August 11, 2023 Coats Museum News
How many of you grew up on a tobacco farm? What was going on in the months of April and May on your farm? Were you helping put tobacco plants in the ground with hand setters or are you young enough that your farm had a huge tractor that pulled the planter that seated six people to plant three rows at a time?
There was a time when farm kids were farm kids and they took on responsibilities expected of farm kids. In fact in the 1920’s, schools were actually delayed opening in some areas so the kids could pick cotton and even were closed early so kids could have more hours in the fields to pick the valuable crop. Some may even remember schools delaying opening so tobacco could be harvested.
There was not time for recreational sports except maybe on the weekends. However with the passing of time and better farm equipment, some farm kids did not even help on the farm. Farms became larger and fewer people farmed because they had other job opportunities to support their families. Hence, there came a time when kids needed activities to occupy their free time. The months mentioned became a time that young people could play baseball, softball or other fun sports or activities.
The Coats baseball team was in a winning streak in May of 1993. The team was all smiles when pictured in the Daily Record May 3rd edition. Pictured were T.J. Beasley, Gary Walden, Ashley Stewart and James Norris after they had handed West Lee their first loss.
In Coats, Two Dogs Pizza was officially welcomed when Jeff Davidson and Bill Fulton (owners) and Debbie Anderson, manager, opened the doors to their business on NC 55 where many years earlier Luke Barefoot had served the best hamburgers and barbeque around (Daily Record May 5, 1993).
How many of you have ever been to a shootout? Kids had a ball at the Coats Shootout where they climbed a greasy pole to shake off a quarter at the top of the pole. They threw footballs through tires. Many rode the ponies while some even tried to catch a greasy pig. Some chased greasy chickens. Even the greasy, exhausted pig tried to chase the greasy chickens. The Coats PTO had a spaghetti supper in conjunction with the shootout.
A couple who were not at the shootout was Edna C. Cannady of Clinton and McLuin Parrish of Coats who were married at a private ceremony at the Grove Park Baptist Church in Clinton. The descendants of Joseph H. Penny and Louella Lassiter Penny had met at the home of Hal and Connie Penny. Gary Penny and Hal had cooked the pig. Bill and Nell Penny Williams were up from Atlanta for the event.
While the Penny Reunion was being enjoyed, several other local people were having their aliments checked out by the doctors. Earl Ennis had to be taken to Rex Hospital after he became ill at his home. Sammy Wagner had suffered a head injury and his doctors were talking surgery.
Belle continued her notes that several from the senior center had brought home gold and silver medals from the Mid-Carolina Regional games. Winners were Tom Cherry, Eloise Lee, Will Breeden, Lydia Byrd, Rebeth Mitchell, Gail Pope and Joe Lee.
Dan Richards with the Daily Record staff reported “Triple Overtime” was how the windup of the annual Coats IGA Beef Shootout Golf Tournament at Chicora Country Club played out. A championship playoff went to the third extra hole before the team of Irvin Guy, Sandy Davis, Tim Bullard and Harold Ingle won with a birdie (Daily Record May 132, 1993).
The Coats Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to annex all the proposed areas. A group of residents who attended the meeting signed a paper requesting help with payment of legal services to fight the annexation. Mayor Tim McKinnie explained that the board had heard the residents’ complaints, both at the hearing and meetings. The annexation was to go into effect on May 13, 1994. Mayor McKinnie presented an amendment to report that addressed the four concerns that the residents had brought up. It was adopted unanimously.
The four points were Coats was urbanized without regard to race and the town did report to the U.S. Attorney General so Coats was not violating the Federal Voting Rights Act. Second, the town was only the collective agency for the sewer; hence, the residents could hook to the county system via paying part of the hookup cost. Third, as long as no nuisance was observed, livestock in the annexed area could remain: the town would consider changing current ordinances. Cropland would not change at all. The tax value would remain the same. More precise borders had been drawn-natural beds, roads, bridges, and property lines would follow a visible pattern.
Commissioner Don Ennis explained to the group who attended that meeting that the town commissioners had worked on this annexation for two years, had talked and listened to those concerned. Ennis and McKinnie felt there was not intent to harm anyone and annexation would help the town. How did this play out?
I do know that In other business of the town, it was reported that Commissioner Avery would investigate complaints from the Williams Road. Commissioner Ennis reported that over 300 children were involved in the town recreational program. The board unanimously approved Robert Pleasant and Louis Gordon Byrd to the Coats Planning Board. Joe Giles and Associates were contracted to audit the town’s finances.
Commissioners present were Wade Stephenson, Margaret House, Max Beasley, Don Ennis and Frances Avery. Mayor McKinnie and the town attorney were also present.
The Special Olympics were held at Harnett Central High School. H.L. Sorrell, Jr. of the HCBOC was pictured in the Daily Record May 17, 1993 edition as he extended congratulations to his cousin Buddy Penny, a Special Olympian.
The news was that the Bluegrass fans had fun at the Coats Festival where the Coats Junior Council 417 sponsored their 21st annual festival (Daily Record May 17, 1993). Sharon Stevens of the Dunn trophy Case was pictured wearing one of the General Lee Celebration tee shirts on sale to raise money for the General Lee Museum (Daily Record May 18, 1993).
Despite the sizzling temperatures, the museum continues to be busy. Visitors and board members –past and present-continue to check in the museum. The volunteers continue to get requests for information from our research library. We have had memorials given for Penny Coats Lee, Margaret Johnson, Alice Thornton Johnson and Maude Penny Sorrell. Many of you remember Tom and Deborah Jackson from school. We had a sweet note and contribution from Deborah. Thank you goes to all who support the museum physically and financially.
The hard work does not go unnoticed by the people who come through the museum such as the great number who dropped in for the CACC Hall of Fame event. The familiar comment is that they had no idea that Coats had such beautiful museums.
How many of you grew up on a tobacco farm? What was going on in the months of April and May on your farm? Were you helping put tobacco plants in the ground with hand setters or are you young enough that your farm had a huge tractor that pulled the planter that seated six people to plant three rows at a time?
There was a time when farm kids were farm kids and they took on responsibilities expected of farm kids. In fact in the 1920’s, schools were actually delayed opening in some areas so the kids could pick cotton and even were closed early so kids could have more hours in the fields to pick the valuable crop. Some may even remember schools delaying opening so tobacco could be harvested.
There was not time for recreational sports except maybe on the weekends. However with the passing of time and better farm equipment, some farm kids did not even help on the farm. Farms became larger and fewer people farmed because they had other job opportunities to support their families. Hence, there came a time when kids needed activities to occupy their free time. The months mentioned became a time that young people could play baseball, softball or other fun sports or activities.
The Coats baseball team was in a winning streak in May of 1993. The team was all smiles when pictured in the Daily Record May 3rd edition. Pictured were T.J. Beasley, Gary Walden, Ashley Stewart and James Norris after they had handed West Lee their first loss.
In Coats, Two Dogs Pizza was officially welcomed when Jeff Davidson and Bill Fulton (owners) and Debbie Anderson, manager, opened the doors to their business on NC 55 where many years earlier Luke Barefoot had served the best hamburgers and barbeque around (Daily Record May 5, 1993).
How many of you have ever been to a shootout? Kids had a ball at the Coats Shootout where they climbed a greasy pole to shake off a quarter at the top of the pole. They threw footballs through tires. Many rode the ponies while some even tried to catch a greasy pig. Some chased greasy chickens. Even the greasy, exhausted pig tried to chase the greasy chickens. The Coats PTO had a spaghetti supper in conjunction with the shootout.
A couple who were not at the shootout was Edna C. Cannady of Clinton and McLuin Parrish of Coats who were married at a private ceremony at the Grove Park Baptist Church in Clinton. The descendants of Joseph H. Penny and Louella Lassiter Penny had met at the home of Hal and Connie Penny. Gary Penny and Hal had cooked the pig. Bill and Nell Penny Williams were up from Atlanta for the event.
While the Penny Reunion was being enjoyed, several other local people were having their aliments checked out by the doctors. Earl Ennis had to be taken to Rex Hospital after he became ill at his home. Sammy Wagner had suffered a head injury and his doctors were talking surgery.
Belle continued her notes that several from the senior center had brought home gold and silver medals from the Mid-Carolina Regional games. Winners were Tom Cherry, Eloise Lee, Will Breeden, Lydia Byrd, Rebeth Mitchell, Gail Pope and Joe Lee.
Dan Richards with the Daily Record staff reported “Triple Overtime” was how the windup of the annual Coats IGA Beef Shootout Golf Tournament at Chicora Country Club played out. A championship playoff went to the third extra hole before the team of Irvin Guy, Sandy Davis, Tim Bullard and Harold Ingle won with a birdie (Daily Record May 132, 1993).
The Coats Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to annex all the proposed areas. A group of residents who attended the meeting signed a paper requesting help with payment of legal services to fight the annexation. Mayor Tim McKinnie explained that the board had heard the residents’ complaints, both at the hearing and meetings. The annexation was to go into effect on May 13, 1994. Mayor McKinnie presented an amendment to report that addressed the four concerns that the residents had brought up. It was adopted unanimously.
The four points were Coats was urbanized without regard to race and the town did report to the U.S. Attorney General so Coats was not violating the Federal Voting Rights Act. Second, the town was only the collective agency for the sewer; hence, the residents could hook to the county system via paying part of the hookup cost. Third, as long as no nuisance was observed, livestock in the annexed area could remain: the town would consider changing current ordinances. Cropland would not change at all. The tax value would remain the same. More precise borders had been drawn-natural beds, roads, bridges, and property lines would follow a visible pattern.
Commissioner Don Ennis explained to the group who attended that meeting that the town commissioners had worked on this annexation for two years, had talked and listened to those concerned. Ennis and McKinnie felt there was not intent to harm anyone and annexation would help the town. How did this play out?
I do know that In other business of the town, it was reported that Commissioner Avery would investigate complaints from the Williams Road. Commissioner Ennis reported that over 300 children were involved in the town recreational program. The board unanimously approved Robert Pleasant and Louis Gordon Byrd to the Coats Planning Board. Joe Giles and Associates were contracted to audit the town’s finances.
Commissioners present were Wade Stephenson, Margaret House, Max Beasley, Don Ennis and Frances Avery. Mayor McKinnie and the town attorney were also present.
The Special Olympics were held at Harnett Central High School. H.L. Sorrell, Jr. of the HCBOC was pictured in the Daily Record May 17, 1993 edition as he extended congratulations to his cousin Buddy Penny, a Special Olympian.
The news was that the Bluegrass fans had fun at the Coats Festival where the Coats Junior Council 417 sponsored their 21st annual festival (Daily Record May 17, 1993). Sharon Stevens of the Dunn trophy Case was pictured wearing one of the General Lee Celebration tee shirts on sale to raise money for the General Lee Museum (Daily Record May 18, 1993).
Despite the sizzling temperatures, the museum continues to be busy. Visitors and board members –past and present-continue to check in the museum. The volunteers continue to get requests for information from our research library. We have had memorials given for Penny Coats Lee, Margaret Johnson, Alice Thornton Johnson and Maude Penny Sorrell. Many of you remember Tom and Deborah Jackson from school. We had a sweet note and contribution from Deborah. Thank you goes to all who support the museum physically and financially.
The hard work does not go unnoticed by the people who come through the museum such as the great number who dropped in for the CACC Hall of Fame event. The familiar comment is that they had no idea that Coats had such beautiful museums.