June 5, 2015 Coats
Museum News
Death had visited many families in the Grove area in August of 1952. One of them was the family of Mrs. W.T. Bailey of Route One Benson who had died at Dunn Hospital after a short illness. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Elmon Stewart of Johnston County. She was a member of Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at Bailey’s Crossroads. Rev. Daniel McCallahan of Fayetteville assisted the Rev. C. I. Calcote of Broadway. Interment was in the church cemetery. She was survived by sons-Lee, Waylon, Stewart, J. Clem, R.E., Lindell and Wade and one daughter-Mrs. W.D. Massengill (Dunn Dispatch August 25, 1952).
Some of you may recognize the name, Joe Langley, of the Angier area because so many youngsters have attended his gymnastics program from everywhere. In 1952, his father, also Joe Langley, 38, had died in Scotland County Hospital. He had taught school and coached in Harnett County for eight years. His wife, Mrs. Maude Lee Adams and one son, Joe Langley, Jr. and one daughter-Kathy Langley, survived him. Back in Harnett County, tobacco averaged $48.14 per 100 pounds (Dunn Dispatch August 27, 1952).
In 1952, the average time to grow a broiler out to market was 10 weeks. Can you believe that some families who spent a month at the beach in the summer carried live chickens in a cage to the beach to kill and eat during their stay? In 1930, there were 10,000 farms with electricity and in 1950, there were 219,546 farms in N.C. with electric power (Dunn Dispatch September 1, 1952).
The HCBOC approved a resolution to appropriate $10,000.00 to the Dunn Health Center as the county’s share. Torrential rains that came down on the fields in Harnett County played havoc with the crops, terraces, and ponds. The Turlington HD Club had their annual wiener roast at the pond of Oscar R. Turlington (Dunn Dispatch September 3, 1952). Does anyone know where that pond is located?
This I do know. The voters went to the polls to vote on the $490,000 issue for the building of a courthouse. Max Avery had completed his basic training at Lackland Air Base in Texas. Max was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Avery and was an outstanding graduate of Coats High School (Dunn Dispatch September 5, 1952).
The votes were counted on the building of a new courthouse issue. Do you remember how it turned out? Obviously, the voters did not want a new building because they overwhelmingly opposed the structure by 279 to 1903. That looks like a small a small turnout. Right?
Wonder if Mr. and Mrs. Grover V. Langdon voted. I bet they were more excited that their daughter, Ruth Langdon, was engaged to Earl M. McNeill, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.G. McNeill of Sanford. Some might be interested in knowing that Ruth Langdon McNeill died a few months ago in Sanford. The former Coats High graduate had a very impressive record in education. Some of you might remember hearing the name-Martin Turlington. His wife, Mrs. Flora Turlington, had died at Good Hope Hospital in September of 1952 (Dunn Dispatch September 8, 1952).
Another death had occurred in the Angier area. Mrs. Ethel Turner, 62, wife of Rev. G. Scott Turner, had died at her home on Route 2. She had one son, Rev. G. Scott Turner, Jr. of Wake Forest. Many people will recognize the name Rev. Franklin Pierce. He was recorded as being a brilliant young evangelist by the newspaper in 1952. He had preached revival at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at Bailey’s Crossroads where a number of members were added.
The Coats School enrollment on opening day on September 3rd was 868 students. There were lots of changes waiting for students in that 1952-53 school year. Among them were newly painted walls, new light fixtures, four new classrooms, and a new gymnasium. Mr. Tallie Dupree was the new physical education instructor and Miss Ruth Elliott replaced Miss Utley as the piano teacher. She had a new studio in the new addition to the school that housed the four new classrooms. Miss Utley had had her music room off the stage in the auditorium. Remember that room? Miss Avis Squires replaced Miss Gerry Cobb in the Home Economics Department. Mrs. Lillian Earp managed the cafeteria and Miss Edith Allen directed the band. Question. What colors were the walls in the classrooms when you went ot Coats School? Do you recall reading many columns back that a request went from the county office to paint the rooms in pastel colors because they would be more cheery for the students and the request was denied because of cost.
I do know that the Coats faculty was listed in the Dunn Dispatch. The following taught in 1952-53. Mr. R. Hal Smith, Miss Phyllis Buckner, Miss Clyde Bryan, Mrs. Edna Parrish, Mrs. Jesse Keene, Mrs. Olivia Smith, Mrs. Dona Turlington, Mrs. Mary Stephenson, Mrs. Hazel Grimes, Mrs. Shirley Veasley, Mrs. Juanita Thomas, Miss Lucille Allen, Miss Louise Stewart, Miss Esther Ricks, Mrs. Valdah Deaton, Mrs. Carey Jones, Mrs. Nan Williams, Mrs. Ralph Spainhour, Miss Hepsy Utley, Mrs. Olive Pope, Mrs. Mattie HIghfield, Ray Coon, Joseph Veasey, James Valsame, Mrs. Gladys Phillips, Miss Mable Lynch, Mrs. Blanche Dupree, Miss Avis Squires, and Miss Ruth Elliott (Dunn Dispatch September,12, 1952).
Again, you are asked do you know if any of these faculty members are alive? They were on staff 63 years ago.
The Senior Class of 1953 hit the floor running as the old saying goes. They recorded that they had entered as “Dignified Seniors” with Miss Mable Lynch to guide them as she had done others for more than a decade. The members elected their class officers. Russell Lamb was voted president; Faye Dean Moore, vice president; Jean Pope, secretary-treasurer, and Shirley Norris reporter. Debbie Jones and Danny McLamb were selected as mascots.
The iris was chosen as class flower and class colors were purple and white. A doeable motto was selected-“Success is not a destination but a journey”. The 1953 annual staff consisted of Floyd McLamb, editor-in-chief with Kathleen Cobb as his assistant editor. Jo Ann Ennis was business manager and Faye Dean Moore was Jo Ann’s assistant. Doris Gregory and Shirley Byrd were circulation managers. Alice Stephenson, Hilda Messer, and Shirley Norris were advertising managers. La Rue Edgerton and Jean Creech were art editors.
Do you recall why classmates were picked for these varied positions on yearbooks staffs, newspapers, etc.? The Spotlight staff chosen was Jo Ann Ennis as its editor with Kathleen Cobb as her assistant. Hilda Messer and Kathleen Cobb were manager and assistant manager of circulation of the school paper. Faye Dean Moore and Shirley Norris were manager and assistant manager of business affairs. Shirley Byrd and Alice Stephenson were the reporters; whereas, Doris Gregory was the humor editor. Jean Creech and La Rue Edgerton were art directors.
Follow the column to next to see who graduated from this 1953 Coats Class and who some others high school students were that served in various position in the clubs and organization during that era. It is amazing the number of people who enjoy looking in the museum at the old yearbooks trying to find parents and grandparents who attended the old Coats High School.
Many of you will remember Joy Dan Clayton who had married Bland Fleming, son of Dr. and Mrs. Fred Fleming. She taught school several years in Harnett County. She married Charles Spivey after Bland had died at a young age. Joy Dan and Charles live in Greensboro now which makes us appreciate the fact that she continues to support her hometown. Thank you goes to Joy Dan for remembering Pauline Daniel with a memorial donation to the museum.
Death had visited many families in the Grove area in August of 1952. One of them was the family of Mrs. W.T. Bailey of Route One Benson who had died at Dunn Hospital after a short illness. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Elmon Stewart of Johnston County. She was a member of Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at Bailey’s Crossroads. Rev. Daniel McCallahan of Fayetteville assisted the Rev. C. I. Calcote of Broadway. Interment was in the church cemetery. She was survived by sons-Lee, Waylon, Stewart, J. Clem, R.E., Lindell and Wade and one daughter-Mrs. W.D. Massengill (Dunn Dispatch August 25, 1952).
Some of you may recognize the name, Joe Langley, of the Angier area because so many youngsters have attended his gymnastics program from everywhere. In 1952, his father, also Joe Langley, 38, had died in Scotland County Hospital. He had taught school and coached in Harnett County for eight years. His wife, Mrs. Maude Lee Adams and one son, Joe Langley, Jr. and one daughter-Kathy Langley, survived him. Back in Harnett County, tobacco averaged $48.14 per 100 pounds (Dunn Dispatch August 27, 1952).
In 1952, the average time to grow a broiler out to market was 10 weeks. Can you believe that some families who spent a month at the beach in the summer carried live chickens in a cage to the beach to kill and eat during their stay? In 1930, there were 10,000 farms with electricity and in 1950, there were 219,546 farms in N.C. with electric power (Dunn Dispatch September 1, 1952).
The HCBOC approved a resolution to appropriate $10,000.00 to the Dunn Health Center as the county’s share. Torrential rains that came down on the fields in Harnett County played havoc with the crops, terraces, and ponds. The Turlington HD Club had their annual wiener roast at the pond of Oscar R. Turlington (Dunn Dispatch September 3, 1952). Does anyone know where that pond is located?
This I do know. The voters went to the polls to vote on the $490,000 issue for the building of a courthouse. Max Avery had completed his basic training at Lackland Air Base in Texas. Max was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Avery and was an outstanding graduate of Coats High School (Dunn Dispatch September 5, 1952).
The votes were counted on the building of a new courthouse issue. Do you remember how it turned out? Obviously, the voters did not want a new building because they overwhelmingly opposed the structure by 279 to 1903. That looks like a small a small turnout. Right?
Wonder if Mr. and Mrs. Grover V. Langdon voted. I bet they were more excited that their daughter, Ruth Langdon, was engaged to Earl M. McNeill, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.G. McNeill of Sanford. Some might be interested in knowing that Ruth Langdon McNeill died a few months ago in Sanford. The former Coats High graduate had a very impressive record in education. Some of you might remember hearing the name-Martin Turlington. His wife, Mrs. Flora Turlington, had died at Good Hope Hospital in September of 1952 (Dunn Dispatch September 8, 1952).
Another death had occurred in the Angier area. Mrs. Ethel Turner, 62, wife of Rev. G. Scott Turner, had died at her home on Route 2. She had one son, Rev. G. Scott Turner, Jr. of Wake Forest. Many people will recognize the name Rev. Franklin Pierce. He was recorded as being a brilliant young evangelist by the newspaper in 1952. He had preached revival at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at Bailey’s Crossroads where a number of members were added.
The Coats School enrollment on opening day on September 3rd was 868 students. There were lots of changes waiting for students in that 1952-53 school year. Among them were newly painted walls, new light fixtures, four new classrooms, and a new gymnasium. Mr. Tallie Dupree was the new physical education instructor and Miss Ruth Elliott replaced Miss Utley as the piano teacher. She had a new studio in the new addition to the school that housed the four new classrooms. Miss Utley had had her music room off the stage in the auditorium. Remember that room? Miss Avis Squires replaced Miss Gerry Cobb in the Home Economics Department. Mrs. Lillian Earp managed the cafeteria and Miss Edith Allen directed the band. Question. What colors were the walls in the classrooms when you went ot Coats School? Do you recall reading many columns back that a request went from the county office to paint the rooms in pastel colors because they would be more cheery for the students and the request was denied because of cost.
I do know that the Coats faculty was listed in the Dunn Dispatch. The following taught in 1952-53. Mr. R. Hal Smith, Miss Phyllis Buckner, Miss Clyde Bryan, Mrs. Edna Parrish, Mrs. Jesse Keene, Mrs. Olivia Smith, Mrs. Dona Turlington, Mrs. Mary Stephenson, Mrs. Hazel Grimes, Mrs. Shirley Veasley, Mrs. Juanita Thomas, Miss Lucille Allen, Miss Louise Stewart, Miss Esther Ricks, Mrs. Valdah Deaton, Mrs. Carey Jones, Mrs. Nan Williams, Mrs. Ralph Spainhour, Miss Hepsy Utley, Mrs. Olive Pope, Mrs. Mattie HIghfield, Ray Coon, Joseph Veasey, James Valsame, Mrs. Gladys Phillips, Miss Mable Lynch, Mrs. Blanche Dupree, Miss Avis Squires, and Miss Ruth Elliott (Dunn Dispatch September,12, 1952).
Again, you are asked do you know if any of these faculty members are alive? They were on staff 63 years ago.
The Senior Class of 1953 hit the floor running as the old saying goes. They recorded that they had entered as “Dignified Seniors” with Miss Mable Lynch to guide them as she had done others for more than a decade. The members elected their class officers. Russell Lamb was voted president; Faye Dean Moore, vice president; Jean Pope, secretary-treasurer, and Shirley Norris reporter. Debbie Jones and Danny McLamb were selected as mascots.
The iris was chosen as class flower and class colors were purple and white. A doeable motto was selected-“Success is not a destination but a journey”. The 1953 annual staff consisted of Floyd McLamb, editor-in-chief with Kathleen Cobb as his assistant editor. Jo Ann Ennis was business manager and Faye Dean Moore was Jo Ann’s assistant. Doris Gregory and Shirley Byrd were circulation managers. Alice Stephenson, Hilda Messer, and Shirley Norris were advertising managers. La Rue Edgerton and Jean Creech were art editors.
Do you recall why classmates were picked for these varied positions on yearbooks staffs, newspapers, etc.? The Spotlight staff chosen was Jo Ann Ennis as its editor with Kathleen Cobb as her assistant. Hilda Messer and Kathleen Cobb were manager and assistant manager of circulation of the school paper. Faye Dean Moore and Shirley Norris were manager and assistant manager of business affairs. Shirley Byrd and Alice Stephenson were the reporters; whereas, Doris Gregory was the humor editor. Jean Creech and La Rue Edgerton were art directors.
Follow the column to next to see who graduated from this 1953 Coats Class and who some others high school students were that served in various position in the clubs and organization during that era. It is amazing the number of people who enjoy looking in the museum at the old yearbooks trying to find parents and grandparents who attended the old Coats High School.
Many of you will remember Joy Dan Clayton who had married Bland Fleming, son of Dr. and Mrs. Fred Fleming. She taught school several years in Harnett County. She married Charles Spivey after Bland had died at a young age. Joy Dan and Charles live in Greensboro now which makes us appreciate the fact that she continues to support her hometown. Thank you goes to Joy Dan for remembering Pauline Daniel with a memorial donation to the museum.