VOLUME XXII NO. 7
BIG EVENT IS SLATED
FOR ROANOKE ISLAND
ON VIRGINIA DARE DAY
State, National and International Dignitaries to
Pay Homage on August 18 to Virginia Dare
of the Lost Colony. BERMUDA'S GOVERNOR
By AYCOCK BROWN
State, national and international
dignitaries will come to Roanoke
Islapd, America’s spiritual birth
place, Saturday, August 18, to pay
homage to Virginia Dare, the first
child of English parentage born
in the 16th Century New World.
The dignitaries will include
Governor Luther H. Hodges of
North Carolina, his friend of long
standing, Sir Stanley Spurling of
Bermuda with whom he was close
ly associated as an International
Rotarian for many years; Lt. Gen.
Sir John Woodall, Governor and
Commander-in-Chief of Bermuda;
and Felix Wormser, assistant to
the U. S. Secretary of the In
terior, assigned to National Parks.
Here the group, which for the
first time brings a foreign British
governor to Roanoke Island, will
take part in a tree planting pro
gram at the Elizabethan Gardens
during the afternoon, attend a
lawn party and supper at the Ro
anoke Garden home of the Albert
Q. Bells afterwards as guests of
the local garden club and then fol
lowing a concert at Waterside
Theatre by Elizabeth City’s high
school band, the group will take
part in a brief ceremony on the
stage of Waterside Theatre im
mediately before The Lost Colony
performance, the 809th in the
drama’s long history.
Saturday’s performance will
mark the 20th anniversary of the
late President Franklin D. Roose
velt’s attendance at the 23rd per
formance in 1937. It was Roose
velt’s speech here on that occasion
which is credited with changing
the Lost Colony’s plans for an
event of one season to a drama
presented each summer since 1937
(except for four- World War II
years) and an outdoor production
that has out-lived all others in the
World.
Virginia Dare Story
Virginia Dare, the first child of
English parentage in the land that
became America, was the daugh
ter of Eleanor and Ananias Dare.
Her parents had come to Roanoke
Island as members of the Sir Wal
ter Raleigh expedition of approxi
mately 150 persons that had ar
rived here during late July, 1587,
under the leadership of Governor
John White.
Governor White, father of
Eleanor, remained here until Vir
ginia, his grandchild was born on
August 18, and her subsequent
baptism two days later. Shortly
afterwards Governor White re
turned to England with the ships
that had brought the colonists to
the New World where they would
attempt to establish a permanent
settlement. He was going after
additional supplies.
His departure was the last con
tact with the little band of men
and women left on Roanoke Is
land. England was at war with
Spain upon his return and it was
not until 1591 tha't he returned
to Fort Raleigh in the New World
with relief for the colonists. But
the colonists had disappeared—
without a trace, except for the
word “CROATOAN” carved on a
tree. The “Croatoan” of’ that day
was said to be an island located
approximately at the site of
See BIG EVENT, Page Seven
DANIELS CLAN GATHERS
AT WANCHESE SUNDAY
Dr. Frank Graham Speaker At Cere
monies to Start at 4:30 in the
Afternoon; Other Notables
. Invited
Sunday, August 19, will see the
gathering of several hundred mem
bers of the Daniels family, when
they meet at 4:30 in the afternoon
at the Wanchese Methodist Church
for their annual reunion. Last
year more than 400 people attend
ed, -and this year it is expected
there will be more.
Dr. Frank Graham will be
speaker for the occasion, and the
family of the late Josephus Dan
iels will be represented by his son,
Frank Daniels, of Raleigh, with
Mrs. Daniels and their daughter.
Aiso expected is Rev. J. Harri
son Daniels of Baltimore, Md., who
has written the Daniels family his
tory from 1630 through 1951. A
second volume is to be published,
possibly within the next year.
Governor Luther Hodges and his
party, including the Governor of
Bermuda and other notables, who
wiR be in Manteo Saturday, have,
been invited to stay over for the
event.
THE COASTLAND TIMES
PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROLINA
HOTS
ip
’ -■ < - i* •»
‘ < r ■
/< i 1
M fl
1 * J|
LT. GENERAL SIR JOHN
WOODALL, governor and com
mander-in-chief of Bermuda, is
scheduled to arrive on the Dare
Coast with Governor Luther H.
Hodges and Mrs. Hodges of North
Carolina early Saturday afternoon.
Traveling aboard a North Carolina
National Guard plane the party
will also include Sir Stanley
Spurling of Bermuda whom Gov
ernor Hodges has known for a
number of years through Inter
national Rotary. Assistant Secre
tary of the Interior Felix Worm
ser, joins the party here. Here the
distinguished visitors are sched
uled to have roles in a tree plant
ing program at Elizabethan Gar
den during the afternoon and later
will be guests of honor at a lawn
party and supper sponsored by Ro-
See WOODALL Page Seven
A SPECIAL ELECTION
AMENDMENTS FOR
SCHOOLS SEPT. BTH
Books Opened Last Saturday.
Registration Closes Sept. I
This is a year of many elections.
Another special one has loomed up
for Saturday, September Bth. It
will pass on several amendments
to the Constitution of North Caro
lina, the important one having to
do with the public schools.
The books opened Saturday of
last week at the usual places.
Those already registered as voters
will not have to register again.
The books will close on August
25. Sept. 1 is Challenge Day.
This may prove one of the most
critical elections in recent years.
It may determine the future
course of the public school system
in North Carolina as we know it.
Its results may say whether it
is wise or foolish to issue bonds
that have been recently voted in
various districts in this state.
The grave importance of this
issue deserves the profound study
of all people and they should make
an effort to acquaint themselves
with all facts in the case.
GREEN GROW THE LILACS
TO BE SHOWN MONDAY
A large audience is expected to
attend the 1956 production of the
Roanoke Island School of Fine
Arts, which will be “Green Grow
The Lilacs”. The play by Lynn
Riggs is the original story of
“Oklahoma”, and will be shown in
Waterside Theatre, Roanoke Is
land, at 8:15 Monday evening, AUr
gust 20.
Tickets are on sale at the Lost
Colony office, Fearing’s, Inc., and
The Oasis on the Nags Head high
way.
MANTEO HIGH SCHOOL'S FIRST GRADUATES HAVE A REUNION
■ e o e
■; a IK V.
■ i i ■ sj. -• •• ■' I
KHMUMb j Fi B .1
fig <
Ir . .Jv & jffflHrl I
MEMBERS OF MANTEO HIGH SCHOOL’S FIRST GRADUATING CLASS, that of 1916, met for a
reunion on Friday, August 10, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Lennon of Manteo. The meeting was in
the form of a dinner party, those in charge of the dinner being Mrs. Lennon’s sisters, Mrs. Lena Pearsall
of Manteo and Mrs. Henry Johnson of Raleigh. Out of a class of 13, nine members were present, and
are shown above as foljows: seated, left to right, Miss Callie Jones of Manteo and Camp LeJeune, where
she holds a year-round teaching position; Mrs. Naomi Wescott, widow of the late Eber Wescott of Man
teo, who is employed in the office of the Clerk of Superior Court,, Dare County; Edward Meekins of
Raleigh, with the extension department of N. C. State College; Mrs. Annie Griffin McCoy of Norfolk,
Va., a housewife; standing, left to right, Mrs. Madge Daniels Barber of Ardmore, Pa., who teaches in
the winter, and who in summer conducts European tours; Mrs. Louise Meekins of Manteo, who is with
the National Park Service, Fort Raleigh; Mrs. Hattie Forbes Minton of Virginia Beach, Va., who com
bines a job with being a housewife; Mrs. Guy (Gladys Wescott) Lennon of Manteo, a housewife who
with her sister Mrs. Pearsall also creates unusual and artistic aprons; Mrs. Edna Evans Bell of Manteo,
who operates the Eleanor Dare Tourist Home.
Others present, but not shown in the picture were Mrs. Pearsall and Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Lorena Dan
iels of Manteo; D. E. Evans of Manteo; Guy Lennon, Mrs. Edward Meekins of Raieigh and Mrs. Leo
Midgette of Manteo.
The group organized an alumni association, and plan to extend the membership to other classes,
with the idea in mind of establishing a future fitting memorial.
BIG MAJORITY FOR
SCHOOL BOND ISSUE
IN SPECIAL ELECTION
The vota for decision in the mat
ter of the Manteo School District
on Saturday, August 11, showed
an overwhelming majority of the
voters for the issue.
The vote by precincts was as
follows:
Precinct Voters Pro Con
Nags Head 29 17 10
Manteo 385 319 12
Wanchese 97 47 7
Mashoes 13 11 1
Manns Harbor 64 43 6
Stumpy Point 25 14 6
East Lake 18 0 14
Total 631 451 56
ROANOKE ISLAND FINE ARTS SCHOOL ACTRESSES
Bl J ISkSx/'
- v
I
z, / J
8
IL//. -O W A WLW I
J I
■Fjoio ik, |
Ml. ■!
Lois Garren (left) of Logan, Utah, plays the role of Laura, the
lovely heorine of Green Grow the Lilacs, a western folk drama by
Lynn Riggs, to be presented as the summer theatre project of Roanoke
Island School of Fine Arts, on the stage of Waterside Theatre next
Monday, (August 20) night. Margaret Joslin (center) of Raleigh, is
cast as Aunt Eller in the play and June Craft of Pfafftown (near
Winston-Salem) is cast as Ada Annie, the dumb country girl. The play
(only production other than The Lost Colony to be presented at
Waterside Theatre, Manteo) is scheduled to begin at 8:15 o’clock. It
was from this play by Riggs that the original story for the long time
Broadway success “Oklahoma” was taken. Hero of the play to be pre
sented in its first outdoor setting at Waterside Theatre oh Monday
night will be Martin Gerrish of Arizona, the Lost Colony’s male lead—
John Borden. (Brantley-Aycock Brown Photo)
MANTEO, N. C., FRIDAY, AUGUST 17,1956
FLOOD INSURANCE
IS PROMISED IN
"A MONTH OR SO”
Senator Scott Reports Adminis
trative Details of Program
Being Worked Out
By BILL WHITLEY
The Housing and Home Finance
Agency, the parent agency of the
Federal Housing Administration,
is working overtime to make dis
aster insurance policies available
as soon as possible.
Sen W. Kerr Scott, after con
tacting the HHFA last week, said
it would be “a month or so” before
administrative details of the pro-
See INSURANCE, Page Seven
NEAR TRAGEDY
AT KILL DEVIL
HILLS ON MONDAY
Quick action saved three vaca
tionists from drowning in the surf
at Kill Devil Hills Monday. Three
swimmers in deep water off Ava
lon Beach, got in trouble, lost
consciousness and were washed
ashore.
R. E. Parker Jr., who operates
the Bel-Air Motor Court nearby,
caught E. L. Dunn, a Suffolk, Va.,
policeman, as he washed ashore
and administered artificial respira
tion. He then worked on J." M.
Boyette, an express company em
ployee in Suffolk, until the Coast
Guard came and used newer meth
ods of artificial respiration.
The Navy Shore Patrol brought
oxygen, and a rescue squad from
the Manteo Fire Department
brought a pulmotor with the result
that Boyette also was revived.
Mrs. Boyette did not swallow as
much water as the men and did
not have to be revived. All three
were taken to the Harvey Clinic
in Manteo, where they wer treat
ed and kept several hours.
Dunn’s wife said she was on the
beach playing with some children
while the two men and Mrs. Boy
ette were swimming. When she
first realized that something was
wrong, all three appeared to be
in deep water and having trouble.
ROBBERY AT MANTEO ICE
PLANT TUESDAY NIGHT
Two Young Negro Men in Dare County
Jail Following Confession
Two young Negro men of Man
teo, Paul Davenport and Joe
White, Jr., are in the Dare County
jail, following a robbery at the
plant of the Dare County Ice and
Storage Co. Tuesday night. The
.cash register was removed from
the office of the plant, taken be
hind the old light plant nearby and
partially demolished. There was
between five and seven dollars in
change in the machine, and it was
taken and has not been recovered.
The theft was discovered about
11:20 p.m., when the nigjjt man
on duty went to the office from
another part of the plant. Police
man Dan Cannady was notified,
and as the ice plant is not within
the legal limits of the Town of
Manteo, deputy sheriff Donovan
Twyne was also called in. They
checked the situation and follow
ed a lead which led them to the
two men, who confessed the theft.
APPEAR ON TV PROGRAM
D. Victor Meekins, editor of
THE COASTLAND TIMES, and
Judge Fentress Horner of Eliza
beth City, appeared briefly on the
early morning Will, Rogers, Jr.,
TV show Thursday morning. Mr.
Meekins and Mr. Horner were
delegates to the National Demo
cratic Convention, and were on the
show long enough to tell their
names and where they lived.
COASTLAND EDITOR SEEING
NATIONAL CONVENTION SAYS
GREATEST SHOW STILL LIVES
Chicago Called a City of Many Surprises With
Numerous Worthwhile Sights; Says Demo
cratic Convention This Week May Well Adopt
the Old Circus Slogan; High Enthusiasm
Raises Hopes of Democratic Victory.
COMPLETES BASIC TRAINING
PT*, s flr
Rr \ «=* J
it»s
w
I f * -VT'
2nd LT. DALTON MANN, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Guy Mann of Manns
Harbor, has just completed Pri
mary Basic Observer Course, at
Ellington Air Force Base, Hous
ton, Texas. Following a 10 day
leave with his parents, Lt. Mann
reports for duty at McGuire Air
Force Base in Trenton, N. J.,
where he will be a Navigator on
the C-118.
PLAN INFORMATION
BOOTH NEXT YEAR
FOR HATTERAS ID.
Business Interests May Provide
New Tourist Courtesy
North of Inlet
In order to give all tourists in
the coastal area complete informa
tion about Hatteras Island and its
facilities, including up to the min
ute news, and reservation service
for motor courts and hotels, a pub
lic information booth north of
Oregon Inlet, may be set up and
staffed during the 1956-57 season,
which for Hatteras Island, because
of its mild climates, continues
through the greater part of the
year.
While now only in its planning
stage, the project has the endors
ment of sufficient business men
to insure its likelihood.
This venture is considered nec
essary by several business men,
who say the Island is losing tens
of thousands of dollars in business
a month, because some tourists do
not come prepared to stay long
because of the false impression
there are insufficient facilities.
Some come under the impression
there is not sufficient drinking wa
ter nor adequate eating and sleep
ing places.
“As a matter of fact,” one busi
ness man says”, we have a dozen
motor courts and several hotels,
service stations of the latest type,
many up to date tourist 'homes,
several excellent restaurants, etc.
“Many of our visitors come
down here to be disappointed at
having not had prior information
of all this, whereby they might
have prepared themselves to stay
for several days insteads of leav
ing the same day.
“We believe we owe it to our
friends to provide a service north
of the inlet, whereby all people
coming to the Dare County sea
shore may conveniently find ample
literature, get latest reports on
fishing and weather, and be assist
ed in making reservations of their
choice.
“IV would have to be financed
of course, with contributions from
our business men, but these men
would be well repaid in the good
will stimulated among our visitors,
present and prospective, and the
the increased patronage brought to
the various places of business.”
CONCERT BY LOST COLONY
CHORUS ON AUGUST 26
The Lost Colony Chorus, under
direction of Dr. Elwood Keister,
will present its annual concert on
Sunday afternoon, August 26, at
3 o’clock, in Mount Olivet Meth
odist Church in Manteo. Complete
details of the concert which is
presented at no cost to the pub
lic and to which everyone is in
vited will be announced within a
few days.
Single Copy 7#
By VICTOR MEEKINS
Special by Wire and Wireless
To Coastland Newspapers
Chicago, Aug. 15.—Others have
said before that the National
Democratic Convention is the
“Greatest Show on Earth,” and
now ’since Ringling Bros.-Bar
num-Bailey have abdicated, I
agree that it must be true. For
in this city of many surprises and
a multitude of interesting sights,
a great carnival has been going
on this week. Here, men with am
bition and love for glory; some
with noble and some with more
earthy motives have been exerting
super-human strength, pulling
wires, making both friends and
enemies, betraying old comrades,
shoveling out promises and anon
rising to great heights, or climb
ing down lower and making of
themselves monkeys.
I got into Chicago Sunday
long before noon after a two
hour non-stop flight from Wash
ington on the new Viscount
Service of Capital Airlines,
and after spending two nights
in Washington. My whole fly
ing time from Norfolk, Va.,
consumed about three hours, much
less time than it used to take us
to get from Manteo to Elizabeth
City 28 years ago, back in the
days when Al Smith was nomi
nated.
Having now the honor of being
the first person from Dare County
named a delegate to a National
convention (There have been some
alternates), I didn’t see how I
could fail to make this trip, and
I’m glad I’m here, although I
didn’t look forward to coming
during the hot season. But I sur
mise it is cooler here today than
at home.
One may look out' from the
hotels upon Lake Michigan, which
binds one side of Chicago. On this
great lake there has always been
heavy commerce; commerce which
can go down the Mississippi to
New Orleans, as well as to all
the many other ports on the other
four of the Great Lakes.
Let me add, if enthusiasm can
achieve success for the Democratic
party this Fall, then there is noth
ing lacking. One never sees more
enthusiasm at a football game, and
those who came here dispirited or
lacking sufficient encouragement,
have been imbued with new spirit
by the life and movement and
abundance of inspiring words and
enthusiasm that has bubbled up
here from every corner of the na
tion. If kept up, after the return
home, there will be a Democratic
victory this fall.
A Busy City
It’s a mighty busy week in Chi
cago, but then it is busy here most
of the time, for this city has con
ventions throughout the year.
There are 135,000 hotel rooms
here, but only 35,000 of them are
listed for transient accommoda
tions, the rest being leased on
long term basis to people accus
tomed to coming year after year ■
to their respective conventions.
This time, some 90 per cent of
the transient accommodations have
been booked for persons connected
with the convention in one way or
another.
Changes have been made in seat
ing of delegates in the convention
hall, and we who are delegates
get choice positions up front on
the floor, and the alternates are
seated on the balcony. Everything
is being covered by press, tele- •
vision and radio whose operators
require 1,100 places. There are
over 2,700 delegates and over 1,800
alternates, and many national and
state dignitaries and others who
are assured good seats. Since the
convention hall seats only about
12,000 persons, it has been diffi
cult for all the 20,000 who came
for the convention, to find seats.
You folks at home with a good
TV set can hear the convention
better than us here with the best
of seats. Half the craft is on its
feet most of the time, and more
than half are trying to talk, there
by drowning out the voices of the
speakers.
Last week a fishing tackle con
vention was here, and after we
leave there will be a convention
of beauticians and barbers. It is
more than five miles from our ho
tel to the convention hall, so trips
See CONVENTION, Page Seven