February 4, 2022 Coats Museum News
I have a dear friend who often states that her husband just loves working with numbers. There indeed are lots of people who are fascinated with them. So, let’s entertain them with some stunning numbers concerning our area prior to, and a few years following, the 1905 chartering of Coats which was formerly known on post office records as Troyville.
In 1910, five years after Coats was officially incorporated, there would be 22,174 people living in Harnett County according to the 1910 census compared to 135,976 plus people today. The real estate property value of the county was recorded as $2, 281,936.00 and personal property was $2, 157,245.00. Yes, millions! (How does one find the numbers for 2022 to make a comparison?)
In 1910, Harnett County had 58 white schools and 23 Negro schools. The county tax rate was 61 2/3 cents on $100 value. Bridges received 2 cents; special 20 cents and schools and paupers 3 1/3 cents of that 61 2/3. The county had a bonded debt of $76,000.
In 1910, there were 945 miles of roads and 20.02 miles of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and 20.62 miles of Durham and Southern Railroad. Western Union Telegraph had assessed value of $21, 277.39 and Carolina Power Light’s was $11,303.00. Benson Telephone Company had assessed value of $1,305.00
Do those numbers awe you? Let’s take another step into the past-this time back 20 years to 1890 when the Coats area was known as Troyville. The 1890 Branson’s Business Directory for Harnett County recorded that an acre of land was valued at $1.45 per acre and the county’s 333,577 acres of land was valued at $562, 786. (Currently there is a 255 acre tract of land in the Dunn area with the asking price of 5 million dollars).
In 1890, Harnett County farmers grew 9,281 acres of cotton and produced 3,627 bales of it. They grew 22,244 acres of corn and produced 180,458 bushels. There were 700 horses valued at $44,555 and 724 mules valued at $50,261. Tobacco was grown on 32 acres and produced 9,510 pounds. (It is interesting to share from 1900 to 1934, the leaf tobacco used in cigarettes increased from 13,084,037 to 326,093,357 pounds which was an increase of 2392 percent -Harnett County News Oct. 31, 1935).
There were 46 white schools and 28 colored in 1890. The county had two newspapers-The Dunn Enterprise and the Dunn Signboard .It was estimated that the cost of raising an ordinary boy was to be a total of $4,150 for the first 20 years of his life. It required $100 per year for the first five years; $150 per year the second five years; $200 per year for the third three years; and $300 per year for the next three years and finally $ 500 for the last two years.
Was the cost to raise an ordinary girl the same figure? Would some of that cost be for education? I do know that the Little River Record-February, 1905 recorded that a student could begin the spring term at Rev. J.A. Campbell’s School at Buies Creek, NC, beginning on Tuesday, January 3, 1905. (Yes, Coats would not be incorporated until March of that 1905 year).
Students could board in private homes and have all restraints and protection of home life. Boarding would include washing, lights, fuel, etc and furnished rooms for $8.00 to $8.50 per month. “In clubs boys” got to board at the cost of $6.00 to $7.00 per month, including washing, lights, and furnished rooms. Tuition in Literacy Department was from $1.00 to $3.00 per month, with 50 percent discount to ministers, minister’s children, orphans and widows.
Let’s revisit more numbers before returning to the 1989 Coats area news. These numbers involve the town’s founder and his family. Recall that James Thomas Coats had purchased over 700 acres of land from the heirs of Daniel Shaw and was gifted 100 acres from his father-in-law Andrew Jackson Turlington.
The area of Troyville was very busy with growth in the 1890’s. Elder Tom Coats was selling some of his land to people interested in living in Troyville. He had sold 111 acres from 1891 to1894. On October 9, 1902, he had sold Thomas D. Stewart 16 more acres. On September 2, 1903, he gave his son W.H. Coats 114 acres, his son R.M. Coats 108 acres and his son Andrew 92 acres. He sold Benjamin L. Langdon a lot on October 16, 1903. David Ryals bought 30 ¾ acres on November 26, 1904. Millie (Milly) Bailey and J.R. Woodall purchased land from Preacher Tom Coats on August 31, 1904.
It was on November 23, 1904 that Carrie Coats, Robert Metzer Coats, James Thomas and Nancy Isabella Coats granted over 6 13/100 acres to the Cape Fear Railroad (Harnett County Register of Deeds-Coats, J.T. –Grantor-Grantee Records).
Numbers in deed are fascinating and as we read forward, let’s look to see how often numbers appear as we revisit the history of Coats and its surrounding areas.
The date was April 12, 1989 and Coats had a Chamber of Commerce which recognized a business each week. The Business Focus identified that week had been the Applied Computer Technologies. Carsie K. Denning, Jr., a former employee of the State of NC, and Kent Hudson, son of Mack and Juanita Hudson, had formed a partnership to produce and sell software for educational and professional use. The highly trained staff included Dawn Denning, wife of co-founder, Carsie Denning, Jr., Wanda Turlington and Derek Currin.
Belle wrote in her “Notes” that Jim Pollard had reported the candidates for Boys State Banner Post 109 in Benson were Jay Smith, son of Joe and Ann Gregory; Barrett Howard, son of Barry and Beverly Howard and William Hinson, son of Earl and Laura Hinson. Angel Hedgepeth, daughter of Ellen Dale Dupree Hedgepeth and the late James Hedgepeth, was chosen for Girls State for that same Banner Post (Daily Record Apr. 12, 1989).
Elsewhere, Mr. Charles M. Poole announced the engagement of their daughter, Wendy S. Poole, to Melvin Lee Langdon, son of Mrs. Catherine McCraven (Daily Record Apr. 14,1989).
Keith Hall told the Coats Lions Club about his trip to the Holy Lands. The Coats baseball team had won a tough 4-3 baseball game over Buies Creek as Johnny Honeycutt and Chris Ennis combined on a three hitter and Brian Stewart and Michael Turner had two hits each. The Coats softball team remained unbeaten with a 16-6 win as Anita Pleasant and Linda Hardison had four hits each and Kalisha Parrish hit three. Kelly Smith, Christy Wood, Christy McLamb and Melinda Thornton each had two hits (Daily Record Apr. 18, 1989).
It was reported in the “Notes” column that Laura Langdon was to coordinate the Multiple Scleroses campaign. The activities at Coats Senior Center included a trip to Raleigh to lobby for funds for the center, a trip to Fayetteville to tour along the Dogwood Trail, a trip to the Doctor’s Museum in Bailey, a tour of Historic Halifax, and a trip to the Carolina Pottery. She also wrote that awards were given to Eloise and Joe Lee, Roy and Elma Langdon, Berlin Blake and Rosa O’Neal for either cycling 100 miles or walking 100. Dr. Tom Freeman from Dunn had held the spring revival at the Coats Baptist Church.
Belle continued that the spring flowers were blooming, and everyone could tell why Audrey Stewart enjoyed staying outside in her Orange Street Nursery. Twenty people from the Gift Primitive Baptist Church met at the home of Rebecca Parrish. Another Parrish name made the news. Martha and Keith Parrish were in Faison visiting new friends they had made when Keith went to Brazil for the Phillip Morris Leadership Program (Daily Record Apr. 19, 1989).
We cannot operate the museum without the support of individuals from near and far. One of those individuals has been faithful from the start. Linda Cobb, an active member of the museum board and a tour volunteer, was honored by her family and friends on her birthday. Lynda and Robie Butler have added Linda’s name on our honorarium list in appreciation for the difference she makes in the life of the museum. For that and her birthday, H.L. and I have honored Linda and her brother Wallace Pollard who likewise has been an amazing financial supporter for years.
I have a dear friend who often states that her husband just loves working with numbers. There indeed are lots of people who are fascinated with them. So, let’s entertain them with some stunning numbers concerning our area prior to, and a few years following, the 1905 chartering of Coats which was formerly known on post office records as Troyville.
In 1910, five years after Coats was officially incorporated, there would be 22,174 people living in Harnett County according to the 1910 census compared to 135,976 plus people today. The real estate property value of the county was recorded as $2, 281,936.00 and personal property was $2, 157,245.00. Yes, millions! (How does one find the numbers for 2022 to make a comparison?)
In 1910, Harnett County had 58 white schools and 23 Negro schools. The county tax rate was 61 2/3 cents on $100 value. Bridges received 2 cents; special 20 cents and schools and paupers 3 1/3 cents of that 61 2/3. The county had a bonded debt of $76,000.
In 1910, there were 945 miles of roads and 20.02 miles of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and 20.62 miles of Durham and Southern Railroad. Western Union Telegraph had assessed value of $21, 277.39 and Carolina Power Light’s was $11,303.00. Benson Telephone Company had assessed value of $1,305.00
Do those numbers awe you? Let’s take another step into the past-this time back 20 years to 1890 when the Coats area was known as Troyville. The 1890 Branson’s Business Directory for Harnett County recorded that an acre of land was valued at $1.45 per acre and the county’s 333,577 acres of land was valued at $562, 786. (Currently there is a 255 acre tract of land in the Dunn area with the asking price of 5 million dollars).
In 1890, Harnett County farmers grew 9,281 acres of cotton and produced 3,627 bales of it. They grew 22,244 acres of corn and produced 180,458 bushels. There were 700 horses valued at $44,555 and 724 mules valued at $50,261. Tobacco was grown on 32 acres and produced 9,510 pounds. (It is interesting to share from 1900 to 1934, the leaf tobacco used in cigarettes increased from 13,084,037 to 326,093,357 pounds which was an increase of 2392 percent -Harnett County News Oct. 31, 1935).
There were 46 white schools and 28 colored in 1890. The county had two newspapers-The Dunn Enterprise and the Dunn Signboard .It was estimated that the cost of raising an ordinary boy was to be a total of $4,150 for the first 20 years of his life. It required $100 per year for the first five years; $150 per year the second five years; $200 per year for the third three years; and $300 per year for the next three years and finally $ 500 for the last two years.
Was the cost to raise an ordinary girl the same figure? Would some of that cost be for education? I do know that the Little River Record-February, 1905 recorded that a student could begin the spring term at Rev. J.A. Campbell’s School at Buies Creek, NC, beginning on Tuesday, January 3, 1905. (Yes, Coats would not be incorporated until March of that 1905 year).
Students could board in private homes and have all restraints and protection of home life. Boarding would include washing, lights, fuel, etc and furnished rooms for $8.00 to $8.50 per month. “In clubs boys” got to board at the cost of $6.00 to $7.00 per month, including washing, lights, and furnished rooms. Tuition in Literacy Department was from $1.00 to $3.00 per month, with 50 percent discount to ministers, minister’s children, orphans and widows.
Let’s revisit more numbers before returning to the 1989 Coats area news. These numbers involve the town’s founder and his family. Recall that James Thomas Coats had purchased over 700 acres of land from the heirs of Daniel Shaw and was gifted 100 acres from his father-in-law Andrew Jackson Turlington.
The area of Troyville was very busy with growth in the 1890’s. Elder Tom Coats was selling some of his land to people interested in living in Troyville. He had sold 111 acres from 1891 to1894. On October 9, 1902, he had sold Thomas D. Stewart 16 more acres. On September 2, 1903, he gave his son W.H. Coats 114 acres, his son R.M. Coats 108 acres and his son Andrew 92 acres. He sold Benjamin L. Langdon a lot on October 16, 1903. David Ryals bought 30 ¾ acres on November 26, 1904. Millie (Milly) Bailey and J.R. Woodall purchased land from Preacher Tom Coats on August 31, 1904.
It was on November 23, 1904 that Carrie Coats, Robert Metzer Coats, James Thomas and Nancy Isabella Coats granted over 6 13/100 acres to the Cape Fear Railroad (Harnett County Register of Deeds-Coats, J.T. –Grantor-Grantee Records).
Numbers in deed are fascinating and as we read forward, let’s look to see how often numbers appear as we revisit the history of Coats and its surrounding areas.
The date was April 12, 1989 and Coats had a Chamber of Commerce which recognized a business each week. The Business Focus identified that week had been the Applied Computer Technologies. Carsie K. Denning, Jr., a former employee of the State of NC, and Kent Hudson, son of Mack and Juanita Hudson, had formed a partnership to produce and sell software for educational and professional use. The highly trained staff included Dawn Denning, wife of co-founder, Carsie Denning, Jr., Wanda Turlington and Derek Currin.
Belle wrote in her “Notes” that Jim Pollard had reported the candidates for Boys State Banner Post 109 in Benson were Jay Smith, son of Joe and Ann Gregory; Barrett Howard, son of Barry and Beverly Howard and William Hinson, son of Earl and Laura Hinson. Angel Hedgepeth, daughter of Ellen Dale Dupree Hedgepeth and the late James Hedgepeth, was chosen for Girls State for that same Banner Post (Daily Record Apr. 12, 1989).
Elsewhere, Mr. Charles M. Poole announced the engagement of their daughter, Wendy S. Poole, to Melvin Lee Langdon, son of Mrs. Catherine McCraven (Daily Record Apr. 14,1989).
Keith Hall told the Coats Lions Club about his trip to the Holy Lands. The Coats baseball team had won a tough 4-3 baseball game over Buies Creek as Johnny Honeycutt and Chris Ennis combined on a three hitter and Brian Stewart and Michael Turner had two hits each. The Coats softball team remained unbeaten with a 16-6 win as Anita Pleasant and Linda Hardison had four hits each and Kalisha Parrish hit three. Kelly Smith, Christy Wood, Christy McLamb and Melinda Thornton each had two hits (Daily Record Apr. 18, 1989).
It was reported in the “Notes” column that Laura Langdon was to coordinate the Multiple Scleroses campaign. The activities at Coats Senior Center included a trip to Raleigh to lobby for funds for the center, a trip to Fayetteville to tour along the Dogwood Trail, a trip to the Doctor’s Museum in Bailey, a tour of Historic Halifax, and a trip to the Carolina Pottery. She also wrote that awards were given to Eloise and Joe Lee, Roy and Elma Langdon, Berlin Blake and Rosa O’Neal for either cycling 100 miles or walking 100. Dr. Tom Freeman from Dunn had held the spring revival at the Coats Baptist Church.
Belle continued that the spring flowers were blooming, and everyone could tell why Audrey Stewart enjoyed staying outside in her Orange Street Nursery. Twenty people from the Gift Primitive Baptist Church met at the home of Rebecca Parrish. Another Parrish name made the news. Martha and Keith Parrish were in Faison visiting new friends they had made when Keith went to Brazil for the Phillip Morris Leadership Program (Daily Record Apr. 19, 1989).
We cannot operate the museum without the support of individuals from near and far. One of those individuals has been faithful from the start. Linda Cobb, an active member of the museum board and a tour volunteer, was honored by her family and friends on her birthday. Lynda and Robie Butler have added Linda’s name on our honorarium list in appreciation for the difference she makes in the life of the museum. For that and her birthday, H.L. and I have honored Linda and her brother Wallace Pollard who likewise has been an amazing financial supporter for years.