August 26, 2016 Coats Museum News
On the “Growing up in Coats” facebook group, Garry Williams, a former student who graduated from Coats, posted dozens of pictures he had taken of Coats School after it had been left in disrepair and just before it was taken down with much of it being salvaged. Dozens of responses to Garry’s posts recalled wonderful memories for students who attended it years ago.
Coats graduates, if you had to list ten of your favorite memories of attending that school, what would they be? Would one of them be about the various plays put on by the junior and senior classes? What about the various groups brought in to entertain the entire student body? Would a particular ball game or maybe even the announcement of a classmate’s death be remembered? The list of questions could go on and on?
Do any of you recall when the touring group from Central Prison came to the auditorium on a Saturday night? The entertainers sang, danced, and presented comedy acts. The Dunn Shriners sponsored the event which had admissions of 75 and 50 cents.
I f you were not able to recall that event, do you recall a group of students presenting the play, “Our Town”, which was directed by Steve Stephenson on November 14 and 15th (Daily Record Nov. 5, 1959).
I do know that same paper printed that Mr. and Mrs. Robert Glenn Stewart, Jr. of Coats had a new addition born into their family at Betsy Johnson Memorial Hospital. The mother was the former Miss Helen Joyce Williams.
The County Council of 4-H Clubs met and elected officers. Two Coats 4-H’ers were elected for the leadership in the council-Edward Turlington was president and Becky Ennis was reporter. The Dale 4-H Club was in charge of the arrangements for the 1959 Achievement program (Daily Record Nov. 15, 1959).
The Sunbeams studied a book on China under the direction of Mrs. McRay Stewart. The room and food were such that they created a Chinese atmosphere. Those who attended were Joey and Susan Hawley, June Stewart, Betty Ellen Dixon, Gail Stewart, LaRue Williams, Elaine Byrd, Bob House, Mary Ellen Johnson, Janie Ferguson, Dale and Gale Ennis, Catherine Harris, Joan Lee, and Mrs. Margaret House, the Sunbeam leader (Daily Record Nov. 5, 1959).
Coats had a slate of new beauty queens. Ann Beasley, seventeen- year- old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Guy, was crowned the new Miss Coats High by her sister Sybil Beasley who was last year’s Miss Coats High. Gayle Johnson, another seventeen –year- old, was first runner-up and was also selected as Miss Congeniality by the other beauty contestants. The other top selection was senior Hazelene Baker who placed as third place runner-up (Daily Record Nov. 5, 1959).
A floating shower was given for Miss Lois Sykes, home economics teacher at Coats. Approximately fifty people attended the event which was hosted by Mrs. Ann Hamilton, Mrs. Barbara Gardner, Miss Shirley Byrd, and Mrs. Lib Guy. Elsewhere the Woman’s Club met with Mrs. J.R. Butler and Mrs. Haywood Roberts. Mrs. W.E. Nichols was president and Mrs. Johnnie Barnes discussed her recent trip to the United Nations. Death was on the road also because it took Lewis Stephenson on Thursday. His services were at the Pleasant Memory Baptist Church with burial in the family cemetery. Mrs. Ben Upchurch was his daughter (Daily Record Nov. 13, 1959).
The Goodwill HD Club met with a new slate of officers. Thirty-three were present and one new member was Mrs. Floyd Blalock and one visitor, Mrs. Ransom Coats. New officers were – President Mrs. Hassell Lewis and Secretary and Treasurer Mrs. Walter Barnes. The co-hostesses for the meeting were Mrs. Lathan Norris and Mrs. Johnnie Barnes. The club agreed to give a donation to the Fellowship Club which was taking on the project to have a bathroom and better water facilities to the community building which housed the library. Elsewhere, Laura Frances Johnson and Edward Turlington were selected as the 4-H Health King and Queen (Daily Record Nov. 20, 1959).
The Goodwill H.D.Club was designated the most outstanding club among the nineteen Home Demonstration Clubs in Harnett County. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hedgepeth had a daughter born on November 2oth. The mother was the former JoAnn Smith (Daily Record Nov. 23, 1959).
The 4-H Achievement Night was held in Buies Creek School cafeteria. Lincoln Faulk was the speaker and spoke on “If I Had My Life to Live Over”. Edward Turlington of Coats presided. The awards were given. In Clothing (senior club), Patricia Ennis, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Ennis of Oakdale area, was the winner. The Girls Home Economics Award went to Becky Ennis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Ennis of the Oakdale area. The Health Awards went to Laura Johnson and Edward Turlington. Laura was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Johnson and Edward was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Turlington of Turlington’s Crossroads. Vickie Gauldin won the Talent award. Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Gauldin were Vickie’s parents. The Home Improvement Award was presented to Carolyn Baker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Baker. Carolyn and Vickie lived outside of Coats. Charles Langdon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Langdon of rural Coats, carried home the Swine Award. The Cotton Award went to Edward Turlington (Daily Record Nov. 24, 1959).
Other news for the readers to discover was that little Gail Stewart and LaRue Williams had their tonsils removed. The Father Son Banquet was held in the Coats Baptist Church with Coach Fred McCall as the speaker (Daily Record Nov. 26, 1959).
The Dale 4-H Club continued to be a very strong force in the lives of the teenagers in the Oakdale Community. Twenty-four young people met in the clubroom in the old Oakdale School. The president of the club was Becky Ennis; Judy Barefoot held the secretary’s position while Linda Ennis became the new vice president. Linda Barefoot was historian and reporter. Brenda Coats was picked at the treasurer. Freda Adams reported on the County Council (Daily Record Nov. 29, 1959).
Sandra Poole, editor of the “Spotlight” of Coats High School, accepted an interview by the WFMY-TV and the Greensboro News Company to attend a student editor’s press conference (Daily Record Dec. 7, 1959).
A stork shower was given for Mrs. Charles Lee. The hostesses were Mrs. Judson Parrish and Mrs. Roscoe Thornton (Daily Record Dec. 11, 1959). Who was Mrs. Charles Lee and what was the name of the baby?
Miss Barbara Stewart of Coats sang with the Meredith Choir in the annual Christmas Carol Vesper Service. She was also featured on the WRAL-TV program, “Church of Our Fathers” (Daily Record Dec. 14, 1959).
Kay Fish, daughter of Mrs. J.D. Fish, celebrated her 9th birthday with twelve friends. Mr. H.A. Turlington, Sr., of Turlington’s Crossroads was re-elected as President of the United Duroc Swine organization. He was elected to the board in 1956 and was entering his second 3-year term. Mr. Herbert Johnson of Coats held his annual Christmas party for his tenants and their families at Luke’s Barbecue House. About 35 enjoyed the food and games. Doris Johnson Samuels and two children of Long Island, NY joined the group (Daily Record Dec. 21, 1959).
The Dale 4-H had several new members: Sandra Wolf, Frances Gregory, and Debbie Jones. Janet Denning was a visitor. The club project was to save used stamps for a Home for the Aged to sell for dyes on the stamps (Daily Record Dec. 22, 1959).
The Dunn Shrine Club elected Carson Gregory, Sr. as Vice President of the club (Daily Record December 30, 1959).
Alas , we have traveled through another year and a new decade is on the horizon. First, a special thank you goes to H.L. Sorrell for giving to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor the memory of Mary Pope McLamb, sister of Steve Pope. Steve has been such a generous giver of his skills of welding to help in museum projects.
On the “Growing up in Coats” facebook group, Garry Williams, a former student who graduated from Coats, posted dozens of pictures he had taken of Coats School after it had been left in disrepair and just before it was taken down with much of it being salvaged. Dozens of responses to Garry’s posts recalled wonderful memories for students who attended it years ago.
Coats graduates, if you had to list ten of your favorite memories of attending that school, what would they be? Would one of them be about the various plays put on by the junior and senior classes? What about the various groups brought in to entertain the entire student body? Would a particular ball game or maybe even the announcement of a classmate’s death be remembered? The list of questions could go on and on?
Do any of you recall when the touring group from Central Prison came to the auditorium on a Saturday night? The entertainers sang, danced, and presented comedy acts. The Dunn Shriners sponsored the event which had admissions of 75 and 50 cents.
I f you were not able to recall that event, do you recall a group of students presenting the play, “Our Town”, which was directed by Steve Stephenson on November 14 and 15th (Daily Record Nov. 5, 1959).
I do know that same paper printed that Mr. and Mrs. Robert Glenn Stewart, Jr. of Coats had a new addition born into their family at Betsy Johnson Memorial Hospital. The mother was the former Miss Helen Joyce Williams.
The County Council of 4-H Clubs met and elected officers. Two Coats 4-H’ers were elected for the leadership in the council-Edward Turlington was president and Becky Ennis was reporter. The Dale 4-H Club was in charge of the arrangements for the 1959 Achievement program (Daily Record Nov. 15, 1959).
The Sunbeams studied a book on China under the direction of Mrs. McRay Stewart. The room and food were such that they created a Chinese atmosphere. Those who attended were Joey and Susan Hawley, June Stewart, Betty Ellen Dixon, Gail Stewart, LaRue Williams, Elaine Byrd, Bob House, Mary Ellen Johnson, Janie Ferguson, Dale and Gale Ennis, Catherine Harris, Joan Lee, and Mrs. Margaret House, the Sunbeam leader (Daily Record Nov. 5, 1959).
Coats had a slate of new beauty queens. Ann Beasley, seventeen- year- old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Guy, was crowned the new Miss Coats High by her sister Sybil Beasley who was last year’s Miss Coats High. Gayle Johnson, another seventeen –year- old, was first runner-up and was also selected as Miss Congeniality by the other beauty contestants. The other top selection was senior Hazelene Baker who placed as third place runner-up (Daily Record Nov. 5, 1959).
A floating shower was given for Miss Lois Sykes, home economics teacher at Coats. Approximately fifty people attended the event which was hosted by Mrs. Ann Hamilton, Mrs. Barbara Gardner, Miss Shirley Byrd, and Mrs. Lib Guy. Elsewhere the Woman’s Club met with Mrs. J.R. Butler and Mrs. Haywood Roberts. Mrs. W.E. Nichols was president and Mrs. Johnnie Barnes discussed her recent trip to the United Nations. Death was on the road also because it took Lewis Stephenson on Thursday. His services were at the Pleasant Memory Baptist Church with burial in the family cemetery. Mrs. Ben Upchurch was his daughter (Daily Record Nov. 13, 1959).
The Goodwill HD Club met with a new slate of officers. Thirty-three were present and one new member was Mrs. Floyd Blalock and one visitor, Mrs. Ransom Coats. New officers were – President Mrs. Hassell Lewis and Secretary and Treasurer Mrs. Walter Barnes. The co-hostesses for the meeting were Mrs. Lathan Norris and Mrs. Johnnie Barnes. The club agreed to give a donation to the Fellowship Club which was taking on the project to have a bathroom and better water facilities to the community building which housed the library. Elsewhere, Laura Frances Johnson and Edward Turlington were selected as the 4-H Health King and Queen (Daily Record Nov. 20, 1959).
The Goodwill H.D.Club was designated the most outstanding club among the nineteen Home Demonstration Clubs in Harnett County. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hedgepeth had a daughter born on November 2oth. The mother was the former JoAnn Smith (Daily Record Nov. 23, 1959).
The 4-H Achievement Night was held in Buies Creek School cafeteria. Lincoln Faulk was the speaker and spoke on “If I Had My Life to Live Over”. Edward Turlington of Coats presided. The awards were given. In Clothing (senior club), Patricia Ennis, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Ennis of Oakdale area, was the winner. The Girls Home Economics Award went to Becky Ennis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Ennis of the Oakdale area. The Health Awards went to Laura Johnson and Edward Turlington. Laura was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Johnson and Edward was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Turlington of Turlington’s Crossroads. Vickie Gauldin won the Talent award. Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Gauldin were Vickie’s parents. The Home Improvement Award was presented to Carolyn Baker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Baker. Carolyn and Vickie lived outside of Coats. Charles Langdon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Langdon of rural Coats, carried home the Swine Award. The Cotton Award went to Edward Turlington (Daily Record Nov. 24, 1959).
Other news for the readers to discover was that little Gail Stewart and LaRue Williams had their tonsils removed. The Father Son Banquet was held in the Coats Baptist Church with Coach Fred McCall as the speaker (Daily Record Nov. 26, 1959).
The Dale 4-H Club continued to be a very strong force in the lives of the teenagers in the Oakdale Community. Twenty-four young people met in the clubroom in the old Oakdale School. The president of the club was Becky Ennis; Judy Barefoot held the secretary’s position while Linda Ennis became the new vice president. Linda Barefoot was historian and reporter. Brenda Coats was picked at the treasurer. Freda Adams reported on the County Council (Daily Record Nov. 29, 1959).
Sandra Poole, editor of the “Spotlight” of Coats High School, accepted an interview by the WFMY-TV and the Greensboro News Company to attend a student editor’s press conference (Daily Record Dec. 7, 1959).
A stork shower was given for Mrs. Charles Lee. The hostesses were Mrs. Judson Parrish and Mrs. Roscoe Thornton (Daily Record Dec. 11, 1959). Who was Mrs. Charles Lee and what was the name of the baby?
Miss Barbara Stewart of Coats sang with the Meredith Choir in the annual Christmas Carol Vesper Service. She was also featured on the WRAL-TV program, “Church of Our Fathers” (Daily Record Dec. 14, 1959).
Kay Fish, daughter of Mrs. J.D. Fish, celebrated her 9th birthday with twelve friends. Mr. H.A. Turlington, Sr., of Turlington’s Crossroads was re-elected as President of the United Duroc Swine organization. He was elected to the board in 1956 and was entering his second 3-year term. Mr. Herbert Johnson of Coats held his annual Christmas party for his tenants and their families at Luke’s Barbecue House. About 35 enjoyed the food and games. Doris Johnson Samuels and two children of Long Island, NY joined the group (Daily Record Dec. 21, 1959).
The Dale 4-H had several new members: Sandra Wolf, Frances Gregory, and Debbie Jones. Janet Denning was a visitor. The club project was to save used stamps for a Home for the Aged to sell for dyes on the stamps (Daily Record Dec. 22, 1959).
The Dunn Shrine Club elected Carson Gregory, Sr. as Vice President of the club (Daily Record December 30, 1959).
Alas , we have traveled through another year and a new decade is on the horizon. First, a special thank you goes to H.L. Sorrell for giving to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor the memory of Mary Pope McLamb, sister of Steve Pope. Steve has been such a generous giver of his skills of welding to help in museum projects.