January 6, 2023 Coats Museum News
The date was 1995 when the old Goat House was dedicated and opened to the public as a community Coats Museum. The two –room building was formerly located on the Coats High School campus where it was used as classrooms from 1914 until it was no longer needed since a tri-level brick structure was completed in 1921. It was given the name “Goat House” according to my husband’s parents who attended the District #3 Coats School after their previous schools-Sorrell and Penny Schools -had consolidated with District #3. They recalled that it was used as storage building and looked as if goats lived in it.
It would be ten years later in 2005 that another museum would be added to the Coats Heritage Square. This museum would be called the Cotton Museum which would share the story of cotton from seed to the finished cotton products. Within this museum, one can see a variety of plows, planters and other implements that were used as the farmers planted linted seeds in the fields around the Coats area. A restored plantation cotton gin dated around 1905, two bales of cotton, scales and other weighing devices are on display. One can actually see the old fire extinguisher used at the Grove Cotton Gin at Bailey’s Crossroads. I have heard that all gins were required to have one on site.
There is a spinning wheel which was used by the Neighbor’s family to make cotton or wool thread to be loomed into blankets. Displayed on an old plantation loom are blankets made with berry or walnut dyed thread. Two ladies are quilting a beautiful quilt made from assorted fabric -some of which was likely flour or feed sacks. In the corner there is actually a collection of Underground Railroad quilts used as a map to escape by the slaves as they fled the area to freedom.
There are many other surprises from the past in the Cotton Museum. Many of these could have come from the Mack Reid Hudson family who was instrumental in building this spectacular museum.
However in 1992, Mack Reid Hudson made the news for another reason. The Harnett County Commissioner had announced that he would not seek reelection to represent District #3 seat on the commission. He stated that he had served 6 years and it was time for someone else. Others interested in the seat were James Glover and Bruce Gomedelia from Erwin and M.T. Strickland from Coats who could not run because he lived outside of district (Daily Record Jan. 17, 1992).
Doris Williams, daughter of Jerry and Thelma Williams of Coats, was to marry Timmy Howard of Erwin. The wedding was to take place in the Erwin Church of God of Prophecy. Elsewhere, another couple who pledged vows 56 years ago was celebrating the anniversary of that date. Mr. and Mrs. Merchant Langdon were hosted by their children and were joined by 60 guests at the Langdon home on Angier Route 2 (Daily Record Jan. 17, 1992.
Neil Austin Taylor had celebrated his first birthday in Houston, TX. The Route 2, Angier lad, son of Tommy Taylor and Christiann Dykstra, had the party hosted by his grandparents (Daily Record Jan. 17, 1992).
Joyce Howard Hogan and Jimmy Rogers Ennis were married at the home of Elaine Summers (Daily Record Jan. 20, 1992).
Should the folks around Coats decide to eat a grilled T-bone steak, one could be purchased at the Dunn Food Lion for 2.98 a pound (Daily Record Jan. 22, 1992).
Virginia Taylor, doing business under the name of Brave Falcon Restaurant at Coats, had filed for bankruptcy under Federal Court Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code (Daily Record Jan. 22, 1992). Who remembers this restaurant?
Thurlene Pollard Klein, 67, of Raleigh, but formerly of Coats had died. Her services were held at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home and Montlawn Memorial Park. Surviving her were her children-Janet Wilson, Sandy Atkinson and Jake Klein. Baxton Pollard was her brother in Coats.
Jennifer Hope Williams and Gregory Scott Varner were married at St. James United Methodist Church in Raleigh. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Varner were his parents of Coats (Daily Record Jan. 27, 1992).
H.L. Sorrell, Jr. announced as a candidate for the seat of Mack Reid Hudson in District #3 of the HCBOC. The CACC focused on the Turlington Service as Business Focus of the Week. Johnny and Steve Turlington were the operators (Daily Record Jan. 29, 1992).
H.L. was joined by Bruce Gomedella who also filed for the District # 3 seat on the commission (Daily Record Jan. 30, 1992).
The CACC celebrated its 20th anniversary at the chamber banquet. Carsie Denning, Sr.-Man of the Year; Patsy J. Patterson-Woman of the Year; Daywood Langdon-Farmer of the Year; and N. Earl Jones-M.O. Phillips Award were the recipients who were honored for outstanding citizenry.
Carsie Denning, Sr. was retired from a state job where he had made a name for himself due to his leadership and organizational skills. He was a WW II veteran and was active in the Coats High School projects such as the 1985 Reunion Project. Carsie and his wife Mary chaired the event.
Patsy J. Patterson was remembered for giving countless hours and many of her talents to make the Coats beauty pageants successful. Small in size but big in heart was one way she was described when she was awarded the Woman of the Year.
Daywood Langdon, the Farmer of the Year, was a Barclaysville native. He had bought his first farm in 1947 and had farmed ever since. He found time to give to his community and to serve his fellow man through church, clubs and school.
Earl Jones, the first M.O. Phillips recipient, had been active in the CACC since it was organized in 1982. Jones was honored for his dedication to the organization.
Keith McLeod, fireman, was honored for guiding the Fire Department to a Class 3 rating. Sandy Ross was Rescue Squad Member of the Year. She was a Wake Medical nurse. Tony Mangum, Harry Denton, William Pope, Carletta Ennis, M.T. Strickland and J.D. Norris were honored with plaques (Daily Record Jan. 31, 1992).
H.L. and I were honored to recognize our fellow weekly co-volunteers at the museum with Christmas honorariums to the museum: Becky Adams, Lynda and Robie Butler and Peggy Robinson. Your dependability is astounding.
When giving this check was discussed by H.L. and me, I never suspected in a million years that this would be the last check he would give to the Coats Museum. He loved the Coats Museum because he thought it would be a shining example that a small town can do big things if the people love their heritage and are willing to back it up financially. I will forever cherish the memory of his saying to me-“Have you read me your column for this week yet?” Ironically I told him in the hospital that I had finished my column for January 6, 2023 and that he was in it-but he never got to hear it. Thank you to the Daily Record for your generosity to our family. H.L. was so fond of Mr. Hoover Adams and Lisa Farmer. Thank you to all who have written such kind words about him-it has been comforting during the hardest time in my family’s life.
The date was 1995 when the old Goat House was dedicated and opened to the public as a community Coats Museum. The two –room building was formerly located on the Coats High School campus where it was used as classrooms from 1914 until it was no longer needed since a tri-level brick structure was completed in 1921. It was given the name “Goat House” according to my husband’s parents who attended the District #3 Coats School after their previous schools-Sorrell and Penny Schools -had consolidated with District #3. They recalled that it was used as storage building and looked as if goats lived in it.
It would be ten years later in 2005 that another museum would be added to the Coats Heritage Square. This museum would be called the Cotton Museum which would share the story of cotton from seed to the finished cotton products. Within this museum, one can see a variety of plows, planters and other implements that were used as the farmers planted linted seeds in the fields around the Coats area. A restored plantation cotton gin dated around 1905, two bales of cotton, scales and other weighing devices are on display. One can actually see the old fire extinguisher used at the Grove Cotton Gin at Bailey’s Crossroads. I have heard that all gins were required to have one on site.
There is a spinning wheel which was used by the Neighbor’s family to make cotton or wool thread to be loomed into blankets. Displayed on an old plantation loom are blankets made with berry or walnut dyed thread. Two ladies are quilting a beautiful quilt made from assorted fabric -some of which was likely flour or feed sacks. In the corner there is actually a collection of Underground Railroad quilts used as a map to escape by the slaves as they fled the area to freedom.
There are many other surprises from the past in the Cotton Museum. Many of these could have come from the Mack Reid Hudson family who was instrumental in building this spectacular museum.
However in 1992, Mack Reid Hudson made the news for another reason. The Harnett County Commissioner had announced that he would not seek reelection to represent District #3 seat on the commission. He stated that he had served 6 years and it was time for someone else. Others interested in the seat were James Glover and Bruce Gomedelia from Erwin and M.T. Strickland from Coats who could not run because he lived outside of district (Daily Record Jan. 17, 1992).
Doris Williams, daughter of Jerry and Thelma Williams of Coats, was to marry Timmy Howard of Erwin. The wedding was to take place in the Erwin Church of God of Prophecy. Elsewhere, another couple who pledged vows 56 years ago was celebrating the anniversary of that date. Mr. and Mrs. Merchant Langdon were hosted by their children and were joined by 60 guests at the Langdon home on Angier Route 2 (Daily Record Jan. 17, 1992.
Neil Austin Taylor had celebrated his first birthday in Houston, TX. The Route 2, Angier lad, son of Tommy Taylor and Christiann Dykstra, had the party hosted by his grandparents (Daily Record Jan. 17, 1992).
Joyce Howard Hogan and Jimmy Rogers Ennis were married at the home of Elaine Summers (Daily Record Jan. 20, 1992).
Should the folks around Coats decide to eat a grilled T-bone steak, one could be purchased at the Dunn Food Lion for 2.98 a pound (Daily Record Jan. 22, 1992).
Virginia Taylor, doing business under the name of Brave Falcon Restaurant at Coats, had filed for bankruptcy under Federal Court Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code (Daily Record Jan. 22, 1992). Who remembers this restaurant?
Thurlene Pollard Klein, 67, of Raleigh, but formerly of Coats had died. Her services were held at the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home and Montlawn Memorial Park. Surviving her were her children-Janet Wilson, Sandy Atkinson and Jake Klein. Baxton Pollard was her brother in Coats.
Jennifer Hope Williams and Gregory Scott Varner were married at St. James United Methodist Church in Raleigh. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Varner were his parents of Coats (Daily Record Jan. 27, 1992).
H.L. Sorrell, Jr. announced as a candidate for the seat of Mack Reid Hudson in District #3 of the HCBOC. The CACC focused on the Turlington Service as Business Focus of the Week. Johnny and Steve Turlington were the operators (Daily Record Jan. 29, 1992).
H.L. was joined by Bruce Gomedella who also filed for the District # 3 seat on the commission (Daily Record Jan. 30, 1992).
The CACC celebrated its 20th anniversary at the chamber banquet. Carsie Denning, Sr.-Man of the Year; Patsy J. Patterson-Woman of the Year; Daywood Langdon-Farmer of the Year; and N. Earl Jones-M.O. Phillips Award were the recipients who were honored for outstanding citizenry.
Carsie Denning, Sr. was retired from a state job where he had made a name for himself due to his leadership and organizational skills. He was a WW II veteran and was active in the Coats High School projects such as the 1985 Reunion Project. Carsie and his wife Mary chaired the event.
Patsy J. Patterson was remembered for giving countless hours and many of her talents to make the Coats beauty pageants successful. Small in size but big in heart was one way she was described when she was awarded the Woman of the Year.
Daywood Langdon, the Farmer of the Year, was a Barclaysville native. He had bought his first farm in 1947 and had farmed ever since. He found time to give to his community and to serve his fellow man through church, clubs and school.
Earl Jones, the first M.O. Phillips recipient, had been active in the CACC since it was organized in 1982. Jones was honored for his dedication to the organization.
Keith McLeod, fireman, was honored for guiding the Fire Department to a Class 3 rating. Sandy Ross was Rescue Squad Member of the Year. She was a Wake Medical nurse. Tony Mangum, Harry Denton, William Pope, Carletta Ennis, M.T. Strickland and J.D. Norris were honored with plaques (Daily Record Jan. 31, 1992).
H.L. and I were honored to recognize our fellow weekly co-volunteers at the museum with Christmas honorariums to the museum: Becky Adams, Lynda and Robie Butler and Peggy Robinson. Your dependability is astounding.
When giving this check was discussed by H.L. and me, I never suspected in a million years that this would be the last check he would give to the Coats Museum. He loved the Coats Museum because he thought it would be a shining example that a small town can do big things if the people love their heritage and are willing to back it up financially. I will forever cherish the memory of his saying to me-“Have you read me your column for this week yet?” Ironically I told him in the hospital that I had finished my column for January 6, 2023 and that he was in it-but he never got to hear it. Thank you to the Daily Record for your generosity to our family. H.L. was so fond of Mr. Hoover Adams and Lisa Farmer. Thank you to all who have written such kind words about him-it has been comforting during the hardest time in my family’s life.