August 14, 2015 Coats
Museum News
Had there been some conflict on where to build the Harnett County Health Department in 1954? From the report in the paper it stated that the department would definitely be built on the courthouse square. The word “definitely” gives the impression that there might have been some discussion about the site of the building in Lillington.
I do know that Calvin Ennis, 69, of Route 1, Coats, had died on Friday. Services had been held at Ridge Hill Freewill Baptist Church with burial in the Ennis Cemetery. Three daughters survived him: Mrs. Nelson Stephenson, Mrs. Clellan Stephenson, and Mrs. Harry Earnshaw; two sons also survived him-Rudolph and Garner Ennis. Haywood Ennis and Mrs. Beulah Martin were his siblings. Question-could the church have been the Red Hill Church? The Ridge Church was destroyed by a cyclone in May of 1924.
Another member of the Ennis clan had died the same week. Mr. William Henry Ennis, 55, of Angier, Route 2, had died at his home following an 8:30 PM heart attack. His services were held at the Hodges Chapel FWB Church with burial in the cemetery. His wife, Mrs. Alta Mae Moore Ennis, survived him. Mrs. Aaron Harper, Marquita Ann and Diane of the home were his daughters. Five sons also survived him-William Earl, Charles David, William Henry, Jr., Ralph Edward, and Billy Ray Ennis. His siblings were Mrs. Minson McLamb, Mrs. Exum Johnson, and R.D. Ennis. I bet some of you know the grandchildren of Mr. Calvin and Mr. William Henry Ennis.
Elsewhere, another family was celebrating a more pleasant event. Miss Judy Stewart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Stewart, was honored on her eleventh birthday with a dance in the Dunn Armory. Serving were Mrs. John L. Sorrell, Jr., Mrs. Dave House and Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Stewart, her grandparents (Daily Record Mar. 29, 1954).
Does anyone know when the Durham and Southern Railway ran diesels through Coats? According to the paper, it was in March of 1954. Also this is the date that the Coats Council of the Junior Order had the distinction of being the top contributor in the state and second in the nation in the amount of Christmas fund donation given to the Children’s Home in Lexington. The group gave $150. Who were the Coats members in 1954? The roster had the following names: Ed Gregory, Elijah Dean, Graham Talley, Everette Turlington, Brady Denning, O.K. Keene, Wade Turlington, Louis Dupree, Garland Johnson, Carson Gregory, Bob Lane, Delmer Ennis, R.M. Stone, C.H. Coats, N.A. Matthews, Carl Bennett, Maylon Byrd, H.T. Height, Carl Hough and Jessie Stewart. I bet you recognize most of those names.
Another name you might recognize is Mrs. Charles Ennis. The paper recorded that a profusion of lovely spring flowers decorated her house when she gave a miscellaneous shower for Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Pollard (Daily Record Mar. 30, 1954).
Miss Shirley Gregory, 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Gregory of Coats, was a contestant for the Junior Chamber of Commerce Beauty Pageant. She was a graduate of Coats where she was voted the neatest. Miss Gregory was serving as a model in a ladies store in Raleigh.
Mrs. Jennie L. Smith had to be all smiles when she saw in the newspaper a picture of her handsome son, Sergeant First Class Bryson L. Smith of Coats, N.C., a packer in the 35th Quartermaster Pack Company. He was at Camp Hale, Colorado for the Exercise Ski Jumps, the Army’s 1954 cold weather and mountain training maneuver. He had entered the army in 1940 (Daily Record Mar. 31, 1954).
Tommy Byrne, former N.Y. Yankees pitcher, had been repurchased by the Yanks. He had hurled 12—10 that year. Harnett got a modern, new school for Negroes on the western side of the county. It replaced the wooden structure at Johnsonville. Elsewhere in the county, little Mary Frances Weaver, two and half-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Weaver of Coats was photographed for the Daily Record September 8, 1954 paper. Mary Frances was dressed the part in her pretty dress, carrying a bouquet from Forbes Florist. Her dad was selling tobacco in Dunn.
The September 8, 1954 edition of the Daily Record was filled with birth announcements. Over near Benson, Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Langdon announced the birth of JoAnn and in Coats, Mr. and Mrs Linwood Johnson welcomed a son, Vass Green. Mr. and Mrs. Odell Byrd announced the arrival of James Mylo. David Morgan Barnes was the new arrival at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Barnes. Mr. and Mrs. Laverne Stewart added a new son by the name of Stephen Griffin to their family. Mr. and Mrs. David Ennis added Dennis to their household. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Ferguson had a son Danny Henry while Mr. and Mrs. J. Henry Holmes welcomed a daughter, Virginia Carol.
“Knock on wood” is a common superstition that has been around for centuries. In ancient days, wood knockers would beat the bushes to scare away evil demons and tapped on trees to get protection from friendly spirits believed to be there. Funny? How many of you enter and leave by the same door? Do you eat black eye peas on New Year’s Day? Do you make an X on the vehicle’s windshield if a black cat crosses in front of your car? Do you believe that things happen for a purpose?
When we were researching for the Heritage of Coats, North Carolina, we always wondered why there were months of newspapers missing in the paper’s library. Was there something that we did not need to revisit in the history of the town? I do know that I often have people so disappointed that something about their heritage was missing in the book and hence missing in the “Coats Museum News”. To compensate for that void, we often visited the yearbooks of the Coats High School to acquire student information that might would been in the paper.
For example, the Class of 1954 entered high school in 1950 with sixty-two members under Mr. Ray Coon and Miss Edith Allen as homeroom teachers. As the class advanced to the status of “Silly Sophomores”, their members had dropped to forty-nine. As “Jolly Juniors”, there were forty-four. Miss Mabel Lynch and James Valsame were sophomore homeroom teachers while Mrs. Gladys Phillips and Miss Avis Squires helped them pull off the Junior Senior Banquet with the theme “Hawaii”. The class picked cotton, sold Christmas cards, and had a play, “Every Body’s Crazy Now”, to raise money. Mr. Joe Veasley directed the cast of Jean Godwin, Hettie Jean Byrd, Helen Sears, T.J. Barnes, Ann Pleasant, Larry Barnes, Allie Mae Barnes, Connie Mason, Kenneth Phillips, and Donald Blalock. Carolyn Turner, T.J. Barnes, Bobby Smith, Allie Mae Barnes, Dunbar Stewart, Helen Sears, Kenneth Phillips, Donald Blalock, Ann Pleasant, and Hettie Jean Byrd were inducted into the Beta Honor Club. Which classmate just died?
We continue to be so appreciative for the support that people give to the museum. Jo Anne Turlington has given another memorial and this time for Herman Chavis who had worked at T.J. and Jo Anne’s Dunn business when Herman was a teenager. Eric Fann is a faithful museum volunteer who added the memorial bench in the Hero’s Courtyard on the square. Eric and Brynn have now added a plaque on the Donors Wall. Thanks to all of you for your generosity.
The night lights spotlight the beautifully manicured grounds on Heritage Square thanks to Teresa Honeycutt and Paul Parker and have you noticed anything different on the square this past week? We have added Coats Museum banners to call attention to the location of the museum since many people ask, “Where is the Coats Museum?”
We ask our veterans to please drop by the museum and sign up to be a part of the museum’s tribute to the “Defenders of the Red, White and Blue” event to be on November 14 on the Heritage Square.
Had there been some conflict on where to build the Harnett County Health Department in 1954? From the report in the paper it stated that the department would definitely be built on the courthouse square. The word “definitely” gives the impression that there might have been some discussion about the site of the building in Lillington.
I do know that Calvin Ennis, 69, of Route 1, Coats, had died on Friday. Services had been held at Ridge Hill Freewill Baptist Church with burial in the Ennis Cemetery. Three daughters survived him: Mrs. Nelson Stephenson, Mrs. Clellan Stephenson, and Mrs. Harry Earnshaw; two sons also survived him-Rudolph and Garner Ennis. Haywood Ennis and Mrs. Beulah Martin were his siblings. Question-could the church have been the Red Hill Church? The Ridge Church was destroyed by a cyclone in May of 1924.
Another member of the Ennis clan had died the same week. Mr. William Henry Ennis, 55, of Angier, Route 2, had died at his home following an 8:30 PM heart attack. His services were held at the Hodges Chapel FWB Church with burial in the cemetery. His wife, Mrs. Alta Mae Moore Ennis, survived him. Mrs. Aaron Harper, Marquita Ann and Diane of the home were his daughters. Five sons also survived him-William Earl, Charles David, William Henry, Jr., Ralph Edward, and Billy Ray Ennis. His siblings were Mrs. Minson McLamb, Mrs. Exum Johnson, and R.D. Ennis. I bet some of you know the grandchildren of Mr. Calvin and Mr. William Henry Ennis.
Elsewhere, another family was celebrating a more pleasant event. Miss Judy Stewart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Stewart, was honored on her eleventh birthday with a dance in the Dunn Armory. Serving were Mrs. John L. Sorrell, Jr., Mrs. Dave House and Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Stewart, her grandparents (Daily Record Mar. 29, 1954).
Does anyone know when the Durham and Southern Railway ran diesels through Coats? According to the paper, it was in March of 1954. Also this is the date that the Coats Council of the Junior Order had the distinction of being the top contributor in the state and second in the nation in the amount of Christmas fund donation given to the Children’s Home in Lexington. The group gave $150. Who were the Coats members in 1954? The roster had the following names: Ed Gregory, Elijah Dean, Graham Talley, Everette Turlington, Brady Denning, O.K. Keene, Wade Turlington, Louis Dupree, Garland Johnson, Carson Gregory, Bob Lane, Delmer Ennis, R.M. Stone, C.H. Coats, N.A. Matthews, Carl Bennett, Maylon Byrd, H.T. Height, Carl Hough and Jessie Stewart. I bet you recognize most of those names.
Another name you might recognize is Mrs. Charles Ennis. The paper recorded that a profusion of lovely spring flowers decorated her house when she gave a miscellaneous shower for Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Pollard (Daily Record Mar. 30, 1954).
Miss Shirley Gregory, 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Gregory of Coats, was a contestant for the Junior Chamber of Commerce Beauty Pageant. She was a graduate of Coats where she was voted the neatest. Miss Gregory was serving as a model in a ladies store in Raleigh.
Mrs. Jennie L. Smith had to be all smiles when she saw in the newspaper a picture of her handsome son, Sergeant First Class Bryson L. Smith of Coats, N.C., a packer in the 35th Quartermaster Pack Company. He was at Camp Hale, Colorado for the Exercise Ski Jumps, the Army’s 1954 cold weather and mountain training maneuver. He had entered the army in 1940 (Daily Record Mar. 31, 1954).
Tommy Byrne, former N.Y. Yankees pitcher, had been repurchased by the Yanks. He had hurled 12—10 that year. Harnett got a modern, new school for Negroes on the western side of the county. It replaced the wooden structure at Johnsonville. Elsewhere in the county, little Mary Frances Weaver, two and half-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Weaver of Coats was photographed for the Daily Record September 8, 1954 paper. Mary Frances was dressed the part in her pretty dress, carrying a bouquet from Forbes Florist. Her dad was selling tobacco in Dunn.
The September 8, 1954 edition of the Daily Record was filled with birth announcements. Over near Benson, Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Langdon announced the birth of JoAnn and in Coats, Mr. and Mrs Linwood Johnson welcomed a son, Vass Green. Mr. and Mrs. Odell Byrd announced the arrival of James Mylo. David Morgan Barnes was the new arrival at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Barnes. Mr. and Mrs. Laverne Stewart added a new son by the name of Stephen Griffin to their family. Mr. and Mrs. David Ennis added Dennis to their household. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Ferguson had a son Danny Henry while Mr. and Mrs. J. Henry Holmes welcomed a daughter, Virginia Carol.
“Knock on wood” is a common superstition that has been around for centuries. In ancient days, wood knockers would beat the bushes to scare away evil demons and tapped on trees to get protection from friendly spirits believed to be there. Funny? How many of you enter and leave by the same door? Do you eat black eye peas on New Year’s Day? Do you make an X on the vehicle’s windshield if a black cat crosses in front of your car? Do you believe that things happen for a purpose?
When we were researching for the Heritage of Coats, North Carolina, we always wondered why there were months of newspapers missing in the paper’s library. Was there something that we did not need to revisit in the history of the town? I do know that I often have people so disappointed that something about their heritage was missing in the book and hence missing in the “Coats Museum News”. To compensate for that void, we often visited the yearbooks of the Coats High School to acquire student information that might would been in the paper.
For example, the Class of 1954 entered high school in 1950 with sixty-two members under Mr. Ray Coon and Miss Edith Allen as homeroom teachers. As the class advanced to the status of “Silly Sophomores”, their members had dropped to forty-nine. As “Jolly Juniors”, there were forty-four. Miss Mabel Lynch and James Valsame were sophomore homeroom teachers while Mrs. Gladys Phillips and Miss Avis Squires helped them pull off the Junior Senior Banquet with the theme “Hawaii”. The class picked cotton, sold Christmas cards, and had a play, “Every Body’s Crazy Now”, to raise money. Mr. Joe Veasley directed the cast of Jean Godwin, Hettie Jean Byrd, Helen Sears, T.J. Barnes, Ann Pleasant, Larry Barnes, Allie Mae Barnes, Connie Mason, Kenneth Phillips, and Donald Blalock. Carolyn Turner, T.J. Barnes, Bobby Smith, Allie Mae Barnes, Dunbar Stewart, Helen Sears, Kenneth Phillips, Donald Blalock, Ann Pleasant, and Hettie Jean Byrd were inducted into the Beta Honor Club. Which classmate just died?
We continue to be so appreciative for the support that people give to the museum. Jo Anne Turlington has given another memorial and this time for Herman Chavis who had worked at T.J. and Jo Anne’s Dunn business when Herman was a teenager. Eric Fann is a faithful museum volunteer who added the memorial bench in the Hero’s Courtyard on the square. Eric and Brynn have now added a plaque on the Donors Wall. Thanks to all of you for your generosity.
The night lights spotlight the beautifully manicured grounds on Heritage Square thanks to Teresa Honeycutt and Paul Parker and have you noticed anything different on the square this past week? We have added Coats Museum banners to call attention to the location of the museum since many people ask, “Where is the Coats Museum?”
We ask our veterans to please drop by the museum and sign up to be a part of the museum’s tribute to the “Defenders of the Red, White and Blue” event to be on November 14 on the Heritage Square.