Newspapers / The Coastland Times (Manteo, … / Sept. 17, 1954, edition 1 / Page 1
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VOLUME XX —NO. 12 DARE TOURIST BUREAU REVIEWS YEAR’S WORK AND PLANS A PROGRAM Mrs. Lucille Purser Elected President, Suc ceeding Lawrence Swain, at Meeting in Manteo Wednesday; Aycock Brown Contin ues as News Director. Mrs. Lucille Purser of Nags Head, who has been very active in promoting and publicizing the Dare coastal region, for several years was elected chairman of the board of directors of Dare County Tourist Bureau at the annual meeting of the organiza tion in Manteo Wednesday. She succeeds Lawrence L. Swain under whose leadership tne Dare County Tourist Bureau was organized three years ago to become one of the outstanding agencies of its kind in North Carolina. At the June meeting of the board of di rectors B. M. Hedrick of Kill Devil Hills was nominated chair man, but in view of the fact that he plans to live at his home in Arlington, Va., most of the win ter and away from the area he declined the nomination. While Swain had requested that he be replaced as chairman during the June meeting he plans to con tinue taking an active part in the Tourist Bureau’s program of • promotion and publicity. At the June meeting A. H. Gray of Waves had been nomi nated to the post of vice-chair man, succeeding M. L. Burrus of Hatteras. At the same time W. H. McCown, secretary and treasurer of the Tourist Bureau during the past two years was re-elected to that post in the organization. Primary discussion during the meeting Wednesday involved a refinancing program, and ways and means to ’ best accomplish such a program. Mimeographed reports of the Secretary-Treas urer. gave a picture of the cur ?nt financial status of the or £ nization and an annual report W the manager and news direc jr was also made available to those present at the meeting. The Tourist Bureau’s budget of $16,000 for 1953-54, has not yet been raised in full and immed iate steps are being taken to col lect all pledges from investors which have not yet been paid. Due to considerable more activ ity than had been anticipated during the 1954 season, it was necessary as the fiscal year’s ending on September 30 ap proached, that certain curtail ments in operation be made. It was indicated at the meeting Wednesday that these curtail ments in operation would have to continue until the Tourist Bu reau is again on a sound basis fi nancially. The Year's Work An annual report of Tourist Bureau’s operation was present ed members of the board by Ay cock Brown, manager and news director of the organization. His report indicated that dur ing the past year an average of 12 news items had each week been mailed to newspapers, magazines or columnists from the Dare’coast, and in addition special stories were mailed daily newspapers or magazines upon request. An average of 100 news papers in North and South Caro lina, Virginia, D. C., and other States, and the Associated Press, United Press and International News Service received the news releases. During the summer months almost 300 weekly news papers in North Carolina and Virginia received news releases at least twice monthly. More than 2,400 newspictures were mailed newspapers maga zines or provided to writers do ing stories on the area or other wise used in the public relations interests of the area. An average of two newspaper negatives f -eekly were forwarded syndi- 'O ites on approvial and many /ere accepted for publication and distribution to hundreds and thousands of newspapers. The Bureau also worked close ly with a hundred or more press representatives who covered events leading up to and the act ual celebration of the Golden Anniversary of the First Flight at Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk last December. This was the most publicized aviation event in history, according to ex perts who knew what they were talkjng about. In addition to publicity and press relations, the Dare County Tourist Bureau distributed ap- See BUREAU, Page Eight I THE COASTLAND TIMES PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROLINA OFFICIALS CONFER ON FERRY SAFETY AT OREGON INLET Safety and Efficiency Aim of U. S. C. G. and Highway, Dept, in Friendly Meeting Safety and efficiency methods of operation of State-owned fer ries at Oregon Inlet were ex plored in detail by representa tives of the State Highway De partment and the U. S. Coast Guard at an on-deck conference lasting most of the day Thursday and out of it will come a closer co-operation between the Marine Safety Division of the Coast Guard and the Ferry Operations division of the Highway Depart ment. i Under present interpretations of regulations ferries or other craft not operated for a fare or for profit-do not come within the jurisdiction of marine inspection and Friday’s conference, called by mutual agreement between Admiral Russell E. Wood, com mandant of the Fifth District and Chairman A. H. Graham, of the Highway Commission, was concerned primarily with recom mendations that might come for the greater safety and efficiency of the operation. Among the matters worked out will be included direct radio contact between ferry boats and the Coast Guard’s radio system by which, if help should be need ed, it could be immediately call ed for. The representatives of the Coast Guard came, as they de clared, to suggest helpfully ! rather than to impose regulations as they apply to normal commer cial operations. Present for the conference, representing the State, were Div ision Engineer W. N. Spruill, District Engineer George Mack and Ferry Superintendent John Wilson. Representing Admiral Wood were Capt. E. H. Theile, chief of the Marine Safety Divi sion and Commander W. J. Con nelly, Marine Inspector for Vir ginia and North Carolina. Chief Warrant Officer Harold Glynn, group commander of Cape Hat- See OFFICIALS, Page Four PRICE MEEKINS, FORMER NEGRO COAST GUARD, DIES NEAR MANTEO The death of Norfleet Price Meekins, 64 at his home near Manteo Friday night removes a highly esteemed citizen, and one who had many friends through out the section. He was for 26 years a member of the crew of the all-Negro Coast Guard sta tion at Pea Island and had been retired for several years. He was the son of the late Theodore Robinson Meekins and Henrietta White Meekins, his father having been lost near Oregon Inlet while a member of the crew of Pea Island station in 1917. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Bessie Daniels Meek ins; one son, Theodore R. Meek ins of Manteo; three daughters, Mrs. James Lee of New York; Mrs. Clarence Austin and Miss Pensacola Meekins of Manteo. He is also survived by the fol lowing brothers and sisters, Lloyd Meekins, Douglas Meek ins of Manteo; Nicholas Meekins, and Theodore Roosevelt Meekins of New York and Noah Meekins of Baltimore, and Mrs. John Savage. Rev. Kelly Golden preached his funeral Sunday, at Haven Creek Methodist Church. His former white comrades of the nearby Coast Guard stations added the military part of the funeral. A solo was sung by Mrs. W. M. Simmons, and two num bers by the church choir; “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” and “Farther Along.” Active pallbearers were former comrades: Lonnie Gray, Maxie Berry, Haywood Wise, Maloyd Scarborough, W. M. Sim mons and Reuben Gallop. Honor ary pall-bearers were deacons of his church: Marshall Collins, Dave Alexander, G. H. Midgett, George Pledger, Balfour Wescott, Charles Whedbee and Leo Tillett, 4 . (! ■ - HUT FOR BOY SCOUTS TO BE BUILT IN DARE Manteo Rotarians Sponsoring Movement Manteo Rotarians at their reg ular weekly meeting this week announced plans for sponsoring a movement to build a hut for Boy Scouts in the Roanoke Is land and Nags Head area. A fund raising drive, spearheaded by members of the Rotary Club, is scheduled to start this week end and the present goal will be $3,000. The Hut which will be a com pletely equipped meeting place and club room with recreational facilities would be located near Manteo on properties already earmarked, but not yet pur chased, for the project. A prelim inary discussion of building the Hut was held last spring and at that time arrangements were made with owners of suitable • properties for its location. The owners agreed to hold the prop erty until the busy summer sea son was over and a serious drive for funds could be made for its purchase and likewise the amount necessary for erecting a > suitable building. The Rotary Club Boy Scout Building committee is composed of Ralph Swain, chairman, Gor don Kellogg and E. E. Meekins. It was at this committee’s sug gestion that sub-committees were appointed during the cur rent weekly meeting to begin the drive for funds. The sub-commit tees follow: W. R. Pearce, Martin Kellogg, L. L. Swain-Waterfront in Manteo west to Church Street; Bob Smith, Johnny Long, L. L. Highway; W. H. McCown, Char- Swain,-Church Street west to les Marshall and Archie Burrus,- Highway from Midway Service Station to North End and Air port section; Aycock Brown chairman of publicity and com mittee of one to contact subscri bers in Community and Health Buildings; Charles Marshall-to contact Park Service Personnel for funds or pledges; Chauncey Meekins, Ralph Swain and Ro land Sawyer-Midway Service station to and including Wan chese; Allyn Hanks, Abie Wil liams, Dick Gray, Dick Jordan,- Nags Head beach area. E. E. Meekins will be treas urer for the funds, on behalf of the Rotary Club, or the agency in whose name the project will be owned when completed. There was some discussion about the ownership of the prop erties and it was decided that a special board, composed of mem bers who have a deep interest in the youth of the area, would be named Trustees for the Building. Legal slants on this were provi ded by Rotarian Martin Kellogg. In addition to the fund raising . drive to be conducted immed iately by the Rotary committees, the Boy Scouts themselves will also enlist their services in the drive by making house to house canvasses. Other civic or religi ous organizations in the area will also be invited to lend their fi nancial support. Theodore Noe is scoutmaster of the Manteo Boy Scouts. Under his leadership considerable in terest in scouting has been creat ed in the Roanoke Island and Nags Head area. The local troop is affiliated with the Tidewater Council of Boy Scouts of America. DUCK GETS ROAD BUILT BY STATE IN AUGUST Raleigh. Emmett Winslow, Commissioner of the First High way Division, today said that 8.5 miles of paving had been com pleted by the State Highway Commission in his division dur ing August. In Camden, State highway forces laid a sand asphalt wear ing surface on the following seel ondarv roads, and their lengths: from US 17 in South Mills to US 17, about 1.2 miles south of South Mills, 1.6 miles; and from Lambs Comer to Sawyers Creek Bridge, 3.1 miles. Both Newly-surfaced roads are 16 feet in width. In Dare County, contractor forces finished a mixed-in-place sand bituminous pavement from Dock south for 3.8 miles. The road is 16 feet wide. Camden and Dare are in the First Division along with Bertie, Chowan. Currituck, Gates, Hert ford, Hyde Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyr rell, and Washington. Division headquarters are in Ahoskie. W. N. Spriutl is division engineer. MANTEO, N. C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1954 fIQpIMP NEW HOPEfiK NM f*SHR SRI CAMP FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN ■i'' FRANCES RAY of Asheville is assisted to her cabin by Virginia Smith of Graham after they left the closing ceremonies on Sunday of the North Carolina Easter Seal Camp near Chapel Hill. Mackey Brown of Asheville walks beside Frances. Over fifty-five handicapped children from twenty-three counties attended the two-week camp. CRIPPL’D CHILDR’N ATTEND TWO-WK. EASTR SEAL CAMP Physically handicapped chil dren from all sections of North Carolina came together this month to attend the First Annual Easter Seal Camp for Crippled Children at Camp New Hope, near Chapel Hill. The Dare County Chapter of the North Carolina Easter Seal Society is headed by Mrs. W. B. Fearing of Manteo. Twenty-three counties were represented among the fifty-five children at the camp, many of them sponsored by their own county Easter Seal Chapters and civic groups. The children, who ranged in age from six to fifteen, had varying orthopedic handi caps, but braces and crutches seemed to have very little affect upoq the participation in games 1 and activities. There was the 1 same amount o f swimming, handicraft, picnics, games and hiking trips found at any sum mer camp, though many were modified in order that all the children could join. An active project of the Coun ty Easter Seal Chapters through out North Carolina and the State Society is a summer camp pro gram and campsite especially for the orthopedically handicapped children of North Carolina, now estimated at more than 28,000. Mr. Albin Pikutis, State Easter Seal Director said that “The cost of suitable land and building ma terials has delayed construction of our own campsite, but the tremendous number of applica tions received for our Easter Seal Camp this year shows that there is a critical need for these facili i ties in North Carolina. It was a difficult task to write so many ■ children that they could not at tend because our facilities could accommodate only fifty-five campers. A Physical Therapist from Memorial Hospital in nearby Chapel Hill was on hand to make certain that the children main tained their special therapies and exercises. An Occupational Therapist from the Asheville Orthopedic Hospital instructed the children in many types of handicraft projects that they could make at home as well as at camp. Announcing that the camping project had exceeded all the ex pectations of the State Society, Mr. Pikutis stated, “All children profit from the health and social experiences which summer camp provides, but these crippled chil dren at Easter Seal Camp have a much greater need for these services. In many cases the crip pled child has spent too much time indoors, or in the hospital. He needs the chance to make friends and develop his person ality in a friendly, receptive en vironment.” SUBDISTRICT INSTITUTE PLANNED BY METHODISTS A subdistrict institute for church school workers will be held in the Hatteras Methodist Church at Hat teras on Thursday, September 23rd, at 10:30 a.m., it has been an nounced by Methodist officials. District directors of work in the children, youth and adult divisions will be present, along with other instructors, to present information concerning church school work. All pastors, church school superintend ents, assistant superintendents, di visional superintendents, teachers, helpers, and all other church workers are urged to pl<»n to at tend. SAD TO LEAVE: LOST COLONY STAR TO BE IN DISNEY FILM Ann Martin of Cherokee, who played the role of Eleanor Dare in Paul Green’s symphonic drama The Lost Colony this year, has been given a role as “Mrs. Davy Crockett’ in a TV-trilogy built up around that noted front iersman and the Creek War. Se quences of the first of the trilogy are being filmed at Cherokee in Western North (Carolina at the present time. It was only by chance that Miss Martin happened to get the role in the film. She had return ed to her home at the Indian School of the Cherokee reserva tion to vacation with her parents for a few days when studio rep resentatives of the new film saw her and immediately offered her the part. In addition to the female lead of The Lost Colony the Davy Crockett trilogy will include a couple of hundred full blooded Cherokee Indians and several members of the cast of Kermit Hunter’s symphonic drama “Un to These Hills.” From the Chero kee and Great Smokies region the picture-making unit will move to Chattanooga where the final shooting of the trilogy will be held. Miss Martin is only one of many Lost Colony cast members who have gained recognition for their acting and theatrical abil ity. Andy Griffith who once played Sir Walter Raleigh in the drama and Ainslee Pryor, who had been cast as The Priest and Governor John White, are now making the grade in Broadway productions. Ann Wyn Arm strong and Helene McLain will return to the Fred Waring show this winter. Each has been cast in prominent roles of The Lost Colony and they are also mem bers of The Lost Colony Chorus. Robert Armstrong, male lead of The Lost Colony, is also sched ueld for Broadway productions See STAR, Page Four FISHING TOURNEY NEXT WEEK AT CHICAMICOMICO A Fishing Contest offering several valuable prizes will be held next week for surf-casters in the vicinity of Chicamicomico. Dates are September 23-25. The area is between two upright pieces of machinery on Pea Is land on the North, and Salvo on the South, a distance of some eight miles. Ample sleeping and eating ac commodations offer the sports men modern conveniences dur ing their stay at Rodanthe next week. Information may be ob tained from A. H. Gray’s Store, Waves; Zeke’s Place, Rodanthe; and Owens Motor Court, Rodan the. Many valuable awards will be made. OCEAN PIER ANGLERS HAVING EXCELLENT LUCK Nags Head.—Anglers fishing from the ocean piers in the Nags Head and Kitty Hawk region have been catching plenty of trout and kingfish or sea mullet during the past week. They have also been landing plenty of spot. Operator’s of Jennette’s Pier in Lower Nags Head Reported that several small channel bass had been taken from the ocean’s surf by anglers casting from the piers. Jennette’s Pier at certain sea sons during the Autumn is one of the best bets for channel bass along this coast. The big fish of the species are usually taken during northeasters in October. CROATAN SOUND BRIDGE TO CAUSE LARGE EXPENDITURES ON NEARBY ROAD PROJECTS Tremendous Outlays Will Be Required to Im prove Accessory Roads Bringing the Bridge Traffic; U. S. 264 Through Hyde County and Belhaven Area to Demand Large Widening Job. 1 The building of the Croatan Sound Bridge may easily be ex pected to hasten the construction of many year projects on roads that lead to the bridge and call for the expenditure of many hundreds of thousands of dollars in order that the traffic increase caused by the bridge may be adequately accommodated. Largest of these projects will be improvement of U. S. 264 through Hyde County and east ern Beaufort as well as in the south-west corner of Dare Coun ty. At present U. S. 264 is inade quate to handle the traffic of to day, which is jamming a road de signed 30 years ago in the days of the model T ford. Not less than a half million dollars will be required to bring this road part-way up to standard. Likewise will some improve ments be needed to U. S. 64 and of a certainty, the increased traf fic will force a step-up in service over Alligator River. Highway forces are now pre paring for the widening and im provement of the road leading from the Roanoke Island end of the Bridge via Fort Raleigh and to the ocean. This will call for a considerable expenditure of funds. Promoters of the proposed toll road from Virginia Beach to Kitty Hawk are now more hope ful of selling bonds to finance this project since the assurance of state construction of a free bridge across Croatan Sound will provide an essential link for the continuation of tourist travel. If, as and when such bonds are sold and the road is built, it will be due to the bridge, more than any other reasons, and it, should mean the expenditure of two or three million dollars7/for con struction in this area. Altogether, the Croatan Bridge project might easily set in mo tion a train of construction that will total upwards of ten million dollars of which no small amount J will be spent locally to the bene fit of our local labor and business interests. This looks like a wind fall, now that other sources of revenue, particularly commercial fishing, are drying up. The bridge, which will be two years in the building will bv vir tue of publicity attending its construction, as well as its com pletion, gradually build up traf fic, and accelerate the demand for the Alligator River- bridge which will mean another short route to open up a vast amount of travel in this area. CECIL S. MIDGETT OF STUMPY POINT PASSES Cecil Sigsbee Midgett, fisher man and life-long resident of Stumpy Point, passed away at his home late Tuesday after a lingering illness. The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Stumpy Point Methodist Church, conducted by his pastor, Rev. A. L. G. Stevenson. Burial followed in the Stumpy Point Cemetery. He was the son of‘the late Bethany Gray find Thomas Lee Midgett, and was 4 member of the Stumpy Point Methodist Church. Surviving are his Wife, Mrs. Ola Gray Midgett; two daugh ters, Mrs. Milton Hooper and Mrs. Faye Siegrist, both of Stumpy Point; one son Donald Midgett of Stumpy Point; six grandchildren; and three broth- Edward Midgett of Stumpy ers, John Midgett of Mashoes, Point,- and Lee Midgett of Norfolk, Va. PLANS BEING FORMED FOR FLIGHT OBSERVANCE Kill Devil Hills. Ralph Whitener of the Air Force Asso ciation has advised members of the Kill Devil Hills Memorial Society here that the 51st Anni versary Celebration of the Wright Brothers’ famous flights of December 17, 1903, would be a token event this year in com parison with the Golden Anni versary event last year. Whitener is cooperating with the local agency in forming plans for the event. Single Copy 70 BOARDING HOMES IMPORTANT FOR CARE OF AGED Dare County Needs More Such Homes, Welfare Su perintendent Advises “More and more, licensed homes for adults are solving problems and helping to work out difficult situations through out North Carolina,” said Mrs. Meekins, Superintendent of the Dare County Department of Public Welfare, in discussing the need for these homes in Dare County. Changes tn recent years throughout North Carolina in housing, in customs, and in livisg habits have been reflected in the growing need for the develop ment of licensed boarding homes for the aged and infirm, Mrs. Meekins said. The trend toward smaller homes and apartment living has resulted in fewer households > with spare rooms and fewer three-generation households. In many homes, both parents are working, some having the chil dren provided for in licensed day care centers. For most older people, the family pattern has changed materially since the living ar rangements were established in the middle years of life. Many people need to change their liv ing arrangements in their later years, not only because their family and economic circum stances are different, but also be cause their own needs have changed. The Dare County Department of public welfare, accordisg to Mrs. Meekins, renders services to older people by supplying infor mation about available special ized boarding home care in li censed boarding homes. This pro gram recoznizes the fact that ' many older people who are on their own need a kind of housing arrangement that affords com panionship. personal attention, and service short of actual nurs ing care. In general, these boarding homes are licensed by the State Board of Public Welfare for a small number of older persons in order to assure a home-like at mosphere. The services given mean that the older person has not only a comfortable place to live, but also a satisfying social setting. In North Carolina we now have a total of 250 licensed boarding homes for the aged and infirm. Os these homes, 75 per cent are for white persons and 25 per cent for Negroes. Licens ing requirements set up by the State Board of Public Welfare, in accordance with State Law, include satisfactory standards of health, sanitation, fire safety, and general welfare, In Dare County, there is need for additional licensed boarding homes to care for the needs of older people. Particularly we need homes that will (here spec ify particular needs for homes for white persons, or for Negrofes, or for any other specialized types). “I hope that anyone who is in terested in getting information will contact the welfare office,” said Mrs. Meekins. “We can then give additional facts, including the financial basis upon which the aged provide for this type of service”. “By helping to provide these homes and encouraging their contribution to the needs of older people, citizens of the commun ity may meet at least a part of their responsibility to this rapid ly growing segment of our citi zenry.” SPECIAL MEETING SEPT. 23 Mrs. Louise Eggleston of Nor folk is to be the speaker at “A Day Apart” on Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. The meeting is to be at the Mount Olivet Methodist Church, Manteo, and all denominations and those interested are invited to come. A drink will be pro vided but those who come are asked to bring a sandwich or light lunch. <
The Coastland Times (Manteo, N.C.)
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Sept. 17, 1954, edition 1
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