Standard Printing Co. ' xx
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EICLY
Volume 23-No. 14
Hertford, Perquimans County, North Carolina, Thursday, April 5, 1973
10 Cents Per Copy
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Edwards House
This house was built in early 1800 and was lived in by Dr. J.A. Harris, who was one
of the first dentists in North Carolina. A number of interesting features include
den tile moulding, unusual fireplace, and old andirons.
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Charles Whedbee House
Some sections of this house is 200 years old. The house comprises one of the oldest
buildings still standing in Hertford. The double front doors are typical of the
homes of that era. This home, along with the Erie Haste home and Berry-Mullen-Edwards
House will be on the April Museum of the Albemarle Tour. The time is 11
a.m. to S p.m. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased from Mrs. Marlon
Swindell, Perquimans County Chamber of Commerce or any Perquimans County
member of MOA.
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Cr." b t. r-j rj tf fc loveliest fireplaces In the
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Perquimans County Member
Alliance For
BY FRANCINE SAWYER
Alliance for Progress,
Inc., a unique grouping of six
northeastern North Carolina
counties has been properly
chartered after much
footwork.
The consortium, formed
from Perquimans, Chowan,
Hertford, Bertie, Martin and
Gates County will work
jointly with all governmental
and private planning
agencies in assessing area
needs including but not
limited to educational,
economic, health, nutrition,
social, and recreational
needs of the six counties.
Its function will be to
identify and seek out the
availability and sources of
funds from, but not limited to
governmental ; agencies,
111111 il'fH t . t Jr .,. vx
V WW XA
PERSONS APPOINTED-Chairmen of the Alliance For Progress are from left,
Alton tumore, uiowan county; Dr. J.H. Horton, Edenton-Chowan Board
Education; Richard Baker, and Bob Spivey of Bertie County. (Photo Courtesy
Bud Amburn)
Perquimans Personality
TEXT & PHOTOS
By FRANCINE S AW YEF
SMITHTOWN - Mrs.
Eldora Eason has to
travel down two dirt
roads and several
secondary roads when
she is called to help bring
a child into the world.
Miss Eldora, as she is
known, Is the only active
midwife in Perquimans
County.
Mrs. Eason, who says
she is 65 years-old has
been a midwife since she
was 20 years-old. "My
mother was a midwife
and she wanted me to be
one. At first I didn't want
to be a midwife. I didn't
like the idea of getting up
at all hours of the night,"
he said.
Her first case was by
sheer luck. Her mother
had to attend to her sister
in another state. Mrs.
Eason had to take the
place of her mother and
''wait on" a lady who
could not locate a doctor.
The baby came into the
world and Mrs. Eason
became a midwife.
She has overseered
more than 500 births. "It
would take some room for
them to stand if they were
all here now," she said.
Mrs. Eason was called
en to tell The Perquimans
Weekly about her mid
wife activities late
Saturday afternoon.
"Come in child, and sit
down," She said, "1 am
waiting, risht; here,
someone s:nt me word
that one of my ladies is la
labor, I may be going
soon," she ssid.
' Mrs. Eason has a
private foundations, in
dividuals and corporations,
which funds are to be
directed to the county
governments, boards of
education, municipalities,
non-profit chartered
organizations functioning to
preserve the area heritage,
promote education, promote
area economic develop
ment; and to receive and
disburse funds as a fical
agent.
The idea was a brainchild,
from indicated sources, of
school superintendents,
comprising some of the six
counties.
The first meeting was held
Nov. 9, 1972. It's purpose was
to discuss the possibilities of
organizing a six-county
regional consortium for the
purpose of securing
Mrs. Eldora Eason
comfortable home in this
section of the county. The
livingroom has pictures
of her seven children and
"about 42" grand
children, and 17 great
grandchildren. There is
also a number of pictures
of Jesus Christ, one of
which is lighted up.
Mrs. Eason has heavy
faith in "The Lord." "He
has helped me on these
rainy, snowy nights to get
where I got to be going,"
she said.
A total of 15 sets of
twins has been delivered
by Mrs. Eason. But, as
Mrs. Eason says, it hasn't ,
all been delightful,
"Women get in so much
pain and kick and curse
me," she said. "But I
know it's because they
are hurting so badly,"
she said.
Another reason for
Mrs. Eason's dedication
to her job is the fact, that
she knows how it is to be
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Mrs. Eason And Her
Favorite President ;
Progress Formed
educational discretionary
funds that are not channeled
through the State Depart
ment of Public Instruction
and integrated services (not
to do with race) or moneys
that are available from other
various agencies. Such
agencies include: Depart
ments of Labor, Interior,
Commerce, Transportation,
HUD, Fish and Game, Parks
Commission, OEO, Law
Enforcement , Agency,
Environmental Protection
Agency, and other agencies
under HEW.
From that point on,
meetings were held in
Raleigh, Atlanta and
Washington, D.C.
Letters were written to
foundations, seeking sup
port. One such foundation
which voiced approval and
poor and not be able to
afford a doctor. "I go to
these homes 'cause I
know they can't afford a
doctor," she said. Mrs.
Eason charges only $40.
Some people think this is
not enough.
It takes approximately
eight hours for a woman
to deliver. Younger
mothers take longer.
Mrs. Eason stays with the
mother and child until
everything is "okay."
When asked why
boiling water is always
required for birth scenes,
Mrs. Eason said, "All
things must be clean and
sterilized."
Mrs. Eason said she
would not give anything
for her Journey through
life.
With that, the phone
rang, and it was time to
travel down two dirt
roads and several
secondary roads to "wait
on a lady."
possible support was the Z.
Smith Reynolds Foundation,
Inc., Winston-Salem.
The six county collection is
based on what these counties
have in common and why
they are similar in problems
and needs. All six counties
have declining population,
declining tax base, low
family and individual in
come, high percentage of
welfare recipients,
economically depressed
area and educational
deprivation.
Data for Perquimans
County show the total
population in 1960 at 9,178
with the 1970 population
slumping to 8,351. This shows,
a -9.0 per centage change.
The 1968 per capita income
for the county was $1,425.
This ranks 81st in the state.
The 1970 family income was
$5,832. There are 543 persons
on welfare with Perquimans
Important PTA
Meeting Tonight
The next meeting of the
Hertford Grammar School
PTA will be one of its most
important, particularly to
parents of children not yet in
school. It is scheduled for
tonight at 8 p.m.
There will be a discussion
of the state-supported kin
dergarten that will be
operative at the school
beginning this fall. All PTA
mejnbers as well as those
whose children are not yet in
school, are invited to attend
this meeting.
Speakers for the occasion
will be Bill Britt, director of
the Eastern Regional
Education Center, and Ms.
Zelma Smith who is early
TWO CUTIES Twins, Steve Thacker, rear, and Jim,
front, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thacker of 509 Dobb
St., enjoy going along with mother to downtown
Hertford to shop. Mrs. Thacker says the little fellows
behave real well for two-year-olds. (Staff Photo By
Francine Sawyer)
Farmers' Day Saturday
HERTFORD The
Hertford Merchants
Committee in co
operation with the
Perquimans County
Chamber of Commerce is
planning a special salute
to Perquimans County
Farmers, Saturday from
9 a.m. until.
Activities include
special sales by par
ticipating merchants,
display of special farm
machinery and mer
New East
The New East magazine
off the press recently with Its
March-April edition is a good
product.
The magazine, dedicated
to the progress of Eastern
North Carolina, contains a
travel story of Portsmouth
Island, an architecture piece
on the house at No. 1, Doc
tor's Creek, a science article
on Industry collaborating to
move nuclear power plants
onshore, an art article on the
defined art of wood carving.
The wood carving piece is
the cover story and Is about
an Elizabeth City couple,
being 13th. The total
enrollment of school aged
children is 2,041 with 57.1
being colored.
The Alliance for Progress,
Inc. will also identify and
recruit supportive services,
personnel and consultants,
or any and all other services
from businesses, in
dividuals, govermental
agencies, or private
organizations which might
help to identify and meet
regional and individual
district, county or municipal
development and
educational priorities within
the six-county area.
There are 12 boards of
directors, those from
Perquimans County are:
Riley Monds, Jr., Clifford S.
Winslow, and C.C. Walters.
The second installment of
Alliance For Progess, Inc.
will run in the next edition of
The Perquimans Weekly.
childhood consultant for
District I.
They will discuss how the
kindergarten works, its
purpose, its import for the
children, its value to the
community. If you are a
parent concerned about this
important aspect of your
child's education, this
special PTA meeting is a
must.
PTA President Frank
Roberts reminds all PTA
members that this meeting
will be in lieu of the one
regularly scheduled for later
in the month. It will include
installation of new officers
for the next school terms.
chandise, a fish fry, hot
dogs and hamburger sale
sponsored by the Hert
ford American Legion
post, and a fine blue grass
band from Williamston.
It will be a special
Saturday with farmers
getting a royal welcome
downtown and at Harris
shopping center.
The farmers are the
backbone of the com
munity. '
Support April 7.
Off Press
John and Clara Sawyer.
A visit to Columbus County
is featured, Dr. Joe Pou
looks st Irrigation's role In
farming. The profile this
month features Dare
County's own Ayeock Brown,
the development story
features a pollution-free
method of extracting pure
water from the sea and an
industry story on the,
frachlsed food business. - ,
I The cover, which features
a Canadian geese with
; striking color, Is one of the
best covers the magazine
has produced.