April 17, 2015 Coats
Museum News
It was April of 1952 and baseball competition between the high schools in Harnett County continued. The Coats boys had played Lillington and had downed them by 11-7. Tommy Pope, Russell Lamm, Gail Pope, Marvin McLean, Hoover Johnson, and Mac Turlington had great showings.
Wonder who was the oldest worker to ever work at Erwin Mills? This I do know. Mr. John Collier of Coats had a delightful dinner honoring his family members and a few friends at the Coats Café. He was 81 years old and continued to work at Erwin Mills. Do recall what the life expectancy for a man was in 1952?
Mr. and Mrs. Perry Glover of Coats hosted a dinner honoring Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Byerly. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Corbett of Wilson were guests of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Parrish. Mrs. Corbett was a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Parrish. Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Collier had visited with Mr. Collier’s father at Highsmith Hospital in Fayetteville. Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Lucas and grandson had spent the Sunday in Wilmington. Mrs. Minnie Hawley and daughter Linda were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Dalton Norris of near Benson. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Ingraham and children, Bobby and Teddie, of Parkton were guests of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Turlington, Sr. (Daily Record April 22, 1952).
Mayor J.D. Norris of Coats was selected Councilor of the 18th District of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Garland Coats also attended that meeting (Daily Record April 24, 1952).
The Center-View Drive In Theater was enlarged and remodeled. They advertised that the family could quit work and go to the movies without having to bother to dress or look for a baby sitter. Could they not also do that with television? If you were raised on a farm, do you remember how dirty your clothes and body were after chopping corn, cotton or tobacco all day? Do you recall ever wearing shoes in the summer time except for leaving the farm for church or town? In fact, didn’t our moms have a date that we could start going barefooted? Hence, do you recall how grungy our feet became from walking barefooted in the warm, plowed dirt? Never in a million years would my dad have packed up our car with a bunch of dirty kids after quitting work to go to a movie. Some families must have however because didn’t the ad say that the drive in theater was enlarged?
While talking about shoes, did the baseball players wear special shoes and uniforms to play in 1952? I played basketball much later and I remember that my dad helped raise money to pay for new suits. I do know that regardless of the answer to the question, the Coats baseball team was hot according to the paper which reported that the Coats boys won over Boone Trail by 15-1. Gail Pope who had a batting average of over .500 hit a triple. Gail’s cousin Dennis Pope and Connie Mason also had triples (Daily Record April 25, 1952).
Chief Warrant Officer and Mrs. Russell Akerman announced the birth of a son, Russell Stewart, at Yokohoma, Japan. His mother was the former Christine Stewart of Coats. Mrs. Mildred Roycroft and children, Pat and Robert of Mayodan, N.C. were in Coats visiting Mrs. Fred Fleming.
Several Coats people were ill in April, 1952. Mrs. Garth Bowling, Mrs. Nassie Dorman, and Mrs. J.B. Adams (Daisy Smith) were all improving. Mr. T. J. Turlington had the flu. Mr. Rommie Stephenson of Bailey’s Crossroad section was ill at Rex Hospital. This did not stop others from visiting friends in the area such as Mr. and Mrs. Mallie Andrews of Angier visited Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Andrews. Mrs. C.M. Watson visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Lucas (Daily Record April 28, 1952).
Does anyone remember if they ever caught the individual who held up the Bank of Angier in April of 1952? The robber got away with $44,000.00. “Held up” sounds like words one would have used to describe a stage coach robbery, doesn’t it?
The BBQ supper to raise money for the PTA to help pay for gym seats was tremendous success due to a contest between classes to see who could sell the most tickets. Miss Westbrook and Mr. Veasey’s classes tied for first place with 81 tickets each class. Norma Lee Johnson sold the most tickets in school. She sold 31 tickets and won $3.00 in prize money. Onest Johnson sold 26 tickets and won $2.00. Patsy Smith (Patsy Avery) won 3rd place with 20 tickets.
Mr. L. Marvin Johnson cooked the and helped serve with the help of Frank Elliott, Lloyd Stephenson, Paul Johnson, Randall Turlington and Mr. Delmer Ennis-each giving a hog for cooking. Vic Lee gave the cabbage and practically all food used was donated. Seven to eight hundred people attended. The $505 profit from the proceeds went toward the bleachers.
Readers, if everything was donated and they sold 800 plates and made $505 dollars, how much did each ticket cost? I do know that the Coats Jr. and Sr. Banquet was held in the General Lee Room of the Johnson’s Restaurant in Dunn. Marilyn Yarley, Sue Langdon, and JoAnn Turlington participated. There were 52 seniors-the largest class in Coats School history. Forbes Florist of Coats donated the flower arrangement. Following the banquet, the seniors were honored with a party at the Coats Community Building. Seniors of 1952, do you remember the theme of theof your banquet? It was a square dance. Other readers, do you know where the Johnson’s Restaurant in Dunn was located and is it still in operation under a difference name (Daily Record April 29, 1952)?
Mr. Hoover Adams wrote that U.S. Congressman Bryan Dorn was unopposed for his congressional seat. He frequently visited the Coats and was prominently mentioned as a candidate for U.S. Senator or governor for future S.C. elections. Millie, his wife, was the former Mildred Johnson who graduated from Coats, Campbell College and UNC Chapel Hill. She covered the U.S. capitol for the US. News and later was an associate editor for US News and Report. This Coats farm girl and others like her were some of the early generations to do well in the large cities of the country and inspired other young girls to leave the farm for better lives.
Another young woman who is remembered for her beauty and brains was Evangeline Stewart. Evangeline was one of the 18 students from Harnett County at Wake Forest in 1952. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Stewart.
The H.H. Penny family is another family that has deep roots in the town of Coats. He was half brother to the town’s namesake, James Thomas Coats. Henry was father of Lizzie Penny (Mrs. W.H. Turlington), Joe Penny, Sr. and Mrs. Mary Penny (Mrs. Roger Coats). Henry and his wife left Johnston County in the first decade of the 1900’s but left many grown children back in Johnston. One of Henry’s grandsons was Jamie Penny who was the father of Andy Mack Penny whose birth was announced at Good Hope Hospital (Daily Record May 1, 1952).
Thank you, Eddie Vaughan, for your call to share more about the 1952 wreck involving Coats students at the intersection of 421 and 55 at Erwin. Joel Hough was driving a 1948 Oldsmobile which went through a stop sign at the intersection. Eddie recalled that changes have been made at the intersection since 1952 with stop lights and other improvements. Those however were too late for Henry Jackson who received cuts on his face and landed Frederick Byrd in the hospital. Eddie admitted that young boys in his earlier days had teased death with their cars and that he learned his lesson after being in a wreck that left him close to death. Eddie became more serious with his school work and went on to college and afterwards worked for many years in the newspaper publishing arena at the Fayetteville Observer and in California.
It was April of 1952 and baseball competition between the high schools in Harnett County continued. The Coats boys had played Lillington and had downed them by 11-7. Tommy Pope, Russell Lamm, Gail Pope, Marvin McLean, Hoover Johnson, and Mac Turlington had great showings.
Wonder who was the oldest worker to ever work at Erwin Mills? This I do know. Mr. John Collier of Coats had a delightful dinner honoring his family members and a few friends at the Coats Café. He was 81 years old and continued to work at Erwin Mills. Do recall what the life expectancy for a man was in 1952?
Mr. and Mrs. Perry Glover of Coats hosted a dinner honoring Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Byerly. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Corbett of Wilson were guests of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Parrish. Mrs. Corbett was a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Parrish. Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Collier had visited with Mr. Collier’s father at Highsmith Hospital in Fayetteville. Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Lucas and grandson had spent the Sunday in Wilmington. Mrs. Minnie Hawley and daughter Linda were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Dalton Norris of near Benson. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Ingraham and children, Bobby and Teddie, of Parkton were guests of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Turlington, Sr. (Daily Record April 22, 1952).
Mayor J.D. Norris of Coats was selected Councilor of the 18th District of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Garland Coats also attended that meeting (Daily Record April 24, 1952).
The Center-View Drive In Theater was enlarged and remodeled. They advertised that the family could quit work and go to the movies without having to bother to dress or look for a baby sitter. Could they not also do that with television? If you were raised on a farm, do you remember how dirty your clothes and body were after chopping corn, cotton or tobacco all day? Do you recall ever wearing shoes in the summer time except for leaving the farm for church or town? In fact, didn’t our moms have a date that we could start going barefooted? Hence, do you recall how grungy our feet became from walking barefooted in the warm, plowed dirt? Never in a million years would my dad have packed up our car with a bunch of dirty kids after quitting work to go to a movie. Some families must have however because didn’t the ad say that the drive in theater was enlarged?
While talking about shoes, did the baseball players wear special shoes and uniforms to play in 1952? I played basketball much later and I remember that my dad helped raise money to pay for new suits. I do know that regardless of the answer to the question, the Coats baseball team was hot according to the paper which reported that the Coats boys won over Boone Trail by 15-1. Gail Pope who had a batting average of over .500 hit a triple. Gail’s cousin Dennis Pope and Connie Mason also had triples (Daily Record April 25, 1952).
Chief Warrant Officer and Mrs. Russell Akerman announced the birth of a son, Russell Stewart, at Yokohoma, Japan. His mother was the former Christine Stewart of Coats. Mrs. Mildred Roycroft and children, Pat and Robert of Mayodan, N.C. were in Coats visiting Mrs. Fred Fleming.
Several Coats people were ill in April, 1952. Mrs. Garth Bowling, Mrs. Nassie Dorman, and Mrs. J.B. Adams (Daisy Smith) were all improving. Mr. T. J. Turlington had the flu. Mr. Rommie Stephenson of Bailey’s Crossroad section was ill at Rex Hospital. This did not stop others from visiting friends in the area such as Mr. and Mrs. Mallie Andrews of Angier visited Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Andrews. Mrs. C.M. Watson visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Lucas (Daily Record April 28, 1952).
Does anyone remember if they ever caught the individual who held up the Bank of Angier in April of 1952? The robber got away with $44,000.00. “Held up” sounds like words one would have used to describe a stage coach robbery, doesn’t it?
The BBQ supper to raise money for the PTA to help pay for gym seats was tremendous success due to a contest between classes to see who could sell the most tickets. Miss Westbrook and Mr. Veasey’s classes tied for first place with 81 tickets each class. Norma Lee Johnson sold the most tickets in school. She sold 31 tickets and won $3.00 in prize money. Onest Johnson sold 26 tickets and won $2.00. Patsy Smith (Patsy Avery) won 3rd place with 20 tickets.
Mr. L. Marvin Johnson cooked the and helped serve with the help of Frank Elliott, Lloyd Stephenson, Paul Johnson, Randall Turlington and Mr. Delmer Ennis-each giving a hog for cooking. Vic Lee gave the cabbage and practically all food used was donated. Seven to eight hundred people attended. The $505 profit from the proceeds went toward the bleachers.
Readers, if everything was donated and they sold 800 plates and made $505 dollars, how much did each ticket cost? I do know that the Coats Jr. and Sr. Banquet was held in the General Lee Room of the Johnson’s Restaurant in Dunn. Marilyn Yarley, Sue Langdon, and JoAnn Turlington participated. There were 52 seniors-the largest class in Coats School history. Forbes Florist of Coats donated the flower arrangement. Following the banquet, the seniors were honored with a party at the Coats Community Building. Seniors of 1952, do you remember the theme of theof your banquet? It was a square dance. Other readers, do you know where the Johnson’s Restaurant in Dunn was located and is it still in operation under a difference name (Daily Record April 29, 1952)?
Mr. Hoover Adams wrote that U.S. Congressman Bryan Dorn was unopposed for his congressional seat. He frequently visited the Coats and was prominently mentioned as a candidate for U.S. Senator or governor for future S.C. elections. Millie, his wife, was the former Mildred Johnson who graduated from Coats, Campbell College and UNC Chapel Hill. She covered the U.S. capitol for the US. News and later was an associate editor for US News and Report. This Coats farm girl and others like her were some of the early generations to do well in the large cities of the country and inspired other young girls to leave the farm for better lives.
Another young woman who is remembered for her beauty and brains was Evangeline Stewart. Evangeline was one of the 18 students from Harnett County at Wake Forest in 1952. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Stewart.
The H.H. Penny family is another family that has deep roots in the town of Coats. He was half brother to the town’s namesake, James Thomas Coats. Henry was father of Lizzie Penny (Mrs. W.H. Turlington), Joe Penny, Sr. and Mrs. Mary Penny (Mrs. Roger Coats). Henry and his wife left Johnston County in the first decade of the 1900’s but left many grown children back in Johnston. One of Henry’s grandsons was Jamie Penny who was the father of Andy Mack Penny whose birth was announced at Good Hope Hospital (Daily Record May 1, 1952).
Thank you, Eddie Vaughan, for your call to share more about the 1952 wreck involving Coats students at the intersection of 421 and 55 at Erwin. Joel Hough was driving a 1948 Oldsmobile which went through a stop sign at the intersection. Eddie recalled that changes have been made at the intersection since 1952 with stop lights and other improvements. Those however were too late for Henry Jackson who received cuts on his face and landed Frederick Byrd in the hospital. Eddie admitted that young boys in his earlier days had teased death with their cars and that he learned his lesson after being in a wreck that left him close to death. Eddie became more serious with his school work and went on to college and afterwards worked for many years in the newspaper publishing arena at the Fayetteville Observer and in California.