VOLUME XV NO. 26 SWAIN BEGINS BIG ADDITION TO DRY CLEANING PLANT Growing Business in Manteo To Be ' Prepared For Larger Sum- I mer Trade First among business additions ’ in Manteo during 1956 will be the j new dry cleaning plant of the Ro-i anoke Laundry & Dry Cleaners, ! owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Swain, and now associated with them are their daughter and son in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jor dan. Foundation for the new addi tion to. the plant was poured this week, and makes for a large addi tion to the present quarters. A new boiler room and equipment was added during the year. The foundation and walls are designed for two stories as needed. The space now occupied by the cleaning plant, will be devoted to the dry cleaning equipment. Mr. Swain stated that he was encour aged by the trend in business, and despite all the set backs in the trade caused by the summer’s storms, their volume of business showed a 25 per cent increase. This business, which was for merly operated under the name of Manteo Laundry, has been solely owned by the Swain for the past seven years. It has had remark able growth, fills a great need in the community, and is one of the largest employers of labor in the town. BEARD GROWING AND JAMBOREE PLANNING MEET FRIDAY NIGHT First in a series of Dare Coast Pirates Jamboree planning meets will be held at The Carolinian Hotel at Nags Head on Friday night, December 30, at 8 o’clock, it was announced today by Orville Baum. " Baum and Julian Oneto are co chairmen for the beard growing committee. At the meeting defi • te plans for beginning the beard owing on all males who expect j feompete for the regal titl r»v*nr n-f • seven grandchildren and 14 great -1 grandchildren. HATTERAS MAN PROMOTED TO T-SERGEANT GRADE Ilkwr J T/SGT. ALBERT L. AUSTIN of Hatteras, son of Mrs. A. Burrus and the late Ernest Austin, after five years of army service, has! been promoted to grade of T-Ser geant, and commended by his com manding officer, who said in a letter to the soldier’s mother: “This promotion was given because of Austin’s ability, willingness to assume responsibility, and devo tion to duty . . . achievement of this type not only reflects credit upon the individual himself, but on the family as well . . . you are to be congratulated on the fine record which resulted in this promotion.” HATTERAS BREAKWATER BIDS TO OPEN JAN. 24 Notice has been given by the office of District Engineer in Wil mington, that sealed bids will be opened on January 24th for the building of a breakwater and fur ther improvement to the harbor at Hatteras . This project has been a long time in the making, but due to the persistent work of Congress man Herbert Bonner over a period of years, it is now about to ma terialize and will be completed in early 1956. Leading citizens of Hatteras have taken part in this movement. It was finally author ized by Congress last year . COMMERCIAL BOAT SPACE IS ENLARGED AT INLET Oregon Inlet Fishing Center where up to 50 sportsfishing craft berth during the spring, summer and autumn months has become a haven for commercial fishing craft, fish and shrimp trawlers, this win ter. Up to 100 boats have used the facility as a place to berth or anchor at times this winter. The basin at the Fishing Center has recently been greatly enlarged to accommodate more sports and commercial boats. The work of dredging additional facilities has been done by Capt. Toby Tillett, who has the fishing center lehsed from the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. Addi tional parking space for - autos will also be provided before another sportsfishing season begins. FUNERAL OF W. D. ROGERS Kitty Hawk.—Funeral services for W’illiam D. Rogers, who died Thursday of last week in a Nor folk hospital, were conducted Sun day afternoon at 2:0(1 o’clock in the providence Baptist Church at Kitty Hawk, Rev. A. B. Ayers, of Williamston and pastor, officiated. The casket was covered with a pall of white carnations and fern. “Amazing Grace” and “A Few More Days on Earth To Spend” were sung by Mrs. Hilda Gard Perry, Mrs. Nellie Perry, Mrs. Bowin, Mrs. Laura Perry, Mrs. Jesse Perry, Mrs. Bertie Beacham, Mrs. Jennie Beasley and Mr. Handy. Pallbearers were Jesse Perry, W. R. Toler, Curtis Perry, Eldridge Beacham, W. T. Beacham, and Lionel Shannon. Burial fol lowed in the Austin JCemetery at Kitty Hawk. ROY BRICKHOUSE, TYRRELL NATIVE DIES IN NORFOLK Roy Odell Brickhousd, 61, of 1804 Portlock Road, died in a Nor folk hospital this week, after an illness of four years. He was a qative of Columbia, and had been a resident of South Norfolk for 19 years. He formerly was employ ed by the Richmond Cedar Works. He was a son of the late Jasper and Jennie Meekins Brickhouse, and husband of Mrs. Annie Oliver Brickhouse. He was a member of the Methodist Church in Columbia, and of the Woodmen of the World lodge in South Norfolk. Surviving besides his wife, are a daughter, Mrs. William Smith son, of Shavfboro; a sister, Mrs. Madeline Goodwin, of Raleigh, and a grandchild. MANTEO, N. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1955 OBSERVANCE OF OLD CHRISTMAS JANUARY sth AT RODANTHE There will be a celebration at Rodanthe on the eve of Old Christ- j mas, Thursday night, January sth. The celebration will take the form Os a play arranged by some of the ladies of the community, followed by an oyster roast. Old Christmas, or Epiphany which falls on January 6, is still observed in some of the Eastern countries, and some parts of Europe, as the true anniversary of the coming of the Magi. In fact the observance continued in some parts of England, although the calendar had been changed, as many people held to the theory that although the calendar may be changed by legislative degree it still doesn’t change the anniver sary. The custom of observing Old Christmas came down through many generations on the North Carolina coastland, being handed down by the early English settlers. Fifty to 75 years ago the celebra tions were pretty general, but gradually went out of style. It has remained longer at Rodanthe than elsewhere for a good reason. There being two communities at this spot, separated by. about two miles and of equal size, it used to be custom for one community to play host to the other at Christmas time, and the favor was returned some ten days later when “Old Christmas” rolled around. In more recent years, publicity about the event has aroused much interest in ‘distant localities and many people have desired to come to to take part in the event. For a long time it has been the occasion of a neighborhood get together—a time of good fellow ship. Various citizens of the com munity take part in arranging the affair. The rampage of “Old Buck,” a strange horned beast, creates much interest and merri ment. Mrs. Nora Herbert, chairman of the committee on planning for the annual Old Christmas celebration at Rodanthe-Waves on January 5, was in Manteo Wednesday gather ing material for a Negro Minstrel, which will be one of the amusing highlights of the event this year. The celebration this year, to be held in the schoolhouse at Rodan the, will include in addition to the Negro Minstrel, carol singing, music and square dancing and of course, the traditional appearance of Old Buck the wild bull of Cape Hatteras Woods, which of late has received about the same amount of publicity as Nashua, the famous race horse which sold for over a million dollars early in December. The Old Christmas celebrations at Rodanthe are not private af fairs. Everyone is invited, and judging from some of the crowds present during the event in recent years, just about everyone who can get there accepts the invita tion. There is usually no charge of admission except for the square dance and minstrel, and the fee is so small that it is hardly notice able. Monies thus collected help defray expenses. A finale to the celebrations each year is a big oyster roast. This phase of the celebration is held in the schoolhouse yard. It is folks like Mr. and Mrs. Herbert, the Levene Midgett fam ily, the Herbert Midgetts and others in the Rodanthe-Waves area who have helped keep alive the traditional Old Christmas celebra tions each year. Each of those mentioned and others too in the communities are now busy making ready for the celebration. And you are invited to attend. ANOTHER EAST LAKE NATIVE DIES IN ELIZABETH CITY Thomas Sanderlin Owens, 66, owner and operator of the T. S. Owens Fish Market, died Thurs day, Dec. 22 while fishing his nets on the Pasquotank River. A native of East Lake and of one of the old families, now all gone, he had been a resident of Elizabeth City for the last 62 years, he was the son of the late George W. and Ellen Sanderlin Owens. He resided at 904 Raleigh Avenue. He was a member of the Fii-st Methodist Church, a member of the official board since he was 19 years old, a member of the Men’s Bible Class and a member of the Mens Fellowship Club. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Bessie Hall Owens, two daughters. Mrs. Howard E. Warns, of St. Petersburg, Fla. and Mrs. Edward S. Peabody of Portsmouth, Va.; a son. Thomas Sanderlin Owens, Jr. of Elizabeth ‘City; a sister, Mrs. I Currilla Scarborough of Washing | ton, D. C.; a brother, R. D. Owens of Elizabeth City and two grand children. THE HIGHER THE FEWER There’s Always Plenty of Room At The Top By NANCY J. MIDGETT The old year being in its final days of waning, at least as far as the man made calendar is concern ed, tho - the deeds and deci sions of these past three hundred and sixty four days are in their results even now a part of the coming year, I sat down with Me and had a serious think, and in fact spoke very firm ly to Me about the short comings in behaviour, deed, thought and word during those past 1955 days! and the many thousand before that. ] Me of course, had all the usual t excuses to offer; all those placat ing things one says to friends to make their conscience feel better even when our inner judgement says in a loud voice “No! it wasn’t the right thing to do”. It is funny how many and varied the excuses we can think of for our own actions and those of our friends but let other folk outside the magic circle do exactly the same thing, and for all we may know with more provo cation, and we howl to high heaven about their meanness, wrongdoing, etc. When I say it is funny I mean ‘funny peculiar’ not ‘funny ha! ha!’ Now that both 1 and Me are getting older, we realize that New Year resolutions are not the simple things they seemed once upon a time. It isn’t enough to just save one’s pennies, quarters and dol lars, although that in itself at times comes near to the working of miracles these days. It isn’t just to have two pieces of candy a week instead of two a day. Nor is it to remember to say ‘Thank you’ for anything given and ‘if you please’ when asking. These all help but are more the outer show of the inward grace that is in fact the core that has to be worked on and that is truly hard labor in the hustle and bustle of the days around us. It can become a labor of love when we get into the habit of it. I read or hefyd somewhere that it is as easy to make good habits as bad if you start soon enough and I never have thought up an argument against it, but the knowledge of what are good habits and what are bad must be there first. As not a single huiAan on this earth today can be perfect, the best we can do is to do the best we can; not the best Tom or Jack or Johnny is doing; they have to work out their own life and the fact that Jack has done such and such and got away with it, doesn’t make it right or even worth trying. We could be harming ourselves beyond measure even if we got away with it too. That is one of the weaknesses that I spoke to me about but each and all have their own problems and neither I or Me feel in a position or have at any time the tight to stand in judge ment. I will admit I find my tongue doing a whole lot of trying to judge though and in the end all that I get out of it is a rising blood pressure and churned up in nards and a mighty large feeling of shame when that same person or persons who have been the topic of conversation do me a good turn. It all brings me back to the New Year, still observed with much more to do in Scotland than it is in England, and the lines, much quoted, by a great Scot, though not a great success as a man by the standards of society, morality perhaps and purpose in living, as enclosed in his mortal body. The spirit of the man and the spirit and courage he has roused in others long after his death is a better monument than any head stone, any fortune shown on the records of a bank, any property left only to his family heirs which so often leads to ill feeling, quar rels and heartache. “Oh wad some power the gifty gie us To see oursels as others see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us An’ foolish notion.’” $9,174 ALLOTTED FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL IN DARE COUNTY IN 1956 Dare County’s allotment of $12,- 324 for mosquito control work this year was i\ot all used up. It got started lat,e, and although the work was carried on until a .few days ago, only approximately bet ter than $9,000 was used. The Board of Commissioners is advised that the budget for 1956 will be about $9,174. DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS ALLOWED ON 7 PROJECTS IN DARE COUNTY $42,785.00 Federal Funds Granted for Manns Harbor, Roa noke Island, Stumpy Poinl, Kitty Hawk, Avon and Frisco, About One-Fourth of Sum Request ed. Work May Not Get Underway Before Warm Weather. MANTEO BOY SLAYS A MIGHTY MALLARD DUCK Manteo—Largest mallard duck ever seen in this section was killed Monday in the marshes of lower Nags Head by Coy Tillett Jr. It weighed six pounds and nine ounces, and the size compared with that of a Canada goose in weight. It measured 30 inches from the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail and had a wingspread of almost one yard. There was no mistaken identity. It was a male “greenhead” mallard and was identical in coloring and marking to a smaller’ mallard young Tillett killed on the same day. The smaller one weighed two and three quarter pounds. The North Carolina Book of Birds lists weights of adult mallard ducks as ranging from two to three and 3/4 pounds. The species, not as numerous as some other wild ducks which winter along the North Carolina coast is seldom seen in large flocks. They prefer ponds in marshes to open waters of the sounds. L. B. Turner, mana ger, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on Hatteras Island, about 10 miles south of where Tillett bagged his big duck reported ap proximately 600 mallards there last week. Tillett did not eat this duck. In stead his father, Coy Tillett Sr. gave the large mallard to Clark Stratton on Christmas vacation to take to Richmond for mount ing. Stratton is one of the officials of the regional office of the Na tional Park Service in Richmond. FUNERAL OF GEO. M. WISE HELI) AT STUMPY PT. FRIDAY The final services for George M. Wise, 69, of Stumpy Point, who died suddenly on Wednesday of last week were conducted at the Bethany Methodist Church at 2:30 p.m. Friday, and concluded at the graveside in the community ceme tery. The church was packed with mourning friends. Rev. A. L. G. Stephenson, the pastor, paid high tribute to the life of the deceased. He recounted his many years of service to the community, and numerous in stances of personal aid he had given to those in need. Mr. Stephenson made an appeal to all to take inspiration from the life of Mr. Wise, and carry on the good work. In this manner, he said, we can help to discharge the obli gation owing a great friend of the community. He said Mr. Wise’s life should be an inspiration to all present, and an example that should be remembered with grat titude. The profuse floral offering gave indication of the high esteem in which Mr. Wise was held. Several hymns were sung, with Mrs. Ger trude Wise, accompanist. A large attendance from Wan chese Masonic Lodge was present at the graveside, and lecture for this funeral was delivered by F. M. Cahoon of Manteo, former Mas ter of the Lodge. Mr. Wise had been a member of this lodge for more than 30 years. He was also a 32nd degree Mason and member of Sudan Shrine temple of New Bern. Mr. Wise suffered a heart at tack last week, while en route to Norfolk with his family. He died almost instantly. He had been en gaged in the fish business all his life. For many years, he travelled the length of the Atlantic Seaboard in the interest of Northern Fish dealers. Some 30 years ago, he established his own business, the Fishermen’s Exchange at Stumpy Point. This business had continued through thick and thin to furnish the community with a dependable market. Last year, with his son-in law as partner, they completed a new plant, replacing one last some years before. The son in law, Horace Hooper, was taken ill short ly after the death of Mr. Wise and was in the Belhaven hospital at the time of the funeral. 'Polio Patient) Need Help! Single Copy 70 Federal relief funds in the amount of $42,500 for dragline and bulkhead work have been approved for seven projects in Dare County, and work on these projects will be gin early in 1956, perhaps not be fore warmer weather comes. Law rence Swain, county commissioner, who has been authorized by the board to handle this work, stated this week that it requires consid erable time to do the paper work and engineering on these projects, and considerable auditing and checking, advertising for bids, etc. is necessary before they can get underway. The grant of money to Dare County came as a result of a claim for $172,485 made to the State and Federal agencies handling relief work in the state, by the Dare County Commissioners, following the hurricanes Connie and Diane in August. The projects which have won final approval are as follows: STUMPY POINT: For cleaning out the main drainage canal for a distance of 10,000 feet, 12 feet wide and six feet deep, 500 hours of dragline work at $lO per hour, $5,000. Dikes at canal outlet to be built of creosoted timber $2,400; replacement of sand barrier at pro tected harbor at village entrance, $2,025. Total for Stumpy Point $9,- 425. The sums of $33,000 asked to build a breakwater along the shore of the village was not allowed. MANNS HARBOR: Two miles or more of sand barrier with 30- ft. base two to three feet high, es timated 30,000 cubic yards, $13,- 500. ROANOKE ISLAND: In the col ored section on the west side of the island, to cut out the canal 30 feet wide and eight feet deep to Croa tan Sound, 500 hours of dragline on barge at sls per hour, $7,500; creosoted dikes at canal outlet, $3,- 200; total $10,700. AVON: A total of $1,460 will be spent, mostly to continue work on the dike around the east of the village, including some S2OO for a drainage ditch. FRISCO: For three drainage ditches, each 3,000 ft. long, eight feet wide, 6 ft. deep, 90 hours dragline work at $lO, S9OO each, total $2,700.00. KITTY HAWK: For a drainage canal from the schoolhouse to Kit ty Hawk bay, eight feet wide, six feet deep, 8,000 feet long, 500 hours dragline work at $lO, total $5,000. In addition to those above-men tioned, the following projects were disallowed in Raleigh: For break water at Kitty Hawk, $63,400; breakwater at Duck $30,000; breakwater at Stumpy Point $33,- 000. These projects were classified as new projects, and were not eli gible under the law. Such projects as were approved were old proj ects, which the application showed were damaged as a result of the hurricane to the extent shown in the grants made. Subsequent ef forts on the part of Mr. Swain on behalf of the board have not re sulted in revisions upwards of some of the claims, or reinstatement of those previously disallowed. SHERILL L. MIDGETT. HYDE NATIVE, DIES IN NORFOLK Sherill Lee Midgett, 45, for sev eral years a resident of Stumpy Point and for the past 15 years a resident of Norfolk, died Friday in a Norfolk hospital. He was the husband of Mrs. Lida Payne Mid gett, formerly of Stumpy Point. Mr. Midgett was a native of Gulrock, in Hyde County, and was employed by the Southern Fish Co. of Norfolk. Besides his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Glenyce Lee Bowers of Philadelphia, Pa., Mrs. Linda Lou Daye of Morehead City, N. C., and Miss Gloria Marie Midgett of Norfolk; one son, Sher ill Lee Midgett, Jr. of Norfolk; one sister, Mrs. Mabel Dewell of Franklin; one half brother, Dan Midgett of Norfolk; three half sis ters, Mrs. Darcy Etheridge of Wanchese, Mrs. Dave Ballance of Lowlands, and Miss Sylvia Mid gett of Norfolk; his stopmother, Mrs. Clydia Midgett of Norfolk and one grandson, Billy Bowers of Philadelphia. The furteral was conducted at Twiford-Derry funeral homo in Norfolk and burial was in River side Memorial Park Monday of this ve?k.