December 18, 2015 Coats Museum News
Christmas was only days away according to the date on the Daily Record and, hence, does one have to wonder what flowers were used at the wedding of Lt. and Mrs. Bill Caldwell who were married at the Coats Baptist Church. Her brother, T.J. Barnes, gave the bride in marriage. Mrs. Johnny Stephenson, Miss Gayle Caldwell, Mrs. Neal Barnes, and Miss Barbara Sanderford were attendants while RayVon Caldwell served as best man. Ushers were Johnny Bevins, Johnny Keever, Johnny Stephenson, and Neal Barnes. Lt. Caldwell was serving with the First Infantry Division of the U. S. Army in Kansas (Daily Record Dec. 20, 1955). Do you suppose that there was likely some confusion with so many of his friends having the name “Johnny”?
I do know this: Billy Hayes, a first grader in Miss Buckner’s class whom he said he loved very much, wanted a punching bag and a brown football from Santa Claus. Walter Weeks, who was two, wanted old Saint Nick to bring him anything he wanted to leave, but a triangle would be great. Elbert and Judy Ann Hall wrote Santa. Judy requested a doll, a dress, some fruit, nuts, and candy. Her younger brother wanted a pistol set. Tommy Hayes’s wish for Christmas might have overloaded Santa’s sled for Tommy requested a pony, a Roy Rogers’s saddle, and a puppy if Santa had one.
Most of us know Tommy Williford. He was a faithful Coats Kiwanis Club charter member and worked diligently every Christmas to make sure that all Coats area children received Christmas wishes. Hence, it is not surprising that even as a little boy of six he was asking Santa to get something for all boys and girls to make them happy. For himself, Tommy had asked for a basketball and a jack in the box (Daily Record December 21, 1955).
Mr. and Mrs. David Pope of Coats announced the engagement of their daughter, Laura Frances Pope, to Max E. Lassiter who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Blake Lassiter of Four Oaks (Daily Record December 23, 1955).
The year was now 1956. This was the year that Elvis Presley made a television debut on the Dorsey Brothers CBS Stage Show. Cars were highly finned and low rooflines. One could buy a Chevy with something called fuel injection. On the head-bouffant hair for the ladies and flat sports car caps for the gents were all the rage. Elvis Presley drew mobs and sold records with names like “Hound Dog”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, and “Love Me Tender”. The lurid novel Peyton Place was a hot seller.
Numbers were a big part of 1956 memories. For every million miles traveled, 6.8 people were killed in highway accidents. After taxes, the income of the average American was $1,700, up about $63 from 1955. The average weekly take home pay for a worker with three dependents rose to $74.04. The new minimum wage was $1.00 per hour. A dollar bought only as much food in 1956 as forty-one cents in 1939 (Dickson, Paul, From Elvis to E-Mail, Springfield: Massachusetts: Federal Street Press, 1999 pp84-87).
Pvt. Sherwood Godwin, son of Jesse L. Godwin of Coats, had recently completed ten weeks of advanced individual training under the pocket platoon system at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was trained to drive a medium tank. He passed the 30 and 80 caliber machine gun proficiency tests and qualified as a gunner in the firing of the 90 mm tank gun (Daily Record April 1, 1956). Note once again that the first quarter of the Daily Record collection in the paper library was missing when we researched the Coats History.
The Coats Senior Class presented a 3-act play entitled “Cupid in Pigtails.” The cast consisted of Patty McLamb, James Moore, Virginia Norris, Lena Pope, Faye Avery, Russell McLean, Larry Johnson, Rosa Turlington, Fred Allen Elliott, Billy Smith, Della Jackson, Fred Holder, Will Dean Johnson, Jean Barbour, Jimmy Honeycutt, and the unknown mad butcher. Jurors were summoned for the May 28 docket: Carlie McGee, W.H. Duncan, Nelson Ennis, Clyde Ennis, Sexton Ennis, Roger Mabry, S.D. Gregory, and Talmadge Gregory (Daily Record April 3, 1956).
How long should one expect to live in 2015? Does the age 87 sound like a long life for someone in 1956? Funeral services were held for J.P. Gregory, age 87, of rural Angier. He had died at his home on Tuesday afternoon. The Rev. R. O. Byrd of Coats officiated with burial in the Kennebec Church Cemetery. He was the son of Alexander and Polly Hayes Gregory. Three sons-Carr, Daily, and Alton Gregory survived him. His two daughters were Mrs. Leroy Gross and Mrs. Connie Price (Daily Record April 5, 1956).
Lois Jernigan and Glenwood Byrd represented Coats in the Harnett Posture Contest. Lois was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jernigan and Glenwood was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Byrd (Daily Record April 6, 1956).
Some of our readers will remember Sylvia Avery who graduated in 1955. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Avery, announced to the public that she would marry Daniel Ballard, Jr. Mr. Ballard was the son of Mr. D.S. Ballard of Angier. He was a senior at Campbell College and Sylvia was to graduate from Business College in June. (Was Campbell a four year college in 1956/)
Another Coats graduate was planning a wedding. Miss Rebecca Whittington had scheduled to marry Jerry Lamont Splawn on June 17th. Mr. and Mrs. M.S. Whittington had announced the engagement. Mr. Splawn was the son V.B. Splawn of Burlington.
Coats was abuzz with wedding news. William Earl Ragan of Coats was to marry Miss Eleanor Gertrude King. He was the son of W.E. Ragan. The bride-elect was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Linwood King of Clinton.
Mrs. Alice Massengill, 78, of Raleigh, formerly from near Coats at Massengill Mill Pond, had died at Rex Hospital. Services were held at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at Bailey’s Crossroads. She was the wife of the late J.J. Massengill. Mrs. Mildred Gardner, Mrs. Mabel Wiggins, and Mrs. Mozelle Stephenson were daughters and sons were Ranson, Walter, and Bennett. Was Woodrow Massengill also a son? Her siblings were C.D. Partin, W.B. Partin, and Mrs. Dora Farrell (Daily Record April 9, 1956).
What an awesome last few weeks we have had at the museum. Our collection of over 850 names of military veterans from the Coats area continues to grow. The Class of 1962 visited and toured the museum. A big thank you to Larry Ennis, LeRoy Williams, Miriam Ennis Byrd and Kent Langdon for their contribution toward a Coats High School Class of 1962 Donor plaque in the exhibit hall. The tour was enlightening as they shared memories about exhibit items in the museum.
We enjoyed a visit from the Lillington Museum Planning Committee and so look forward to their having a museum in our county seat. Our museum is so proud of our naval stores items; one being the 1857 bill of sales of naval stores products from the Alfred Bailey’s pinewoods at Bailey’s Crossroads. Leo McDonald with the group shared that he has the sales document from one his ancestors who had sold a raft of logs for less than $400.00. Leo restored and owns the 1910 automobile which belonged to Roger and Mary Penny Coats who built the house next to Car Quests. Roger worked for P.F. Pope, the town’s first mayor. Roger died of a heart attack at the lumber yard of Mr. Pope. Margaret House who was just a young girl recalled that death. Mrs. Mary Coats will long be remembered for her beautiful quilts.
Friends from many parts of the state and country have responded with Christmas donations and memorials to the museum to help maintain its operational costs. The volunteers are just that.-they do the hours of free labor out of love of the Coats area.
A special thank you goes to the following friends of the museum: Doris Johnson Nolan, Sandra Barnard, Dorothea Gilbert and Jean Hearst. Patsy and Stacy Avery gave a generous contribution to thank the volunteers at the museum. Dovie Beasley, whose husband Max painted our Cotton Museum mural as well as the mural of our first licensed aviator in NC, remembered her friend, Anna Belle Stewart, with a memorial donation to the museum. Lynda and Robie Butler have given donations to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor several of their friends at Christmas. Strong museum supporter Jeanette D. Johnson continues to give toward the Coats Museum Building Fund.
With all the anger and turmoil in the world, it is so reassuring that we have so many people willing to make the Coats Museum a happy place. Thank you from the museum folks.
Christmas was only days away according to the date on the Daily Record and, hence, does one have to wonder what flowers were used at the wedding of Lt. and Mrs. Bill Caldwell who were married at the Coats Baptist Church. Her brother, T.J. Barnes, gave the bride in marriage. Mrs. Johnny Stephenson, Miss Gayle Caldwell, Mrs. Neal Barnes, and Miss Barbara Sanderford were attendants while RayVon Caldwell served as best man. Ushers were Johnny Bevins, Johnny Keever, Johnny Stephenson, and Neal Barnes. Lt. Caldwell was serving with the First Infantry Division of the U. S. Army in Kansas (Daily Record Dec. 20, 1955). Do you suppose that there was likely some confusion with so many of his friends having the name “Johnny”?
I do know this: Billy Hayes, a first grader in Miss Buckner’s class whom he said he loved very much, wanted a punching bag and a brown football from Santa Claus. Walter Weeks, who was two, wanted old Saint Nick to bring him anything he wanted to leave, but a triangle would be great. Elbert and Judy Ann Hall wrote Santa. Judy requested a doll, a dress, some fruit, nuts, and candy. Her younger brother wanted a pistol set. Tommy Hayes’s wish for Christmas might have overloaded Santa’s sled for Tommy requested a pony, a Roy Rogers’s saddle, and a puppy if Santa had one.
Most of us know Tommy Williford. He was a faithful Coats Kiwanis Club charter member and worked diligently every Christmas to make sure that all Coats area children received Christmas wishes. Hence, it is not surprising that even as a little boy of six he was asking Santa to get something for all boys and girls to make them happy. For himself, Tommy had asked for a basketball and a jack in the box (Daily Record December 21, 1955).
Mr. and Mrs. David Pope of Coats announced the engagement of their daughter, Laura Frances Pope, to Max E. Lassiter who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Blake Lassiter of Four Oaks (Daily Record December 23, 1955).
The year was now 1956. This was the year that Elvis Presley made a television debut on the Dorsey Brothers CBS Stage Show. Cars were highly finned and low rooflines. One could buy a Chevy with something called fuel injection. On the head-bouffant hair for the ladies and flat sports car caps for the gents were all the rage. Elvis Presley drew mobs and sold records with names like “Hound Dog”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, and “Love Me Tender”. The lurid novel Peyton Place was a hot seller.
Numbers were a big part of 1956 memories. For every million miles traveled, 6.8 people were killed in highway accidents. After taxes, the income of the average American was $1,700, up about $63 from 1955. The average weekly take home pay for a worker with three dependents rose to $74.04. The new minimum wage was $1.00 per hour. A dollar bought only as much food in 1956 as forty-one cents in 1939 (Dickson, Paul, From Elvis to E-Mail, Springfield: Massachusetts: Federal Street Press, 1999 pp84-87).
Pvt. Sherwood Godwin, son of Jesse L. Godwin of Coats, had recently completed ten weeks of advanced individual training under the pocket platoon system at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was trained to drive a medium tank. He passed the 30 and 80 caliber machine gun proficiency tests and qualified as a gunner in the firing of the 90 mm tank gun (Daily Record April 1, 1956). Note once again that the first quarter of the Daily Record collection in the paper library was missing when we researched the Coats History.
The Coats Senior Class presented a 3-act play entitled “Cupid in Pigtails.” The cast consisted of Patty McLamb, James Moore, Virginia Norris, Lena Pope, Faye Avery, Russell McLean, Larry Johnson, Rosa Turlington, Fred Allen Elliott, Billy Smith, Della Jackson, Fred Holder, Will Dean Johnson, Jean Barbour, Jimmy Honeycutt, and the unknown mad butcher. Jurors were summoned for the May 28 docket: Carlie McGee, W.H. Duncan, Nelson Ennis, Clyde Ennis, Sexton Ennis, Roger Mabry, S.D. Gregory, and Talmadge Gregory (Daily Record April 3, 1956).
How long should one expect to live in 2015? Does the age 87 sound like a long life for someone in 1956? Funeral services were held for J.P. Gregory, age 87, of rural Angier. He had died at his home on Tuesday afternoon. The Rev. R. O. Byrd of Coats officiated with burial in the Kennebec Church Cemetery. He was the son of Alexander and Polly Hayes Gregory. Three sons-Carr, Daily, and Alton Gregory survived him. His two daughters were Mrs. Leroy Gross and Mrs. Connie Price (Daily Record April 5, 1956).
Lois Jernigan and Glenwood Byrd represented Coats in the Harnett Posture Contest. Lois was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jernigan and Glenwood was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Byrd (Daily Record April 6, 1956).
Some of our readers will remember Sylvia Avery who graduated in 1955. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Avery, announced to the public that she would marry Daniel Ballard, Jr. Mr. Ballard was the son of Mr. D.S. Ballard of Angier. He was a senior at Campbell College and Sylvia was to graduate from Business College in June. (Was Campbell a four year college in 1956/)
Another Coats graduate was planning a wedding. Miss Rebecca Whittington had scheduled to marry Jerry Lamont Splawn on June 17th. Mr. and Mrs. M.S. Whittington had announced the engagement. Mr. Splawn was the son V.B. Splawn of Burlington.
Coats was abuzz with wedding news. William Earl Ragan of Coats was to marry Miss Eleanor Gertrude King. He was the son of W.E. Ragan. The bride-elect was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Linwood King of Clinton.
Mrs. Alice Massengill, 78, of Raleigh, formerly from near Coats at Massengill Mill Pond, had died at Rex Hospital. Services were held at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at Bailey’s Crossroads. She was the wife of the late J.J. Massengill. Mrs. Mildred Gardner, Mrs. Mabel Wiggins, and Mrs. Mozelle Stephenson were daughters and sons were Ranson, Walter, and Bennett. Was Woodrow Massengill also a son? Her siblings were C.D. Partin, W.B. Partin, and Mrs. Dora Farrell (Daily Record April 9, 1956).
What an awesome last few weeks we have had at the museum. Our collection of over 850 names of military veterans from the Coats area continues to grow. The Class of 1962 visited and toured the museum. A big thank you to Larry Ennis, LeRoy Williams, Miriam Ennis Byrd and Kent Langdon for their contribution toward a Coats High School Class of 1962 Donor plaque in the exhibit hall. The tour was enlightening as they shared memories about exhibit items in the museum.
We enjoyed a visit from the Lillington Museum Planning Committee and so look forward to their having a museum in our county seat. Our museum is so proud of our naval stores items; one being the 1857 bill of sales of naval stores products from the Alfred Bailey’s pinewoods at Bailey’s Crossroads. Leo McDonald with the group shared that he has the sales document from one his ancestors who had sold a raft of logs for less than $400.00. Leo restored and owns the 1910 automobile which belonged to Roger and Mary Penny Coats who built the house next to Car Quests. Roger worked for P.F. Pope, the town’s first mayor. Roger died of a heart attack at the lumber yard of Mr. Pope. Margaret House who was just a young girl recalled that death. Mrs. Mary Coats will long be remembered for her beautiful quilts.
Friends from many parts of the state and country have responded with Christmas donations and memorials to the museum to help maintain its operational costs. The volunteers are just that.-they do the hours of free labor out of love of the Coats area.
A special thank you goes to the following friends of the museum: Doris Johnson Nolan, Sandra Barnard, Dorothea Gilbert and Jean Hearst. Patsy and Stacy Avery gave a generous contribution to thank the volunteers at the museum. Dovie Beasley, whose husband Max painted our Cotton Museum mural as well as the mural of our first licensed aviator in NC, remembered her friend, Anna Belle Stewart, with a memorial donation to the museum. Lynda and Robie Butler have given donations to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor several of their friends at Christmas. Strong museum supporter Jeanette D. Johnson continues to give toward the Coats Museum Building Fund.
With all the anger and turmoil in the world, it is so reassuring that we have so many people willing to make the Coats Museum a happy place. Thank you from the museum folks.