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 HAS IT STORE " Check Our Prices Before You Travel" New Hope 264-2784 Brighten Up Your Business With A Business Builder If you are a new business or a business who does not advertise frequently You can advertise weekly for as little as 1 .50 Weekly for 52 Weeks ?2.00 Weekly for 26 Weeks ?2.50 Weekly for 13 Weeks (Copy Chonges Will Be Once a Week) Call Dixie at 426-5728 &y 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. BOOK EARLY FOR CRUISE DISCOUNTS Call 7a?*4 tutd 1 17 S. Water St. 33S-2272 I Yearly Rates: *10.00 in-county *11.00 out-of-county This Month only: *9.00 in-county '10.00 out-of-county

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