March 11, 2016 Coats Museum News
Does anyone recall this terrible accident that occurred between Dunn and Fayetteville? The wreck happened when a truck containing bean pickers collided with a huge tractor-trailer piled with potatoes and killed 18 people (Daily Record June 5, 1957). Question-was this accident on US 301 or I-95?
In that same edition, the folks in Coats read that Will. J. Taylor, 31, of rural Coats had died at his home. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Taylor, two sisters- Christine Taylor and Mrs. Patrick Wilbourne of Frederick, Maryland and grandmother-Mrs. Lillie Taylor of Coats survived him.
The 1957 calendar showed that it was early June. A few locals were enjoying the first days of summer. Mrs. M.T. Strickland, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. M.T. Strickland, Jr. and daughters, Sharon Rose and Debbie, motored to Durham (Daily Record June 24, 1957).
Mrs. B.V. Godwin of Virginia had visited Mrs. James Woodruff (Daily Record June 27, 1957). Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Ennis of Coats announced the engagement of their daughter, Carolyn Sue, to Charles Benner, son of Mr. and Mrs. James J. Benner of Sanford. The wedding was to take place for August 2, 1957 (Daily Record July 2, 1957).
The United States had set off a “monster atomic device” equal to or possibly a little larger than any fired on this continent. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Benson of rural Benson announced the engagement of their daughter, Naomi Jean, to William H. Green of rural Lillington. The wedding was set for July 14, 1957 (Daily Record July 5, 1957).
Have you ever attended an Ennis Reunion? Hundreds of Ennis folks have had many places that they could have attended one of the July events. The 1957 reunion was set for July 21st meeting at Primitive Zion. John Ennis was president and Thurman Ennis was secretary-treasurer (Daily Record July 17, 1957). In July of 1942, 500 people attended the annual reunion of the Ennis clan at the home of Eumanese Ennis near Coats. J.B. Ennis, chairman of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners, presided. Owen Odum read the official history of the family that was compiled in 1941. The family descended from John Austin Ennis. The 1943 reunion was to be held at the Marshal Ennis home with Mr. and Mrs. Joel Ennis as hostesses (Daily Record July 18, 1942).
Chester Pleasant, 60, of Angier had died at his home on Wednesday morning. Elsewhere there was a more pleasant event when little Judy Stewart had spent the weekend with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Carlos V. Stewart (Daily Record July 18, 1947). Did he lose an arm in an accident?
This I do know. The Harnett County Board of Commissioners had approved the county budget. The tax rate increased 18 cents. The rate was $1.63 per 100 dollars valuation. The county assessed taxable property at 55 million dollars. The schools got 95 cents of the $1.63. The remaining went as follows: poor fund-10 cents, health-7 cents, commissioners-1 cent, veteran service officers-1 cent, old age-7 cents, aid to dependent children-7 cents, and the disabled -4 cents. Does that total $163.00? All males between 21-50 years had to pay $2.00 poll tax. What is a poll tax and why did only certain males have to pay it?
I do know that Vance Glover, 55, had died on Saturday. Services were held at Hodges Chapel Church. He was the son of Willie Joe and Alice Pope Glover. His wife was Eva Parker Glover and his stepmother was Mrs. Callie Glover of Coats. Mrs. Bill Ennis and Mrs. Bernard Stone were sisters. Herman Glover was a half- brother (Daily Record July 23, 1957).
Do you know for whom Benson was named? Former Johnston County Sheriff R.U. Barber’s wife had died. Mrs. Lola Benson Barber, 90, had died on Thursday morning at the home of Mrs. Lawrence Stevens. Mrs. Barber was a music teacher at Buies Creek Academy when the institution was established in 1887. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cullen Benson. She was survived by Wilbur and Shelton Barber (Daily Record July 26, 1957). Was her Benson heritage connected to the namesake of the town?
From funerals to weddings was common reading in the newspaper. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Daniel announced the marriage of their daughter, Jeanette Marie, to Mr. P.J. Johnson, son of Mrs. Alder Johnson and the late Paul Johnson on July 27, 1957 in Dillon, S.C. (Daily Record July 30, 1957).
Mrs. Dave (Margaret) House and boys attended the Capps Reunion at the Cumberland Memorial Park (Daily Record August 2, 1957).
Miss Carolyn Sue Ennis and Mr. James Charles Benner were married on a Friday afternoon in the Coats Baptist Church. Norma Lee Johnson presented music. Mrs. Fred H. Fleming and Barbara Stewart were vocalists. Given in marriage by her father, M.E. Ennis, the bride wore a waltz length gown of Chantilly lace over satin. The groom’s father was best man. Clyde and Warren Ennis were ushers and Gwen Dixon (Stewart) was a bridal attendant (Daily Record August 1 and August 5, 1957). Did both the bride and groom attend East Carolina College?
Shall we go shopping for a few items and compare the prices in our minds to the same items in 2016? In 1957, a man’s tie sold for 59 cents, a dress shirt for $1.99, socks for 39 cents and shoes for $3.95 at Steinberg Department Store in Erwin (Daily Record August 5, 1957). Was the total $6.92? Would that amount buy anyone of those items today? Where was the Steinberg Department Store in Erwin located?
Do you remember your first car with seat belts? When was that? I do know that a Ford Motor Company official said that seat belts would halve auto deaths. Do any of you recall how the general public felt about the mandatory seat belt law?
This I do know? There were several birth announcements containing Coats folks. Mr. and Mrs. William Thomas Sparks of Coats announced the birth of Glenda Kay on July 14th. The mother was the former Lena Ava Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Newman Johnson were proud parents of Richard Newman. The mother was the former Marjorie “Willa Dean” Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Johnson Upchurch of Lillington were parents of a new arrival, Tony Michael. Mrs. Upchurch was the former Lela Ruth Cobb of Coats (Daily Record August 6, 1957).
Jurors were drawn for the September 9 Superior Court and Ira Tadlock was summoned as were Sexton Ennis and Mrs. Zola Roberts for the September 16 session (Daily Record August 8, 1957).
Mr. George Hill and the R.A. boys met at the Coats Baptist Church and went to the Dunn pool (Daily Record August 9, 1957).
Mr. Eddie Parrish of Grove Township had white hair, rosy cheeks and countenance like that of a benign character actor. The paper shared that he sold his tobacco at the Dunn Market and thought the prices seemed pretty good. Mrs. Florence Stewart was not selling tobacco in Dunn or anywhere else because she was visiting Mr. and Mrs. Rob McCall in Charlotte. The Coats volunteer fire department was called to a fire on Monday morning at about 1:00am. The fire was a barn belonging to Owen Odum (Daily Record August 15, 1957).
The volunteers at the museum are very busy preparing to downsize the military exhibits and replace them with vintage clothes in museum condition. We are placing the emphasis on wedding attire of bygone days. We would love to have a vintage gown from our African American or other non-white groups.
The column began today with the information that two of our Coats area citizens had died in 1957. Today’s column will end with the information that two of the girls who were sophomores in 1957 have died recently. Linda Parrish Godwin has sent checks from the Coats High Class of 1959 to honor the memories of Margorie Jernigan Stewart and Elizabeth Wiggins Hawley. Gratitude goes to the 1959 Class and to Linda for passing those checks to the museum.
We are so saddened by the death of Joey Johnson who had just turned 48. Joey and Terry own the Dragonfly Florist and have been friends and supporters of the Coats Museum. My husband H.L. and I are honored to remember my nephew, Joey, with a donation to the Coats Museum Endowment.
Does anyone recall this terrible accident that occurred between Dunn and Fayetteville? The wreck happened when a truck containing bean pickers collided with a huge tractor-trailer piled with potatoes and killed 18 people (Daily Record June 5, 1957). Question-was this accident on US 301 or I-95?
In that same edition, the folks in Coats read that Will. J. Taylor, 31, of rural Coats had died at his home. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Taylor, two sisters- Christine Taylor and Mrs. Patrick Wilbourne of Frederick, Maryland and grandmother-Mrs. Lillie Taylor of Coats survived him.
The 1957 calendar showed that it was early June. A few locals were enjoying the first days of summer. Mrs. M.T. Strickland, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. M.T. Strickland, Jr. and daughters, Sharon Rose and Debbie, motored to Durham (Daily Record June 24, 1957).
Mrs. B.V. Godwin of Virginia had visited Mrs. James Woodruff (Daily Record June 27, 1957). Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Ennis of Coats announced the engagement of their daughter, Carolyn Sue, to Charles Benner, son of Mr. and Mrs. James J. Benner of Sanford. The wedding was to take place for August 2, 1957 (Daily Record July 2, 1957).
The United States had set off a “monster atomic device” equal to or possibly a little larger than any fired on this continent. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Benson of rural Benson announced the engagement of their daughter, Naomi Jean, to William H. Green of rural Lillington. The wedding was set for July 14, 1957 (Daily Record July 5, 1957).
Have you ever attended an Ennis Reunion? Hundreds of Ennis folks have had many places that they could have attended one of the July events. The 1957 reunion was set for July 21st meeting at Primitive Zion. John Ennis was president and Thurman Ennis was secretary-treasurer (Daily Record July 17, 1957). In July of 1942, 500 people attended the annual reunion of the Ennis clan at the home of Eumanese Ennis near Coats. J.B. Ennis, chairman of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners, presided. Owen Odum read the official history of the family that was compiled in 1941. The family descended from John Austin Ennis. The 1943 reunion was to be held at the Marshal Ennis home with Mr. and Mrs. Joel Ennis as hostesses (Daily Record July 18, 1942).
Chester Pleasant, 60, of Angier had died at his home on Wednesday morning. Elsewhere there was a more pleasant event when little Judy Stewart had spent the weekend with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Carlos V. Stewart (Daily Record July 18, 1947). Did he lose an arm in an accident?
This I do know. The Harnett County Board of Commissioners had approved the county budget. The tax rate increased 18 cents. The rate was $1.63 per 100 dollars valuation. The county assessed taxable property at 55 million dollars. The schools got 95 cents of the $1.63. The remaining went as follows: poor fund-10 cents, health-7 cents, commissioners-1 cent, veteran service officers-1 cent, old age-7 cents, aid to dependent children-7 cents, and the disabled -4 cents. Does that total $163.00? All males between 21-50 years had to pay $2.00 poll tax. What is a poll tax and why did only certain males have to pay it?
I do know that Vance Glover, 55, had died on Saturday. Services were held at Hodges Chapel Church. He was the son of Willie Joe and Alice Pope Glover. His wife was Eva Parker Glover and his stepmother was Mrs. Callie Glover of Coats. Mrs. Bill Ennis and Mrs. Bernard Stone were sisters. Herman Glover was a half- brother (Daily Record July 23, 1957).
Do you know for whom Benson was named? Former Johnston County Sheriff R.U. Barber’s wife had died. Mrs. Lola Benson Barber, 90, had died on Thursday morning at the home of Mrs. Lawrence Stevens. Mrs. Barber was a music teacher at Buies Creek Academy when the institution was established in 1887. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cullen Benson. She was survived by Wilbur and Shelton Barber (Daily Record July 26, 1957). Was her Benson heritage connected to the namesake of the town?
From funerals to weddings was common reading in the newspaper. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Daniel announced the marriage of their daughter, Jeanette Marie, to Mr. P.J. Johnson, son of Mrs. Alder Johnson and the late Paul Johnson on July 27, 1957 in Dillon, S.C. (Daily Record July 30, 1957).
Mrs. Dave (Margaret) House and boys attended the Capps Reunion at the Cumberland Memorial Park (Daily Record August 2, 1957).
Miss Carolyn Sue Ennis and Mr. James Charles Benner were married on a Friday afternoon in the Coats Baptist Church. Norma Lee Johnson presented music. Mrs. Fred H. Fleming and Barbara Stewart were vocalists. Given in marriage by her father, M.E. Ennis, the bride wore a waltz length gown of Chantilly lace over satin. The groom’s father was best man. Clyde and Warren Ennis were ushers and Gwen Dixon (Stewart) was a bridal attendant (Daily Record August 1 and August 5, 1957). Did both the bride and groom attend East Carolina College?
Shall we go shopping for a few items and compare the prices in our minds to the same items in 2016? In 1957, a man’s tie sold for 59 cents, a dress shirt for $1.99, socks for 39 cents and shoes for $3.95 at Steinberg Department Store in Erwin (Daily Record August 5, 1957). Was the total $6.92? Would that amount buy anyone of those items today? Where was the Steinberg Department Store in Erwin located?
Do you remember your first car with seat belts? When was that? I do know that a Ford Motor Company official said that seat belts would halve auto deaths. Do any of you recall how the general public felt about the mandatory seat belt law?
This I do know? There were several birth announcements containing Coats folks. Mr. and Mrs. William Thomas Sparks of Coats announced the birth of Glenda Kay on July 14th. The mother was the former Lena Ava Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Newman Johnson were proud parents of Richard Newman. The mother was the former Marjorie “Willa Dean” Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Johnson Upchurch of Lillington were parents of a new arrival, Tony Michael. Mrs. Upchurch was the former Lela Ruth Cobb of Coats (Daily Record August 6, 1957).
Jurors were drawn for the September 9 Superior Court and Ira Tadlock was summoned as were Sexton Ennis and Mrs. Zola Roberts for the September 16 session (Daily Record August 8, 1957).
Mr. George Hill and the R.A. boys met at the Coats Baptist Church and went to the Dunn pool (Daily Record August 9, 1957).
Mr. Eddie Parrish of Grove Township had white hair, rosy cheeks and countenance like that of a benign character actor. The paper shared that he sold his tobacco at the Dunn Market and thought the prices seemed pretty good. Mrs. Florence Stewart was not selling tobacco in Dunn or anywhere else because she was visiting Mr. and Mrs. Rob McCall in Charlotte. The Coats volunteer fire department was called to a fire on Monday morning at about 1:00am. The fire was a barn belonging to Owen Odum (Daily Record August 15, 1957).
The volunteers at the museum are very busy preparing to downsize the military exhibits and replace them with vintage clothes in museum condition. We are placing the emphasis on wedding attire of bygone days. We would love to have a vintage gown from our African American or other non-white groups.
The column began today with the information that two of our Coats area citizens had died in 1957. Today’s column will end with the information that two of the girls who were sophomores in 1957 have died recently. Linda Parrish Godwin has sent checks from the Coats High Class of 1959 to honor the memories of Margorie Jernigan Stewart and Elizabeth Wiggins Hawley. Gratitude goes to the 1959 Class and to Linda for passing those checks to the museum.
We are so saddened by the death of Joey Johnson who had just turned 48. Joey and Terry own the Dragonfly Florist and have been friends and supporters of the Coats Museum. My husband H.L. and I are honored to remember my nephew, Joey, with a donation to the Coats Museum Endowment.