Newspapers / The Coastland Times (Manteo, … / March 18, 1955, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Coastland Times (Manteo, 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
JME XX NO. 38 vvtATHER STATION PLANS AT HATTERAS ‘ DISCUSSED FURTHER Unrivaled t Facilities Contemplated For Future Use; Old Steel Light Tower Considered Buxton on Cape Hatteras, Mar. 17.—Pending the selection and ac quisition of a permanent site for the Weather Bureau’s hurricane warning center here a temporary installation to serve for the 1955 hurricane season will be made at the weather facility at Hatteras, 12 miles west of here, according to statements made here last week by W. H. Powell of New York and Vaughan D. Rockney, of Washington, both administrative officials of the Bureau. When the installation here is completed, contemplated for late this year, all the activity of the Weather Bureau in this area will be concentrated here and this will, in effect, be a home-coming for the weather bureau to the immed iate vicinity where it was estab lished 80 years ago, with the first rude instruments set up in the Lighthouse and, later, in the resi dence of the Lighthouse keeper, who doubled also as weather ob server. ' As described by Mr. Powell and Mr. Rockney the installation here will be the most modern in the world, going even beyond the hur ricane warning center at Miami which, until now, has borne the brunt of locating and predicting the movement of hurricanes. So sensitive will be the radar equip ment that it will be able to detect a duck landing on water five miles away, and it will have a range of 300 miles over water, eastward See STATION, Page Four MANTEO REBEKAH HEADS DISTRICT FOR NEXT TERM Mrs. Lois Midgett Elected Pres ident at Meeting Attended by 85 Members 75th session of the First > | |t Assembly of Rebekahs - •*' ield on March 16, 1955 in . ..ceo. After Manteo Lodge No. 52 of ficers opened the meeting, it was . turned over to the following Dis trict officers, who were presented corsages as they were introduced: President, Mrs. Rosalee Hod ges;; Vice President, Mrs. Lo'.s Midgette; Warden, Mrs. Hettie Ames; Secretary, Mrs. Nellie Owens; Treasurer, Mrs. Ann Bas night; Chaplain, Mrs . Mildred O’Neal; Past Dist. President, Mrs. Lessie Meads; R. S to Warden, Mrs. Selma Mason; L. S. to Ward en, Mrs. Hilda Francis; Inside Guardian, Mrs. Evelyn Jarvis; Outside Guardian, Mrs. Lillian Brinson; Conductress, Mrs. Maude Palmer; Marshall, Mrs. Olive Cahoon; Rt. color bearer, Mrs. Fannie Payne; Lt. color bearer, Mrs. Geneva Midgett; Musicians, Mrs. Charlotte Cahoon and Mrs. Byrum. State officers present were: President, Mrs. Laura Johnson, Raleigh; Vice President, Mrs. Inez Ramsey, Greensboro; Ward en, Mrs. Treva Kimble, States ville; Treasurer, Mrs. Mae Jen nings, Scotland Neck; Past Presi dent, Mrs. Alba Albright, Ra leigh; and Mrs. Audrey Jordan, RaJeigh. , The address of welcome was given by Mrs. Clara Tarkington of Manteo, responded to by Mrs. Maude Palmer of Elizabeth City. The State president addressed the group with a very inspiring message. Mrs. Lillian Smith ond Mrs. Essie Sadler received a Rebekah pin each for giving the unwritten work. A memorial service was put on See REBEKAH, Page Four HIGHWAY ENGINEERS ARE SURVEYING FOR ROAD N. C. Highway Engineers ar rived at Ocracoke Monday of this week to begin a survey of the pro posed road between Ocracoke Vil lage and Hatteras Met. At this * 'eture they are i a surve y e existing pavt-v, roads in the e. R. M. Saunders. Division 1 leer, is in cl ? of the x irk. With him on ~ie job are H. L. Everett and J. E. Orrell of Raleigh, T. L. Bishop of Swan Quarter, T. B. Mayes of Zebulon, R. S. Wooten of Trenton, and J. E. Orrell of Elizabeth City. This group is thoroughly con-, vinced of the need of a road down the Island. On Monday afternoon their big Dodge power-wagon got stuck and when they attempted to pull that out by jeep, the jeep got stuck, so the local Coast Guard truck had to effect a rescue. Semper Paratus! THE COASTLAND TIMES PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROLINA THEY'RE GOING PLACES IN SHOW BUSINESS K 01'1 "’T WTWnFMI Hitt j .401 <■ : I ISI ... *-<*>4 1# m ' if w L 'll IK Jr Or - K / ~ < Biffin I JPr. i JSwfer I’ jr i JE9 When Paul Green’s symphonic drama The Lost Colony opens in Waterside Theatre at Fort Raleigh near Manteo for its 15th season on July 1, Alabama-born Robert Armstrong may not be cast as the male lead of John Borden, a role he has played for nine years, it was an nounced on Roanoke Island Saturday during preliminary tryouts for the 1955 edition of the show. Instead, unless Tennessee Williams’ Broadway-bound stage show Cat On a Hot Tin Roof which had a suc cessful opening in Philadelphia on March 5, has a short run, Arm strong will be playing Dr. Baugh and understudying Burl Ives in that show’s cast. This photo of Armstrpng mas made during the 1954 Lost Colony as Eve Marie Saint, winner of the national award for the best supporting actress of 1954 for her acting in Waterfront, made a back stage visit to watch him make up for the role of John Borden. It ap pears that in show business, both Miss Saint and Armstrong are realty going places. (Photo by Aycock Brown) RAY VAUGHN TILLETT, NA(£S HEAD NATIVE, RETIRES AFTER 46 YEARS OF COLORFUL SEAFARING CAREER Planning to spend a while now “getting acquainted with my fam ily,” Capt. R. V. Tillett, who re cently retired as commodore of the fleet of the Isthmian Steam ship Company after 46 years at sea, reported that he expects to divide his time between his home at 108 Bloomingdale avenue, Cranford, New Jersey; and the large home with a view of the ocean which he built two years ago in his native Nags Head on the Outer Banks of North Caro lina, according to an interview in his local newspaper. Most of his voyages have lasted from two to six months in dura tion, with only a few days on shore in between, and as a result, Capt. Tillett remarked, he has been out of touch with many members of his family. There is much to hold him and his wife in New Jersey now that he is retired, for their daughter, Joan, married to Patrolman Rich ard Schofield, and their 2-year-old grandson also reside there, at 46 Richmond avenue. Cranford has been the home of the Tilletts for 30 years. But Capt Tillett himself was born on the Tillman Tillett home place at Nags Head, North Caro lina and worked out of that state and Virginia when he first began his life at sea in 1909, and many of his relatives and friends still live in those states. These facts, togethe- with the ocean view af forde< his new home at Nags Head, probably will influence many trips south in the future. When his retirement became of ficial on January 31, Capt. Tillett was honored at a lundheon given at' the India House in New York, at which time he was presented with a hand-lettered scroll ex pressing the following sentiments: “The associates and colleagues of Ray Vaughn Tillett, commo dore of the Isthmian Steamship Company Fleet, express their re spect and affection for a tried and trusted friend, who, through out the 34 and one-half years of his association with the company, has ever reflected in unique and outstanding manner the essentials of integrity and efficiency; as a consequence of which he has con sistently advanced the interests and welfare of the company and its employees.” Presentation of the scroll was made by Adm. Glenn B. Davis, president of the Isthmian Steam- ship Company, and Archibald E. King, executive vice-president. Also attending the dinner were the heads of all departments of the company. Capt. Tillett’s seagoing career began in 1909 at the age of 19, when he went to Norfolk, from his native Nags Head and b»<ran tow boating for the Smith Tow ing Company. Later he worked a year for the Richmond Cedar Works, towing logs from North Carolina to Richmond, Va. Moving farther out to sea' he next became a quartermaster for the Old Dominion Line, sailing from Norfolk to New York. He received his third mate’s license in 1913, went with the Morgan Line in that year and stayed with them until he was called into the Navy in World War I. See TILLETT, Page Four HATTERAS ISLANDERS DON'T WANT COUNTY TO BUILD ’EM A JAIL News that the County Board had approved a request to build a jain on Hatteras Island seems to have arounsed a storm of pro test from citizens in many quar ters of its seven villages, and numerous reports have come to this paper from people who wish some statement to the effect that they consider the proposition dis graceful advertising for the is ’and. ' Even this week, one promineent member of the group of nine who visited the Board last month to request a jail stated that he was only just along to hear what was said, but he is very much opposed to the plan. “What good is a jail anyway ?” One asks, “unless you have offi cers who will do something. This we have never had.” “It is no good to apprehend law breakers and lock them up over night when the court turns them loose next day,” said another citi zen. “Our offenders have never been afraid of the courts in Dare County. Nothing is done byway of punishment.” “Simply building a jail would be a disgrace to the island, and a ridiculous waste of county money. We ought to cut out so much fool ishness and waste, and spend monev for something useful,” was another expression. MANTEO, N. C., FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1955 PIRATE COSTUMES ARE TO PREVAIL DURING JAMBOREE Descriptions of Clothing Worn During Blackboard Era Will Help in Preparing For Festival Colorful costumes will be seen along the Dare County coast dur ing the week end of April 29 for the Pirate Jamboree. Residents and visitors are ex nected to be in costumes repre senting the seventeenth century era. This was the time on the coast when Blackbeard reigned over the coastal waters. Suggested costumes for those who wish to represent Carolina planters are as follows: for the men, long coats and full breeches, the breeches reaching to the knees. The coat can be patterned from a man’s vest with long tails and full sleeves. Materials can be either of silks, brocades, or linens or less expensive cloth as khaki and unbleached muslin. The cravat can be made of cheese cloth or fancier material. The shirts fully pleated down the front, and the stockings were of long black cot ton. Regular oxfords can be worn with large silver or gold buckles. The hats had large brims with one plume on the side. Wigs can be made of black or brown crepe pa per twisted to represent curls sewed on a stocking skull cap. The women wore close fitting bodices that pointed at the front of the waistline. The puff sleeves and neck line were edged with lace. The skirt of the dress was open in front to show decorative petticoats, some were draped at the hips and held by bows of rib bon, slight train in the back. Feather fans, long white gloves, pearl necklaces and silk slippers. Hair curled softly around the face with one or more curls over the shoulder. Dress materials were either silk or flowered cottons. The colonist costumes for the ■ See JAMBOREE, Page Four NEVIN WESCOTT OFFICER IN CHARGE AT OCRACOKE Nevin Wescott of Manteo, Chief Boatswain’s Mate, USCG, took command of Ocracoke Lifeboat Station Wednesday, after seven years as officer in charge of Nags Head Station. The larger station at Ocracoke is something in the way of promotion, but it is a sta tion that few men have desired to command because of the incon venience of travel back and forth. Despite all the delightful living at Ocracoke, the slow journey in and out has been discouraging. But now there are prospects of a road. Location crews are on Ocracoke this week making sur veys, and Ocracoke in time will be sought after by ambitious Coatst guardsmen. Chief Wescott is the son of Capt. John Wescott, late retired Coast Guard officer of Manteo, and a grand-son of the late Capt. Joe Wescott. He is one of the most popular younger officers in the service. DARE BEACHES C OF C BOOTH AT TRAVEL SHOW IN NEW YORK WKdiiiM *' " ~ Sb?* » IS IrW <wfl K?jl w * <Q£ * jfwMl M | 1 A /%. ■' wf ’ . x * - o JHHVJ M*. wJB Y 'I Tt" " ,»■. JwS*®k ,$" wwl aw ™«rr*i *r 1 '* * ■r£4K fa aj>-' '•■<iO«fl I F .Miin—CTßKiill : MANY THOUSANDS of persons attending the National Sports and Travel Show at the Kingsbridge Ar mory in New York City during the 10 days ending last Sunday learned of North Carolina’s far-famous Outer Banks as a result of the Dare Beaches Chamber of Commerce booth pictured above. Largely respon sible for the booth and its unusual decorative scheme was Mrs. Diane Johnson of the Wilbur Wright Hotel who is shown seated in the picture. Person in right foreground was not identified in pictures received of the booth this week. In addition to telling many hundreds of persons daily about the Dare Beaches and Out er Banks, Mrs. Johnson also gave away thousands of publicity folders of the area and already Dare Coun ty Tourist Bureau is receiving requests from persons about fishing vacations here as a result of the unique features of the booth. (Dare Beaches C of C photo). ' STEAMER TRENTON RECALLED BY AGING MASTER IN MANTEO They Were Fine Old Days To Remember When Travel To Elizabeth City Was By Boat By EARL DEAN (In The News and Observer) Manteo.—Captain Martin L. Johnson, the man who operated the only freight, mail and passen ger boat servjce between Eliza beth City, Nags Head and Manteo for more than half a century, will I be eighty-three years old on the I last day of April. As master of the Eastern Caro lina Transportation Company’s faithful little steamer, “Trenton,” which plied the waters of Albe marle Sound between Elizabeth City and Roapoke Island for many years, he was, in his hey-day, one of the best-known and most popu lar men in all of Dare County. Re tired now, and living quietly with his wife in his comfortable home here on the waterfront, Capt. Johnson has seen many changes on old Roanoke Island and the nearby beaches since he began his maritime career in the old sailing vessel, “Lew Willis,” back in 1890. Hard-surfaced highways and bridges across intervening waters which now link Dare County's' “Lost Provinces” with the rest of North Carolina as well as the out side world, and the September hurricane of 1933 which swept away Graham Hollowell’s long pier on the sound side of Nags Head, all helped put the “Trent on” out of business. She reached the end of her journeys in the Neuse River and only her sunken, water-logged hull remains beside a bridge between New Bern and Morhead City. But Captain John son continued active in the trans portation business long after the demise of the “Trenton.” And he, like a good many others nowa days, recalls with nostalgia, the less-hurried days when a leisurely five-hour trip by boat on the wa ters of Albemarle Sound was the only way to get to Nags Head and Manteo. Dare Native A native of Dare County, Capt. Johnson was born at Manteo on April 30, 1872 in the old “Tranquil House,” long a familiar landmark on Roanoke Island, now rapidly going to wreck and ruin. Destined See TRENTON, Page Four MORE MARKSMAN AWARDS WON BY AVON OFFICER Lt. Commander Manson E. Meekins, a native of Avon 'contin ues to chalk up more awards as a marksman in the Coast Guard. He has been winning medals since 1938, and this week was awarded a new batch for his marksmanshio at Camp Perry, Ohio last fall. He holds distinguished marksman medals for both rifle and pistol. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Meekins of Avon, and his wife is the former Vera Wil liams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Williams. CAPTAIN JOHNSON i K < A CAPTAIN MARTIN JOHNSON as portrayed during the late twenties on his steamer Trenton. His persistence in providing de pendable transportation through many years for Roanoke Island made him highly popular and proved him a great friend of the Island. TRUE TO TRADITION THERE WAS A SQUALL "OLD QUAWK'S" DAY Wednesday was St. Patrick’s Day eve throughout the world for Irishmen, but on the Outer Banks and especially at Ocracoke, it was “Old Quawk’s Day.” And true to tradition, there were sudden squalls during the day. In the folklore of Ocracoke “Old Quawk” was the island name for a half-breed Caribbean character who had landed at Ocracoke from a schooner in the West Indian trade many years ago. Because of his tone of voice, and general dis position, the man with a hard to nronounce Spanish name became known as “Old Quawk,” after the elusive night heron which fre quents the Outer Banks marshes and when disturbed produced a “quawking” noise. Old Quawk was a God-less character, according to folk lore. One morning he boarded his sprit sail skiff to get net fishing out in Pamlico Sound. Islanders on the shorefront advised him not to go. There would be squally weather, and no day for a man to be in the See SQUALL, Page Four MRS. ANDREW TILLETT IS INJURED IN WRECK Mrs. Andrew Tillett of Manteo sustained cuts and bruises when the new pickup truck she was driving skidded Tuesday evening on the highway near Manteo and overturned. Mr. Tillett took her to the Albemarle Hospital, Elizabeth City, where she received treat ment and eight stitches were taken in a cut on one leg. X-rays showed no broken bones, and she returned to her home near Man teo, where she is recuperating. Her daughter, Miss Jill Tillett, who was riding with her, suffered minor cuts and bruises. Single Copy 70 PHONE COMPANY IS ALLOWED INCREASE OF 40 PER CENT Harry Westcott, Manteo Native, Writes Order Allowing Two- Thirds of Increase Request ed; Increase Given Is No Surprise The State Utilities Commission this week gave Norfolk and Caro lina Telephone Company permis sion to raise its rates approximate ly §IOI,OOO a year starting April 1. It gave the comany about two thirds of what it asked for and telephone subscribers will now have to pay about 40 per cent more than usual. Manteo subscribers are really catching it now. ' It had asked for $159,165.60 more a year. The State Utilities Commission ruled SIOI,OOO was enough. The increase will raise telephone bills at Elizabeth City, Edenton, Hertford, Manteo, Sunbury and Coinjock. Kill Devil Hills rates, set last May 12, will remain at present levels. Company witnesses contended at a public hearing that they needed more income to offset rising oper ating costs and to earn a fair re turn on their investment. They claimed a higher rate of return was necessary if they hoped to at tract additional capital for ex panding and improving service. Norfolk and Carolina customers from Elizabeth City, Manteo, Sun bury, Hobbsville, Hertford and Edenton protested that most of the increase would go to pay the cost of a new company retirement program. They said a good part of the retirement benefits would go to company stockholders who serve as company officers as well as company directors. The company reported it was earning a return of 3.67 per cent under present rates on its invest ment and would earn 6.65 per cent if the rates it proposed were ap proved. Westcott Says It’s Fair Commissioner Harry T. West cott, a native of Manteo, author of the Commissions’ order, wrote a study of the evidence showed the company is earning 4.04 per cent on its investment under present rates and would have earned 6.7 per cent if the company-proposed rates were adopted. He said the 6.7 per cent return would be in excess of what the Commission considers “fair, just and reasonable.” He explained the SIOI,OOO allowed would provide a “fair, just and reasonable” six per cent return. Westcott concluded the order by commenting on the company’s pro posed pension plan. The company intends to charge the full cost to its customers. Westcott wrote that half the cost should come from See PHONES, Page Four LATE SEASHORE PARK NEWS DURING THE WEEK A shortwave radio system is to be established at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area during early spring. Offi cials of the National Park Service have long recognized the many advantages radio has to offer an area with widely separated de velopments, such as the National Seashore, but definite plans for the installation of radio here have been delayed, pending a study of local communications problems. Verne Rowley, National Park Service Electronics Engineer, Washington, and Re gional Engineer Tyler Kiener, Richmond, spent several days at the National Seashore completing necessary studies and plans. Fix ed stations are to be established at the Bodie Island Headquarters, Chicamacomico, Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke. Mobile units will be installed in ranger patrol and maintenance vehicles. Other units will be added as required. The new system will, in point of time, bring the various sec tions of the area closer together and will contribute toward more efficient use of manpower. This will result in Setter maintenance, more effective protection prac tices and increased services to the visitor. V. R. Ludgate, National Park Service Regional Landscape Ar chitect, Richmond, was at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Rec reational Area February 24- March 11 inspecting construction work now in progress and assist ing with the preparation of plans for the future (developments. Proj ects under consideration included roads and structures it the Bodie Island bafhipg beach, Bodie Is land Lighthouse* and .nuseum, im proved facilities near Cape Point and at Fort Raleigh National His toric Site. Also in the area for several days Engineers See PARK, iage Four
The Coastland Times (Manteo, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 18, 1955, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75