April 26, 2013 Coats Museum News
Not all of the people in the Coats area were busy farmers. In fact, Mrs. Lucy Kelly and Miss Mamie Chambers were involved in a car accident while they were traveling to a Wake Forest game. Mrs. Kelly, postmaster of Coats, was out of work several weeks because of her injuries.
It was during this time that Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Stewart of Coats announced the engagement of their daughter, Cynthia Grace, to Rufus Edwin Penny, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Penny, Sr. Also, Dr. Fred Fleming attended a supper to honor doctors prior to the opening of the new county hospital in Dunn (Harnett County News August 17, 1939).
Several of the local men were summoned for jury duty. They were D.A. Langdon, Dewey W. Williams, James C. Bailey, C.L. Upchurch, A.W. Slaughter, Charlie Williams, L.H. Langdon, and Everett Denning (Harnett County News August 24, 1939).
As I am writing this column, the weatherman has warned that there is a possibility of tornadoes in North Carolina. Question-At what point in time were the weather forecasters able to alert the populace that tornadoes were in the making? I do know that a tornado whipped a path across the northeastern tip of Harnett. The morning storm destroyed several buildings in the J.A. Langdon store-Bethel Church area on the Harnett-Johnston County lines. The storm traveled from there to the community near Massengill Pond in Johnston County. Old timers in the area stated that tornadoes have several times singled out that community for victims. Fifty-five years ago, they said, a whirlwind wrought havoc and a second one struck the community fifteen years ago (Harnett County News August 24, 1939).
Some of you will recall that in 1992, a tornado took that same track to destroy much property in its path.
Death traveled to the home of James Edward Johnson who was 49 years of age. He had been ill for several weeks. His services were held at Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church between Coats and Barclaysville and he was interred in the Barnes Cemetery near the church. He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Matilda Ivey Johnson; three daughters-Mrs. Howard Smith, Mrs. James Jackson, and Miss Evelyn Johnson. His two sons were Walter Johnson of Mississippi and J.W. Johnson of Coats. His brothers were J. Lewis Johnson, A.L. Johnson, and Lonnie Johnson. Mrs. Florence Johnson and Mrs. Ida Fish were sisters (Harnett County News August 31, 1939).
In 1939, the number one request for highway improvement in Harnett County was for improvement of the road from Lillington to Coats to the Harnett-Johnston County line near Benson. The same edition of the paper printed that Misses Eunice Dawson and Dulcie Terry were hired to replace Mrs. Vada Woodall and Miss Willa Horton who resigned from Coats School (Harnett County News August 31, 1931).
What would cause a school to delay the opening day in 1939? According to the September 21, 1939 edition of the Harnett County News, Coats School was delayed for an additional week so the farm children could pick cotton. The school started later than any other schools in the county. The teachers in Harnett County had voted to receive their pay in eight sections rather than twelve slices. White and colored teachers voted for that salary arrangement. Does that mean that there were only eight months of schools? I do know that the enrollment of Coats School passed the 700 mark with 215 students in high school and 500 in elementary.
Delaney Turlington, a senior at Coats, wrote for the paper that the Coats Beta Club had had its first meeting on Wednesday night, October 25. The following students had been elected officers: Howard Penny, president; Cecil Fuquay, vice president; Eloise Penny, Secretary; Dorothy Denning, treasurer; and Delaney Turlington, reporter. Miss Mamie Chambers was sponsor. The following members were present: Ella Meredith Nichols, Helen White Roycroft, Christine Stewart, Josie Lynn Hayes, Zenobia Surles, Mary Elisa Lee, Marion Grey Johnson, Celia Honeycutt, Mildred Johnson, and Edna Whittington (Harnett County News November 2, 1939). Can you tell me anything about what the future held for these Betas?
The Student Council of Coats High School had elected its officers for the 1939-40 term. The students elected Tommy Smith, president; Carsie Denning, vice president; Berlene Langdon, secretary and treasurer. Homeroom representatives were 8th grade-Betty Jean Hayes and Shirley Faye Hayes; 9th grade-Frances Kelly and Evelyn Butler; 10th grade-Keith Wayne Stewart and Christine Stewart; 11th grade-Maude Miller and Lois Odom. The chairman of each of the eleven committees were Lost and Found-Eloise Neighbors, Property-Edna Langdon, Social-Helen White Roycroft, Sanitation-Grace Williams, Safety-Howard Penny, Library, Jacelyn Hayes, Hospitality-Sidie Lane Coats, Athletic-Earl Ennis, Publicity-Celia Honeycutt, Program-Sudie Bell Glover, and Activity- Raeford Parrish (Harnett County News November 9, 1939).
Roger Coats, employee of P.F. Pope Lumber Company, was a victim of a heart attack while working at the lumber plant. He was husband of Mary Penny Coats and father of Louise Coats Cameron. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Coats of Johnston County. (Does the name Roger Coats sound familiar? Yes, he was the gentleman who owned the 1911 car that Leo McDonald of Lillington restored and had on display at the Coats Museum’s Grand Reopening on the 13th. )
The same paper printed that Mrs. W.E. Nichols was the new district Woman’s Club president. She headed up six counties and followed Mrs. W. P. Byrd of Lillington (Harnett County News October 12, 1939). Does leadership run in families? At the museum’s reopening event, the grandson of Mrs. W.E. Nichols was present. He is Mayor John Byrne of Fuquay Varina and the many people who talked with him spoke of how friendly he was.
Many people have donated to the museum to honor those who have recently died. Ron Jenkins’s mom, Mildred Jenkins, was remembered by Robie and Lynda Butler and Ann and Casey Jones and H.L. and Gayle Sorrell. Patsy and Stacy Avery, Robie and Lynda Butler and Ann and Casey Jones remembered Rev. Ronnie Byrd with museum memorials. Becky Adams remembered Lisa Freeman with a museum memorial. Wayne and Sue Richey of Nunnelly, Tennessee remembered Joyce Johnson Farmer.
We send a special thank you to Michael Wheeler (Peggy O’Neal Wheeler’s son) for his loan of many farm items to the Cotton Museum, to Naomi Dixon Lee for her gift of a portrait of Amos Coats and an apron made by Nancy Emily Coats Dixon, his daughter. Thank you goes to Leo McDonald for his gift of an Aladdin lamp and to Shirley Wicker for her loan of a complete set of Nancy Compton tobacco prints. Thank you Verle Flowers for attending the reopening bearing a gift of a metal regurgitation pan. Thank you to Cathy Gerber for her loan of a hair receiver. Because of individuals such as these, the museum truly presents an amazing look into our past. Joan and Tom Eckert, Captain ( Retired)US Navy, of Virginia Beach have added their name to the Exhibit Hall Donor Plaque. We encourage others to add their names to the plaques to show your support of preserving our heritage. Your help is needed.
The museum is open every Sunday from 2-5pm and on Wednesday from 10-3 pm. Visit us there or at our website-coatsmuseum.com.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON APRIL 26, 2013.
Not all of the people in the Coats area were busy farmers. In fact, Mrs. Lucy Kelly and Miss Mamie Chambers were involved in a car accident while they were traveling to a Wake Forest game. Mrs. Kelly, postmaster of Coats, was out of work several weeks because of her injuries.
It was during this time that Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Stewart of Coats announced the engagement of their daughter, Cynthia Grace, to Rufus Edwin Penny, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Penny, Sr. Also, Dr. Fred Fleming attended a supper to honor doctors prior to the opening of the new county hospital in Dunn (Harnett County News August 17, 1939).
Several of the local men were summoned for jury duty. They were D.A. Langdon, Dewey W. Williams, James C. Bailey, C.L. Upchurch, A.W. Slaughter, Charlie Williams, L.H. Langdon, and Everett Denning (Harnett County News August 24, 1939).
As I am writing this column, the weatherman has warned that there is a possibility of tornadoes in North Carolina. Question-At what point in time were the weather forecasters able to alert the populace that tornadoes were in the making? I do know that a tornado whipped a path across the northeastern tip of Harnett. The morning storm destroyed several buildings in the J.A. Langdon store-Bethel Church area on the Harnett-Johnston County lines. The storm traveled from there to the community near Massengill Pond in Johnston County. Old timers in the area stated that tornadoes have several times singled out that community for victims. Fifty-five years ago, they said, a whirlwind wrought havoc and a second one struck the community fifteen years ago (Harnett County News August 24, 1939).
Some of you will recall that in 1992, a tornado took that same track to destroy much property in its path.
Death traveled to the home of James Edward Johnson who was 49 years of age. He had been ill for several weeks. His services were held at Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church between Coats and Barclaysville and he was interred in the Barnes Cemetery near the church. He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Matilda Ivey Johnson; three daughters-Mrs. Howard Smith, Mrs. James Jackson, and Miss Evelyn Johnson. His two sons were Walter Johnson of Mississippi and J.W. Johnson of Coats. His brothers were J. Lewis Johnson, A.L. Johnson, and Lonnie Johnson. Mrs. Florence Johnson and Mrs. Ida Fish were sisters (Harnett County News August 31, 1939).
In 1939, the number one request for highway improvement in Harnett County was for improvement of the road from Lillington to Coats to the Harnett-Johnston County line near Benson. The same edition of the paper printed that Misses Eunice Dawson and Dulcie Terry were hired to replace Mrs. Vada Woodall and Miss Willa Horton who resigned from Coats School (Harnett County News August 31, 1931).
What would cause a school to delay the opening day in 1939? According to the September 21, 1939 edition of the Harnett County News, Coats School was delayed for an additional week so the farm children could pick cotton. The school started later than any other schools in the county. The teachers in Harnett County had voted to receive their pay in eight sections rather than twelve slices. White and colored teachers voted for that salary arrangement. Does that mean that there were only eight months of schools? I do know that the enrollment of Coats School passed the 700 mark with 215 students in high school and 500 in elementary.
Delaney Turlington, a senior at Coats, wrote for the paper that the Coats Beta Club had had its first meeting on Wednesday night, October 25. The following students had been elected officers: Howard Penny, president; Cecil Fuquay, vice president; Eloise Penny, Secretary; Dorothy Denning, treasurer; and Delaney Turlington, reporter. Miss Mamie Chambers was sponsor. The following members were present: Ella Meredith Nichols, Helen White Roycroft, Christine Stewart, Josie Lynn Hayes, Zenobia Surles, Mary Elisa Lee, Marion Grey Johnson, Celia Honeycutt, Mildred Johnson, and Edna Whittington (Harnett County News November 2, 1939). Can you tell me anything about what the future held for these Betas?
The Student Council of Coats High School had elected its officers for the 1939-40 term. The students elected Tommy Smith, president; Carsie Denning, vice president; Berlene Langdon, secretary and treasurer. Homeroom representatives were 8th grade-Betty Jean Hayes and Shirley Faye Hayes; 9th grade-Frances Kelly and Evelyn Butler; 10th grade-Keith Wayne Stewart and Christine Stewart; 11th grade-Maude Miller and Lois Odom. The chairman of each of the eleven committees were Lost and Found-Eloise Neighbors, Property-Edna Langdon, Social-Helen White Roycroft, Sanitation-Grace Williams, Safety-Howard Penny, Library, Jacelyn Hayes, Hospitality-Sidie Lane Coats, Athletic-Earl Ennis, Publicity-Celia Honeycutt, Program-Sudie Bell Glover, and Activity- Raeford Parrish (Harnett County News November 9, 1939).
Roger Coats, employee of P.F. Pope Lumber Company, was a victim of a heart attack while working at the lumber plant. He was husband of Mary Penny Coats and father of Louise Coats Cameron. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Coats of Johnston County. (Does the name Roger Coats sound familiar? Yes, he was the gentleman who owned the 1911 car that Leo McDonald of Lillington restored and had on display at the Coats Museum’s Grand Reopening on the 13th. )
The same paper printed that Mrs. W.E. Nichols was the new district Woman’s Club president. She headed up six counties and followed Mrs. W. P. Byrd of Lillington (Harnett County News October 12, 1939). Does leadership run in families? At the museum’s reopening event, the grandson of Mrs. W.E. Nichols was present. He is Mayor John Byrne of Fuquay Varina and the many people who talked with him spoke of how friendly he was.
Many people have donated to the museum to honor those who have recently died. Ron Jenkins’s mom, Mildred Jenkins, was remembered by Robie and Lynda Butler and Ann and Casey Jones and H.L. and Gayle Sorrell. Patsy and Stacy Avery, Robie and Lynda Butler and Ann and Casey Jones remembered Rev. Ronnie Byrd with museum memorials. Becky Adams remembered Lisa Freeman with a museum memorial. Wayne and Sue Richey of Nunnelly, Tennessee remembered Joyce Johnson Farmer.
We send a special thank you to Michael Wheeler (Peggy O’Neal Wheeler’s son) for his loan of many farm items to the Cotton Museum, to Naomi Dixon Lee for her gift of a portrait of Amos Coats and an apron made by Nancy Emily Coats Dixon, his daughter. Thank you goes to Leo McDonald for his gift of an Aladdin lamp and to Shirley Wicker for her loan of a complete set of Nancy Compton tobacco prints. Thank you Verle Flowers for attending the reopening bearing a gift of a metal regurgitation pan. Thank you to Cathy Gerber for her loan of a hair receiver. Because of individuals such as these, the museum truly presents an amazing look into our past. Joan and Tom Eckert, Captain ( Retired)US Navy, of Virginia Beach have added their name to the Exhibit Hall Donor Plaque. We encourage others to add their names to the plaques to show your support of preserving our heritage. Your help is needed.
The museum is open every Sunday from 2-5pm and on Wednesday from 10-3 pm. Visit us there or at our website-coatsmuseum.com.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON APRIL 26, 2013.
