Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Jan. 31, 1980, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Perquimans People Leroy White ' A view from the bridge by NOEL TODD Mclaughlin Sometimes Leroy White sits and thinks and sometimes he Just sits. As bridge operator on ?he Perquimans River Bridge, he has plenty of time to do both. White, 56, began his career on the Albemarle Sound Bridge, where he worked for eight years. The remaining tenure of his 32-year career as a bridge operator has been spent right here on the Perquimans River. $ And 24 years on the Perquimans Bridge has of fered him the chance to see the flow of many changes. The bridge operation house, now located to the side of the bridge, used to be perched on top, a location White deemed "a lot better place." White also thought more of the old lantern type light poles that used to grace the sides of the bridge where modern aluminum floods now stand. "The bridge looked a lot better with the old timey lights. They were more an tiquey," recalled White. But probably the biggest change White has seen is in the flow of traffic that comes through the Perquimans Ri sr. White said that the bridge used to keep busy with the traffic of Sinclair and Esso tankers that came through to deliver fuel to the oil com panies. The Major and Loomis Saw Mill, which used to be located between Hertford and Winfall, At the controls Leroy White demonstrates how the control panel operates to open the Perquimans River * Bridge. (Photo by NOEL TODD-McLAUGHLIN) Butt is acknowledged WASHINGTON? Colonel Lucious C. Butt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lucious E. Butt of Route 3, Hertford, has been awarded the Legion of Merit Medal, the nation's fifth 'highest medal. * Colonel Butt, Commander, Detachment 16, Headquarters Air Force Element, Tactical Airlift Group, Boiling Air Force Base, was awarded the medal for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States. A 1951 graduate of v Perquimans County High School, Hertford, the colonel earned a bachelor's degree at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., and was Co-editor .. awarded * Mike McLaughlin, co-editor of THE PERQUIMANS . WEEKLY, was honored at the North Carolina Press Association Banquet in Chapel Hill last Thursday for work be did for THE WATAUGA DEMOCRAT in Boone, NkC. v McLaughlin won first place in sports feature writing and f second place in news writing in the non-daily newspaper diriskn contest. Mclaughlin also received Hooorable Mention in the National Press Association contest for ? feature story be wrote for THE WATAUGA DEMOCRAT. McLaughlin and his wife. Noel, have been employed at ^THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY since September. I * . commissioned that year through the Air Force ROTC program. He earned a master's degree in 1965 from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio. His wife, Anne, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart E. Rountree of Hobbesville, N.C. kept the bridge opening, as did fertilizer barges that used to deliver via the river. But two of the oil companies have moved off the river. The saw mill is no more, and now the only traffic the Perquimans River Bridge sees is the occasional cruiser or houseboat that comes through in the summer. The slowdown in river traffic has caused the North Carolina Department of Transportation to consider closing the bridge during certain hours. "They've been trying to close this bridge from 12 (midnight)to 8 (a.m.)," said White, "and if it hadn't been for Mayor Cox, they'd a closed it already." White mused, "I'm afraid they'll eventually close the whole thing down," But while the bridge remains open, the Depart ment of Transportation is determined to keep its bridge operators busy. Bridge operators are required to turn in a report of traffic once or twice a month which entails not only the distinction bet ween the number of local and out-of-state cars, but also the number of pick-up trucks, single-tire trucks, and dual 5 axles. "It amounts to having to sit in one place for eight hours and count cars and it'll get you dizzy trying to find a license," said White as he rapidly spins his head back and forth to demonstrate. Although White said he has never seen any boat mishaps from the bridge, he has seen some car accidents. "I saw this man trying to get rid of a bumble bee trapped in his car. He wasn't going fast, but he smacked right into the bridge," said White. The worst condition that boats have to deal with, ac cording to White, is fog. "Fog is a problem. I'm scared to open it when it's like that," said White who recalled a time when the fog was so thick that he had to direct a boat under the bridge with a siren. If not counting cars or on the alert for water traffic, what does a bridge operator do? "I watch TV, or read, or listen to that," said White motioning to the electric radio softly playing country music atop an old refrigerator. "Sitting here by yourself, seems like time drags. " White's wife, Ruth, usually brings him his dinner when he is working the 4 p.m. to midnight shift and sometimes she stays and sits with him a while in the sparsley furnished wood-panelled room. There are only two chairs in the room, and although White said the Department of Tran sportation had kept a sign posted declaring that "No Company" was allowed, every now and then, someone will drop by for a visit. "I don't like to stay still. I reckon that's the reason this job gets to me," admitted White. I d rather be doing something when I'm off," said White who supplements his fair ' income as a bridge operator by working part time doing electrical work with Ray Lassiter. "I've stayed on here so long because I don't like change " said White. Despite his dissatisfaction with the sedentary aspect of the job, White admitted there was also a positive side to his position. "You're not out in weather, and it's cool in here in the summer," he said. But one gets the feeling that the Perquimans River Bridge has sort of grown on White over the years. He proudly relates the fact that the song, Carolina Moon" was com posed on the bridge. And he claims that the Perquimans River Bridge is the only 'S* shaped bridge in the country. "There's only one other 'S' shaped bridge in the world and that's in Italy or someplace like that," said White. CARD OF THANKS I wish to express my appreciation to each one for the many prayers, visits, cards and flowers and all acts of kindness rendered me during my stay in the hospital and since my return home. May God bless each of you. LAURA SUTTON Celebrate 50th Mr. and Mrs. Howard L. Brinson Sr. celebrated their 50th anniversary oq January 12 at the Bethel Ruritan Club House. The anniversary was acknowledged by a social ' gathering hosted by the couple's children. Billy L. Pierce Dttke* To Work For Improvement of Perquimans County as ? County Commissionei PERQUIMANS COUNTY District II Democratic Primary ? May 6, 1980 I WiU Appreciate Your Volt and Support Unique bridge White proudly claims that the Perquimans River Bridge is the only 'S' shaped bridge in the United States. (Photo by NOEL TODD-McLAUGHLIN ) Home away from home Leroy White has spent 32 years in the bridge operator's house but not all of that time has been spent on the side of i the bridge, where the building : is now located. White '? remembers a time about 15 years ago, when the structure sat on top of the bridge. ( Photo by NOEL TODD McLAUGHLIN) J&L Tree Sendee Free Estimates IQHN MILKER Pafcrtiiar* ft| I1 : pRfHWl|| He U 519/297-2507 EFFECTIVE SEPT. 1, 1979 WE NOW DEVIATE 22.5% BELOW STATE RATES ON THESE POLICIES FIRE HOMEOWNERS FARMOWNERS MOBILE HOMEOWNERS SPECIAL MULTI-PERIL (SMP) Let your Form Bureau Insurance Agent assist you. SEE WALT HUMPHLETT Harris Shopping Contor HERTFORD. N.C. 4)4-563* BANK of NORTH CAROLINA N.A. Ftxc
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 31, 1980, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75