June 19, 2015 Coats
Museum News
While in conversation recently with good friends about land lines, cell phones, internet, and other tech devices, they concluded that their bill could run over $200 per month. Does that sound like your cost? I do know that in 1952, the cost of communicating was rising. Carolina Telephone had raised the cost of a call from a nickel to a dime. How long was it before it had cost a quarter?
The folks at Coats High School also had some questions. They were asking, “Who will be King and Queen?” It seems the PTA was raising the question to raise $1,000 via a contest and Halloween Carnival. Wonder if some young person approached Christine Akerman for some pennies and nickels while trying to win the title. Christine was visiting her parents, the Guy Stewarts, after being in Japan for three years.
The electricians were checking the wiring and the bell was soon to be installed at the new Coats Baptist Church. Miss Tidy Parrish had a big party at her house on the Coats-Buies Creek Road where she had celebrated her birthday. Elsewhere, Earl Williams was very ill in the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia.
A county workshop for officers of the FHA was held in Lillington. The following girls represented Coats: President Faye Dean Moore, Vice President Ann Pleasant, Secretary Sue Johnson, Treasurer Helen Sears, Historian La Rue Edgerton, Song Leader Carolyn Turner, and Reporter Shirley Norris. The county secretary was Jo Ann Ennis. Young Edward Turlington of Turlington’s Crossroads was a patient at Good Hope (Dunn Dispatch Oct. 27, 1952)
Does anyone remember going to the Colonial Store or the A&P in Dunn? Better yet, do you recall that the Colonial Store was gutted with a $100,000 fire? The Stewart Theater and Prince’s Department were saved by the quick work of the Dunn firemen.
Mary Jo Johnson had spent the weekend with her parents, Joe and Mamie Johnson, while her sister, Doris Johnson, was in Greensboro for the 1952 Commercial Class Homecoming. Eisenhower carried the nation but Stevenson had carried Harnett. Carson Gregory returned to Raleigh; Dick Lasater once again won the District 2 commissioner seat and Claude Moore was constable (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 5, 1952).
Students were picked on the basis of excellence in scholarship, leadership and participation in extracurricular activities. Over 600 people had attended the Jr. Order BBQ held at Coats School. Graham Byrd sang Hillbilly songs to the crowd. Was this event for the young people?
The Coats PTA raised over $1400 for bleachers for the new gym. McKinley Whittington and Willadean Johnson were high school king and queen. Wonder how many dollars the two raised. The Turlington HD Club had won the “Best Club” award at the annual meeting. Mrs. J.C. Hardee was presented the award.
The Coats Community Building was paid in full; however, the Woman’s Club wanted to paint the inside of the building and put some recreational equipment on the grounds. The Fellowship Club gave the $75 for the paint. Mrs. D. H. Yarley and Mrs. O.K. Keene gave a basketball and goal. Mr. Curtis Guy offered to put up a tennis court.
The Coats cheerleaders decorated that community building with black and gold and gave the football team and their dates a party. Cheerleaders were Faye Dean Moore, Gloria Wilmoth, Shirley Norris, Jean Pope, Carolyn Turner, Doris Gregory, and W. M. Allen. The football team was Bobby Smith, Dunbar Stewart, C.L. Hough, Connie Mason, Larry Barnes, Larry Johnson, Russell Lamm, Marvin McLean, T.J. Barnes, Leon McLamb, Carl Lane Grimes, and Maynard Moran. Do you know that W.M. died a few months ago in Richmond, VA.? He came to Coats not long ago for his class reunion. Maynard Moran was the talented student who had written the school song that was sung for decades at the old Coats High School.
While the young people were enjoying their party, the Frank Elliott family was very concerned about his farm accident. He had sustained a very serious injury when he caught his hand in a corn–picking machine and it was cut off. Another Bailey’s Crossroads man, David Ennis, was much improved after being in the hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Felton Williams and children, Brenda and Billy, had spent the weekend with the Herman Stone family (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 12, 1952).
Major Oris Autry, manager and part owner of the Coats Theater, had been serving with the marines at Cherry Point for the past two years. Entering the marines in his early thirties, he came up the ranks until he reached the rank of Major. He was a veteran of WWII and was with the First Marine Division when they landed at Guadalcanal. He had just been released from active duty in November of 1952 (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 17, 1952).
The Harnett Negro population had dropped from 1940 to 1950. In 1952, there were 12,096 Negroes in Harnett (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 19, 1952).
The Bailey Brothers were to play Hillbilly music in Coats School auditorium to raise money for the bleachers in the gym. Lee Morris Earp, who was with the Aviation Engineers, located at Orlando, Florida, had spent 20 days of furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.M Earp. Mrs. Lillian Earp was manager of the Coats School cafeteria that had received an “A” grade rating for two years in a row (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 21, 1952).
Mrs. Alonzo Coats had a program on “Caring for the Sick” for the ladies in the Oakdale HD Club. Mrs. Garland Matthews and Mrs. Wynona Ennis were hostesses. Heavier clothing had been issued to William E. Stewart, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Stewart of Coats. PFC Stewart was a member of the First Battalion Headquarters Co. 32nd Infantry Regiment. He had entered the service in August 1951. Stewart had been awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and the Korean Service ribbon with one campaign star (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 24, 1952).
The average income per family in Harnett County for the 1952 was $1,755. Laura Grace Ennis, Frederick Byrd, and Donnie Pollard were three of the eleven freshmen students from Harnett County at East Carolina College (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 26, 1952).
Lula Mae Hough was president of the Harnett-Johnston Hairdressers Guild. Mr. and Mrs. Mayton Upchurch and Janice and Mr. and Mrs. James Pleasant had visited Daddy Grady Wild Goose Refuge near Andersonville. Mr. and Mrs. Klyce Stewart of Madison, Wisconsin were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clay Stewart. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pollard were happy to announce another set of twins. This time it would be a boy and a girl. Who can tell me who they were? Mrs. Pollard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Godwin, already had four-year-old twins Kenneth and Keith Pollard. Another Coats couple had reason to be happy. Mr. and Mrs. Daywood Langdon had a new son, Dudley, to brighten their home.
Wonder if Mr. and Mrs. Langdon had attended the Coats Baptist Church’s BBQ and Harvest Sales that had netted $5,000 (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 28, 1952).
Dr. C.R. Young, 71, retired Harnett County physician and farmer, had died at home in Angier after a long illness. Does anyone know whom he had married from Coats? Mr. and Mrs. Silas Faircloth had announced the birth of Cathy Elaine at Good Hope Hospital. The mother was the former Annie Dean (Dunn Dispatch December5, 1952). A visit to the Coats Museum will enable you to see Annie’s sister’s wedding dress that was made from parachute material. Beautifully crafted by Italian seamstresses, it is a beautiful work of art.
We had a wonderful visit from Benny Harmon and his cousin Clyde Ennis, Jr. from Lewisville where Clyde recently retired from Belk. Clyde came to the museum bringing a 1953 Ennis Reunion picture large enough to identify the dozens of people in it. His dad was in WWII and he brought a picture of his unit. Mary Ellen Lauder shared a cigarette lighter with Luke’s imprinted. You recall that restaurant, don’t you? Best hamburgers, cheeseburgers and BBQ were served there from the 1930’s.
A group of third, fourth and fifth grade students from Erwin visited the museum last week. The students were touring the museums in the county for a field trip. It was awesome to watch the enthusiasm of the young students as they toured. Teachers, thanks for bringing the well behaved young folks to the Coats Museum.
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While in conversation recently with good friends about land lines, cell phones, internet, and other tech devices, they concluded that their bill could run over $200 per month. Does that sound like your cost? I do know that in 1952, the cost of communicating was rising. Carolina Telephone had raised the cost of a call from a nickel to a dime. How long was it before it had cost a quarter?
The folks at Coats High School also had some questions. They were asking, “Who will be King and Queen?” It seems the PTA was raising the question to raise $1,000 via a contest and Halloween Carnival. Wonder if some young person approached Christine Akerman for some pennies and nickels while trying to win the title. Christine was visiting her parents, the Guy Stewarts, after being in Japan for three years.
The electricians were checking the wiring and the bell was soon to be installed at the new Coats Baptist Church. Miss Tidy Parrish had a big party at her house on the Coats-Buies Creek Road where she had celebrated her birthday. Elsewhere, Earl Williams was very ill in the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia.
A county workshop for officers of the FHA was held in Lillington. The following girls represented Coats: President Faye Dean Moore, Vice President Ann Pleasant, Secretary Sue Johnson, Treasurer Helen Sears, Historian La Rue Edgerton, Song Leader Carolyn Turner, and Reporter Shirley Norris. The county secretary was Jo Ann Ennis. Young Edward Turlington of Turlington’s Crossroads was a patient at Good Hope (Dunn Dispatch Oct. 27, 1952)
Does anyone remember going to the Colonial Store or the A&P in Dunn? Better yet, do you recall that the Colonial Store was gutted with a $100,000 fire? The Stewart Theater and Prince’s Department were saved by the quick work of the Dunn firemen.
Mary Jo Johnson had spent the weekend with her parents, Joe and Mamie Johnson, while her sister, Doris Johnson, was in Greensboro for the 1952 Commercial Class Homecoming. Eisenhower carried the nation but Stevenson had carried Harnett. Carson Gregory returned to Raleigh; Dick Lasater once again won the District 2 commissioner seat and Claude Moore was constable (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 5, 1952).
Students were picked on the basis of excellence in scholarship, leadership and participation in extracurricular activities. Over 600 people had attended the Jr. Order BBQ held at Coats School. Graham Byrd sang Hillbilly songs to the crowd. Was this event for the young people?
The Coats PTA raised over $1400 for bleachers for the new gym. McKinley Whittington and Willadean Johnson were high school king and queen. Wonder how many dollars the two raised. The Turlington HD Club had won the “Best Club” award at the annual meeting. Mrs. J.C. Hardee was presented the award.
The Coats Community Building was paid in full; however, the Woman’s Club wanted to paint the inside of the building and put some recreational equipment on the grounds. The Fellowship Club gave the $75 for the paint. Mrs. D. H. Yarley and Mrs. O.K. Keene gave a basketball and goal. Mr. Curtis Guy offered to put up a tennis court.
The Coats cheerleaders decorated that community building with black and gold and gave the football team and their dates a party. Cheerleaders were Faye Dean Moore, Gloria Wilmoth, Shirley Norris, Jean Pope, Carolyn Turner, Doris Gregory, and W. M. Allen. The football team was Bobby Smith, Dunbar Stewart, C.L. Hough, Connie Mason, Larry Barnes, Larry Johnson, Russell Lamm, Marvin McLean, T.J. Barnes, Leon McLamb, Carl Lane Grimes, and Maynard Moran. Do you know that W.M. died a few months ago in Richmond, VA.? He came to Coats not long ago for his class reunion. Maynard Moran was the talented student who had written the school song that was sung for decades at the old Coats High School.
While the young people were enjoying their party, the Frank Elliott family was very concerned about his farm accident. He had sustained a very serious injury when he caught his hand in a corn–picking machine and it was cut off. Another Bailey’s Crossroads man, David Ennis, was much improved after being in the hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Felton Williams and children, Brenda and Billy, had spent the weekend with the Herman Stone family (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 12, 1952).
Major Oris Autry, manager and part owner of the Coats Theater, had been serving with the marines at Cherry Point for the past two years. Entering the marines in his early thirties, he came up the ranks until he reached the rank of Major. He was a veteran of WWII and was with the First Marine Division when they landed at Guadalcanal. He had just been released from active duty in November of 1952 (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 17, 1952).
The Harnett Negro population had dropped from 1940 to 1950. In 1952, there were 12,096 Negroes in Harnett (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 19, 1952).
The Bailey Brothers were to play Hillbilly music in Coats School auditorium to raise money for the bleachers in the gym. Lee Morris Earp, who was with the Aviation Engineers, located at Orlando, Florida, had spent 20 days of furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.M Earp. Mrs. Lillian Earp was manager of the Coats School cafeteria that had received an “A” grade rating for two years in a row (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 21, 1952).
Mrs. Alonzo Coats had a program on “Caring for the Sick” for the ladies in the Oakdale HD Club. Mrs. Garland Matthews and Mrs. Wynona Ennis were hostesses. Heavier clothing had been issued to William E. Stewart, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Stewart of Coats. PFC Stewart was a member of the First Battalion Headquarters Co. 32nd Infantry Regiment. He had entered the service in August 1951. Stewart had been awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and the Korean Service ribbon with one campaign star (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 24, 1952).
The average income per family in Harnett County for the 1952 was $1,755. Laura Grace Ennis, Frederick Byrd, and Donnie Pollard were three of the eleven freshmen students from Harnett County at East Carolina College (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 26, 1952).
Lula Mae Hough was president of the Harnett-Johnston Hairdressers Guild. Mr. and Mrs. Mayton Upchurch and Janice and Mr. and Mrs. James Pleasant had visited Daddy Grady Wild Goose Refuge near Andersonville. Mr. and Mrs. Klyce Stewart of Madison, Wisconsin were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clay Stewart. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Pollard were happy to announce another set of twins. This time it would be a boy and a girl. Who can tell me who they were? Mrs. Pollard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Godwin, already had four-year-old twins Kenneth and Keith Pollard. Another Coats couple had reason to be happy. Mr. and Mrs. Daywood Langdon had a new son, Dudley, to brighten their home.
Wonder if Mr. and Mrs. Langdon had attended the Coats Baptist Church’s BBQ and Harvest Sales that had netted $5,000 (Dunn Dispatch Nov. 28, 1952).
Dr. C.R. Young, 71, retired Harnett County physician and farmer, had died at home in Angier after a long illness. Does anyone know whom he had married from Coats? Mr. and Mrs. Silas Faircloth had announced the birth of Cathy Elaine at Good Hope Hospital. The mother was the former Annie Dean (Dunn Dispatch December5, 1952). A visit to the Coats Museum will enable you to see Annie’s sister’s wedding dress that was made from parachute material. Beautifully crafted by Italian seamstresses, it is a beautiful work of art.
We had a wonderful visit from Benny Harmon and his cousin Clyde Ennis, Jr. from Lewisville where Clyde recently retired from Belk. Clyde came to the museum bringing a 1953 Ennis Reunion picture large enough to identify the dozens of people in it. His dad was in WWII and he brought a picture of his unit. Mary Ellen Lauder shared a cigarette lighter with Luke’s imprinted. You recall that restaurant, don’t you? Best hamburgers, cheeseburgers and BBQ were served there from the 1930’s.
A group of third, fourth and fifth grade students from Erwin visited the museum last week. The students were touring the museums in the county for a field trip. It was awesome to watch the enthusiasm of the young students as they toured. Teachers, thanks for bringing the well behaved young folks to the Coats Museum.
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