December 16, 2016 Coats Museum News
It was February of 1961 and appointments were being announced for the 1961 NC General Assembly committees and Carson Gregory was appointed to the powerful position on the House Appropriation Committee. The Harnett representative ranked among the top dozen in seniority.
The young couple announced the birth of a son born at Betsy Johnson Hospital. Hilda is the former Hilda Williams and granddaughter of Bill Dad Williams. Viola Tripp Butler was also a patient at Betsy Johnson Hospital (Daily Record Feb. 13, 1961).
Miss Rosa Leigh Turlington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randall Turlington of Coats, had her engagement to wed Norman Douglas West announced. Elsewhere Barbara Stewart, a 1958 graduate of Coats High School, helped plan the Religious Emphasis Week at Meredith College. Many will recall that Barbara was the beautiful daughter of Johnnie and Ruth Stewart and was a talented singer and former beauty queen. She surely knew how to make the Meredith event successful since she had a similar task as president of the Coats High School Student Council.
Death made its way to our area and took with it a prosperous Coats farmer. Funeral services were held for A.N. Honeycutt, 84, of Coats on Monday afternoon. He was survived by his wife Lessie Clark Honeycutt; one daughter, Mrs. Jessie Wooten (Celia) and four sons, Leo B., Rupert, Robert, and James Honeycutt. His one sister, Mrs. Mattie A. Collier, survived him (Daily Record Feb. 14, 1961).Don’t you bet he would have been proud that his son Rupert’s family were grand marshals in the 2016 Coats Christmas parade?
Miss Allie Mae Barnes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Barnes, had married Horace Dewey Herring at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. The bride wore a waltz length gown of Chantilly lace and tulle designed with a Sabrina neckline, fitted bodice and long sleeves. The bouffant skirt featured kerchief points of lace over ruffles of tulle. After the ceremony, the couple left for Florida. Mrs. Herring was a member of the Coats School faculty and Rev. Herring was pastor of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. How excited the Coats faculty must have been to have two of its own mentioned in the same Feb. 15, 1961 edition of the Daily Record. The second mention was that Norfleet Gardner had been elected president of the Harnett County NCEA.
Mr. Joe Penny of Coats was admitted to the Good Hope Hospital. Many of you recognize Mr. Penny as the father of Joe Penny, Jr., Talmon Penny, Ed Penny, Haywood Penny, Nell Williams, Eloise Jones, Grace Carroll and Maude Sorrell. Do you bet that he would be proud that his grandson, Howard Penny, Jr., was just installed as a Harnett County commissioner?
I do know that the prices found at the open air market on the Erwin Highway were shocking. Depending upon which one was preferred, a grapefruit (H1) sold for 3 cents and a tree-ripened tangerine was 1 cent. Tomatoes were 8 cents each and a head of lettuce sold for 9 cents. A half gallon of milk could be purchased for 49 cents (Daily Record Feb. 15, 1961).Was this the time when a beginning teacher only made about $300 per month?
What happened to all the social clubs that made such an impact in the school and community in days past? We do have a recorded list of the members of the Coats Woman’s Club in 1961 and they were Mrs. Mildred Malone, Mrs. Lucy Kelly, Mrs. Lewis Morgan, Mrs. Curtis Guy, Mrs. Percy Parrish, Mrs. Carl Hough, Mrs. O.K. Keene, Mrs. Herbert Johnson, Mrs. Jack Rose, Mrs. Clyde Grimes, Mrs. J.R. Butler, Mrs. Haywood Roberts, Mrs. Mattie Highfill, Mrs. S.R. Moore, Miss Katie Yates, Mrs. Johnnie Parrish, and Miss Mattie Bain (Daily Record Feb. 17, 1961).
Does anyone remember Joyce E. Johnson? Joyce graduated in 1958 from Coats High and left there to attend ECC in Greenville where she was among the 29 students participating in the work of the English Club at the college. Joyce later became a principal in Cumberland County.
The Harnett County Republicans cheered their showing in the state and national elections gathered at Barefoot’s Café. At the traditional Lincoln’s Day Dinner, the group discussed reorganization of the county’s Young Republican Club.
Others in the community were surely more interested in supporting the family of Mrs. Dollie Nordan Stone, 44, who had died on Sunday. She was the daughter of Benton and Randy Beasley Nordan. She was survived by her husband Herman Stone; one son Benny Stone; three daughters –Mrs. Bobby Williams, Mrs. Ann Gregory, and Mrs. C.J. Godwin. Her four brothers were Worth, Lawrence, James, and George Nordan; five sisters were Mrs. Ralph Gregory, Mrs. Lora Guy, Mrs. Leannie Griffin, Mrs. Dollie Stone, and Mrs. Lee Stone (Daily Record Feb. 21, 1961).
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie L. Parrish had as their guests two of Mr. Parrish’s sisters-Mrs. Irvin Matthews and Mrs. Lundy Benson (Daily Record Feb. 22, 1961). How many of you remember when the local papers did have a society section with a reporter who sought info about individuals visiting locally and traveling to distant points?
Remember reading about Steve Stephenson a few weeks back when you learned about his participation in the Raleigh Little Theater? He had completed his run at the theater but not before many of the Coats teachers and students attended one of the nights. Principal Joe Hawley tried the show and came back with a verdict, “First-Rate (Daily Record Feb. 23, 1961).
The Oakdale HD Club met with Mrs. Rob Adams and Mrs. Harvey Barefoot as hostesses. The blue berry bushes had been planted and members were to bring flower plants to the next meeting to exchange. Dale 4-H girls entertained last month and had 50 guests at the Community Building.
The Goodwill HD Club met with Mrs. Hassell Lewis and Mrs. Daywood Langdon as hostesses. Mrs. Kissie Godwin was a new member. Mrs. Mary Stevens had the program and Mrs. Thomas Williams hosted the Ruth Ellen Class at Coats Baptist Church. Mrs. Johnnie Barnes chaired the Fidelis Class program and Mrs. Henry Stewart and Mrs. S.R. Moore hosted the meeting. The Gleamers Class of CBC met with Mrs. Johnnie Wiggins as hostess and program chairs were Mrs. Nelson Currin and Mrs. Howard Beard.
Sybil Beasley had come home from Wake Forest for the weekend and Mr. and Mrs. Hayes Beasley in Henderson were visited by Mr. and Mrs. T.O. Beasley (Daily Record Feb. 27, 1961). Was Mr. T.O. operating his barber shop in 1961?
We enjoyed a visit from Lou Ann Leslie and her mom, Mary Stewart, who donated to the museum copies of the booklet from the First Community Fair in Coats along with some pictures of early sites of the Coats Fire Department and trucks. We were excited to meet Dr. Michael Potts, professor at Methodist University, who lives in rural Coats. He donated to the museum four books he has published. We look forward to his having a book signing in the spring so the folks in the Coats community can meet this author who grew up in Tennessee. Also the volunteers were excited when Stewart Akerman donated an antique Griswold waffle iron that belonged to his dad’s mother. By the way, Stewart grandparents, Estelle and Guy Stewart, are pictured in today’s column. This was their wedding photograph. Mr. Guy Stewart was one of Coats’ most beloved car dealers for decades and purchased the car dealership was Dr. H.C. Roberts who sold Fords.
The generosity of some individuals never ceases to warm the hearts of the volunteers at the museum. Once again Patsy and Stacy Avery came forth with a very generous donation to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor their fellow museum volunteers. At the same time the Averys honored former volunteer Eddie Vaughan for his dedicated service of many years to the museum. Eddie is really missed by visitors and volunteers. Peggie Pope dropped by the museum to present a check in honor of her mom, Hautense Denning Ennis. Thank you, Billy and Peggie. The Christmas season is upon us and several of the volunteers have given donations to the Coats Museum Endowment rather than a gift wrapped in pretty paper for their friends. A special thank you goes to those who honored Becky Adams, Lynda and Robie Butler and those individuals who gave to the endowment to remember Mr. and Mrs. Jonah C. Johnson and Bill and Nell Williams.
It was February of 1961 and appointments were being announced for the 1961 NC General Assembly committees and Carson Gregory was appointed to the powerful position on the House Appropriation Committee. The Harnett representative ranked among the top dozen in seniority.
The young couple announced the birth of a son born at Betsy Johnson Hospital. Hilda is the former Hilda Williams and granddaughter of Bill Dad Williams. Viola Tripp Butler was also a patient at Betsy Johnson Hospital (Daily Record Feb. 13, 1961).
Miss Rosa Leigh Turlington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Randall Turlington of Coats, had her engagement to wed Norman Douglas West announced. Elsewhere Barbara Stewart, a 1958 graduate of Coats High School, helped plan the Religious Emphasis Week at Meredith College. Many will recall that Barbara was the beautiful daughter of Johnnie and Ruth Stewart and was a talented singer and former beauty queen. She surely knew how to make the Meredith event successful since she had a similar task as president of the Coats High School Student Council.
Death made its way to our area and took with it a prosperous Coats farmer. Funeral services were held for A.N. Honeycutt, 84, of Coats on Monday afternoon. He was survived by his wife Lessie Clark Honeycutt; one daughter, Mrs. Jessie Wooten (Celia) and four sons, Leo B., Rupert, Robert, and James Honeycutt. His one sister, Mrs. Mattie A. Collier, survived him (Daily Record Feb. 14, 1961).Don’t you bet he would have been proud that his son Rupert’s family were grand marshals in the 2016 Coats Christmas parade?
Miss Allie Mae Barnes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Barnes, had married Horace Dewey Herring at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. The bride wore a waltz length gown of Chantilly lace and tulle designed with a Sabrina neckline, fitted bodice and long sleeves. The bouffant skirt featured kerchief points of lace over ruffles of tulle. After the ceremony, the couple left for Florida. Mrs. Herring was a member of the Coats School faculty and Rev. Herring was pastor of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. How excited the Coats faculty must have been to have two of its own mentioned in the same Feb. 15, 1961 edition of the Daily Record. The second mention was that Norfleet Gardner had been elected president of the Harnett County NCEA.
Mr. Joe Penny of Coats was admitted to the Good Hope Hospital. Many of you recognize Mr. Penny as the father of Joe Penny, Jr., Talmon Penny, Ed Penny, Haywood Penny, Nell Williams, Eloise Jones, Grace Carroll and Maude Sorrell. Do you bet that he would be proud that his grandson, Howard Penny, Jr., was just installed as a Harnett County commissioner?
I do know that the prices found at the open air market on the Erwin Highway were shocking. Depending upon which one was preferred, a grapefruit (H1) sold for 3 cents and a tree-ripened tangerine was 1 cent. Tomatoes were 8 cents each and a head of lettuce sold for 9 cents. A half gallon of milk could be purchased for 49 cents (Daily Record Feb. 15, 1961).Was this the time when a beginning teacher only made about $300 per month?
What happened to all the social clubs that made such an impact in the school and community in days past? We do have a recorded list of the members of the Coats Woman’s Club in 1961 and they were Mrs. Mildred Malone, Mrs. Lucy Kelly, Mrs. Lewis Morgan, Mrs. Curtis Guy, Mrs. Percy Parrish, Mrs. Carl Hough, Mrs. O.K. Keene, Mrs. Herbert Johnson, Mrs. Jack Rose, Mrs. Clyde Grimes, Mrs. J.R. Butler, Mrs. Haywood Roberts, Mrs. Mattie Highfill, Mrs. S.R. Moore, Miss Katie Yates, Mrs. Johnnie Parrish, and Miss Mattie Bain (Daily Record Feb. 17, 1961).
Does anyone remember Joyce E. Johnson? Joyce graduated in 1958 from Coats High and left there to attend ECC in Greenville where she was among the 29 students participating in the work of the English Club at the college. Joyce later became a principal in Cumberland County.
The Harnett County Republicans cheered their showing in the state and national elections gathered at Barefoot’s Café. At the traditional Lincoln’s Day Dinner, the group discussed reorganization of the county’s Young Republican Club.
Others in the community were surely more interested in supporting the family of Mrs. Dollie Nordan Stone, 44, who had died on Sunday. She was the daughter of Benton and Randy Beasley Nordan. She was survived by her husband Herman Stone; one son Benny Stone; three daughters –Mrs. Bobby Williams, Mrs. Ann Gregory, and Mrs. C.J. Godwin. Her four brothers were Worth, Lawrence, James, and George Nordan; five sisters were Mrs. Ralph Gregory, Mrs. Lora Guy, Mrs. Leannie Griffin, Mrs. Dollie Stone, and Mrs. Lee Stone (Daily Record Feb. 21, 1961).
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie L. Parrish had as their guests two of Mr. Parrish’s sisters-Mrs. Irvin Matthews and Mrs. Lundy Benson (Daily Record Feb. 22, 1961). How many of you remember when the local papers did have a society section with a reporter who sought info about individuals visiting locally and traveling to distant points?
Remember reading about Steve Stephenson a few weeks back when you learned about his participation in the Raleigh Little Theater? He had completed his run at the theater but not before many of the Coats teachers and students attended one of the nights. Principal Joe Hawley tried the show and came back with a verdict, “First-Rate (Daily Record Feb. 23, 1961).
The Oakdale HD Club met with Mrs. Rob Adams and Mrs. Harvey Barefoot as hostesses. The blue berry bushes had been planted and members were to bring flower plants to the next meeting to exchange. Dale 4-H girls entertained last month and had 50 guests at the Community Building.
The Goodwill HD Club met with Mrs. Hassell Lewis and Mrs. Daywood Langdon as hostesses. Mrs. Kissie Godwin was a new member. Mrs. Mary Stevens had the program and Mrs. Thomas Williams hosted the Ruth Ellen Class at Coats Baptist Church. Mrs. Johnnie Barnes chaired the Fidelis Class program and Mrs. Henry Stewart and Mrs. S.R. Moore hosted the meeting. The Gleamers Class of CBC met with Mrs. Johnnie Wiggins as hostess and program chairs were Mrs. Nelson Currin and Mrs. Howard Beard.
Sybil Beasley had come home from Wake Forest for the weekend and Mr. and Mrs. Hayes Beasley in Henderson were visited by Mr. and Mrs. T.O. Beasley (Daily Record Feb. 27, 1961). Was Mr. T.O. operating his barber shop in 1961?
We enjoyed a visit from Lou Ann Leslie and her mom, Mary Stewart, who donated to the museum copies of the booklet from the First Community Fair in Coats along with some pictures of early sites of the Coats Fire Department and trucks. We were excited to meet Dr. Michael Potts, professor at Methodist University, who lives in rural Coats. He donated to the museum four books he has published. We look forward to his having a book signing in the spring so the folks in the Coats community can meet this author who grew up in Tennessee. Also the volunteers were excited when Stewart Akerman donated an antique Griswold waffle iron that belonged to his dad’s mother. By the way, Stewart grandparents, Estelle and Guy Stewart, are pictured in today’s column. This was their wedding photograph. Mr. Guy Stewart was one of Coats’ most beloved car dealers for decades and purchased the car dealership was Dr. H.C. Roberts who sold Fords.
The generosity of some individuals never ceases to warm the hearts of the volunteers at the museum. Once again Patsy and Stacy Avery came forth with a very generous donation to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor their fellow museum volunteers. At the same time the Averys honored former volunteer Eddie Vaughan for his dedicated service of many years to the museum. Eddie is really missed by visitors and volunteers. Peggie Pope dropped by the museum to present a check in honor of her mom, Hautense Denning Ennis. Thank you, Billy and Peggie. The Christmas season is upon us and several of the volunteers have given donations to the Coats Museum Endowment rather than a gift wrapped in pretty paper for their friends. A special thank you goes to those who honored Becky Adams, Lynda and Robie Butler and those individuals who gave to the endowment to remember Mr. and Mrs. Jonah C. Johnson and Bill and Nell Williams.