?THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume 35, No.ll USPS 428-060 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, March 15, 1979 15 CENTS
BLACKSMITHS BEATING - Per
quimans County's newest black
smith, Kick Guthrie (left), is beating
on a hot piece of metal, changing the
shape to what he wants. David
Brewin, right, holds the cold end of
the iron and watches as Guthrie
works. (Staff photo by Tony Jordan)
Old Profession Rekindled
Town of Hertford Has
Another Blacksmith
By TONY JORDAN
The ears will not be deceiving if
you pass by Custom Forging and Or
namental Iron Works and hear two
hammers beating in unison. It sim
ply means that the town of Hertford
apw has two, instead of one,
Racksmiths.
Rick Guthrie has joined David
Brewin in the operation located to
the side of Harris Plumbing on
Woodland Avenue. Brewin began
making candlestick holders,
fireplace pokers, and other
roughhewn metal objects in Hert
ford during 1976. At that time, he
was working as a guidance
counselor in the Pasquotank School
System.
Since that time business has pick
ed up and it's a full-time job for
Brewin and his friend and new co
worker Guthrie. Guthrie has been
working there for over a month.
The two men met during a course
held at Brasstown, N.C. offered by
the John C. Campbell Folk School.
The course was taught by Frances
Whitakers, described as the "Dean
of American Blacksmiths."
Guthrie, who has lived in very
sparcely and densely populated
areas, says he feels at home in Per
quimans County. "I have lived in
places where the nearest town is 30
miles away," Guthrie stated.
Although the sweaty, dirty work
and the loud noise of the busy ham
mers may not seem to be exciting
work for most people, Guthrie and
Brewin both agree that they would
not consider any other career.
Guthrie is one of two people in the
county who have recently been
selected to the Albemarle Crafts
man Guild. Brewin was selected to
the honorary membership in 1977.
Brewin pointed out that they have
not quite perfected the craft yet.
Looking at the red-hot piece of
metal, he stated, "The mark of a
really good blacksmith is the ability
to pick this up in your bare hands."
Attorney At Law Matthews
Accepted by Supreme Court
. With 12 other lawyers from the
-First Judiciary District in North
Carolina, Attorney-At-Law, John
'Matthews was accepted as a lawyer
who could practice before the
Supreme Court. The ceremony took
place in Washington D.C., March 5,
before the nine Supreme Court
: Justices.
t Matthews was the only lawyer
acticing in the county to be ac
pted during the Surpreme Court
Session. "It's a rare occasion that I
get to participate in the national
government, other than paying my
taxes," Matthews said.
Each of the accepted members
:was introduced individually by
:Rufus Edmisten, N.C., to the highest
Tanking judges in the country. The
;men were selected by lawyers who
;bave previously been accepted.
While present, the Supreme Court
^ announced their rulings on current
leues. One of the rulings received
'.national attention, concerning
'.alimony in divorce cases for either
:sex. The court ruled in favor of the
>measure.
>: Matthews noted some surprise at
the friendliness of the court. "They
were serious," he said, "but not
; The size of the courtroom was
another surprise to the county's at
torney. "As far as seating, it's not
much bigger than the Perquimans
County Courthouse," he informed.
He did note that the walls, floor, and
ceiling were made of marble. The
high ceiling made an impressive
room, according to Matthews.
"A lot of lawyers go through their
life and never get the chance to
come in contact with high officials. I
feel I'm very lucky," Matthews said.
MATTHEWS ACCEPTED - John
Matthews, Attourney-at-Law, was
accepted by the Supreme Court to
practice law before the highest court
March 5, in Washington, D.C.
Three Men Arrested in County Case
Two men were arrested Saturday
oo arson charges while one of them
and another has been arrested for
larceny of a hof and breaking and
entering.
Elmer Lee Roundtree, 33, of 105
Celeste Street, Elisabeth City, and
Uoyd Thomas Meads, 27, Rt 2,
Elisabeth City, were arrested by
Sheriff Julian Broughton for larceny
and breaking and entering of J.P.
Perry's barn in Perquimans County.
Meads and Andy Bray, 20, of
Elizabeth City, have been charged
with arson. Parker's barn caught
fire Feb. a
Meads and Roundtree are being
held on simiar charges, larceny of
cattle, by the Pasquotank Sheriff's
Department Broughton said Cam
den Sheriff's Dept. and EBzabeth
City Police Dept. helped in the
investigation.
Roundtree remains in Tri-County
Jail on bond. Meads is out on $13,000
bond, Mis Bray. fc
Board Discuss Student
Suspensions at Session
The Perquimans County Board of
Education met March 6 to discuss
among other items, mandatory
retirement, the band program, revi
sion to school calendar, spring
testing and alternative measures for
student supension.
Federal legislation concerning a
mandatory retirement age of 70
years was discussed for the school
system's employees. The board is in
the process of developing a local
policy on the matter.
As the band program begins gear
ing up for its second concert, the
board is considering the emplimen
tation of a booster club. The concert
is set for March 22 at the high school.
More information will be available
after the concert.
A change in the school calendar
was approved by the board. The last
day for students will be June 6; the
last day for teachers is June 8. Snow
days in February are the cause of
the two-day delay of the end the
school year.
The board reviewed spring
testing, both on the local and state
level. No changes were reported, but
more discussion on the matter will
come in future meetings.
Replacing the gym floor and
basketball backboards at Union
School were listed on the agenda.
The financial report was included by
Superintendant James P. Harrell.
Plans for budgeting for the 1979-80
year were discussed. No decisions
were made.
The board approved a change in
supension of students that has
existed for years in the county. If
student behavior warrants suspen
sion, the alternative program will
provide students with structured
learning in skill areas which the stu
dent needs assistance.
The program will become effec
tive immediately and will include
limited social contact for the
students. It is being funded through
money granted by the county
commissioners.
The board approved CETA Title II
funds, which had previously been
handled by the county. The
members heard a status report on
the Tri-County Education Center,
Feasibility Study.
Personnel allocations were
discussed. It was reported that ten
tative allocations have come from
the state board of education. It was
announced that additional funding
has made it possible for the schools
to hire a speech therapist.
The Perquimans County Schools
System has qualified for a Safety
Award to be given by the Dept. of
Labor. The award is based on the
number of employees and the safety
record of the system.
The next meeting, set for March
19, will be held with five other county
school systems in Edenton. Alliance
for Progress, composed of Per
quimans, Chowan, Gates, Hertford,
Bertie, and Martin Counties, will
review the Rockfellow Project. The
project is used to develop and in
itiate leadership on the ad
ministrative level.
Recreation Meeting
Held Monday Night
The Perquimans County
Recreation Advisory Committee's
regular monthly meeting was held
Monday night at Angler's Cove with
the officials from both the Town of
Hertford and Perquimans County as
guests.
A meal preceded a program by
Steve Moler, Recreation Consultant,
with the N.C. Department of Natural
Resources and Community
Development. As part of his
presentation, a National Recreation
and Parks Association film, "In
Search of Balance", was shown.
Mr. Moler spoke of exsisting
relationships in North Carolina
between towns and counties in the
area of recreation. He compared the
joint department in Perquimans
County with other county-town
departments in areas of ap
proximately the same size. His
comments also included budgets,
facilities, potential funds and
programs.
Several questions were asked at
the conclusion of the meeting.
Guests recognized were Town
Commissioners Erie Haste, John
Beers, "Pete" Broughton, Billy
Winslow and Mayor Bill Cox, County
Commissioners Welly White and
Waldo Winslow, Superintendent of
Perquimans County Schools, Pat
Harrell, and Jerry Allen, Parks and
Recreation Director of Elizabeth
City. Ronnie Feaster, from the
Rural Conservation and Develop
ment Office in Windsor, N.C. was
also present.
Others who attended the meeting
were: Mr. and Mrs. George White,
Mack Nixon, Herbert White, Patti
Riddick, Gill Underwood, and
Wayne Henritze.
The members of the Receation
Advisory Committee are: Mrs.
Paige Underwood, Msr. Betty Hare,
Mrs. Antoinette Sutton, Mrs. Rosa
Talley, Mrs. Larry Drumgold, Mrs.
Kay Boyce, Ed Brown, Ed Nixon,
"Flutch" Dail, Billy Pierce, Tommy
Nowell, and Eugene Rountree.
Work's Slow at School
Construction at Perquimans High
School is moving slowly, but is ex
pected to increase as the warmer,
drier weather replaces the wet, ac
cording to Superintendenat Pat Har
rell. At the present, no work has
been done on the proposed new
construction.
The one-time agricultural shop,
located on the front of the gym, has
been stripped. Plumbers and electri
cians have been able to do the re
quired work in renovation of the
building.
Harrell said soil engineers will be
testing the soil as soon as the ground
dries. With the results of the test in
hand, the contractors will begin
unloading fill dirt on the site. After
compacting, construction work
begins.
The project is approximately 30
days behind schedule, according to
Harrell. He pointed out that the time
may be made up if the weather
breaks soon.
Bear Cubs Are Raised in County
By JEAN WINSLOW
Evan and Pauline Cartwright on
Four-Mile Desert Road keep their
pet dogs outside, but they keep their
pet bears in the living room.
About a month ago, the Cart
wrights were cutting wood where
loggers were working. The loggers
told them of a mother bear which
had just been accidently killed when
she strayed into the path of a logging
truck.
As they talked, faint cries were
overheard and the two cubs were
discovered in the cavity of a large
tree. Taking them home, the Cart
wrights consulted with veterinarian
L.C. Cooper, who put the babies on
milk and pablum. They will soon be
eating dog food.
The cubs are about 7 to 8 weeks old
and will weigh four to six hundred
pounds at maturity. Before that
time, the Cart wrights and Forester
Horace Cahoon must make a deci
sion as to where the bears will be
permanently sent, since they would
eventually require an acre of fenced
land and a pond.
The Cartwrights have more than
one choice. The cubs can be assigned
to a too, or can possibly be trained to
cope with the wild once more. This is
the first time a family in North
Carolina has ever undertaken the
raising of bear cubs.
In the meantime, Johnnie and
Jodie, who are already answering to
their names, are happily developing
under Mrs. Cartwright'i tender lov
ing care. "I love every minute of
caring for them," she said of the
rare black natives of this area. "I'll
really be sorry if they ever have to
leave us."
"Are You Talking To Me?"
Jodie appears speechless over her
new human friends. The cub and her
brother are being cared for by Evan
4nd Pauline Cartwright. It is t^e
only known case in the state where
people have adopted and raised
black bears. (Staff photo by Jean
Winslow) ,