August 22, 2011 Coats Museum News
Let’s continue our journey into the activities that were on the scene in Coats, Grove and beyond in 1921. Volume 3 Number 14 of the “Harnett County News” reported that the county school system held commencement exercises in Lillington on Friday night. (Night? Am I the only one who visualizes everything being darker at night in 1921?) Teachers, patrons, and students gathered from throughout the county for the event. For the past month, a series of group commencements had been held throughout the county similar to the final contest. What did the student have to know to win one of the subject contests? The first graders were tested on phonics; the second graders –reading and reproduction of a story; third graders-written language, and fourth graders on arithmetic. The fifth graders had to know their spelling and Barclaysville would have the winning student in grade 5 spelling. Letter writing was tested on six graders while the seventh graders were scored on declamations and recitations.
Did the students stand on stage in an auditorium at the Lillington School? The subject matter contests were held in classrooms while a credible program of recitations, declamations, choruses, and stories were held in the auditorium. Were these contests for grades above seven? Wonder if their auditorium was on the third floor as the one at Coats was?
The following schools were declared winners: running high jump-Barclaysville; 50 yard dash (girls)-Coats School. Barclaysville and Parker won for school exhibits. Does anyone know what the student and schools received if they came out on top?
We also learned from that edition of the paper that Miss Marian Swain, home demonstration agent, had exhibits showing results of sewing classes. Were home economics classes taught in the schools in 1921? I do know that the light sandy soil and the need for little cultivation and fertilizer were the selling points given by a representative of the Atlantic and Western Railroad in encouraging farmers to plant watermelons in large numbers. The railroad would supply free seeds and services of an expert on methods in planting, cultivating, marketing and making arrangements with a number of commission men at various points on the railroad (“Harnett County News” March 17, 1921). Do you recollect from earlier columns that the Kivett twins from Buies Creek had the task of planting watermelon seeds in 1900 and that Dan Stewart recalled that while they were sitting up with a corpse that one of the couples drew the straw to go steal a watermelon for the young couples to enjoy in the late hours of the night? The point being is that watermelons were a familiar delicacy before 1921.
That same edition of the newspaper carried a story about a fire in Coats on Tuesday morning at 1:00 that completely destroyed the Whittenton garage and seven automobiles. It was thought to be of incendiary origin, as someone claimed to have seen parties leave in an automobile. The loss was partly covered by insurance and the property was owned by Jasper Parrish. Did your parents ever tell you that nothing good ever came after 11:00 at night?
Some folks say that Coats did not have a bank after the Bank of Coats closed after it failed in 1920 until the First Citizens Bank opened in 1947. According to the “Harnett County News” May 19, 1921 edition, the Bank of Harnett opened its doors as the Branch of Coats on Tuesday morning on May 17, 1921. The depositors came in with substantial sums all throughout the day. The deposits amounted to $10,000.00. W.J. Stephenson won the prize of $10.00 for the largest checking account, and the largest savings account prize went to former Mayor J.L. Johnson. Forty accounts were opened according to Vice President Hicks. J.C. Graham was the assistant cashier on duty at the Coats branch.
The Bank of Harnett Coats Branch was joined by other business ventures in Coats in 1921. Troy Vance Stewart was erecting two brick structures on Main Street. One was to be a garage and the other as a store. Ex-sheriff J.M. Byrd told some folks in Lillington that his Coats flourmill was running every day. The mill operated a daily capacity of forty barrels and was better prepared to take care of all customers (“Harnett County News” May 19, 1921). When was wheat harvested in Harnett? Did they exchange wheat for flour? Is that when the words “flour sacks” came into play?
Next week let’s read about the price of cars at Roberts Motor Company in Coats and also about the ladies in the Coats Woman’s Club raising the funds to help discharge the debt due on the lights in the Coats School auditorium. The volunteers at the museum enjoyed the students from Campbell in their amazing race last week. A special thanks to Dorsey Daniel for the zinc jar lid which was typical of those used to scrape the hair from the hog’s skin during the hog killing process. Special thanks to the donor who gave to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor the birthday of Margaret House.
Please be mindful that this Coats Museum News was published in August 22, 2011.
Let’s continue our journey into the activities that were on the scene in Coats, Grove and beyond in 1921. Volume 3 Number 14 of the “Harnett County News” reported that the county school system held commencement exercises in Lillington on Friday night. (Night? Am I the only one who visualizes everything being darker at night in 1921?) Teachers, patrons, and students gathered from throughout the county for the event. For the past month, a series of group commencements had been held throughout the county similar to the final contest. What did the student have to know to win one of the subject contests? The first graders were tested on phonics; the second graders –reading and reproduction of a story; third graders-written language, and fourth graders on arithmetic. The fifth graders had to know their spelling and Barclaysville would have the winning student in grade 5 spelling. Letter writing was tested on six graders while the seventh graders were scored on declamations and recitations.
Did the students stand on stage in an auditorium at the Lillington School? The subject matter contests were held in classrooms while a credible program of recitations, declamations, choruses, and stories were held in the auditorium. Were these contests for grades above seven? Wonder if their auditorium was on the third floor as the one at Coats was?
The following schools were declared winners: running high jump-Barclaysville; 50 yard dash (girls)-Coats School. Barclaysville and Parker won for school exhibits. Does anyone know what the student and schools received if they came out on top?
We also learned from that edition of the paper that Miss Marian Swain, home demonstration agent, had exhibits showing results of sewing classes. Were home economics classes taught in the schools in 1921? I do know that the light sandy soil and the need for little cultivation and fertilizer were the selling points given by a representative of the Atlantic and Western Railroad in encouraging farmers to plant watermelons in large numbers. The railroad would supply free seeds and services of an expert on methods in planting, cultivating, marketing and making arrangements with a number of commission men at various points on the railroad (“Harnett County News” March 17, 1921). Do you recollect from earlier columns that the Kivett twins from Buies Creek had the task of planting watermelon seeds in 1900 and that Dan Stewart recalled that while they were sitting up with a corpse that one of the couples drew the straw to go steal a watermelon for the young couples to enjoy in the late hours of the night? The point being is that watermelons were a familiar delicacy before 1921.
That same edition of the newspaper carried a story about a fire in Coats on Tuesday morning at 1:00 that completely destroyed the Whittenton garage and seven automobiles. It was thought to be of incendiary origin, as someone claimed to have seen parties leave in an automobile. The loss was partly covered by insurance and the property was owned by Jasper Parrish. Did your parents ever tell you that nothing good ever came after 11:00 at night?
Some folks say that Coats did not have a bank after the Bank of Coats closed after it failed in 1920 until the First Citizens Bank opened in 1947. According to the “Harnett County News” May 19, 1921 edition, the Bank of Harnett opened its doors as the Branch of Coats on Tuesday morning on May 17, 1921. The depositors came in with substantial sums all throughout the day. The deposits amounted to $10,000.00. W.J. Stephenson won the prize of $10.00 for the largest checking account, and the largest savings account prize went to former Mayor J.L. Johnson. Forty accounts were opened according to Vice President Hicks. J.C. Graham was the assistant cashier on duty at the Coats branch.
The Bank of Harnett Coats Branch was joined by other business ventures in Coats in 1921. Troy Vance Stewart was erecting two brick structures on Main Street. One was to be a garage and the other as a store. Ex-sheriff J.M. Byrd told some folks in Lillington that his Coats flourmill was running every day. The mill operated a daily capacity of forty barrels and was better prepared to take care of all customers (“Harnett County News” May 19, 1921). When was wheat harvested in Harnett? Did they exchange wheat for flour? Is that when the words “flour sacks” came into play?
Next week let’s read about the price of cars at Roberts Motor Company in Coats and also about the ladies in the Coats Woman’s Club raising the funds to help discharge the debt due on the lights in the Coats School auditorium. The volunteers at the museum enjoyed the students from Campbell in their amazing race last week. A special thanks to Dorsey Daniel for the zinc jar lid which was typical of those used to scrape the hair from the hog’s skin during the hog killing process. Special thanks to the donor who gave to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor the birthday of Margaret House.
Please be mindful that this Coats Museum News was published in August 22, 2011.
