July 16, 2021 Coats Museum News
The season is fall in 1987 and the town is the destination of many former residents of the area. Mrs. Vivian Ennis visited with her daughter Mrs. Ann Dorman. Tony Smith of Florida visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Smith, while he attended Mule Day festivities. Louise Coats Jackson had her daughter from Fayetteville as a visitor. (This is Mrs. Mary Coats’ granddaughter-has Mrs. Mary died?)
I do know that according to Wanda Pollard in her Social Notes from Coats, Graham and Ruth Parrish had visited his sister Flossie Parrish and Donald Smith, Coats pharmacist, had taken a few well-earned vacation days.
Wanda had a long list of birthday wishes to Coats folks. Do you recognize any of these birthday people? Louine Stewart, Jamie Penny, Wanda Turlington, Joe Penny, Jr., Leon Smith, Jr., Jean Coats, Connie Penny, Mark Pleasant, Jerry Tyndall, Lois Ivey, David Maynor, Angela Stone, Frances Avery, J.D. Norris, Marc Powell, Lee Roy Williams, Flossie Parrish, and Cathy P. Byrd.
As you read the names, did you think about what the people looked like, the jobs they had or even maybe the parents or siblings of those named?
What about those Wanda listed as having anniversaries? She named Mr. and Mrs. William Pope, Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Tart, Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Tart, Mr. and Mrs. Bickett Turlington, Mr. and Mrs. Gail Pope, and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Stancil (Daily Record Oct. 5, 1987).
There were happenings in Coats that were not of the social nature. The town was in dispute with the State DOT over the abrupt reclassification of a four-mile strip of NC 27between Coats and Buies Creek. The DOT representative, Harold Steelman, reported that 50 residents requested the change “because of noise by truck traffic” along the route. On the motion of Commissioner Mack Reid Hudson, the county voted to support the town of Coats in the protest. The changed highway signs and reclassification of 27 to a secondary road, made the route from I-95 in Benson to 421 at Buies Creek appear to end at the intersection of Highway 55 in Coats. The change made truckers and motorists believe they had to follow 27 along 55 to intersect with 421 at Erwin. The change added miles to the travelers’ route as well as making a major truck route through downtown Coats.
How long do you think it took the town of Coats and Buies Creek to negotiate with DOT for a compromise to the connection of 27 and 421 around Buies Creek just north of Penny’s Minnow Farm? Was there another reason for the change of the route of 27? Who were these 50 residents who wanted the noise to be shifted away from them to others along the route?
I do know that the CACC recognized the Stacy Williams Upholstery as the Business of the Week. Stacy began the business as a part-time venture while he commuted to Raleigh to work as an upholsterer for Eatman’s Interiors until 1971 when he went into full-time into his own business. The staff consisted of Stacy, his wife Judy Williams (bookkeeper and fabric consultant), his son Andy (upholsterer), Hazel Roberts (seamstress) , Doris Pope (upholsterer), Earnest Call (upholsterer), Roger Faircloth (deliveryman and upholsterer) Greg Varner (deliveryman) and James Roberts (assistant deliveryman). They served the Harnett and Wake areas with jobs as elite as the antiques in the Governor’s Mansion to as functional as 1400 pieces of furniture for the Mission Valley Inn in Raleigh (Daily Record Oct. 6, 1987).
The Stacey Williams Upholstery has grown far beyond the Harnett and Wake boundaries today. When visiting the Liberty Hall in Kenansville a few years ago, several of us mentioned the beautiful antiques. The docent shared with us that Stacy Williams Upholstery from a small town of Coats had done the work. Can you imagine how proud we were to tell her that we were from Coats and knew the business well. My mother used to say “You can’t get away from your reputation, so you better be careful how you build one.” It is quite apparent that Stacy and Judy were aware of that old saying and followed it.
Now we know the winners in the little girl pageants held in Coats. Kandi Stevens, daughter of Doug and Sharon Stevens, was crowned Tiny Miss Coats1987 and Miss Congeniality in the Misses of the coats Pageant. First runner-up was Shelly Stevens, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Stevens and second runner-up was Lesley Barefoot, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Barefoot. Miss Photogenic was Shelly Jean Stewart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Troy Stewart.
Allison Langdon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Langdon, was crowned Little Miss Coats 1987 and Miss Photogenic. First runner-up was Carisa Westbrook, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donnie Westbrook and second runner-up was Tanya Lucas, daughter of Sandra Stewart and Barry Lucas. Miss Congeniality was Nicole Lee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Junior Lee.
Kelly Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gregory, was crowned Junior Miss Coats 1987 and Miss Congentiality. First runner-up was Vanessa Beasley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Beasley, and second-up was Andrea Currin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duane Currin. Angela Warren was Most Photogenic and was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Denton.
Each of the 30 girls was presented with a crown as the finale of the pageant. Visiting queens were Shannon Lucas, Miss Coats Jr. Order; Casey Coats, Little Miss Coats; Melissa Matthews, Tiny Miss Carolina Sweetheart of Harnett County; Vanessa Dorman, Little Junior Miss Autumn Charm; April Fowler, Junior Miss Carolina Spring and Taylor Matthews, Little Miss Denim.
The DOT and Coats residents’ dispute about rerouting of NC27 continued. The issue was a strip of two lanes roadway stretching westward from Coats. The State yielded to Campbell University and designated the truck traffic by the homes of petitioners J.B. Turlington and Donnie R. Stone. The strip designated was a three mile west of Coats at a landmark known to locals as “Franklin Store” which in the intersection o27 and “Old Stage Road” (Daily Record Oct. 8, 1987).
Berlene L. Ennis has been honored with memorials from Rhonda and Randy Stephenson, Gary Denning, Robie and Lynda Butler, Marc and Jean Powell, and Ralph and Lorena Denning. Rhonda and Randy and H.L and I also remembered Larry V. Stewart. The Coats Museum volunteers truly thank you for remembering these two friends.
Lenny Parker who will present “Disaster from a Different Perspective” remembered his dad Curtis Parker with a museum memorial. Thank you goes to Lenny who is a retired SBI Special Agent as well as a retired Deputy Commander DMORT-WMD. We welcome you to mark your calendar for Sept. 4, 2021 at 1:00 on the Heritage Square for Lenny’s free presentation about his experiences with 9/11, hurricanes and air crashes.
The season is fall in 1987 and the town is the destination of many former residents of the area. Mrs. Vivian Ennis visited with her daughter Mrs. Ann Dorman. Tony Smith of Florida visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Smith, while he attended Mule Day festivities. Louise Coats Jackson had her daughter from Fayetteville as a visitor. (This is Mrs. Mary Coats’ granddaughter-has Mrs. Mary died?)
I do know that according to Wanda Pollard in her Social Notes from Coats, Graham and Ruth Parrish had visited his sister Flossie Parrish and Donald Smith, Coats pharmacist, had taken a few well-earned vacation days.
Wanda had a long list of birthday wishes to Coats folks. Do you recognize any of these birthday people? Louine Stewart, Jamie Penny, Wanda Turlington, Joe Penny, Jr., Leon Smith, Jr., Jean Coats, Connie Penny, Mark Pleasant, Jerry Tyndall, Lois Ivey, David Maynor, Angela Stone, Frances Avery, J.D. Norris, Marc Powell, Lee Roy Williams, Flossie Parrish, and Cathy P. Byrd.
As you read the names, did you think about what the people looked like, the jobs they had or even maybe the parents or siblings of those named?
What about those Wanda listed as having anniversaries? She named Mr. and Mrs. William Pope, Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Tart, Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Tart, Mr. and Mrs. Bickett Turlington, Mr. and Mrs. Gail Pope, and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Stancil (Daily Record Oct. 5, 1987).
There were happenings in Coats that were not of the social nature. The town was in dispute with the State DOT over the abrupt reclassification of a four-mile strip of NC 27between Coats and Buies Creek. The DOT representative, Harold Steelman, reported that 50 residents requested the change “because of noise by truck traffic” along the route. On the motion of Commissioner Mack Reid Hudson, the county voted to support the town of Coats in the protest. The changed highway signs and reclassification of 27 to a secondary road, made the route from I-95 in Benson to 421 at Buies Creek appear to end at the intersection of Highway 55 in Coats. The change made truckers and motorists believe they had to follow 27 along 55 to intersect with 421 at Erwin. The change added miles to the travelers’ route as well as making a major truck route through downtown Coats.
How long do you think it took the town of Coats and Buies Creek to negotiate with DOT for a compromise to the connection of 27 and 421 around Buies Creek just north of Penny’s Minnow Farm? Was there another reason for the change of the route of 27? Who were these 50 residents who wanted the noise to be shifted away from them to others along the route?
I do know that the CACC recognized the Stacy Williams Upholstery as the Business of the Week. Stacy began the business as a part-time venture while he commuted to Raleigh to work as an upholsterer for Eatman’s Interiors until 1971 when he went into full-time into his own business. The staff consisted of Stacy, his wife Judy Williams (bookkeeper and fabric consultant), his son Andy (upholsterer), Hazel Roberts (seamstress) , Doris Pope (upholsterer), Earnest Call (upholsterer), Roger Faircloth (deliveryman and upholsterer) Greg Varner (deliveryman) and James Roberts (assistant deliveryman). They served the Harnett and Wake areas with jobs as elite as the antiques in the Governor’s Mansion to as functional as 1400 pieces of furniture for the Mission Valley Inn in Raleigh (Daily Record Oct. 6, 1987).
The Stacey Williams Upholstery has grown far beyond the Harnett and Wake boundaries today. When visiting the Liberty Hall in Kenansville a few years ago, several of us mentioned the beautiful antiques. The docent shared with us that Stacy Williams Upholstery from a small town of Coats had done the work. Can you imagine how proud we were to tell her that we were from Coats and knew the business well. My mother used to say “You can’t get away from your reputation, so you better be careful how you build one.” It is quite apparent that Stacy and Judy were aware of that old saying and followed it.
Now we know the winners in the little girl pageants held in Coats. Kandi Stevens, daughter of Doug and Sharon Stevens, was crowned Tiny Miss Coats1987 and Miss Congeniality in the Misses of the coats Pageant. First runner-up was Shelly Stevens, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Stevens and second runner-up was Lesley Barefoot, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Barefoot. Miss Photogenic was Shelly Jean Stewart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Troy Stewart.
Allison Langdon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Langdon, was crowned Little Miss Coats 1987 and Miss Photogenic. First runner-up was Carisa Westbrook, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donnie Westbrook and second runner-up was Tanya Lucas, daughter of Sandra Stewart and Barry Lucas. Miss Congeniality was Nicole Lee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Junior Lee.
Kelly Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gregory, was crowned Junior Miss Coats 1987 and Miss Congentiality. First runner-up was Vanessa Beasley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Beasley, and second-up was Andrea Currin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duane Currin. Angela Warren was Most Photogenic and was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Denton.
Each of the 30 girls was presented with a crown as the finale of the pageant. Visiting queens were Shannon Lucas, Miss Coats Jr. Order; Casey Coats, Little Miss Coats; Melissa Matthews, Tiny Miss Carolina Sweetheart of Harnett County; Vanessa Dorman, Little Junior Miss Autumn Charm; April Fowler, Junior Miss Carolina Spring and Taylor Matthews, Little Miss Denim.
The DOT and Coats residents’ dispute about rerouting of NC27 continued. The issue was a strip of two lanes roadway stretching westward from Coats. The State yielded to Campbell University and designated the truck traffic by the homes of petitioners J.B. Turlington and Donnie R. Stone. The strip designated was a three mile west of Coats at a landmark known to locals as “Franklin Store” which in the intersection o27 and “Old Stage Road” (Daily Record Oct. 8, 1987).
Berlene L. Ennis has been honored with memorials from Rhonda and Randy Stephenson, Gary Denning, Robie and Lynda Butler, Marc and Jean Powell, and Ralph and Lorena Denning. Rhonda and Randy and H.L and I also remembered Larry V. Stewart. The Coats Museum volunteers truly thank you for remembering these two friends.
Lenny Parker who will present “Disaster from a Different Perspective” remembered his dad Curtis Parker with a museum memorial. Thank you goes to Lenny who is a retired SBI Special Agent as well as a retired Deputy Commander DMORT-WMD. We welcome you to mark your calendar for Sept. 4, 2021 at 1:00 on the Heritage Square for Lenny’s free presentation about his experiences with 9/11, hurricanes and air crashes.