Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / July 7, 1983, edition 1 / Page 4
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weekly Perspective u. ? ? i M. ^Bicentennial is still continuing ? ? All America celebrated the , bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1976. Much of America in 1M1 noted the 200th an - niversary of the colonial*' victory at ? Yorktown Hardly anyone has in 1983 ? remembered that our national ' bicentennial still continues. . The year 1783 was a crucial one in the search for American in dependence. Although fighting had been rare since Yorktown, it was by no means certain that British forces would not recommence efforts to . force the rebelling colonies back into King George's fold. mV ; crf\ 1 \ ..?/ / o V#y Only a treaty of peace recognizing ' American independence would end ' the war. Drafting such a treaty was the first of four major tasks facing America in 1783, the other three " being the formal ending of hostilities, ; the evacuating of British forces, and ? the disbanding of the Continental Army. ; The treaty required the whole ; year. On January 20 the preliminary ? peace articles were signed by ' britian, France, and Spain. These !; articles were ratified by the ? American Congress on April 15. It ; 1 was not until September 3 that the ? 1 final treaty of peace was signed at ? 1 Paris, to receive Congressional < ratification the following January 14. , t * ' .An end to hostilities was ; proclaimed in Britian on February 4, J 1783. The good news was formally ? announced to the American army of citizen soldiers on April 19, the eighth anniversary of the war's beginning at Lexington. The removal of British troops was preceded by an exodus of 7,000 Loyalists from New York. The American Revolution had been op posed by a substantial number of colonists, some of whom chose not to remain in the thirteen victorious states. King George's armed forces with drew from New York on November 25. The only army left in America was America's own. The American army grew restless as the war ended. With no fighting to be done, the Continentals were eager to collect their pay and go home. There was dissatisfaction about Congress's bungling in regard to pay, officers' accounts, and pensions. Grumbling surfaced in March with the Newburgh Addresses threatening Congress; General Washington calmed the discontented. On June 13, the army of the thir teen states officially disbanded (except for a small force) and the patriots went home. A few rowdies marched on Philadelphia, causing Congress to flee, but most soldiers followed the example of their com mander-in-chief in returning quietly to civilian life. George Washington led the few troops kept under arms into New York as the British embarked. On December 4 he said farewell to his officers: "With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable." At Annapolis just before Christ mas, Washington submitted his resignation to Congress. He there commended "the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them to his holy keeping." Independence became a fact in 1783, but the thir teen states still had to become a single nation. SKY MESSAGES i 'Fourth' inspires patriotic thoughts The Fourth of July... Another one has come and gone. After seeing 30 or so of the fiery holidays pass me by, I can now say that I know what a real Fourth of July celebration is supposed to be ! The Fourth of July celebration at Missing Mill Park Monday, spon sored by the Perquimans County Jaycees and Jaycettes, had it all! Lots of people, homemade ice cream, hot dogs, snow cones, children laughing, folks seated under the shade trees, flags and bubbles, country music. Jazz, square dancing and singing, more people, ham burgers, pony rides, bingo, hot weather, flushed faces and more laughter. S&ia All of that and more could be found at Missing Mill Park on July 4. It sounds like a description of a Norman Rockwell print, liie picture in my memory of the 1983 Fourth of July could indeed resemble an im pressionistic painting of America. The heat, children, crops and a threatening thunderstorm were popular topics of conversation throughout the day ? certainly not the events of 207 years ago which provided our reason for celebrating. Although patriotism may not have been the foremost thought in most minds ? it was still there ? in bet ween the drifts of conversation about corn and soybeans; in between the squeals of laughter, coming from the direction of the swings; in between the smiles of older citizens as they , watched the younger generations' enjoyment; and in the soulful sounds of the country music. It was still there. While there, I felt as though I was in the very cradle of Americanism, and what I was witnessing could probably be seen any where in America ? from Alaska to New York, from Texas to Florida ? with only a difference in climate and scenery. Our little scene could probably not 0 only span the country, but also time. I could almost imagine myself suspended in time, watching the same scene 100 years ago and wit nessing all of those things which make America what it is. As the sky burst with color and flame during the grand finale of the fireworks show, I couldn't help but pray silently that there would always < be a place, a reason and some people ' to celebrate the Fourth of July. Looking back 20 Year* Ago By VIRGINIA WHITE TRANSEAU PLANS SUBMITTED FOR CONSTRUCTING NEW BRIDGE OVER PERQUIMANS RIVER: The N. C. Highway Commission, Raleigh, has made application for approval of plans to contstruct a bridge across the Perquimans River, Hertford, approximately 0.8 miles downstream of the existing drawbridge. ..COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 1POPT BUDGET CALLING FOR SEW $1.63 TAX RATE: The Perquimans County Board of Commissioners meeting here ^Monday adopted the budget and tax Jp^te for the fiscal year 1963-64 that tentatively approved by the 'Board. '?-The Board adopted the tentative ?Qudget as presented by D. F. Reed, [Jf., County Accountant, for the fiscal ><ar 1963-64, and set the tentative tax at $1.63 per $100 property valuation and ordered same to be published in the paper. Last year's tax rate was $1.47 per $100 property valuation, thus the new rate is a 16-cents increase in taxes for Perquimans County. The Board voted to dicontinue the Defense Program, of which R. Marion Rid dick is Civil Defense director, ef fectve July 31, 1963. FARMERS OF ALBEMARLE SECTION RECEIVE OVER $632,000 FROM FHA: During the 1963 fiscal year a total of $632,120 in loans to farmers and other rural families of this area were made by Farmers Home Administration, Donald W. Norman, county supervisor of the agency has announced from his of fice in Hertford. Of the $632,120 loaned by the Farmers Home Administration in the area during the past fiscal year, $223,600 went to 57 farmers to buy equipment, livestock, fertilizer. Letters to the editor. i Volunteers Dear Editor, Perquimans County Volunteer Appreciation Day was held Sunday, June 26 at Missing Mill Park to honor all county volun teers and many were shocked when the Perquimans Rescue Squad and Firemen were not even recognized. Who do the residents of any county need more than these volunteers when they are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The life of these volunteers save may be yours. Bobby Winslow Hertford, N.C. (Editor's note: Those volunteers who were recognized June 26 were nominated in advance by their supporters and peers. Nominations were open to anyone in the county. This was an nounced in at least three issues of THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY, April 21, May 12 and June 2. Nomination forms were available for at least two months in advance of the recognition day and could be found at several locations, including the Town Office in Hertford. The deadline for nominations was also extended from May 13 to May 20 in hopes of getting greater participation ? this, also an nounced in THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY. Winners were selected from the list of nominations by a com mittee which included Bill Cox, Jane Williams, Juanita Bailey andLibThach.) Infant safety Editor, THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY: On Monday, June 27, a meeting was scheduled at the Perquimans County Health Department concerning infant car safety. The purpose of this meeting was to inform the public of the special type of protective restraint that infants need when traveling in automobiles. Unfortunately, only the nursing supervisor of Perquimans county, Ms. Jodi Brantham, one of the District Health Educators, Ms. Jill Jordan, and myself were able to attend. Other organizations were meeting that same evening, but I was dismayed that no one from the county (other than Ms. Bran tham ) could be there. So, the purpose of this letter is to reach out to you and emphasize the need for infant safety seats. The cost is $25 per seat. One of the pluses of the program is that the Governor's Highway Safety Program will match up to 25 seats with however many we raise money for ? if we raise enough money for 25 seats, they will supply the county with 25 more seats. We need your donations in order to make this program a success. Please contact the District Health Department if you wish to make a contribution, 338-2167. Sincerely, Adrienne Saunders Health Ed. Intern District Health Dept. Elizabeth City, NC Facing South I-^ALATKA, Fla. ? I grew up in P&latka ? a small, north Florida town ? with a feeling (or the mystery fishing that comes not so much from doing it as hearing about it. The ?Ute's largest river ? the St. John's ? bordered our town, which a billboard at the city limita declared was "The Baas Capital of the World." My family and I actually lived a few milea outside Palatka on a dark blue road running through a tunnel of "THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY *: NCWS AND ADVERTISING DEADLINE StOO P.M. MONDAY Subscription Rotes One Tev - 7.50 in county - *8.50 out of county Published Every Thursday By Advance Publ., Elizabeth City Vol T. Short Editor Jane B. Williams Advertising Manager Pat Mansfield Circulation Manager a syndicated column voices of tradition in a changing region live oaks. Our area was rural and isolated and except for my brother and his friend Jack Jr., I had no friends to play with. Perhaps that's why my imagination was thrilled so by my father's stories of his adventures on the St John's. He was a fisherman ? not by profession, but by calling. He stalked the large-mouth bass ? "tailwalkers." he called them because, once hooked, the fish would leap out of the river, arching their bodies so that for a second it ap peared they walked on their tails across the water. Sometimes my father would bring Other times he'd return empty handed. Ah, Uw fickleness of base; I beneath the water hyacinths, wkkartng to themselves aa ay poet patient father cast here aad there. Who could ever understand a fish, I wondered - an animal whose ap my father came home a conqueror. My brother and I and occasionally Jack Jr.. would crowd and watch him scale and filet the catch. My father would cut off the head of an extra large fish and stuff our softball in its mouth. When the head was dry, we'd rescue the ban and marvel over the magnificent gaping mouth. The sight kaspired as to speculate if somewhere there swam a bass so large its mouth could hold a basketball. In those days, we were very much impressed with file ? wheth-r It was the world's longest freight train or the biggest water melon ever grown. Per years we ihiaed for my father to stop st a high way bar that advertised "On Display HERE The Largest Living RAT in the U S " He never would. Bnt he aaafc m> lor the rat with stories of the gargantnan creatures he saw or heard of while fishing. main channel (the freshwater river did open into the Atlantic). He told us of sightings of odd, unexplainable beasts whose heads stuck eyebrow high above the water and resembled dragons, or serpents, or those strange monsters padding around the icy lakes In Scotland. "Do yow know what they are?" he whispered, leading into our favorite Of course he had told as many times, but we wanted to hear again. So be recounted how years before a circus train from Sarasota had derailed, toppling over three livestock cars. In the coofUskm many of the animals escaped ? exotic birds, monkeys, eve* a baby giraffe. oc? whole eage was i for: acageofgiai "They get away," he said. "Just crawled silently away into the rtrw." "How big were they?" my father answered, and added aa a final touch, " There'* no reason those big snakes couldn't live here. The climate's about the same as in the tropics where they come from." "They probably like it here fine. Eating 'possum and maybe a small dog now and then." We all turned and peered at bullet. Jack Jr.'s small black dog, aa if waiting lor Us reply to this ia-} formation. But what could ht say? What could ? anyone say? You couldn't prove ? or ; C disprove ? that giant snakes lived in ; the St John's. The uncertainty made J the river larger, deeper, more time we crowed Palatka'r ?-slung birdge, 1 way and my bnrtfci the banks where water UlUes edged the cypress for eyebrows above the water. All we ever saw were white egrets .< to shine like
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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July 7, 1983, edition 1
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