Perspective^
Christmas decorations bring cheer to town's streets j
<? By Charles T. Skinner, Jr.
S LOCAL SCENE: Christmas
* Time--1988--The Christmas street
decorations have been installed for
> our viewing pleasure by the Town
% 0 f Hertford The Town electricians
? Ray Fesperman, David Phelps,
J and George Jackson, Jr. have
? again done a good job installing the
? decorations. In the downtown
C "Maul" shopping area, the Christ
} mas spirit arrived with a very sue -
J cess fill joint Perquimans County
< Jaycee-Chamber of Commerce
? sponsored parade. Now, the big
J-' lighted Christmas tree sponsored
v by the B.P.W. CluD has been in
y stalled in the "Courthouse Botan
j! ical Garden", the merchants store
4* windows have been decorated, the
ft
female sales persons with red rib
bons in their nair, drinking cherry
cokes from the drug store, and with
uninhibited downtown parking, all
lends to the festivity of the "spend
ing season".
The Town of Hertford Municipal
Building is always decorated to
promote the Yuletide season.
Wouldn't it be great, if when you
went to the Municipal Building to
pay your utility bill, a singing cho
rus consisting of Mayor Bill Cox
(Bass), Marvin Hunter (Baritone),
Earnest Hardy (Tenor), Julia Ann
Ownley (Alto), Cindy Eure (So
prano), and Ruby Lane Harrell
(Contralto) would render a few Ch
ristmas songs to the utility custom
er. "Santa's Helpers" (Town
Charlie's Corner
Councilmen) John Beers, Billy L.
Winslow, Jesse Harris, and Erie
Haste could pass out peppermint
candy.
YESTERYEAR: Can't help but re
member when the Christmas sea
son came years ago, one big treat
was receiving a few red delicious
apples and navel oranges. Rember
ing also as a youngster in the 'ate
30's, ordering a $2.50 fireworks as
sortment from the Spencer Fire
works Co. in Ohio...roman candles,
sparklers, cherry bombs, strings of
Chinese firecrackers... The fire
works shipment came by Railway
Express to the Norfolk-Southern
train depot. Every day from De
cember 15th on, we nearly aggra
vated Norman Trueblood, Sidney
Blanchard, and Bill Trueblood to
death "checking" to see if the fire
works shipment had arrived on the
noon train. Finally the day the ship
ment arrived, this caused much
grief to the neighbors, bird dogs,
and mama's. Out of school at Ch
ristmas time was big fun for the
youngsters, with occassionally a
snow on the ground, going into the
woods to cut a cedar tree and holly
branches.
Hanging stockings, leaving a 6
oz. Coke and fruit cake for Santa,
and anticipating what the big day
would bring was the most exciting
time of the year for some. Do you
remember the first time you saw
the new invention "electric lights"
on the tree? Remember Christmas
time in 1941-42?. ..no Christmas
lights due to the World War II
blackout requirements because of
submarine warfare off the North
Carolina coast. During the World
War II years at Christmas time, it
was tough to be away from home.
Remembering again, the Harvey
Point sailor sitting in Morgan
Walker's drug store, crying, listen
ing to the nickelodeon (jukebox)
playing "I'll Be Home For Christ
mas". This sailor, of course, not be
ing able to have a Christmas leave
home. It happened to some of us
again during the Korean War. All of
this was nearly forgotten as our
children came along and the age
old traditions were displayed again
for the new generation. I am glad I
am not old enough to remember
getting only one toy, one orange,
and a piece of candy, but old
enough that I do not have to buy the
children a new pick-up for Christ
mas! The Christmas messages at
church have a deeper meaning
now... the story is the same... just a
different attitude as to the mes
sage. 4
BITS & PIECES: Thanks so mpch
for the fine comments on the pest
columns that are intended to bring
pleasure and enjoyment to our
readers.
Road commissioner sees life
differently at the Pearly Gates
Two county road commissioners
died and simultaneously applied
for admittance at the pearly gates.
St. Peter acknowledged they were
at the right place, but also in
formed them that space was tem
porarily sbort. Each was given the
suggestion that he go back to earth
for about three weeks and await a
new summons. While waiting, they
could be anything they chose, ex
cept themselves as they had been in
life.
Commissioner number one said
that he had spent his entire life
sponsoring public works, but had
not had a chance to really see the
results of his achievements.
"I would like to return as an ea
gle," be suggested, "and fly over
my district and admire the roads,
bridges, and lakes I've helped to
construct."
"Doae," said St. Peter, and the
temporary eagle soared off.
But the commissioner number
two perferred a different lifestyle.
"I want to go back as a stud," he
said, ginnning wildly with anticipa
tion.
"No problem," replied St. Peter.
"Your wish is granted. "
Three weeks later, the new heav
enly subdivision was opened and St.
Peter prepared to sena for the com
missioners. The angel asked, "How
in the world am I ever going to And
these guys?"
St. Peter replied, "Well, Charlie
will be easy enough. He's an eagle.
You'll find him soaring over the
W GAIL R08ERS0N
Mississippi Valley. Fred, though,
will be little harder. He's nailed be
tween two wall boards at a con
struction site in Kanas City."
Now and then, some poor wan
dering soul and rather just stay put
where he is than to chance arriving
somewhere other than the Pearly
gates. Examples:
An evangelist was approaching
the finale of his fiery discourse, his
voice rising as he thundered, "Do
you want to go the Heaven? Do you
want to stand before those pearly
gates? Everyone who wants to go to
Heaven, stand up! "
The congregation rose except for
one man, the local jack-of-all
trades. For a moment the preacher
was speechless, and then de
manded, "Brother! Don't you want
ot go to Heaven? And the still
seated brother looked up and draw
led.. "Nope. Missouri's good enough
forme."
It was Sunday morning church
service and the clegyman had
THE
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Established In 1932
Published Eoch Thursday By The Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C.
Second Class Postage Paid at Hertford. N.C. 27944 USPS 428-000
Frank Wood ?
Publisher
Dixie Corner
Advertising Manager
ONE YEAR MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES
In-County Out-Of-County
*10.00 . *11.00
119 West Grubb Street
P.O. Box 277
Hertford. N.C. 27944
kl? ? aI. M .rtllnry DrMa rtf lul If. a.
rwm HjiOIIiRJ rr??i Aiiotioiion
talked a little about every book in
the New Testament, determined to
preach his congregation right
through the pearly gates. It was
also approaching high noon, and his
flock was restless. At the stroke of
twelve, the minister finally finished
with the book of Revelation.
He paused a moment... suddenly
remembering that he'd completely
omitted the entire book of James.
Thinking aloud, he stated, "Now
what am I going to do with
James?" Promptly, a very impa
tient man on the front row growled,
"You can give him my seat. I'm
going home."
A great discussion took place be
tween a group of distinguished sci
entists pertaining to the subject of
heaven and hell. It seemed ther
was much doubt as to the existence
of the pearly gates in the first
place. So, to find out what really
happened when the earth was cre
ated, engineers spent weeks gath
ering information, checking and
rechecking, and feeding it into their
gigantic computer.
, The great moment arrived. Ev
erything was completed. All the
world's greatest scientists gath
ered around. A button was
punched, and the great computer
whirled into action. Lights flashed.
Bells rang. And then, finally, a
typed message emerged: "SEE
GENESIS 1:1 '
The pearly gates. Fact or fiction.
But something each one of us will
have the chance to Find out first
hand. . .sooner or later.
Skilled Rufus White, family
established business area
HISTORICAL NOTES
David White, Jr., acquired some
land in Belvidere south of the main
road from the Up River fork west
ward to Perquimans River. He con
veyed a lot in 1856 to Jeptha White,
who sold it in 1860 to Josiah Nichol
son, Jr. (Josiah occupied the lot the
remainder of his life; he eventually
married one of Jeptha's daugh
ters.)
County surveyor 1847-1849 and a
warden of the poor in 1863, David
White, Jr., remained a farmer in
Perquimans until 1885, when he
moved to Guilford County, dying
there in 1895. His son Thomas N.
White was Belvidere's resident
physician for some years.
In a long career Rufus White
(1827-1918), David's brother, was
variously a shoemaker, a farmer, a
dry goods and grocery merchant, a
wool carder, and a grist miller. The
principal of his many landholdings
was the Griffin property north of
the main road around Belvidere
Academy. He was primarily re
sponsible for the development of a
small industrial complex near the
river above Newby's Bridge. His
capital should have been ample, for
his real estate valuation in 1870 of
$12,000.00 (for 800 acres) was the
largest in Belvidere Township and
one of the largest in Perquimans
County.
In 1870 Rufus White also had a
horse-powered wool carding busi
ness employing two hand and pro
ducing 2,000 rolls of wool. By 1880
Rufus White & Co. had established
the Belvidere Steam Mill on Per
quimans River. With a capital in
vestment of $4,000.00 and
employing as many as three hands
at a time during six months of the
year, the mill in 1880 custom
ground 200,000 pounds of corn meal
and 80 barrels of wheat flour. ;
That same year (1880) Rufus and
others leased to his brother Josiah
T. White a cotton gin, gin house,
and their appurtenances. At that
time Rufus represented the First
District in the state Senate.
A legislative biography of "ufus
White states: "His father was a
member of the Society of Friends,
and was a zealous advocate of lib
erty, peace, and temperance. (Ru
fus White) is also a member of the
same religious denomination... He
has seven children living, the el
dest, a son graduated at Haverford
College,... This is Mr. White's first
term in the Legislature. He re
ceived a very flattering vote in his
county, having received 630 major
ity over his opponent. This shows
that he stands high in the estima
tion of his people, and that they had
great confidence in his ability to
legislate in thier behalf. By occupa
tion he is a plain farmer, and is a
very hard working man.
He is on committees, Finance,
Public Printing, Claims and Insane
Asylum. -Rupublican. ' '
Part 6 next week.
Chamber kicks off membership drive
HASTE CHAIRMAN OF CHAM
BER CAMPAIGN: The annual
membership drive conducted by
the Perquimans County Chamber
of Commerce was kicked off Mon
day night at a meeting in the cham
ber office in the Hertford Municipal
Building. Chairman for the mem
bership drive is Erie Haste Jr.
CRAFTMAN'S FAIR IS HUGE
SUCCESS: 4 PERQUIMANS
BOOTHS: The 12th annual Albe
marle Craftman's Fair is now his
tory. The four-day fair which ran
from Sept. 23-26 was a great suc
cess. Perquimans County Home
makers and friends contributed to
the success of the fair by serving
meals, sandwiches, desserts and
drinks. Four of the 44 booths which
Letters
Dear Editor:
I am very disappointed of the
coverage of the Christmas Parade
in last week's Perquimans Weekly.
The Perquimans Middle School
won a trophy for first place, yet
there was not a mention of it in the
paper. Instead you had a picture of
the Perquimans High School
Marching Band and stated "it was
the hit of the show at the parade".
Let's give credit where credit is
due. A lot of those young people in
the Middle School Band were
marching for the very first time
and they did a tremendous job.
They were trying very hard.
Let's encourage these young
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VIB6IN1A WHITE
"mANSEAU
offered crafts for display and sales
were from Perquimans County.
Mrs. T. T. Harrell returned to
demonstrate egg shell craft, Mrs.
Joe Towe White Sr., experienced
pine cone craftsman, returned to
the fair. Newcomers were Mr. and
Mrs. W. C. Best of Snug Harbor
with wood carving, and Mrs. Edwin
T. Williams of Hertford with
teenagers. They are our future
High School Band.
Sarah Perry
Hertford, N.C. 27944
pressed dried flora oshibana . *
The following members of the
Conserved Products Association
sold homemade pickles, preserves,
jams and other goods; Mrs. Juliab
Powell, Mrs. Warner Madre, Mrs.
Harold White, Miss Carmen Apn
Sutton, Mrs. Ernest Sutton and
Mrs. Stanley Blanchard. Perqui
mans County 4-H members who dis
played and sold crafts in the Youth
Center were Gail and Sue Proctor*..
Also demonstrating curler bags
was Sybil Hobbs.
ANNOUCE BIRTH OF FIRST
CHILD: Mr. and Mrs. Billy Nixon
announce the birth of their fii$t
child, a daughter, Tanya Dee, born
Sept. 13, 1970. Mrs. Nixon is the for
mer Brenda Anthony of Gallatin,
Tenn.
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