August 1, 2012 Coats Museum News
Is there anyone who can remember the names of any of the barber shops that were in Coats when you were growing up? Even more difficult, can you remember the cost of the haircuts? In 1931 in Lillington, the cost of a shave was 15 cents and a haircut was 25 cents at the Sanitary Barber Shop. That was a reduction in prices. That was the good news—now for the bad news. Tax assessors would begin to appraise and list property for taxation in Harnett County on April 1. Notices had been posted by H.A. Turlington, Sr. He served as county tax supervisor. In Coats, T.D. Stewart would be list taker and Bernard Hudson and D.E. Lassiter were assessors (Harnett County News March 19. 1931).
Mr. and Mrs. Owen Odum entertained the Coats School faculty at their home on March 17th on St. Patrick’s Day. The home was beautifully decorated in “green and white” which, with real Irish lace covers, created an atmosphere of old Ireland. A four-course meal was served. Later in the evening, the guests enjoyed a marshmallow roast on the lawn. If Mrs. Odum served chicken, she could have purchased Leghorn hens for 15 cents a pound. Did they eat Leghorn chickens or were they just raised for the eggs (Harnett County News March 26, 1931)?
Who was the principal of the Coats High School in 1931? I do know this. The list of school committeemen in the various schools of Grove Township for the white schools had to be reelected or their successors had to be named. The paper listed that L.P. Denning for Oakdale, J.A. Langdon for Gregory, E.F. Parker for Turlington and Dr. C. Garner Fuquay and W. T. Sorrell for Coats were up for reelection (Harnett County News April 2, 1931).
The April 7, 1931 Coats Town Board Minutes reported by Mayor and Clerk T.H. Grimes that the board voted to hire John Satterfield as night watchman for $35.00 per month and T.D. Stewart was to be paid $25.00 to list taxes for 1931 and to make out the tax book also. The board had to advertise for candidates for town officials to be elected on May 5, 1931.
The Harnett County News April, 16, 1931 edition reported that all the men had been reelected for the white school boards and in the colored schools, the following were elected : in Black River #151, Wesley Johnson and Benton Leach; in #155, Robert Rowland; in #154 (Turlington), James D. Stewart ; in #152, T.H. McKay and in # 153, T.S. Surles.
Mr. Bernice Wood, citizen of Grove Township, added one more puzzle to the list that came before the county commissioners every first Monday night of the month. Mr. Wood wanted to adjust his tax debt, and when he explained that some back taxes rested against his land, Attorney Rody Williams broke in with “It’s impossible to give you relief on that, Mr. Wood.” Mr. Wood insisted on explaining, and all of a sudden broke the news that he had more homemade syrup than he needed and that he would like to swap some to the county for a tax receipt. Auditor McLean said that the County Home could use a few gallons and Mr. Wood began to talk business with him (Harnett County News April 16, 1931). Could that happen in 2012? Did Mr. Wood make syrup in the area of the current Cane Mill Road?
Measles, the like of which had not been seen in the Coats community for 25 years, had caused students in large numbers to be seriously ill. First grader, Fred Langdon, the little bright-faced son of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Langdon, developed pneumonia with the measles and had died on April 11, 1931. The late school news from Coats had reported that the Christmas holidays had been followed with an epidemic of influenza. The epidemic had caused 6 teachers to be absent in one day while 24 students were absent in one grade. The administration wondered if the unusual crowded conditions in the school were a cause of the spreading of the germs.
The same April edition of the paper shared news from Coats School that the tenth graders in the geography class had taken a field trip to the Smithfield Art Pottery. They had learned about making, painting, and burning of pottery. Hazel Dean, Gilmer Ennis, Ellen Denning, Woodrow Langdon, and Ruby Ennis gave an account of the adventure to the entire student body.
The Easter season was chosen as the time for the Junior-Senior Banquet held in the school building on a Friday night. The banquet hall was banked with ferns, pines and white blossoms. There were two long rows of tables attractively decorated with yellow spring flowers and white and yellow candles. Places were prepared for 60 people. Between servings of the different courses, the Glee Club entertained with musical selections. Gilmer Ennis gave a number of jokes on the seniors and guests. The future newspaper clippings of 1936 were given by Royaline King and proved interesting according to the newspaper. James Stewart, president of the Junior Class, was toastmaster. Marvin Johnson responded for the seniors. Where was this banquet hall in the 1921 school building?
Many students were preparing to spend the summer working on the farm but before that happened, they received their last grade report. Mrs. Brickhouse evaluated the work of her first graders and reported that Doris Hawley, Grace Snipes, Clayburn Williams and Velma Sorrell had made honor roll. Miss Horton’s first grade honorees were Cooper Byrd, Earl Ryals, Keith Wayne Stewart, Vonnie Avery and Mary Liza Lee. Miss Edwards gave top marks to Lois Odum, Delaney Turlington, Cecil Fuquay, Bernard Hill, Bernice Weaver, and Frances Grimes. Zula Bright Hockaday, Rosie Averette, and Doris McLamb made the third grade honor roll. Miss Burt had Mildred Harmon, Edith Turlington,, Maggie Stephenson and Pauline Johnson on her fourth grade list. Harry Turlington, Wilbur Jones, Tommy Jones, Clinton Lee, Edward Grimes, Sherrill Weeks and Roy Weeks made honors for Miss Williams’s fourth grade class. Miss Betts found favor in the fifth grade work of D.B. Durham, Jr., Madeline Keene, Foy Stephenson, and Imogene Turlington. Miss Highfill worked her sixth graders hard and Lola Langdon and Ollie Bell Satterfield were up to the challenge.
Next week, read to discover if any of your relatives made the honors lists for grades 7-11. Also read to discover what famous person gave the address at the commencement for the 1931 Coats seniors.
A special thank you goes to contractor Timothy L. Penny and Locke Muse for the great job that they are doing in the research library room at the museum. Despite the relentless heat, they are working tirelessly to complete the job. Also thanks to Clay at Roses in Dunn for helping us select a special rug for the library. Thanks to the individuals who gave to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor the birthdays of Maude Penny Sorrell and Alice Thornton Johnson. Because of folks like you, the endowment will guarantee a good tomorrow for the museum.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COATS MUSEUM NEWS APPEARED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON AUGUST 1, 2012.
Is there anyone who can remember the names of any of the barber shops that were in Coats when you were growing up? Even more difficult, can you remember the cost of the haircuts? In 1931 in Lillington, the cost of a shave was 15 cents and a haircut was 25 cents at the Sanitary Barber Shop. That was a reduction in prices. That was the good news—now for the bad news. Tax assessors would begin to appraise and list property for taxation in Harnett County on April 1. Notices had been posted by H.A. Turlington, Sr. He served as county tax supervisor. In Coats, T.D. Stewart would be list taker and Bernard Hudson and D.E. Lassiter were assessors (Harnett County News March 19. 1931).
Mr. and Mrs. Owen Odum entertained the Coats School faculty at their home on March 17th on St. Patrick’s Day. The home was beautifully decorated in “green and white” which, with real Irish lace covers, created an atmosphere of old Ireland. A four-course meal was served. Later in the evening, the guests enjoyed a marshmallow roast on the lawn. If Mrs. Odum served chicken, she could have purchased Leghorn hens for 15 cents a pound. Did they eat Leghorn chickens or were they just raised for the eggs (Harnett County News March 26, 1931)?
Who was the principal of the Coats High School in 1931? I do know this. The list of school committeemen in the various schools of Grove Township for the white schools had to be reelected or their successors had to be named. The paper listed that L.P. Denning for Oakdale, J.A. Langdon for Gregory, E.F. Parker for Turlington and Dr. C. Garner Fuquay and W. T. Sorrell for Coats were up for reelection (Harnett County News April 2, 1931).
The April 7, 1931 Coats Town Board Minutes reported by Mayor and Clerk T.H. Grimes that the board voted to hire John Satterfield as night watchman for $35.00 per month and T.D. Stewart was to be paid $25.00 to list taxes for 1931 and to make out the tax book also. The board had to advertise for candidates for town officials to be elected on May 5, 1931.
The Harnett County News April, 16, 1931 edition reported that all the men had been reelected for the white school boards and in the colored schools, the following were elected : in Black River #151, Wesley Johnson and Benton Leach; in #155, Robert Rowland; in #154 (Turlington), James D. Stewart ; in #152, T.H. McKay and in # 153, T.S. Surles.
Mr. Bernice Wood, citizen of Grove Township, added one more puzzle to the list that came before the county commissioners every first Monday night of the month. Mr. Wood wanted to adjust his tax debt, and when he explained that some back taxes rested against his land, Attorney Rody Williams broke in with “It’s impossible to give you relief on that, Mr. Wood.” Mr. Wood insisted on explaining, and all of a sudden broke the news that he had more homemade syrup than he needed and that he would like to swap some to the county for a tax receipt. Auditor McLean said that the County Home could use a few gallons and Mr. Wood began to talk business with him (Harnett County News April 16, 1931). Could that happen in 2012? Did Mr. Wood make syrup in the area of the current Cane Mill Road?
Measles, the like of which had not been seen in the Coats community for 25 years, had caused students in large numbers to be seriously ill. First grader, Fred Langdon, the little bright-faced son of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Langdon, developed pneumonia with the measles and had died on April 11, 1931. The late school news from Coats had reported that the Christmas holidays had been followed with an epidemic of influenza. The epidemic had caused 6 teachers to be absent in one day while 24 students were absent in one grade. The administration wondered if the unusual crowded conditions in the school were a cause of the spreading of the germs.
The same April edition of the paper shared news from Coats School that the tenth graders in the geography class had taken a field trip to the Smithfield Art Pottery. They had learned about making, painting, and burning of pottery. Hazel Dean, Gilmer Ennis, Ellen Denning, Woodrow Langdon, and Ruby Ennis gave an account of the adventure to the entire student body.
The Easter season was chosen as the time for the Junior-Senior Banquet held in the school building on a Friday night. The banquet hall was banked with ferns, pines and white blossoms. There were two long rows of tables attractively decorated with yellow spring flowers and white and yellow candles. Places were prepared for 60 people. Between servings of the different courses, the Glee Club entertained with musical selections. Gilmer Ennis gave a number of jokes on the seniors and guests. The future newspaper clippings of 1936 were given by Royaline King and proved interesting according to the newspaper. James Stewart, president of the Junior Class, was toastmaster. Marvin Johnson responded for the seniors. Where was this banquet hall in the 1921 school building?
Many students were preparing to spend the summer working on the farm but before that happened, they received their last grade report. Mrs. Brickhouse evaluated the work of her first graders and reported that Doris Hawley, Grace Snipes, Clayburn Williams and Velma Sorrell had made honor roll. Miss Horton’s first grade honorees were Cooper Byrd, Earl Ryals, Keith Wayne Stewart, Vonnie Avery and Mary Liza Lee. Miss Edwards gave top marks to Lois Odum, Delaney Turlington, Cecil Fuquay, Bernard Hill, Bernice Weaver, and Frances Grimes. Zula Bright Hockaday, Rosie Averette, and Doris McLamb made the third grade honor roll. Miss Burt had Mildred Harmon, Edith Turlington,, Maggie Stephenson and Pauline Johnson on her fourth grade list. Harry Turlington, Wilbur Jones, Tommy Jones, Clinton Lee, Edward Grimes, Sherrill Weeks and Roy Weeks made honors for Miss Williams’s fourth grade class. Miss Betts found favor in the fifth grade work of D.B. Durham, Jr., Madeline Keene, Foy Stephenson, and Imogene Turlington. Miss Highfill worked her sixth graders hard and Lola Langdon and Ollie Bell Satterfield were up to the challenge.
Next week, read to discover if any of your relatives made the honors lists for grades 7-11. Also read to discover what famous person gave the address at the commencement for the 1931 Coats seniors.
A special thank you goes to contractor Timothy L. Penny and Locke Muse for the great job that they are doing in the research library room at the museum. Despite the relentless heat, they are working tirelessly to complete the job. Also thanks to Clay at Roses in Dunn for helping us select a special rug for the library. Thanks to the individuals who gave to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor the birthdays of Maude Penny Sorrell and Alice Thornton Johnson. Because of folks like you, the endowment will guarantee a good tomorrow for the museum.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COATS MUSEUM NEWS APPEARED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON AUGUST 1, 2012.