August 2, 2013 Coats Museum News
The date was January of 1942 and the public was made aware that the rationing of sugar was looming closer. A few miles west of Coats there was a Penny settlement where the news likely spread that Talmon and Mavor Penny had another son born on January 19, 1942. The new addition was named Talmon Kenneth Penny and was brother to our Ted Penny (Harnett County News January 29, 1942).
Under the leadership of Mrs. W.E. Nichols, the Red Cross Campaign to raise from $350 to $500.00 involved a great many citizens in Grove. Those who helped solicit money were Mrs. Latta Stewart, Mrs. Carlie McLamb, Mrs. Willis Denning, Mrs. Eddie Parrish, Mrs. Paul E. Turlington, Mrs. Joel Ennis and Miss Mattie Bain.
The Home Demonstration Clubs were very active in the community. Mrs. J.C. McLamb hosted the Coats Demonstration Club meeting and Mrs. L.D. Jones welcomed new member, Mrs. J.H. Wilbourne. The Turlington Club met at the home of Mrs. J.L. Sorrell and added two new members (Harnett County News February 12, 1942).
A new Bookmobile served Harnett County from the public library. Dwight Odum, son of Professor and Mrs. Owen Odum, found a faster way to travel by receiving his commercial pilot’s license in South Carolina. He had the rating of flight instructor and taught at the airport in Lumberton. Measles had reached near epidemic status, but it did not prevent the Red Cross from sponsoring the film “Golgotha” in the Coats School auditorium. Also the Coats High School Junior Class honored the seniors at a red, white and blue banquet in the school library under the leadership of Miss Virginia Senter of the faculty (Harnett County News February 26, 1942).
The routine of a schedule was broken for several Grove men as they headed for jury duty in Lillington. (Do they have the new road yet?) Those names drawn for April duty were Johnnie Barnes, W.G. Pope, J.L. Parker, Alton Grimes, Milton Rogers, C.E. Pollard, D.T. Grimes, Lee J. Gregory, E.L. Parrish, Everett Barnes, Chester Avery and C.L. Wheeler. The Bookmobile was paying off. A total of 60 books were checked out as it traveled throughout Harnett County. The Coats girls won the County Basketball Tournament. “Beanie” Langdon as forward and Nellie Ennis as guard made All County First Team and Josephine Ennis of Coats, a forward, made All County Second Team (Harnett County News March 5, 1942).
Some of you might be interested in who the other players were on the boys and girls teams. The girls who played on the dirt court were Wilma Ennis, Gloria Roycroft, Berlene (Beanie)Langdon, Marva Lee Parrish, Doris Johnson, Effie Gunter, Hilda Ruth Grimes, Josephine Ennis, Audrey Dorman, and Nellie Ennis. Miss Virginia Senter was the coach. The boys team members were D.M Raynor, Edward Pope, Daywood Langdon, Billy Gunter, Levin Beasley, Alvin Newton and Tony Stewart. Mr. W.R. Roycroft and Lt. M.O. Phillips coached. (Coats High School Black and Gold Yearbook of 1942, pp 12-13).
Some students played basketball and also joined other students to be members of the Commercial Department. Names recorded were Velma Sorrell, Eva Wright, Azaleen McLamb, Marva Lee Parrish, Wanda Ennis, Josephine Langdon, Eula Mae Royals, Rachel Tripp, Verl Sawyer, Joyce Johnson, Doris Raynor, Levin Beasley, Frances Kelly, D.M. Raynor, Vivian Denning, Effie Gunter, Agnes Denning, Thurlene Pollard, Stacy Williams, Daywood Langdon, Doris Johnson, Berlene Langdon, Ikie Cutts, Tony Stewart, Earl Ryals, and Audrey Parrish (Black and Gold Yearbook 1942, p.17). Basketball was the only sport recognized in the yearbook.
The Coats School did have a student council in its early days and the officers for 1941-42 were Rosalie Whittington, Edna Pearl Grimes, W.B. O’Neal (president), Patty Wright, Joyce Johnson, Vivian Denning, Eva Wright, Azaleen McLamb, Audrey Parrish and Elizabeth Hardee (Coats High School Black and Gold Yearbook 1942, pp.18-19).
The students were also recorded who were in the honor society (Beta Club). Elizabeth Hardee, Eva Wright, Azaleen McLamb, Hilda Ruth Grimes, Gloria Dare Roycroft, Betty Jean Hayes, Rosaline Whittington, Vivian Denning, Billy Gunter, Doris Faye Raynor, Frances Kelly, Mildred Pope, Joyce Johnson, Thurlene Pollard, Agnes Denning, Carl Whittington, Effie Gunter, Jimmy Barnes, Berlene Langdon, Audrey Parrish, and W. B. O’Neal (Coats High School Black and Gold Yearbook p15).
The Future Farmers of America (FFA) was under the leadership of C.R. Hill and his club officers were Lamas Denning-president, Jimmy Barnes, Edward Pope-vice president, Zeb Stewart, Jr., and Hyson Denning (Coats High School Black and Gold Yearbook 1942). Are any of these individuals alive? The volunteers at the museum would love to put a face to these names.
I do know in 1928 that the Future Farmers of America was established in Kansas City, Mo. as an organization for boys in agriculture classes. Then in 1933, the blue corduroy jacket was adopted as part of the official dress. In 1950, the 81st Congress of the United States granted FFA a federal charter. In 1953, the organization celebrated its 25th anniversary. In 1965, New Farmers of America, an organization for young African Americans, merged with the Future Farmers of America. What color of jacket did they wear? It was in 1969 that young women were allowed membership, hold offices and participate in regional and national competitive events. In 1975, Fred McLure became the first African American elected to the national office. The half-million membership was broken in 1976 with 500,385 members in FFA. In 1982, Jan Eberly became the first elected National FFA female president .Future Farmers of America changed its name to National FFA Organization in 1988. The National FFA Chapter moved from Alexandria, Va. to Indianapolis, Ind. In 2012 FFA reached membership at 557,318. Question---Who got to wear the white jacket?
An extra grade of school was provided for by the 1941 N.C. Legislature. The school would now have a 12-year curriculum. What was the first graduating class at Coats that attended school for 12 years?
The Turlington Home Demonstration Club met at the home of Mrs. W.R. Langdon. They gave $10.00 to the Red Cross Drive. Can you believe that the museum has the original records and pictures of that club in the museum—amazing! Jimmy King Jones was born on March 3, 1942. Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Jones of Coats were the proud parents. Jimmy and his wife, the former Ann Beasley, were in our museum a few weeks back for a tour. They live in Wake County but visit Ann’s mother, Mrs. Lib Guy, in Coats. Jimmy’s family was kin to N.C.’s first licensed pilot, Alton Stewart. Some in the family recalled that Orville Wright who signed Stewart’s license had come to Coats.
Carrie E. Stewart, 61, widow of T.V. Stewart, had died recently. She was the mother-in-law of J.B. Williams who was mayor of Coats for years, Chairman of the Draft Board 1 and a member of the Harnett Rationing Board. Do all of those jobs sound tough? Mrs. Stewart’s daughter was Nan Stewart Williams who probably taught many of you who attended Coats. Another interesting note is that the J.B. Williams family lived in the house that the Alton Stewart family had lived. The historic marker on McKinley Street is the site of the house. Craig and Denise Currin Matthews own that property now.
Thank you Frances Tart Matthews for being an Impact Donor by honoring the memory of your sister, Pearl Tart Lumley. Several artifacts of the Tart family are on display in both of our museum. Walmart Express, thank you for awarding a grant to the museum at your grand opening.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COATS MUSEUM NEWS APPEARED IN THE PAPER ON AUGUST 2, 2013.
The date was January of 1942 and the public was made aware that the rationing of sugar was looming closer. A few miles west of Coats there was a Penny settlement where the news likely spread that Talmon and Mavor Penny had another son born on January 19, 1942. The new addition was named Talmon Kenneth Penny and was brother to our Ted Penny (Harnett County News January 29, 1942).
Under the leadership of Mrs. W.E. Nichols, the Red Cross Campaign to raise from $350 to $500.00 involved a great many citizens in Grove. Those who helped solicit money were Mrs. Latta Stewart, Mrs. Carlie McLamb, Mrs. Willis Denning, Mrs. Eddie Parrish, Mrs. Paul E. Turlington, Mrs. Joel Ennis and Miss Mattie Bain.
The Home Demonstration Clubs were very active in the community. Mrs. J.C. McLamb hosted the Coats Demonstration Club meeting and Mrs. L.D. Jones welcomed new member, Mrs. J.H. Wilbourne. The Turlington Club met at the home of Mrs. J.L. Sorrell and added two new members (Harnett County News February 12, 1942).
A new Bookmobile served Harnett County from the public library. Dwight Odum, son of Professor and Mrs. Owen Odum, found a faster way to travel by receiving his commercial pilot’s license in South Carolina. He had the rating of flight instructor and taught at the airport in Lumberton. Measles had reached near epidemic status, but it did not prevent the Red Cross from sponsoring the film “Golgotha” in the Coats School auditorium. Also the Coats High School Junior Class honored the seniors at a red, white and blue banquet in the school library under the leadership of Miss Virginia Senter of the faculty (Harnett County News February 26, 1942).
The routine of a schedule was broken for several Grove men as they headed for jury duty in Lillington. (Do they have the new road yet?) Those names drawn for April duty were Johnnie Barnes, W.G. Pope, J.L. Parker, Alton Grimes, Milton Rogers, C.E. Pollard, D.T. Grimes, Lee J. Gregory, E.L. Parrish, Everett Barnes, Chester Avery and C.L. Wheeler. The Bookmobile was paying off. A total of 60 books were checked out as it traveled throughout Harnett County. The Coats girls won the County Basketball Tournament. “Beanie” Langdon as forward and Nellie Ennis as guard made All County First Team and Josephine Ennis of Coats, a forward, made All County Second Team (Harnett County News March 5, 1942).
Some of you might be interested in who the other players were on the boys and girls teams. The girls who played on the dirt court were Wilma Ennis, Gloria Roycroft, Berlene (Beanie)Langdon, Marva Lee Parrish, Doris Johnson, Effie Gunter, Hilda Ruth Grimes, Josephine Ennis, Audrey Dorman, and Nellie Ennis. Miss Virginia Senter was the coach. The boys team members were D.M Raynor, Edward Pope, Daywood Langdon, Billy Gunter, Levin Beasley, Alvin Newton and Tony Stewart. Mr. W.R. Roycroft and Lt. M.O. Phillips coached. (Coats High School Black and Gold Yearbook of 1942, pp 12-13).
Some students played basketball and also joined other students to be members of the Commercial Department. Names recorded were Velma Sorrell, Eva Wright, Azaleen McLamb, Marva Lee Parrish, Wanda Ennis, Josephine Langdon, Eula Mae Royals, Rachel Tripp, Verl Sawyer, Joyce Johnson, Doris Raynor, Levin Beasley, Frances Kelly, D.M. Raynor, Vivian Denning, Effie Gunter, Agnes Denning, Thurlene Pollard, Stacy Williams, Daywood Langdon, Doris Johnson, Berlene Langdon, Ikie Cutts, Tony Stewart, Earl Ryals, and Audrey Parrish (Black and Gold Yearbook 1942, p.17). Basketball was the only sport recognized in the yearbook.
The Coats School did have a student council in its early days and the officers for 1941-42 were Rosalie Whittington, Edna Pearl Grimes, W.B. O’Neal (president), Patty Wright, Joyce Johnson, Vivian Denning, Eva Wright, Azaleen McLamb, Audrey Parrish and Elizabeth Hardee (Coats High School Black and Gold Yearbook 1942, pp.18-19).
The students were also recorded who were in the honor society (Beta Club). Elizabeth Hardee, Eva Wright, Azaleen McLamb, Hilda Ruth Grimes, Gloria Dare Roycroft, Betty Jean Hayes, Rosaline Whittington, Vivian Denning, Billy Gunter, Doris Faye Raynor, Frances Kelly, Mildred Pope, Joyce Johnson, Thurlene Pollard, Agnes Denning, Carl Whittington, Effie Gunter, Jimmy Barnes, Berlene Langdon, Audrey Parrish, and W. B. O’Neal (Coats High School Black and Gold Yearbook p15).
The Future Farmers of America (FFA) was under the leadership of C.R. Hill and his club officers were Lamas Denning-president, Jimmy Barnes, Edward Pope-vice president, Zeb Stewart, Jr., and Hyson Denning (Coats High School Black and Gold Yearbook 1942). Are any of these individuals alive? The volunteers at the museum would love to put a face to these names.
I do know in 1928 that the Future Farmers of America was established in Kansas City, Mo. as an organization for boys in agriculture classes. Then in 1933, the blue corduroy jacket was adopted as part of the official dress. In 1950, the 81st Congress of the United States granted FFA a federal charter. In 1953, the organization celebrated its 25th anniversary. In 1965, New Farmers of America, an organization for young African Americans, merged with the Future Farmers of America. What color of jacket did they wear? It was in 1969 that young women were allowed membership, hold offices and participate in regional and national competitive events. In 1975, Fred McLure became the first African American elected to the national office. The half-million membership was broken in 1976 with 500,385 members in FFA. In 1982, Jan Eberly became the first elected National FFA female president .Future Farmers of America changed its name to National FFA Organization in 1988. The National FFA Chapter moved from Alexandria, Va. to Indianapolis, Ind. In 2012 FFA reached membership at 557,318. Question---Who got to wear the white jacket?
An extra grade of school was provided for by the 1941 N.C. Legislature. The school would now have a 12-year curriculum. What was the first graduating class at Coats that attended school for 12 years?
The Turlington Home Demonstration Club met at the home of Mrs. W.R. Langdon. They gave $10.00 to the Red Cross Drive. Can you believe that the museum has the original records and pictures of that club in the museum—amazing! Jimmy King Jones was born on March 3, 1942. Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Jones of Coats were the proud parents. Jimmy and his wife, the former Ann Beasley, were in our museum a few weeks back for a tour. They live in Wake County but visit Ann’s mother, Mrs. Lib Guy, in Coats. Jimmy’s family was kin to N.C.’s first licensed pilot, Alton Stewart. Some in the family recalled that Orville Wright who signed Stewart’s license had come to Coats.
Carrie E. Stewart, 61, widow of T.V. Stewart, had died recently. She was the mother-in-law of J.B. Williams who was mayor of Coats for years, Chairman of the Draft Board 1 and a member of the Harnett Rationing Board. Do all of those jobs sound tough? Mrs. Stewart’s daughter was Nan Stewart Williams who probably taught many of you who attended Coats. Another interesting note is that the J.B. Williams family lived in the house that the Alton Stewart family had lived. The historic marker on McKinley Street is the site of the house. Craig and Denise Currin Matthews own that property now.
Thank you Frances Tart Matthews for being an Impact Donor by honoring the memory of your sister, Pearl Tart Lumley. Several artifacts of the Tart family are on display in both of our museum. Walmart Express, thank you for awarding a grant to the museum at your grand opening.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COATS MUSEUM NEWS APPEARED IN THE PAPER ON AUGUST 2, 2013.