February 19, 2016 Coats Museum News
We are revisiting February of 1957 and find that the county health inspector had made an unannounced visit to the Coats establishments. Bill’s Drive-In, Carson and Hack’s, Coats Grocery and Market, Earl’s Self Service, Red Star Grocery and Hayes Abattoir were inspected. All had passed with good grades (Daily Record Feb. 2, 1957).
Luther Hodges took his oath as Governor of N.C. He was a 59 years old Democrat and a former textile official. His council of state officials earned $12,000 a year salary whereas the Superintendent of Public Instruction was paid $13,500 a year (Daily Record Feb. 8, 1957).
Governor Hodges found both the Harnett County teacher and her students’ drawings remarkable when Mrs. Hilda Wiloughby showed the governor her 3rd grade class’s sketches of the heart. Once expected to die before her 18th birthday, Mrs. Wiloughby’s life was saved by advancements in heart surgery and modern drugs. J.A. Langdon of near Coats probably thought his Super A-tractor and equipment was pretty remarkable, too. J.A. also had lots of hens. In fact, he had cages holding 288 laying hens? Does that mean he had 288 cages? To open 288 cages each day would be remarkable.
Let’s revisit the activities of some more citizens of the Coats area in 1957. One citizen who was the epitome of community involvement was Mrs. W. E. Nichols. She was a civic, social, political and church leader. Mrs. Nichols was appointed to serve on the Harnett County Board of Welfare to fill out the unexpired term of E.T. “Ted” Malone who had resigned the role due to business reasons (Daily Record Feb. 8, 1957).
One of the younger Coats folks was also receiving recognition worthy of being posted in the paper. Raymond Jernigan’s hard work had paid off by his earning a place on the Dean’s List (Daily Record Feb. 14, 1957). Does anyone know from what college he had received the recognition?
Harnett County Representative Carson Gregory, a fellow who seemed to enjoy and thrive on hard work, had his work cut out for him in the current session on the General Assembly (Daily Record Feb. 18, 1957). Does that mean that he was appointed to lots of committees?
This I do know. The homemaking classes continued at Coats High in the Home Economics Department. Planning Your Kitchen for More Efficient Storage Space was the latest in the series. Babysitting services were provided. Did we assume those skills just came naturally to a housewife?
At the class that night, Mrs. Jarvis Pleasant won an aluminum tray; Mrs. Garland Johnson received a decorated cake from the Dunn Rite Bakery as a door prize. Mrs. Festus Denning would get a free hairstyle with compliments of Hank’s Beauty Salon, and Mrs. Edward Weaver carried home a cookie container. Wonder if all these ladies had their driver licenses and felt safe to venture out at night?
I do know that Mrs. Charles Denning of near Oakdale hosted the women of Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Lucille Gregory, Mrs. Bevie Ennis, Mrs. Roy Denning, Mrs. Edward Ennis, Mrs. J.D. Richardson, Mrs. Glenard Bailey, and Mrs. Rob Adams were participants in the program.
Bargains were to be had at Prince’s Department Store in Dunn. Sheets for a double bed were $1.00. Jacquard bedspreads were $2.94. Tobacco canvas was $6.18 and work shirts were only 87 cents (Daily Record Feb. 19, 1957). Do you know what tobacco canvas was and how it was used?
Miss Norma Lee Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Johnson of Coats, was elected by popular vote to be the Teenage Club Valentine Sweetheart. The Coats Woman’s Club sponsored the Teenage Club and Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Capps directed the young group (Daily Record Feb. 20, 1957). Does anyone remember what Mr. Capps and Norma Lee looked like?
Carson Gregory co-sponsored a bill to raise teacher’s pay 19.31 percent. Grade A certificate holders would move from $2900 to $4100 a year (Daily Record Feb. 22, 1957). Did it pass?
Mr. and Mrs. Harris Williams of Coats shared the news of the birth of a son, Danny Lynn, on February 6. Mrs. Williams was the former Grace Norris. The Silas Salmon Faulkner family of rural Coats welcomed Joan Faulkner on February 13th. The mom was the former Etheline Carroll. Susan Johnson, Ray Lee and Patricia Johnson of the Coats 4-H Club attended a music training school conducted at Lumberton. Mrs. J.A. Hawley of Coats announced the marriage of her daughter Doris Hawley to Jeral Sills, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Sills of Dunn (Daily Record Feb. 25, 1957).
Daniel Stewart, son of Mollie Stewart of the old Stewart Hotel once located on the now vacant lot across from the Heritage Square, was named manager of Carolina Power Light Company Area Development Division. He was a 31 year –veteran of CPL. Mr. Stewart is another example of a small town fellow who made it big as he was on the ground floor of the development of the Research Triangle.
Joyce Faye Johnson of the Coats Yellow Jackets was selected for the Harnett County All-County Basketball team. Joyce was a guard (Daily Record Feb. 28, 1957). Would she have ever thought that she would walk the halls of the U.S. Capitol as administrative assistant to U.S. Congress Harold Cooley?
A new baby arrived and increased the population of the Grove by one. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Roberts welcomed Kathy into the world on February 23rd. The mom was the former Miss Hazel Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Zennie Poole, Jr. also had a new baby in their house as they announced the birth of Marty. The mom was the former Anna Christelle Byrd (Daily Record Mar. 4, 1957).
The Junior Class of Coats High was practicing their play, “A Feudin Over Yonder.” Norfleet Gardner assisted Cecil Fuquay in directing the cast of Barbara Stewart, Jerry Huff, Frances Wood, Nancy Lloyd, Norma Lee Johnson, Carson Gregory, Jr., Jo Carol Penny, Pricilla McGee, Kenneth O’Neal, Max Matthews, Donnie Dorman, and Jerry Whittington (Daily Record Mar. 5, 1957).
The citizens of Coats had held a special meeting at the Community House to nominate candidates for mayor and town commissioners. Mayor M. Gene Stewart was not going to run again. Three men nominated to succeed Stewart were Cecil Fuquay, Eugene Stewart, and Carlos Dixon. Incumbent commissioners were Curtis Guy, and Reid Byrd and neither were to seek reelection. Two other commissioners had moved away. Those nominated were Mrs. Guy Stewart, H.G (?). Powell, Clyde Grimes, C.M. Dorman, Joel Ennis, Albert Regan, Mayton Upchurch, Jr., Charlie Williams, J.D. Lamm, and Lester Williams. Jurors from the area drawn were T.C. Bayles, J. Woodrow Gregory and McRay Stewart (Daily Record Mar. 6, 1957).
Liston Stewart (37) and Faye Denton Washington (25) of Coats were issued a marriage license (Daily Record Mar. 7, 1957).
Dignitaries attended the Coats Father-Son Banquet. Carson Gregory, Jr. won two awards. He tied Billy Langdon for the year’s top award in “Supervised Farming.” Carson, Jr.’s second award was “Outstanding Dairyman.” Joseph Fish received the “Chapter Star Farmer” for having contributed the most to the club. Johnny Tart was awarded the “Farm Mechanic” honor.
For fun at the banquet, contests were part of the program. Whipped cream filled balloons were shot through a hoop outlined with pins. Jimmy Jones triumphed over Bobby McLamb and Jimmy Johnson in a pie-eating contest (Daily Record Mar. 18, 1957).
Death had stopped in Coats and took Mrs. Mattie Matthews, 63, who had died at her home. Her husband Otha Matthews and five daughters and a son survived her. They were Mrs. Ira Tadlock, Mrs. James E. Creech, Mrs. Ralph Parrish, Mrs. Delma Wood, Shirley Matthews and Boyd Matthews (Daily Record Mar. 25, 1957).
Lea Joy Johnson, a member of the senior class of Coats, was selected the Student of the Month. The Coats Police Chief Lonnie Harris resigned but gave no reason according to Mayor Gene Stewart. Coats policeman Eddie Earp assumed the duties of Harris (Daily Record Mar. 22, 1957). Does anyone remember the story behind that resignation?
In 1957, there were 3200 counties in the U.S. and Harnett County ranked 57th in farm population. The county had 25,000 on farms and the gross income averaged $23,000 a year (Daily Record Mar. 29, 1957).
Charlotte Ennis graduated from Coats in 1967 and later married Jon Thom Parks. At Campbell University in the Taylor Bolt Rodgers Fine Arts Building, you will find an extraordinary exhibit of his black and white 1970’s photographs taken during his career. Many of those photographs contain people and scenes of our area. The exhibit will likely close on February 26, 2016. It is worth a trip!!
We are revisiting February of 1957 and find that the county health inspector had made an unannounced visit to the Coats establishments. Bill’s Drive-In, Carson and Hack’s, Coats Grocery and Market, Earl’s Self Service, Red Star Grocery and Hayes Abattoir were inspected. All had passed with good grades (Daily Record Feb. 2, 1957).
Luther Hodges took his oath as Governor of N.C. He was a 59 years old Democrat and a former textile official. His council of state officials earned $12,000 a year salary whereas the Superintendent of Public Instruction was paid $13,500 a year (Daily Record Feb. 8, 1957).
Governor Hodges found both the Harnett County teacher and her students’ drawings remarkable when Mrs. Hilda Wiloughby showed the governor her 3rd grade class’s sketches of the heart. Once expected to die before her 18th birthday, Mrs. Wiloughby’s life was saved by advancements in heart surgery and modern drugs. J.A. Langdon of near Coats probably thought his Super A-tractor and equipment was pretty remarkable, too. J.A. also had lots of hens. In fact, he had cages holding 288 laying hens? Does that mean he had 288 cages? To open 288 cages each day would be remarkable.
Let’s revisit the activities of some more citizens of the Coats area in 1957. One citizen who was the epitome of community involvement was Mrs. W. E. Nichols. She was a civic, social, political and church leader. Mrs. Nichols was appointed to serve on the Harnett County Board of Welfare to fill out the unexpired term of E.T. “Ted” Malone who had resigned the role due to business reasons (Daily Record Feb. 8, 1957).
One of the younger Coats folks was also receiving recognition worthy of being posted in the paper. Raymond Jernigan’s hard work had paid off by his earning a place on the Dean’s List (Daily Record Feb. 14, 1957). Does anyone know from what college he had received the recognition?
Harnett County Representative Carson Gregory, a fellow who seemed to enjoy and thrive on hard work, had his work cut out for him in the current session on the General Assembly (Daily Record Feb. 18, 1957). Does that mean that he was appointed to lots of committees?
This I do know. The homemaking classes continued at Coats High in the Home Economics Department. Planning Your Kitchen for More Efficient Storage Space was the latest in the series. Babysitting services were provided. Did we assume those skills just came naturally to a housewife?
At the class that night, Mrs. Jarvis Pleasant won an aluminum tray; Mrs. Garland Johnson received a decorated cake from the Dunn Rite Bakery as a door prize. Mrs. Festus Denning would get a free hairstyle with compliments of Hank’s Beauty Salon, and Mrs. Edward Weaver carried home a cookie container. Wonder if all these ladies had their driver licenses and felt safe to venture out at night?
I do know that Mrs. Charles Denning of near Oakdale hosted the women of Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Lucille Gregory, Mrs. Bevie Ennis, Mrs. Roy Denning, Mrs. Edward Ennis, Mrs. J.D. Richardson, Mrs. Glenard Bailey, and Mrs. Rob Adams were participants in the program.
Bargains were to be had at Prince’s Department Store in Dunn. Sheets for a double bed were $1.00. Jacquard bedspreads were $2.94. Tobacco canvas was $6.18 and work shirts were only 87 cents (Daily Record Feb. 19, 1957). Do you know what tobacco canvas was and how it was used?
Miss Norma Lee Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Johnson of Coats, was elected by popular vote to be the Teenage Club Valentine Sweetheart. The Coats Woman’s Club sponsored the Teenage Club and Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Capps directed the young group (Daily Record Feb. 20, 1957). Does anyone remember what Mr. Capps and Norma Lee looked like?
Carson Gregory co-sponsored a bill to raise teacher’s pay 19.31 percent. Grade A certificate holders would move from $2900 to $4100 a year (Daily Record Feb. 22, 1957). Did it pass?
Mr. and Mrs. Harris Williams of Coats shared the news of the birth of a son, Danny Lynn, on February 6. Mrs. Williams was the former Grace Norris. The Silas Salmon Faulkner family of rural Coats welcomed Joan Faulkner on February 13th. The mom was the former Etheline Carroll. Susan Johnson, Ray Lee and Patricia Johnson of the Coats 4-H Club attended a music training school conducted at Lumberton. Mrs. J.A. Hawley of Coats announced the marriage of her daughter Doris Hawley to Jeral Sills, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Sills of Dunn (Daily Record Feb. 25, 1957).
Daniel Stewart, son of Mollie Stewart of the old Stewart Hotel once located on the now vacant lot across from the Heritage Square, was named manager of Carolina Power Light Company Area Development Division. He was a 31 year –veteran of CPL. Mr. Stewart is another example of a small town fellow who made it big as he was on the ground floor of the development of the Research Triangle.
Joyce Faye Johnson of the Coats Yellow Jackets was selected for the Harnett County All-County Basketball team. Joyce was a guard (Daily Record Feb. 28, 1957). Would she have ever thought that she would walk the halls of the U.S. Capitol as administrative assistant to U.S. Congress Harold Cooley?
A new baby arrived and increased the population of the Grove by one. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Roberts welcomed Kathy into the world on February 23rd. The mom was the former Miss Hazel Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Zennie Poole, Jr. also had a new baby in their house as they announced the birth of Marty. The mom was the former Anna Christelle Byrd (Daily Record Mar. 4, 1957).
The Junior Class of Coats High was practicing their play, “A Feudin Over Yonder.” Norfleet Gardner assisted Cecil Fuquay in directing the cast of Barbara Stewart, Jerry Huff, Frances Wood, Nancy Lloyd, Norma Lee Johnson, Carson Gregory, Jr., Jo Carol Penny, Pricilla McGee, Kenneth O’Neal, Max Matthews, Donnie Dorman, and Jerry Whittington (Daily Record Mar. 5, 1957).
The citizens of Coats had held a special meeting at the Community House to nominate candidates for mayor and town commissioners. Mayor M. Gene Stewart was not going to run again. Three men nominated to succeed Stewart were Cecil Fuquay, Eugene Stewart, and Carlos Dixon. Incumbent commissioners were Curtis Guy, and Reid Byrd and neither were to seek reelection. Two other commissioners had moved away. Those nominated were Mrs. Guy Stewart, H.G (?). Powell, Clyde Grimes, C.M. Dorman, Joel Ennis, Albert Regan, Mayton Upchurch, Jr., Charlie Williams, J.D. Lamm, and Lester Williams. Jurors from the area drawn were T.C. Bayles, J. Woodrow Gregory and McRay Stewart (Daily Record Mar. 6, 1957).
Liston Stewart (37) and Faye Denton Washington (25) of Coats were issued a marriage license (Daily Record Mar. 7, 1957).
Dignitaries attended the Coats Father-Son Banquet. Carson Gregory, Jr. won two awards. He tied Billy Langdon for the year’s top award in “Supervised Farming.” Carson, Jr.’s second award was “Outstanding Dairyman.” Joseph Fish received the “Chapter Star Farmer” for having contributed the most to the club. Johnny Tart was awarded the “Farm Mechanic” honor.
For fun at the banquet, contests were part of the program. Whipped cream filled balloons were shot through a hoop outlined with pins. Jimmy Jones triumphed over Bobby McLamb and Jimmy Johnson in a pie-eating contest (Daily Record Mar. 18, 1957).
Death had stopped in Coats and took Mrs. Mattie Matthews, 63, who had died at her home. Her husband Otha Matthews and five daughters and a son survived her. They were Mrs. Ira Tadlock, Mrs. James E. Creech, Mrs. Ralph Parrish, Mrs. Delma Wood, Shirley Matthews and Boyd Matthews (Daily Record Mar. 25, 1957).
Lea Joy Johnson, a member of the senior class of Coats, was selected the Student of the Month. The Coats Police Chief Lonnie Harris resigned but gave no reason according to Mayor Gene Stewart. Coats policeman Eddie Earp assumed the duties of Harris (Daily Record Mar. 22, 1957). Does anyone remember the story behind that resignation?
In 1957, there were 3200 counties in the U.S. and Harnett County ranked 57th in farm population. The county had 25,000 on farms and the gross income averaged $23,000 a year (Daily Record Mar. 29, 1957).
Charlotte Ennis graduated from Coats in 1967 and later married Jon Thom Parks. At Campbell University in the Taylor Bolt Rodgers Fine Arts Building, you will find an extraordinary exhibit of his black and white 1970’s photographs taken during his career. Many of those photographs contain people and scenes of our area. The exhibit will likely close on February 26, 2016. It is worth a trip!!