July 10, 2015 Coats
Museum News
It was August of 1953 and many of the Grove Township citizens had traveled the roads for varied reasons. Among them were the Stancil twins, Irma Jean and Thurlene, who had visited Elizabeth Capps. The twins were the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Stancil. Miss Wanda Godwin and Phoebie Johnson had spent the weekend with Mrs. Fred Sorrell. Miss Magdeline Pleasant had stayed the weekend at White Lake. Albert Elliott of Texas enjoyed his leave at home with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Elliott. Albert also visited with Mr. Jesse Howard and family while in Coats. Mr. and Mrs. Theron Miller and children stayed the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Miller of Coats. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Miller of Dayton, Ohio had spent the weekend with Mrs. LeRay Ennis (Daily Record Aug. 19, 1953).
The 4-H Club has been a remarkable organization for generations and made leaders out of many of the young members. One such leader was Miss Patsy Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith of Coats. Patsy was a member of the senior 4-H Club. She had won a week of free camping at Camp Millstone near Hoffman for answering a State Wildlife quiz contest from which she emerged as one of the winners. Miss Becky Ennis of Benson was the weekend guest of her cousin Judy Ennis in Raleigh. Would you believe that years later, the paths of these two girls –Patsy and Becky-would cross and both would make major impacts in the Coats Kiwanis Club, the ECA and the Coats Museum? Who are these two ladies today? We know them better as Patsy Smith Avery and Becky Ennis Adams.
While Becky was in Raleigh, another Ennis girl, JoAnne Ennis, had returned home to attend a picnic at the Oakdale Home Demonstration Club. Mr. and Mrs. Carol Wood of Spring Lake had visited Mrs. Rena Ennis of the Oakdale. Mrs. Ed Eudy and daughter Susan of Four Oaks had visited her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Delmer Ennis. Are all these travelers relatives (Daily Record Aug. 19, 1953)?
Oakdale Community continued to make the news in September. Mrs. Vara Neighbors had spent the weekend with her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. James Neighbors. A group of young men from the community had returned home after being on maneuvers with the National Guard at Camp Stewart, Georgia, Battery 725th AAAAW Bn. Those young men back in town were Sgt. R.E. Allen, Cpl. Bill Clinton Howard, Cpl. Benton Ennis, Pfc. Donnie Pollard, Pvt. J.B. Bain, and Pvt. Junior Norris. Miss Magdeline Pleasant of Benson also visited Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Howard on Sunday (Daily Record Sept. 4, 1953). Does anyone recognize those names? Which ones later had a daughter to become principal of Coats Elementary School?
This I do know. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Norris, Jr. announced the birth of a daughter, Bonnie Lou, at Good Hope Hospital. Mrs. Norris was the former Lottie Lee Howard (Daily Record Sept. 4, 1953).
Rev. Frank Moore of Charlotte, a brother of Dr. Donald Moore, spoke at the Coats Baptist Church for revival. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Dorman and daughter, Sondra Dorman, were dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Astor Norris (Daily Record Sept. 11, 1953).
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Coats of Winston Salem had visited Mr. and Mrs. Garland Coats. Another out- of- town guest was at the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Ennis. Miss Wanda Godwin of Arlington, Virginia surely enjoyed the beauty of a Harnett County late summer. Was she a relative of Mrs. Ennis (Daily Record Sept, 1953)?
Mr. W. E. Nichols of Coats resigned his service as a board member since 1945 for the Dunn Hospital (Daily Record Sept. 16, 1953).
Pvt. Shirley Byrd had returned to camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, after spending several days with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Byrd of Coats (Daily Record Sept. 18, 1953). Do any of you recall reading about any other female military members from Coats? I do recall several years ago that we had two ladies come into our old museum and inquire about Shirley Byrd who had attended Coats School and spent many years in the military.
When we were researching for our Coats stories in the Daily Record library, the following entry was very personal and exciting to me. The article was about one of my older sisters whose husband was a career American diplomat. The paper recorded that a former Coats girl had sailed for Egypt. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Wright and son, Marshall, Jr., sailed to Port Said, Egypt where he had been assigned as Vice-Consul of the American Consulate. En route the Wrights had visited Barcelona, Marseille, Naples, Alexandra and Cairo. Mrs. Wright was the former Mabel Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jonah C. Johnson of Coats, N.C. She had graduated from Coats High School and Strayer University. She was on the staff of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy in Washington, D.C. for several years prior to her marriage (Daily Record September 25, 1953). As a side note, one might wonder if socializing with the top leaders in the world and in corporate America would change a country girl from Coats. The only change my mother said she saw in my sister was that she changed her name. She never liked the name Mabel so her family and friends called her Mickey. Is that not funny? This I do know when she returned for family visits here, she always wanted to know about the people she grew up with and what was going on in their lives-loved that older sister.
Herbert L. Johnson, Coats farmer, welcomed Governor Kerr Scott to the Benson’s Mule Day (Daily Record Sept. 28, 1953).
We are so excited about an event that we are putting together to honor our military men from the Korean War to current service. We are going to call the event “THE HONOR WALK” in which we will recognize each military person-sharing the branch of service, the ending rank, and the places served for our country. We will invite the families of the deceased to walk the path for their loved ones and carry their folded flag if they like. The military men will be recognized on the deck of the Community Building and will march through the crown to enter the Coats Museum where they will see uniforms and exhibits about the wars in which they served. We will ask those men whose uniforms are on display in the glass tunnel to stand next to them and swap stories with the visitors. Those veterans who have items in the other exhibits will do likewise. We will have music and food to show our humble appreciation for the courage and service that these military folks have given for all of us.
Lynda Butler, H.L. and I went to the Erwin Community Building to watch the presentation by Sion Harrington to honor the fallen soldiers from the Erwin area. It was truly a task of love for all the work he put into the collection of materials about the men who lost their lives while fighting for our America. Thank you goes to Sion and the Erwin Historical Society for preserving your town’s story.
Also thank you to Mr. G.V. Fowler for sharing that he enjoyed reading the “Coats Museum News” and that he in fact was the referee for the first basketball game played in the Coats gymnasium. When I asked if the Daily Record got it right when they wrote that the gym was one of the nicest in the state, he replied. “They surely did. It was “THE” gym at that time!”
Death has once again taken into its fold one of our beloved Coats men. James Allison “Barlow” Langdon, Jr. died last week. His daughter Cynthia said she read him the “Coats Museum News” every week. H.L. and I are honored to give a memorial to the Coats Museum Endowment in honor of this uncle. As were hundreds of others who knew her, H.L. and I were inspired by the strength of Jean Harris. We are honored to have her memory live on in our museum by giving a memorial to our Coats Museum Endowment.
It was August of 1953 and many of the Grove Township citizens had traveled the roads for varied reasons. Among them were the Stancil twins, Irma Jean and Thurlene, who had visited Elizabeth Capps. The twins were the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Stancil. Miss Wanda Godwin and Phoebie Johnson had spent the weekend with Mrs. Fred Sorrell. Miss Magdeline Pleasant had stayed the weekend at White Lake. Albert Elliott of Texas enjoyed his leave at home with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Elliott. Albert also visited with Mr. Jesse Howard and family while in Coats. Mr. and Mrs. Theron Miller and children stayed the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Miller of Coats. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Miller of Dayton, Ohio had spent the weekend with Mrs. LeRay Ennis (Daily Record Aug. 19, 1953).
The 4-H Club has been a remarkable organization for generations and made leaders out of many of the young members. One such leader was Miss Patsy Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith of Coats. Patsy was a member of the senior 4-H Club. She had won a week of free camping at Camp Millstone near Hoffman for answering a State Wildlife quiz contest from which she emerged as one of the winners. Miss Becky Ennis of Benson was the weekend guest of her cousin Judy Ennis in Raleigh. Would you believe that years later, the paths of these two girls –Patsy and Becky-would cross and both would make major impacts in the Coats Kiwanis Club, the ECA and the Coats Museum? Who are these two ladies today? We know them better as Patsy Smith Avery and Becky Ennis Adams.
While Becky was in Raleigh, another Ennis girl, JoAnne Ennis, had returned home to attend a picnic at the Oakdale Home Demonstration Club. Mr. and Mrs. Carol Wood of Spring Lake had visited Mrs. Rena Ennis of the Oakdale. Mrs. Ed Eudy and daughter Susan of Four Oaks had visited her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Delmer Ennis. Are all these travelers relatives (Daily Record Aug. 19, 1953)?
Oakdale Community continued to make the news in September. Mrs. Vara Neighbors had spent the weekend with her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. James Neighbors. A group of young men from the community had returned home after being on maneuvers with the National Guard at Camp Stewart, Georgia, Battery 725th AAAAW Bn. Those young men back in town were Sgt. R.E. Allen, Cpl. Bill Clinton Howard, Cpl. Benton Ennis, Pfc. Donnie Pollard, Pvt. J.B. Bain, and Pvt. Junior Norris. Miss Magdeline Pleasant of Benson also visited Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Howard on Sunday (Daily Record Sept. 4, 1953). Does anyone recognize those names? Which ones later had a daughter to become principal of Coats Elementary School?
This I do know. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Norris, Jr. announced the birth of a daughter, Bonnie Lou, at Good Hope Hospital. Mrs. Norris was the former Lottie Lee Howard (Daily Record Sept. 4, 1953).
Rev. Frank Moore of Charlotte, a brother of Dr. Donald Moore, spoke at the Coats Baptist Church for revival. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Dorman and daughter, Sondra Dorman, were dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Astor Norris (Daily Record Sept. 11, 1953).
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Coats of Winston Salem had visited Mr. and Mrs. Garland Coats. Another out- of- town guest was at the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Ennis. Miss Wanda Godwin of Arlington, Virginia surely enjoyed the beauty of a Harnett County late summer. Was she a relative of Mrs. Ennis (Daily Record Sept, 1953)?
Mr. W. E. Nichols of Coats resigned his service as a board member since 1945 for the Dunn Hospital (Daily Record Sept. 16, 1953).
Pvt. Shirley Byrd had returned to camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, after spending several days with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Byrd of Coats (Daily Record Sept. 18, 1953). Do any of you recall reading about any other female military members from Coats? I do recall several years ago that we had two ladies come into our old museum and inquire about Shirley Byrd who had attended Coats School and spent many years in the military.
When we were researching for our Coats stories in the Daily Record library, the following entry was very personal and exciting to me. The article was about one of my older sisters whose husband was a career American diplomat. The paper recorded that a former Coats girl had sailed for Egypt. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Wright and son, Marshall, Jr., sailed to Port Said, Egypt where he had been assigned as Vice-Consul of the American Consulate. En route the Wrights had visited Barcelona, Marseille, Naples, Alexandra and Cairo. Mrs. Wright was the former Mabel Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jonah C. Johnson of Coats, N.C. She had graduated from Coats High School and Strayer University. She was on the staff of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy in Washington, D.C. for several years prior to her marriage (Daily Record September 25, 1953). As a side note, one might wonder if socializing with the top leaders in the world and in corporate America would change a country girl from Coats. The only change my mother said she saw in my sister was that she changed her name. She never liked the name Mabel so her family and friends called her Mickey. Is that not funny? This I do know when she returned for family visits here, she always wanted to know about the people she grew up with and what was going on in their lives-loved that older sister.
Herbert L. Johnson, Coats farmer, welcomed Governor Kerr Scott to the Benson’s Mule Day (Daily Record Sept. 28, 1953).
We are so excited about an event that we are putting together to honor our military men from the Korean War to current service. We are going to call the event “THE HONOR WALK” in which we will recognize each military person-sharing the branch of service, the ending rank, and the places served for our country. We will invite the families of the deceased to walk the path for their loved ones and carry their folded flag if they like. The military men will be recognized on the deck of the Community Building and will march through the crown to enter the Coats Museum where they will see uniforms and exhibits about the wars in which they served. We will ask those men whose uniforms are on display in the glass tunnel to stand next to them and swap stories with the visitors. Those veterans who have items in the other exhibits will do likewise. We will have music and food to show our humble appreciation for the courage and service that these military folks have given for all of us.
Lynda Butler, H.L. and I went to the Erwin Community Building to watch the presentation by Sion Harrington to honor the fallen soldiers from the Erwin area. It was truly a task of love for all the work he put into the collection of materials about the men who lost their lives while fighting for our America. Thank you goes to Sion and the Erwin Historical Society for preserving your town’s story.
Also thank you to Mr. G.V. Fowler for sharing that he enjoyed reading the “Coats Museum News” and that he in fact was the referee for the first basketball game played in the Coats gymnasium. When I asked if the Daily Record got it right when they wrote that the gym was one of the nicest in the state, he replied. “They surely did. It was “THE” gym at that time!”
Death has once again taken into its fold one of our beloved Coats men. James Allison “Barlow” Langdon, Jr. died last week. His daughter Cynthia said she read him the “Coats Museum News” every week. H.L. and I are honored to give a memorial to the Coats Museum Endowment in honor of this uncle. As were hundreds of others who knew her, H.L. and I were inspired by the strength of Jean Harris. We are honored to have her memory live on in our museum by giving a memorial to our Coats Museum Endowment.