Uf e of Sarecta are clev erly depicted. Moat impressive are the war scenes, however. Colonel James Kenan's defense of the out post at Rockflsh Creek on August 2, 1781, is unusually well done. The simulated battle scene is real, but the eventual return home of the wounded after the War Between the States is one of the drama's most touching scenes. A political rally at John W. Gre sham's store in 1908, graduation scene at the James Sprunt Insti tute in June of 1910, a Warsaw railroad station scene from the first World War and the climactic scene In a Duplin County church on V-J Day of 1945 offer peak performan ces In the second act. The railroad scene, which shows Charles R. Gav in, leaving for France in May of 1917, recounting his dreams of a happy future in his native county and bidding his sweetheart good bye, reaches a high point of effect iveness. He was killed and the War saw Legion Post was named in his honor. . The closing scene in the Duplin church would be a credit to Holly wood or the legitimate New .York stage, as would many other scenes from the entire drama. The scene offers a thanksgiving service after victory and a recounting of the sacrifices that made it possible. But -It closes on a phlUsophical note, pointing toward the. path of lasting peace. Individual respon sibility In keeping' the peace la stressed. Producer end Director Sam Byrd, bis technical advisor, Corwin Rife; Naomi Wood, Musical Director; Or ganist Marietta Richards, Dance Director .Audrey Alphln Butler, and others played Important parts in making the ahow a great suc cess. The people of Duplin County helped in many ways. Notonly did an estimated 1,000. persons take part in the cast but scores of others sold tickets, helped with traffic and ushering and c" nr Jobs. Those who had no d'rer-t j the ef- f -t r " i f r'-mv H. D. Williams Congratulates "The Duplin Story" And Compliments Crowds Attending FRONT H. D. Williams, KenansvlUe law yer and farmer and donor of the KenansvlUe amphitheatre site, ad dressed a letter to the president of the DupUn County Historical Assoc iation which was read at intermis sion on the closing night of the Pageant by Emory Sadler. The letter was as follows: KenanlsvUle, N. C. September 27, 1949 Mr. Gilbert E. Alphln. Jr. President, Duplin County KenansvlUe, N. C. Dear Gilbert: As the curtain is lowered upon the final production of "The Duplin Story" and it takes its place In the annals of history, I do not wish to forego the urge to congratulate you, and all who have collaborated with you in its production. Sam Byrd, native of Mt. Olive (which you are reminded, is at least one-half Duplin), son of gra cious and charming Miss Fannie Men Of The Church, Presbytery Hold By MRS GRAHAM PHILLIPS About 200 attended the Warsaw District meeting, Men of the Chur ch of the Wilmington Presbytery, September 26 In the Warsaw Pres byterian church. The meeting opened with hymn, "Men of the Church of the Living God," prayer by J. B. Stroud, of Faison. L. B. Hule, Warsaw District Chairman, introduced the special guests - John Diefel, President, Men of the Church, Wilmington Presbytery; Dr. W. C. Mebane, Chairman Program of Progress, Wilmington Presbytery; and S. J.j Patterson, Executive Director, Men of the Church, Presbyterian Church of the United States. Roll call of the churches was read by Dallas Herring, Secretary Men of the Church, Wilmington Presbytery, who also recognized the visiting churches. Rev. J. M. Newbold, Jr. return ed thanks when the meeting re cessed for supper,' which was ser ved by the women of the Warsaw' Three Hundred Farm ' Land Preparation By LACY WEEKS proximately 300 farm peo ple turned out for the land prepara tion demonstration on the Murray farm Just outside of KenansvlUe, Saturday afternoon, Sept 24. Four of the leading implement dealers demonstrated their equipment The dealers who participated In this county wide demonstration were: Wallace Motor and Implement Co., attend, .-n ,''. - v.---' It Is by aU measurements the best pageant ever to be presented in this section depicting its history. Those who have seen It wiU long remember It effectiveness andwill hope that it may be captured on film, or opened in an annual show ing,, so that others aU over th ration may have opportunity to r'va erj?y It , ; ..- Lambert of Duplin and her hus band Samuel Byrd of just over the DupUn line in Lenoir, both of whom have passed away, author, actor and director of "The Duplin Story" has arrived. All who have had the privilege of attending are greatly pleased, and making all manner of complimentary remark1:, and each has already entered it as another gem in his storehouse of pleasant memories. Upon . the word of those who would know, Including the police, not a single Instance of misconduct has been observed, not a person who appeared to be under the in fluence of intoxicants has been seen, and no traffic accident has been reported, either within or outside the amphitheatre. And what Is still more wonderful, so far as I can learn after much inquiry, no one has seen, heard, or felt the bite of a mosquito. Sincerely, Hampton D. Williams. Wilmington Warsaw Meeting church. At 8:15 o'clock the meeting was resumed and opened with a hymn, "The Son of God Goes Forth to War", prayer by W. G. Prevatte of Whlteville. E. B .Peterson of War saw rendered a solo. President John Delfel Introduced the speaker of the evening, Executive Director S. J. Patterson, Jr. Benediction was pronounced by Rev. L. A. Taylor, Executive Secretary of the Wilming ton Presbytery. The annual meeting of the 6th District of the Women of the Church of the Wilmington Presby tery will be held In the Mt. Olive church on Tuesday, Oct. 4th. Registration will be from 9:30 -10:00 o'clock with the program opening promptly at ten. The Sixth District is composed of the following churches: Bakers, Beulaville, Calypso, Faison, Clinton, KenansvlUe, Harper-Southerland, Pfnk HU1. Pleasant View, Smith, Warsaw. Hallsvllle, and Mt. Olive. People Turn Out For Demonstration Sat. International Dealer. Wallace Hardware & Machinery Co., AUls Chalmer Dealer. Johnson Cotton Company of Wal lace, John Deere Dealer. Warsaw F. C. X., CO-OP Dealer. ,Mr. H. M. Ellis, head of the Ex tension Agriculture Department at State CoUege, was present, and during his talk, be pointed out the there was a definite trend for mechanizing farms. The figures he, gave the group showed that mecha nized production of most farm crops is more economical than the muie or horse plow farm. L. F. Weeks, County Agent and V. H. Reynolds, Assistant County Agent left the county Monday af ternoon to attend beet cattle sale aa West Jefferson, on Tuesday, Septembec 27, and Ashevule, Wed nesday, September 28, for the pur pose of buying approximately 03 The Duplin Times this week is giving Its space to what oth er papers and persons say about "The Duplin Story". Next week we will give our account of it along with statis tics of attendance and money taken in. The Executive Committee will meet in the courthouse here Monday night, Oct. 10 at 8:00 o'clock to hear reports and bring to a close the work of the Duplin County Histori cal Association, Inc. in so far as the Pageant is concerned. The public is invited to attend. Clarkton Msn Writes To "The Duplin Story" The following letter was received by President Gilbert Alphin of the Duplin Historical Association and read at intermission of the pageant Tuesday night: Clarkton, N. C. September 26, 1949 Manager, The Duplin Story, Kenansville, N. C. Dear Sir:- It embarrasses me to feel like a cheap skate. Well, that is the feel ing I have about seeing your gor geous spectacle for $2.50 each. We have seen 'em all, and yours is by far the TOPS. .There were six in our party Fri day evening, we talked up seven Saturday, have seven going this evening - and maybe others Tues day, weather permitting. But since your project out of profit is a worthy one, let's just turn the enclosed check in on that building: it along with the attend ance we have drummed up will give US' a more comfortable feeling, having -in a measure pjd for a wonderful show. Yours very truly, C. S. Clark. 90-Year Old Darkey Strays Into Woods Denutv Sheriff Murrav BvrH nt Faison warns old folks not to stray off from their loved ones and get lost. A recent experience nf hia near Faison prompted Mr. Byrd to pass along the suggestion. The fol lowing account of finding a 90 year old man in the woods near Faison was sent to the Times by Sheriff Byrd: , "About 4 p.m. Sept. 26, 1949 an old colored man 90 years of age was in the cotton field with his wife picking cotton and became tired and told his wife that he was going to lav down on a shoot nf cotton to rest but instead he de cided to go acrass a swamp to his home and in this swamp he got lost and stayed the rest of that day, and all that night and about 9 o'clock the morning of Sept. 27 several colored people came to me and told me what had happened. I then se cured the aid of about 100 colored men and combed the swamp and found the old darkey still moving around but very weak and had to be carried. This old darkey was UNCLE TOM STEVEN who lives about three miles southeast of Fai son, N. C." Duplin Native Dies In Richmond James K. Williamson, age 60, a native of Dunlin Cmintv rflorl in a Richmond hospital at 4:30 Septem ber 21st. Funeral services were held from the Josenh W. Blilev Hnm In Richmond Fridav at 4 n m Tnti. ment was in Riverside Cemetery In Kicnmond. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Mattie Jenkins Willaimson, one dau ghter, Mrs. Robert E. Cole: one sis ter Mrs. E. F. Sheppard of . Wil mington; five brothers, D. S., and a. B. of KenansvlUe, R. L., and P. P. of Richmond, and J. C. of Rockv Mount; one grandson, Robert E. Cole, Jr. of Richmond. 'Mr. Williamson would have been 61 years old next month. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. R. M. WUUamson of Kenansville. He had Uved In Richmond for the past 40 years and for 38 years he was an engineer on the Richmond, Fred ericksburg and Potomaa Railroad. beef cattle stock for farmers- and feeder calves for 4-H Club mem bers.. ' ' "