February 28, 2014 Coats Museum News
The stately brick teacherage on the Erwin to Angier highway (McKinley Street) was nearing completion according to Superintendent Reid Ross of the Harnett County Schools. Elsewhere in Coats, A.L. Johnson and W.J. Sauls had wanted to be constable for the area of Coats where Sauls was the current constable. Mr. and Mrs. R.E. McLeod were parents of a new daughter, Virginia Nola, on April 2nd. The mother was the former Doris Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Johnson were also parents of a new baby on April 5th. Mrs. Johnson was the former Geraldine Cannady. Mr. and Mrs. William Taylor also welcomed the new daughter into the family. Mrs. Taylor was the former Grace McLeod. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ivey had a son born on April 4th. The mother was the former Ina Miller (Dunn Dispatch April 14, 1948). With all those new babies, that teacherage will surely be filled with teachers to educate all those new babies in about six years.
Spring was approaching in 1948. Surely the aroma of wild honeysuckle and jasmine permeated the air. The mockingbirds and wrens were likely the radio for those farm families who stooped over thousands of times as they used a teaspoon to scoop out the weeds that grew in the tobacco plant beds. Possibly the hum of the engine of a tractor preparing the farm land could be heard. No doubt the “gee” and “haw” were the more common sounds from the fields.
April was an interesting time for the Coats PTA. The members could look back and mark the accomplishments for the year and that they did. The reports indicated the association had 144 members in the 1947-48 school term. The group had placed first aid kits in all grades; a teachers’ lounge and first aid room had been furnished; ten students had received free milk. The group noted many additional needs for Coats and the Grove area. On the list was the urgent need for a gymnasium for the Coats students. The school was the fourth largest in the county. (Wonder what three county schools were larger.) The Coats School also needed a larger cafeteria to replace the one that was housed in the basement of the 1920-21 first brick building on the Coats campus. The cooking area was on the north side with some seating and additional seating was on the south side of the basement. The PTA also reported that the students were in need of a playground area. (There was little or no grass on most of the campus. The dirt, gravel and rocky soils left permanent scars on students’ knees, elbows, and hands from falls that occurred when chasing each other or jumping from the merry-go-round. No animals-it was simply a device that went round and around when pushed off by hand or foot. The swings were few and the chin and flip bars were of metal placed upon that rocky soil just waiting to bring thrills to young students who played with ropes and board or tire swings at home.)
The PTA also went on record that the area needed better roads and the group appointed a legislative committee to address the needs (Dunn Dispatch April 14, 1948).
Residents of Dunn were discussing plans to procure a public swimming pool (Dunn Dispatch April 16, 1948). Surely the farm kids around Coats thought “big deal” for they had all those public swimming holes on the branches off Black River. Many of the branches running through the woods had fishing holes or swimming holes that were deep and wide enough to play and, in some cases, learn to swim. Some young souls were brave enough to grab hold of grape vines and swing like Tarzan over the water holes. Also many farms were now the site of new ponds where diving boards had been built making the pond have an agricultural and recreational benefit. Some of the town youngsters could have said, “Yeah-we have Flemings Pond!”
The Junior Woman’s Club met at Mrs. Felix Stewart’s home with Mrs. Ray Langdon and Mrs. Leroy Stewart serving as co-hostesses. A Stanley Party was held with a percentage going to the club. Mrs. W.M. Keene was president and Mrs. J.R. Robinson was elected as treasurer to replace Mrs. Dwight Odum who had resigned to join her husband who had accepted a position with Piedmont Airlines.
The farmer trainees (military veterans) who had been enrolled since Jan.1, 1948 entertained their wives and instructors and their wives with a barbeque in the Coats Agriculture Building. Mr. D.C. Parker, one of the instructors, was master of ceremonies. He introduced the following guests: M.O. Phillips (agriculture teacher), Carson Gregory, M.E. Ennis, Carlos Dixon, and McKenzie and Forest Harmon from State College who were instructing the veterans.
The Harnett Home Demonstration Clubs attended the annual meeting of the 17th District of HD Clubs held in Goldsboro. Mrs. John Wolfe, president of the Harnett County Council HD Clubs, gave the response for local representatives. Mrs. W.R. Langdon also attended the gathering that had the theme “The Home within the House”. The event had five hundred women attending (Dunn Dispatch April 16, 1948).
Dunn Mayor Aldridge reminded the citizens that paving of streets was being done on a strictly pay-as-you go policy. No asphalt was laid until all property owners on the block had paid in advance. Wow! That’s interesting-bet some stories could be told about that. Carson Gregory won the Commission Seat #2 with no competition. Laura Frances Pope won the first round of the Cooperative Essay Contest. The sixteen –year –old student had been declared the winner. The N.C. Cotton Cooperative Association and Farmers Cooperative Exchange sponsored the contest for rural boys and girls. The subject was “Farming- a Challenge to All”. The final winner received $100.00 in cash and a one year college scholarship. The county winner received $10.00 (Dunn Dispatch April 19, 1918).
George Arthur Jackson, a Dunn policeman for 25 years, retired from law enforcement (Alice Lou Roberts’ dad). M.B. Pleasant, Jr. and Don Ray Langdon were prize winners in the Stock Show. (Where was this show?) The Harnett Election officials named Mrs. Owen Beasley as Grove 1 registrar. Judges were Guy Stewart and L.D. Reaves. Grove 2 registrar was Mrs. J.B. Williams. Judges were Will T. Sorrell and Ed Parker (Dunn Dispatch April 21, 1948).
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Wiggins had been married at the Buies Creek Baptist Church in Buies Creek. The bride was the former Mildred Harmon of rural Coats (Dunn Dispatch April 23, 1948). Wonder if Mr. and Mrs. Harmon lived to see their son-in-law become the president of Campbell University?
Museum volunteer and vice chair of the Coats Museum Board of Directors Andy Cole took pictures of all the utility buildings on the Harmon farm on Abattoir Road and the museum folks had them enlarged and mounted on aluminum. They are displayed with and above the numerous farm implements of eras past.
The volunteers enjoyed a visit from Bethany Langdon Stevens when she dropped in to bring a very impressive collection of certificates and graduation cards from the classes of 1941 and 1942 at Coats School where her mom’s diploma stated that she graduated under the name of Frances Kelly. While there she presented a donation from Daywood and Frances Langdon’s children-Kent, Dudley, Beverly Stephenson and Bethany Stevens to honor Joe Tart. Thank you goes to the Langdon family for their generosity in supporting the museum. The children are carrying on Daywood and Frances’s tradition of supporting the community.
The stately brick teacherage on the Erwin to Angier highway (McKinley Street) was nearing completion according to Superintendent Reid Ross of the Harnett County Schools. Elsewhere in Coats, A.L. Johnson and W.J. Sauls had wanted to be constable for the area of Coats where Sauls was the current constable. Mr. and Mrs. R.E. McLeod were parents of a new daughter, Virginia Nola, on April 2nd. The mother was the former Doris Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Johnson were also parents of a new baby on April 5th. Mrs. Johnson was the former Geraldine Cannady. Mr. and Mrs. William Taylor also welcomed the new daughter into the family. Mrs. Taylor was the former Grace McLeod. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ivey had a son born on April 4th. The mother was the former Ina Miller (Dunn Dispatch April 14, 1948). With all those new babies, that teacherage will surely be filled with teachers to educate all those new babies in about six years.
Spring was approaching in 1948. Surely the aroma of wild honeysuckle and jasmine permeated the air. The mockingbirds and wrens were likely the radio for those farm families who stooped over thousands of times as they used a teaspoon to scoop out the weeds that grew in the tobacco plant beds. Possibly the hum of the engine of a tractor preparing the farm land could be heard. No doubt the “gee” and “haw” were the more common sounds from the fields.
April was an interesting time for the Coats PTA. The members could look back and mark the accomplishments for the year and that they did. The reports indicated the association had 144 members in the 1947-48 school term. The group had placed first aid kits in all grades; a teachers’ lounge and first aid room had been furnished; ten students had received free milk. The group noted many additional needs for Coats and the Grove area. On the list was the urgent need for a gymnasium for the Coats students. The school was the fourth largest in the county. (Wonder what three county schools were larger.) The Coats School also needed a larger cafeteria to replace the one that was housed in the basement of the 1920-21 first brick building on the Coats campus. The cooking area was on the north side with some seating and additional seating was on the south side of the basement. The PTA also reported that the students were in need of a playground area. (There was little or no grass on most of the campus. The dirt, gravel and rocky soils left permanent scars on students’ knees, elbows, and hands from falls that occurred when chasing each other or jumping from the merry-go-round. No animals-it was simply a device that went round and around when pushed off by hand or foot. The swings were few and the chin and flip bars were of metal placed upon that rocky soil just waiting to bring thrills to young students who played with ropes and board or tire swings at home.)
The PTA also went on record that the area needed better roads and the group appointed a legislative committee to address the needs (Dunn Dispatch April 14, 1948).
Residents of Dunn were discussing plans to procure a public swimming pool (Dunn Dispatch April 16, 1948). Surely the farm kids around Coats thought “big deal” for they had all those public swimming holes on the branches off Black River. Many of the branches running through the woods had fishing holes or swimming holes that were deep and wide enough to play and, in some cases, learn to swim. Some young souls were brave enough to grab hold of grape vines and swing like Tarzan over the water holes. Also many farms were now the site of new ponds where diving boards had been built making the pond have an agricultural and recreational benefit. Some of the town youngsters could have said, “Yeah-we have Flemings Pond!”
The Junior Woman’s Club met at Mrs. Felix Stewart’s home with Mrs. Ray Langdon and Mrs. Leroy Stewart serving as co-hostesses. A Stanley Party was held with a percentage going to the club. Mrs. W.M. Keene was president and Mrs. J.R. Robinson was elected as treasurer to replace Mrs. Dwight Odum who had resigned to join her husband who had accepted a position with Piedmont Airlines.
The farmer trainees (military veterans) who had been enrolled since Jan.1, 1948 entertained their wives and instructors and their wives with a barbeque in the Coats Agriculture Building. Mr. D.C. Parker, one of the instructors, was master of ceremonies. He introduced the following guests: M.O. Phillips (agriculture teacher), Carson Gregory, M.E. Ennis, Carlos Dixon, and McKenzie and Forest Harmon from State College who were instructing the veterans.
The Harnett Home Demonstration Clubs attended the annual meeting of the 17th District of HD Clubs held in Goldsboro. Mrs. John Wolfe, president of the Harnett County Council HD Clubs, gave the response for local representatives. Mrs. W.R. Langdon also attended the gathering that had the theme “The Home within the House”. The event had five hundred women attending (Dunn Dispatch April 16, 1948).
Dunn Mayor Aldridge reminded the citizens that paving of streets was being done on a strictly pay-as-you go policy. No asphalt was laid until all property owners on the block had paid in advance. Wow! That’s interesting-bet some stories could be told about that. Carson Gregory won the Commission Seat #2 with no competition. Laura Frances Pope won the first round of the Cooperative Essay Contest. The sixteen –year –old student had been declared the winner. The N.C. Cotton Cooperative Association and Farmers Cooperative Exchange sponsored the contest for rural boys and girls. The subject was “Farming- a Challenge to All”. The final winner received $100.00 in cash and a one year college scholarship. The county winner received $10.00 (Dunn Dispatch April 19, 1918).
George Arthur Jackson, a Dunn policeman for 25 years, retired from law enforcement (Alice Lou Roberts’ dad). M.B. Pleasant, Jr. and Don Ray Langdon were prize winners in the Stock Show. (Where was this show?) The Harnett Election officials named Mrs. Owen Beasley as Grove 1 registrar. Judges were Guy Stewart and L.D. Reaves. Grove 2 registrar was Mrs. J.B. Williams. Judges were Will T. Sorrell and Ed Parker (Dunn Dispatch April 21, 1948).
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Wiggins had been married at the Buies Creek Baptist Church in Buies Creek. The bride was the former Mildred Harmon of rural Coats (Dunn Dispatch April 23, 1948). Wonder if Mr. and Mrs. Harmon lived to see their son-in-law become the president of Campbell University?
Museum volunteer and vice chair of the Coats Museum Board of Directors Andy Cole took pictures of all the utility buildings on the Harmon farm on Abattoir Road and the museum folks had them enlarged and mounted on aluminum. They are displayed with and above the numerous farm implements of eras past.
The volunteers enjoyed a visit from Bethany Langdon Stevens when she dropped in to bring a very impressive collection of certificates and graduation cards from the classes of 1941 and 1942 at Coats School where her mom’s diploma stated that she graduated under the name of Frances Kelly. While there she presented a donation from Daywood and Frances Langdon’s children-Kent, Dudley, Beverly Stephenson and Bethany Stevens to honor Joe Tart. Thank you goes to the Langdon family for their generosity in supporting the museum. The children are carrying on Daywood and Frances’s tradition of supporting the community.