December 12, 2014 Coats Museum News
The date was September of 1950 and the folks in Dunn were bombarded with campaigns for and against legal control of beer. In the Coats area, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Williams and their daughter Hilda had spent the weekend in Indian Head, Maryland where they had visited Mr. and Mrs. Garth Bowling. Stacy Byrd was home in Coats on leave from the Navy. Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Becker and their two sons had spent the night with the T.O. Beasley family. They had arrived from the Hawaiian Islands and were friends of Godfrey Beasley (Dunn Dispatch September 1, 1950).
The citizens of Dunn, for the first time in its history, had a vote against prohibition. The vote for control was 578 to 523 against control. The members of the Fellowship Club entertained their wives and members of the faculty at Currin’s Pond. President Carson Gregory and vice president Ted Malone had planned the chicken fry. Carson Gregory, Walter Barnes, and Hassell Lewis had gone on a buying trip for registered and high grade Holstein cattle for Carson’s Dairy near Coats. The Coats No. 417 JOURAM chartered a bus and went to Lillington to have lunch with orphan children. Those who enjoyed the trip with their wives were Banks Pollard, Delmer Ennis, David Norris, Brady Denning, Harvey Denton, O.K. Keene, Hugh Johnson, Chick Ennis, Ed Denning and Thomas Cooper.
The 1950-51 Coats School calendar indicated it was time for school to open. The seniors were ready. According to the class historian, the students had begun high school in 1947 and Mrs. Ozella Adams and Mr. Ray Coon had guided them through the freshman year. Memories of the picnic at Pullen Park were pleasant. Their sophomore year had no special memories but as “jolly juniors” they experienced their busiest year. Sherrill Willis was elected class president; Max Avery, vice-president; Billy Dew, secretary; Doris Johnson, treasurer and Wilma Barnes, reporter.
The class presented a play, “Don’t Be Bashful” starring Wilma Barnes, Wade Norris, Doris Johnson, and Max Avery. The banquet was held in the school library and the Easter theme was used. Wilma Barnes was chief marshal and the class presented a beautiful daisy chain to the seniors of 1950. The year of “dignified seniors” finally had arrived but not for Jerry Stewart and Halford Godwin who had joined the armed forces during the summer.
The following senior class officers were elected: Wilma Barnes, president; Wade Norris, vice president; Betty Sue Willis, treasurer; Annie Louise Smith and Becky Whittington, reporters. Edith Allen directed the senior class play, “Hobgoddlin House.” Kenneth Keene, Lottie Grey Stephenson, Wilma Barnes, Wade Norris, and Joyce Parrish played leading roles.
The class named their yearbook, “The ECHO.” Included in that yearbook were the students’ pictures and names of those on the superlative lists. Wilma Barnes and Wade Norris- Best All Around; Doris Johnson and Max Avery-Most Athletic; Best Looking-Billy Dew and Virginia Norris; Wittiest-Hazel Holder and Sherrill Willis; Most Likely to Succeed- Wilma Barnes and Max Avery and finally the Cutest Couple-Hazel Holder and Benny Stephenson.
The “ECHO” pictured seven high school teachers-Miss Mabel Lynch, Miss Jerry Cobb, Mr. James Valsame, Mrs. Gladys Phillips, Mr. Joseph R. Veasey, Miss Edith Allen, and Mr. M.O. Phillips. Does anyone know if there was a family connection between the two Phillips teachers?
This I do know. On the yearbook staff were Betty Sue Willis- editor-in-chief; Sallie Pat Hawley-assistant editor; Annie Louise Smith-business manager; Hazel Pollard-art editor; Joyce Parrish-art editor; Billy Dew-circulation manager; Sherrill Willis-advertising manager; and Wade Norris –assistant business manager.
Future Homemakers of America was another popular club at Coats in 1950. Officers of FHA recorded in the yearbook were Doris Johnson, pianist; Edna Avery, song leader; Josephine Johnson, parliamentarian; Marilyn Yarley, historian; Carol Honeycutt, reporter, Dorothy Jean Barnes, secretary; Fannie Sue Langdon, vice president, and Wilma Barnes, president.
Are you recognizing these names? How many of you can see the persons in your mind of these teenage students?
I do know that the yearbook was very thorough in recognizing the students who were involved in extra-curricular activities. Was the brother organization of FHA the Future Farmers of America? True or not, the Coats School did have both that were very active. Russell Lamm, Dennis Pope, Max Avery, Wade Norris and Donnie Pollard were officers but the yearbook did not name which office each held. However, Dudley Stallings was practice teacher under M.O. Phillips.
Sports were a big deal to students at Coats and had been for years. You might recall that the Coats girls basketball team had won a county championship as early as 1923 and then also in 1941. Despite the fact that the Coats did not have a gym for basketball, the sport was extremely popular. Football was a new sport according to the “ECHO” where it was recorded that Dennis Pope and Leroy Jernigan were co-captains of the first football team at Coats. James Valsame and Coyte Lanier had coached the first team. Wonder if it was a six-man team?
It is for sure that the students had a school newspaper that was entitled the “Spotlight.” The staff had Betty Sue Willis as editor; Mamie Ruth Denning, assistant editor; Helen Jean Parnell; humor editor; Sue Stewart, circulation manager; Laura Grace Ennis, assistant circulation manager; Peggy Senter, business manager, and Annie Louise Smith, reporter (ECHO,1951).
Many times we have been approached and asked if our museum kept copies of the Daily Record articles of the “Coats Museum News” because they wish they had saved articles about the earlier history of the Coats area. For the readers of the museum news, the basic part of the “Coats Museum News” comes directly from the “Heritage of Coats, North Carolina” Volume I in “There and Back on a Paper Canoe”. These 530 pages chronicle from the reasons for coming to the new world up to the history of Coats until 1995. The 2 volumes set includes Life Styles and Folklore of the area, Founder’s Corner ( James Thomas Coats), Aviators, over ten pages of the names of Town and Country Businesses (by decades) that could be located, Churches, Civic Life, Elected Officials, Ghost Towns, Kid’s Corner, Local Color, Medical History, Military History of Harnett County by Sion Harrington, Mark’s Space ( Genealogy of the Barnes, Johnson, Stewart, Langdon Families and the Black River Tigers), and 256 pages of family genealogies. These two volumes cover just about everything that we could find in print from business directories, documents, maps, wills, newspapers, diaries, scrapbooks, yearbooks, school papers and from family gatherings and interviews.
The Coats Museum Board met last week and decided that the “Heritage of Coats, North Carolina “ would on sale for only $40.00 unti January 31, 2014. This would be our gift back to the community for being so supportive of the museum in all the various projects on the Coats Heritage Square. Some thought that the two volume set would make wonderful gifts for even school age children who often come seeking information found in the book. The two volume set can be purchased on Sunday afternoons or on any Thursday from 9-3 PM except on Christmas Day and at the Coats Barber Shop or by phone request (919*894-5017, 910*897-5611 or 910*897-2525.
Thank you goes to those you have given honorariums to the museum building fund or museum endowment for Lynda Butler, Becky Adams, Gayle Sorrell and Levin Beasley and a pledge from Danny and Audrey West to honor sons, Daniel and Cameron West, with a plaque in the Heroes Courtyard. Another thank you goes to those who gave museum endowment memorials for Jesse Clifton Alphin, Allene Wheeler Alphin, Jonah C. Johnson, Kress Williams, Delaney T. Ingraham, Jonah C. and Alice Johnson, Kress and Nell Penny Williams, and Beverly McLean and honorariums for Becky Adams and Lynda Butler. Donations keep the museum operating today and insure the upkeep in the future.
The date was September of 1950 and the folks in Dunn were bombarded with campaigns for and against legal control of beer. In the Coats area, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Williams and their daughter Hilda had spent the weekend in Indian Head, Maryland where they had visited Mr. and Mrs. Garth Bowling. Stacy Byrd was home in Coats on leave from the Navy. Mr. and Mrs. O.F. Becker and their two sons had spent the night with the T.O. Beasley family. They had arrived from the Hawaiian Islands and were friends of Godfrey Beasley (Dunn Dispatch September 1, 1950).
The citizens of Dunn, for the first time in its history, had a vote against prohibition. The vote for control was 578 to 523 against control. The members of the Fellowship Club entertained their wives and members of the faculty at Currin’s Pond. President Carson Gregory and vice president Ted Malone had planned the chicken fry. Carson Gregory, Walter Barnes, and Hassell Lewis had gone on a buying trip for registered and high grade Holstein cattle for Carson’s Dairy near Coats. The Coats No. 417 JOURAM chartered a bus and went to Lillington to have lunch with orphan children. Those who enjoyed the trip with their wives were Banks Pollard, Delmer Ennis, David Norris, Brady Denning, Harvey Denton, O.K. Keene, Hugh Johnson, Chick Ennis, Ed Denning and Thomas Cooper.
The 1950-51 Coats School calendar indicated it was time for school to open. The seniors were ready. According to the class historian, the students had begun high school in 1947 and Mrs. Ozella Adams and Mr. Ray Coon had guided them through the freshman year. Memories of the picnic at Pullen Park were pleasant. Their sophomore year had no special memories but as “jolly juniors” they experienced their busiest year. Sherrill Willis was elected class president; Max Avery, vice-president; Billy Dew, secretary; Doris Johnson, treasurer and Wilma Barnes, reporter.
The class presented a play, “Don’t Be Bashful” starring Wilma Barnes, Wade Norris, Doris Johnson, and Max Avery. The banquet was held in the school library and the Easter theme was used. Wilma Barnes was chief marshal and the class presented a beautiful daisy chain to the seniors of 1950. The year of “dignified seniors” finally had arrived but not for Jerry Stewart and Halford Godwin who had joined the armed forces during the summer.
The following senior class officers were elected: Wilma Barnes, president; Wade Norris, vice president; Betty Sue Willis, treasurer; Annie Louise Smith and Becky Whittington, reporters. Edith Allen directed the senior class play, “Hobgoddlin House.” Kenneth Keene, Lottie Grey Stephenson, Wilma Barnes, Wade Norris, and Joyce Parrish played leading roles.
The class named their yearbook, “The ECHO.” Included in that yearbook were the students’ pictures and names of those on the superlative lists. Wilma Barnes and Wade Norris- Best All Around; Doris Johnson and Max Avery-Most Athletic; Best Looking-Billy Dew and Virginia Norris; Wittiest-Hazel Holder and Sherrill Willis; Most Likely to Succeed- Wilma Barnes and Max Avery and finally the Cutest Couple-Hazel Holder and Benny Stephenson.
The “ECHO” pictured seven high school teachers-Miss Mabel Lynch, Miss Jerry Cobb, Mr. James Valsame, Mrs. Gladys Phillips, Mr. Joseph R. Veasey, Miss Edith Allen, and Mr. M.O. Phillips. Does anyone know if there was a family connection between the two Phillips teachers?
This I do know. On the yearbook staff were Betty Sue Willis- editor-in-chief; Sallie Pat Hawley-assistant editor; Annie Louise Smith-business manager; Hazel Pollard-art editor; Joyce Parrish-art editor; Billy Dew-circulation manager; Sherrill Willis-advertising manager; and Wade Norris –assistant business manager.
Future Homemakers of America was another popular club at Coats in 1950. Officers of FHA recorded in the yearbook were Doris Johnson, pianist; Edna Avery, song leader; Josephine Johnson, parliamentarian; Marilyn Yarley, historian; Carol Honeycutt, reporter, Dorothy Jean Barnes, secretary; Fannie Sue Langdon, vice president, and Wilma Barnes, president.
Are you recognizing these names? How many of you can see the persons in your mind of these teenage students?
I do know that the yearbook was very thorough in recognizing the students who were involved in extra-curricular activities. Was the brother organization of FHA the Future Farmers of America? True or not, the Coats School did have both that were very active. Russell Lamm, Dennis Pope, Max Avery, Wade Norris and Donnie Pollard were officers but the yearbook did not name which office each held. However, Dudley Stallings was practice teacher under M.O. Phillips.
Sports were a big deal to students at Coats and had been for years. You might recall that the Coats girls basketball team had won a county championship as early as 1923 and then also in 1941. Despite the fact that the Coats did not have a gym for basketball, the sport was extremely popular. Football was a new sport according to the “ECHO” where it was recorded that Dennis Pope and Leroy Jernigan were co-captains of the first football team at Coats. James Valsame and Coyte Lanier had coached the first team. Wonder if it was a six-man team?
It is for sure that the students had a school newspaper that was entitled the “Spotlight.” The staff had Betty Sue Willis as editor; Mamie Ruth Denning, assistant editor; Helen Jean Parnell; humor editor; Sue Stewart, circulation manager; Laura Grace Ennis, assistant circulation manager; Peggy Senter, business manager, and Annie Louise Smith, reporter (ECHO,1951).
Many times we have been approached and asked if our museum kept copies of the Daily Record articles of the “Coats Museum News” because they wish they had saved articles about the earlier history of the Coats area. For the readers of the museum news, the basic part of the “Coats Museum News” comes directly from the “Heritage of Coats, North Carolina” Volume I in “There and Back on a Paper Canoe”. These 530 pages chronicle from the reasons for coming to the new world up to the history of Coats until 1995. The 2 volumes set includes Life Styles and Folklore of the area, Founder’s Corner ( James Thomas Coats), Aviators, over ten pages of the names of Town and Country Businesses (by decades) that could be located, Churches, Civic Life, Elected Officials, Ghost Towns, Kid’s Corner, Local Color, Medical History, Military History of Harnett County by Sion Harrington, Mark’s Space ( Genealogy of the Barnes, Johnson, Stewart, Langdon Families and the Black River Tigers), and 256 pages of family genealogies. These two volumes cover just about everything that we could find in print from business directories, documents, maps, wills, newspapers, diaries, scrapbooks, yearbooks, school papers and from family gatherings and interviews.
The Coats Museum Board met last week and decided that the “Heritage of Coats, North Carolina “ would on sale for only $40.00 unti January 31, 2014. This would be our gift back to the community for being so supportive of the museum in all the various projects on the Coats Heritage Square. Some thought that the two volume set would make wonderful gifts for even school age children who often come seeking information found in the book. The two volume set can be purchased on Sunday afternoons or on any Thursday from 9-3 PM except on Christmas Day and at the Coats Barber Shop or by phone request (919*894-5017, 910*897-5611 or 910*897-2525.
Thank you goes to those you have given honorariums to the museum building fund or museum endowment for Lynda Butler, Becky Adams, Gayle Sorrell and Levin Beasley and a pledge from Danny and Audrey West to honor sons, Daniel and Cameron West, with a plaque in the Heroes Courtyard. Another thank you goes to those who gave museum endowment memorials for Jesse Clifton Alphin, Allene Wheeler Alphin, Jonah C. Johnson, Kress Williams, Delaney T. Ingraham, Jonah C. and Alice Johnson, Kress and Nell Penny Williams, and Beverly McLean and honorariums for Becky Adams and Lynda Butler. Donations keep the museum operating today and insure the upkeep in the future.