August 28, 2015 Coats
Museum News
Wonder what branch of military service has the most Harnett County veterans? I do know that Horace Barbour was enroute to the Far East aboard the USS Small (Sept. 7, 1954). Also CSSN Billie Cutts was returning home to the states. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Cutts of Coats, Route One. Cutts had enlisted in the navy on January 5, 1951 at the Great Lakes Training Center. He had served on the USS Sarasota with the 6th Fleet (Daily Record Sept.15, 1954).
Elsewhere Mrs. Ted Malone and Mrs. Ann Moore were promoting the Campbell College Concert. They joined other ladies in the county in the effort according to that same issue of the paper. Wonder if there was a story behind that effort. Both of these ladies are remembered as being ahead of times.
The Sept. 20th edition of the Daily Record wrote that Joe Eason, 86, had died in the Sampson County Memorial Hospital in Clinton. Mrs. Alonzo Thornton of Route One, Coats was a daughter. Pvt. Kenneth Turlington of Coats had graduated from the Field Radio Repair Course at Camp Gordon, Georgia. Back home, Coats firemen saved the home of T.T. Lanier near the Campbell College campus after Lillington failed to answer the call. The call went to Coats, a newly organized department, and some of the 20 volunteers jumped on the truck. Some damage was done on the upper story and some smoke and water damage occurred. The fire department was headed by Chief Haywood Roberts and was assisted by civic-minded citizens of Coats according to the Sept. 22, 1954 edition of the Daily Record. Was Mr. Lanier one of the former principals of Coats Grove 3 School?
Marilyn Gray Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jackson, was engaged to Darwin Whittington, son of Mr. and Mrs. M.S. Whittington (Daily Record Sept. 29, 1954). Did they ever live in Coats? Did they have a son who was killed in a motorcycle accident?
This I do know. The headlines of the Daily Record were bold: “Dangerous Hurricane is Brewing.” The headlines were with reference to the 8th storm of the season, “Hazel” (Daily Record Oct. 7, 1954). Mrs. Everette Barnes of Coats had lost her father, Paul Fish, 53, of Angier Route 2. Mr. Fish had died at his home. Mrs. Eunice Trodgen, Mrs. Maxine Parrish, Mrs. Henry Crookhorn of N.Y. City, Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Johnson of Winston Salem, Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Stone of Dunn and Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Turner and baby son had visited each other in Coats. All of the girls were direct descendants of Elder Thomas Coats, the founder of the town. Wonder how these gals reacted to returning to this small town atmosphere after having lived in some of the largest cities in the world.
Do you think many of the 1954-55 students who served on the Echo staff at Coats ever lived beyond the boundaries of Harnett County? Wanda Whittington had served as editor-in-chief and Glenn Lewis managed the business. Many positions were needed to make a successful yearbook. Franklin Stewart, Ann Stewart, Joyce Williams, Margie Capps, Ann Page, Eddie Vaughan, Sylvia Avery, Betty Sue Weaver, Sue Johnson, Ann Critcher, Barbara Byrd, Donald Stewart, Larry W. Johnson, Dorsey Daniel, Larry Johnson, Susan Turlington, Kay Barnes, and J.B. Jernigan were listed. Do any of you know where some of these students lived after leaving Coats?
I do know that Donald Stewart was killed in Vietnam and Sue Johnson lived in D.C. where she was on staff of U.S. Congressman Brent Spence from Kentucky. Joyce Williams lived for a while in New Orleans while her husband, Bobby Stewart, attended Tulane University. One Larry Johnson lived on the western coast in AZ. while the other one in VA. Eddie Vaughan worked for a magazine in California. Hence we can conclude from just this small group of yearbook staff that many made a difference outside of Coats.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenwood Addison Pleasant of Coats announced the birth of a son Stephen Glenwood in Good Hope Hospital. Mrs. Pleasant was the former Ellen Jean Stewart. Is this our Steve Pleasant? Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vernon Wood of Coats also announced the birth of a son, Dennis Vernon, at Good Hope. Mr. and Mrs. Ira Tadlock were parents of a son at Good Hope. The mother was the former Myrtle Matthews. Mrs. Mary Ross Williams of Coats had attended the Johnston-Harnett Hairdressers Guild (Daily Record Oct. 12, 1954).
Mr. and Mrs. John B. Smith shared that their daughter Shirley was married to A/2C Richard B. Whittington of Coats (Daily Record Oct. 13, 1954).
Does anyone remember the “Goatman” who traveled through the county with his motley caravan of wagons, rattling pots and pans and 34 fragrant goats? Did he ever travel through our area? I do know that the late Eugene Stewart remembered “Ole Joe Peddler”. Ole Joe drove a Model –T Ford and had all sorts of things hanging from it to trade through the town and country. Eugene said he would trade so many match tops for Teaberry Gum. Once when Eugene did not have enough match tops, Ole Joe told him he could trade for some eggs. Gene and D.K. Stewart got the laying eggs from a setting hen. They got ten packs of gum and a real good bath to wash off the chiggers that got on them from the setting hen’s nest of (Eugene Stewart 2004).
Death has taken so many museum friends who would share stories when visiting or working there. Levin Beasley, along with Christine A. Parrish, Earl Denning, Carsie Denning, Mack Reid Hudson, James Grimes, Rev. J.M. Mewborn and Allene Honeycutt, inspired us to never tire of preserving our local heritage and to learn from it because in most cases much wisdom is present in it.
As you read the column today, you saw the names of many men who left the comfort of safe surroundings to learn how to defend our country. Freedom is not free. How many times have you heard or seen those words written? I personally know that statement to be true. I had six brothers-in-law to serve in the military. My oldest sister’s husband fought in WWII where his head was split open by enemy fire. He was left for dead among the dead. He lived the rest of his short life with a steel plate in his skull and he and my sister had to live with his reactions to memories and sounds of the battlefield that triggered dangerous actions toward her.
My daughter’s husband fought on the battlefields in Iraq where his fellow officer chose the direction each would take their men, leaving his fellow officer dead with a bullet between his eyes. Had the choice been the opposite, my daughter would have joined other war widows with toddlers. I witnessed the panic that she experienced as she watched the news knowing that her husband was at places that were under deadly fire with casualties. We all know brave veterans who came home with missing limbs and mental anguish. Many of us joined families who went to bed at night with prayers for safety of loved ones serving in harm’s way.
Folks, these stories are not unlike thousands that could be told to prove that freedom is not free. Many of those stories have never been shared because the pain is still there even after 50 years. We have witnessed that many veterans begin to talk when they see some of our museum exhibits or when another veteran of the same war is visiting at the same time. We have been fortunate to have many veterans videoed. Our goal is to preserve these stories in print as a reminder of the courage and bravery of our men and women in military uniforms.
The museum volunteers are trying to locate men and women from Coats or with Coats connections who have or are serving in the armed forces. We want the community to know the names and faces of those who defended our flag. On Nov. 14th, on the Coats Heritage Square, the museum volunteers will recognize those individuals and give them a heartfelt thank you for their service. More information can be obtained at the museum every Sunday and Thursday. We will also share later where one can obtain forms throughout the town and churches.
Wonder what branch of military service has the most Harnett County veterans? I do know that Horace Barbour was enroute to the Far East aboard the USS Small (Sept. 7, 1954). Also CSSN Billie Cutts was returning home to the states. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Cutts of Coats, Route One. Cutts had enlisted in the navy on January 5, 1951 at the Great Lakes Training Center. He had served on the USS Sarasota with the 6th Fleet (Daily Record Sept.15, 1954).
Elsewhere Mrs. Ted Malone and Mrs. Ann Moore were promoting the Campbell College Concert. They joined other ladies in the county in the effort according to that same issue of the paper. Wonder if there was a story behind that effort. Both of these ladies are remembered as being ahead of times.
The Sept. 20th edition of the Daily Record wrote that Joe Eason, 86, had died in the Sampson County Memorial Hospital in Clinton. Mrs. Alonzo Thornton of Route One, Coats was a daughter. Pvt. Kenneth Turlington of Coats had graduated from the Field Radio Repair Course at Camp Gordon, Georgia. Back home, Coats firemen saved the home of T.T. Lanier near the Campbell College campus after Lillington failed to answer the call. The call went to Coats, a newly organized department, and some of the 20 volunteers jumped on the truck. Some damage was done on the upper story and some smoke and water damage occurred. The fire department was headed by Chief Haywood Roberts and was assisted by civic-minded citizens of Coats according to the Sept. 22, 1954 edition of the Daily Record. Was Mr. Lanier one of the former principals of Coats Grove 3 School?
Marilyn Gray Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jackson, was engaged to Darwin Whittington, son of Mr. and Mrs. M.S. Whittington (Daily Record Sept. 29, 1954). Did they ever live in Coats? Did they have a son who was killed in a motorcycle accident?
This I do know. The headlines of the Daily Record were bold: “Dangerous Hurricane is Brewing.” The headlines were with reference to the 8th storm of the season, “Hazel” (Daily Record Oct. 7, 1954). Mrs. Everette Barnes of Coats had lost her father, Paul Fish, 53, of Angier Route 2. Mr. Fish had died at his home. Mrs. Eunice Trodgen, Mrs. Maxine Parrish, Mrs. Henry Crookhorn of N.Y. City, Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Johnson of Winston Salem, Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Stone of Dunn and Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Turner and baby son had visited each other in Coats. All of the girls were direct descendants of Elder Thomas Coats, the founder of the town. Wonder how these gals reacted to returning to this small town atmosphere after having lived in some of the largest cities in the world.
Do you think many of the 1954-55 students who served on the Echo staff at Coats ever lived beyond the boundaries of Harnett County? Wanda Whittington had served as editor-in-chief and Glenn Lewis managed the business. Many positions were needed to make a successful yearbook. Franklin Stewart, Ann Stewart, Joyce Williams, Margie Capps, Ann Page, Eddie Vaughan, Sylvia Avery, Betty Sue Weaver, Sue Johnson, Ann Critcher, Barbara Byrd, Donald Stewart, Larry W. Johnson, Dorsey Daniel, Larry Johnson, Susan Turlington, Kay Barnes, and J.B. Jernigan were listed. Do any of you know where some of these students lived after leaving Coats?
I do know that Donald Stewart was killed in Vietnam and Sue Johnson lived in D.C. where she was on staff of U.S. Congressman Brent Spence from Kentucky. Joyce Williams lived for a while in New Orleans while her husband, Bobby Stewart, attended Tulane University. One Larry Johnson lived on the western coast in AZ. while the other one in VA. Eddie Vaughan worked for a magazine in California. Hence we can conclude from just this small group of yearbook staff that many made a difference outside of Coats.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenwood Addison Pleasant of Coats announced the birth of a son Stephen Glenwood in Good Hope Hospital. Mrs. Pleasant was the former Ellen Jean Stewart. Is this our Steve Pleasant? Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vernon Wood of Coats also announced the birth of a son, Dennis Vernon, at Good Hope. Mr. and Mrs. Ira Tadlock were parents of a son at Good Hope. The mother was the former Myrtle Matthews. Mrs. Mary Ross Williams of Coats had attended the Johnston-Harnett Hairdressers Guild (Daily Record Oct. 12, 1954).
Mr. and Mrs. John B. Smith shared that their daughter Shirley was married to A/2C Richard B. Whittington of Coats (Daily Record Oct. 13, 1954).
Does anyone remember the “Goatman” who traveled through the county with his motley caravan of wagons, rattling pots and pans and 34 fragrant goats? Did he ever travel through our area? I do know that the late Eugene Stewart remembered “Ole Joe Peddler”. Ole Joe drove a Model –T Ford and had all sorts of things hanging from it to trade through the town and country. Eugene said he would trade so many match tops for Teaberry Gum. Once when Eugene did not have enough match tops, Ole Joe told him he could trade for some eggs. Gene and D.K. Stewart got the laying eggs from a setting hen. They got ten packs of gum and a real good bath to wash off the chiggers that got on them from the setting hen’s nest of (Eugene Stewart 2004).
Death has taken so many museum friends who would share stories when visiting or working there. Levin Beasley, along with Christine A. Parrish, Earl Denning, Carsie Denning, Mack Reid Hudson, James Grimes, Rev. J.M. Mewborn and Allene Honeycutt, inspired us to never tire of preserving our local heritage and to learn from it because in most cases much wisdom is present in it.
As you read the column today, you saw the names of many men who left the comfort of safe surroundings to learn how to defend our country. Freedom is not free. How many times have you heard or seen those words written? I personally know that statement to be true. I had six brothers-in-law to serve in the military. My oldest sister’s husband fought in WWII where his head was split open by enemy fire. He was left for dead among the dead. He lived the rest of his short life with a steel plate in his skull and he and my sister had to live with his reactions to memories and sounds of the battlefield that triggered dangerous actions toward her.
My daughter’s husband fought on the battlefields in Iraq where his fellow officer chose the direction each would take their men, leaving his fellow officer dead with a bullet between his eyes. Had the choice been the opposite, my daughter would have joined other war widows with toddlers. I witnessed the panic that she experienced as she watched the news knowing that her husband was at places that were under deadly fire with casualties. We all know brave veterans who came home with missing limbs and mental anguish. Many of us joined families who went to bed at night with prayers for safety of loved ones serving in harm’s way.
Folks, these stories are not unlike thousands that could be told to prove that freedom is not free. Many of those stories have never been shared because the pain is still there even after 50 years. We have witnessed that many veterans begin to talk when they see some of our museum exhibits or when another veteran of the same war is visiting at the same time. We have been fortunate to have many veterans videoed. Our goal is to preserve these stories in print as a reminder of the courage and bravery of our men and women in military uniforms.
The museum volunteers are trying to locate men and women from Coats or with Coats connections who have or are serving in the armed forces. We want the community to know the names and faces of those who defended our flag. On Nov. 14th, on the Coats Heritage Square, the museum volunteers will recognize those individuals and give them a heartfelt thank you for their service. More information can be obtained at the museum every Sunday and Thursday. We will also share later where one can obtain forms throughout the town and churches.