March 17, 2017 Coats Museum News
One of the comebacks often made to an older parent or grandparent is “Yeah, you had to walk six miles to school every day!” Was there any validity to that walking to school remark? The statement was indeed made by our ancestors not too far removed from us today? These small rural schools were sometimes referred to as field schools because, in many instances, they were in a field or opening and in some cases were empty buildings not being used by one of those who had the school bearing the family’s name. Those which eventually consolidated with Coats Grove #3 were Grove #1 (Ennis 1,1A and Oakdale), Grove #2 (Gregory 2 and Fair Hope 2A), Grove #4 (Turlington 4, 4A, 4B), Grove #5 (Parker 5 (Wiggins students joined that school earlier), Grove #6 (Sorrell 6 and 6A), Grove #7 (Penny Rock Ridge).
How did the students get to their schools before the early 1920’s when school “trucks” came on the campuses? Gustavo Stewart did offer a wagon with a cover for some students in the Grove #4 Turlington district in 1916 to attend the Coats Grove #3. That was for one year only for shortly thereafter Turlington increased class space. What happened to all these rural school buildings after the students left them to attend the Coats Union School (Grove #3)?
This I do know. Johnson and Norris advertised that they would sell the J.A. Langdon Store building and garage, a four room frame house and the old Bethel School as well as seven houses on Washington Street in Coats (Daily Record Oct. 25, 1961). The old Bethel School was really the Grove # 2 Gregory (Fair Hope) School and was likely referred to in later years as the Bethel School because it was located across from the Bethel Church which is on the county line road and is currently used for gospel groups to perform.
The Golden Emblem, the highest award that can come to a local chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA), was awarded to the chapter of Coats High School under the leadership of M.O. Phillips. Honors continued to come to the Grove Township. The Oakdale HD Club was presented a $30.00 check for their exhibit of “Food Supply (for one person) in a Fallout Shelter.” Mrs. U.M. Ennis had a five-year perfect attendance while Mrs. Rob Adams had a one-year one. What was the big deal about bomb shelters and civil defense in 1961?
Mrs. Ida Strickland Ennis, 83, of Benson had died on Tuesday night. Mrs. Ethel Cooper and Mrs. Lois Johnson and one son, Mr. M.E. Ennis of Coats, survived her. Johnson and Norris continued to be very busy as we travel through October of 1961).They sold the Desota Motor Court in Dunn and a valuable farm 2 ½ miles north of Dunn (Daily Record Oct. 26, 1961).
Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Coats and son Ronald were dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Watson of Angier. Other Coats families were likely visiting their relatives in the Good Hope Hospital. Mrs. Betty Williams and Mr. Robert Morris were patients there (Daily Record Oct. 31, 1961).
How does one become a postmaster? In October of 1961, nine persons wanted to be postmaster of the third class Coats Post Office in Grove Township. They were Louis H. Dupree, Charles R. Ennis, Chester L. Ennis, Joseph A. Lee, Gwendolyn S. Parrish, Ophelia F. Roberts, Peggy Senter, Charles H. Stovall and Jerry L. Williams (Daily Record Nov. 1, 1961).
Does anyone know which candidate was picked? Do you know where the post office was located in 1961? The Heritage of Coats, North Carolina shares pictures and locations of all the former post offices in Coats. Did you know that the post offices were once located in a person’s house in a community. Barclaysville, Troyville, Turlington and the Stewart Academy at Bailey’s Cross roads had post offices where folks went to pick up their mail. It was interesting that the post office kept records of those who received the most mail. Do you know how the mail arrived at home post offices in the 1800’s? Who knows when mail was delivered to people’s houses for free? What does RFD mean?
Carson Gregory was in the news for something other than politics and Poland China hogs. Carson had donated a building lot to the Coats Junior Order. Plans were underway for the construction of a council meeting place and recreation center on the land. The popular official had been a member of the Junior Order for 28 years. Wade Turlington was councilor of the Coats Junior Order. The deed also gave the Junior Order unrestricted use of the pond adjoining the land.
Mrs. Frances Matthews was ill in the Good Hope Hospital. Do you know who her husband was? Was he the man who fought the gorilla, chimpanzee or some other furry animal in a cage when a carnival came to Coats in years past?
It was a fact that A.H. Denton, 69, a retired farmer of Coats, had died Wednesday morning. The Rev. Toby Stone and Rev. R.O. Byrd conducted the service. He was survived by his daughters-Mrs. Liston Stewart and Mrs. Billy Lee and by five sons. Willie and Don Denton were from Coats. Mrs. O.G. Lamm was his sister from Coats ((Daily Record Nov. 2, 1961). Did A.H. Denton’s name appear in last week’s column when it was reported that his three year-old granddaughter had died in October?
Mrs. Mack R. Hudson of Bailey’s Crossroads had gone to New York City with 150 other home demonstration club members from N.C. They visited the United Nations Headquarters (Daily Record Nov. 3, 1961).
A pack house and a barn valued at several thousand dollars were a total loss along with several hundred dollars worth of contents in the buildings due to a fire Harold and Carl Turlington of near Turlington Crossroads jointly owned the property. Barbara Stewart, a former Coats scholar and Miss Coats High, was selected to be in the Meredith College Chorus. Carol Gwin of Mobile, Alabama announced her engagement to Lacy Langdon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Merchant Langdon. Mrs. Zola Roberts hosted the Turlington HD Club where Mrs. Ruby Parker gave a demonstration on “Home Nursing.” On display was a hooked rug made of scraps of cloth by Mrs. Roberts. Young Helen Lockamy was guest of honor at her 11th birthday party (Daily Record Nov. 6, 1961).
A cradle shower was given for Mrs. Ann Godwin Huff. Hostesses were Mrs. Jean Walker, Mrs. Helen Carroll, Mrs. Garland Huff, and Mrs. Willie Strickland. The event was at the home of Mrs. B. L. Godwin. Do you recognize the names of the following attendees: Mesdames Henry Turlington, W.R. Langdon, Carroll Hall, Howard Weaver, T.O. Dorman, E.B. Jernigan, Lester Holmes, W.C. Noles, T.C. Godwin, Owen Bennett, Garland Huff, Newton Byrd, Tyrus Powell, Wade Norris, Willie Strickland, J.D. Fish, Billy Walker, Helen Carroll, Stephen Parrish, Melgill Carroll, Miss Dean Holmes and Clarence McGill? Do you remember any of those ladies? Are any of them alive in 2017?
I do know that Miss Bettie Lou Wood and Rudolph Miller had exchanged wedding vows in a candlelight ceremony at Lee’s Grove F.W. Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon. The bride was the daughter of Bettie Mae Wood and Rudolph was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Miller. Mrs. Leray Ennis was the bride’s attendant and Theron Miller was best man. Leray Ennis and Theron Miller, Jr. were ushers. Mr. Miller was engaged in farming (Daily Record Nov. 6, 1961).
Who are these Millers? Rudolph Miller’s family lives on the old Fairground Road and behind his house is the Ella Reeves house that the story is shared that soldiers camped and ate on the porch of it during the Civil War. It has been told that even Sherman himself was there. Over in front of the Miller house was the site of the Tom Brown’s blacksmith shop where Tom operated it. Rudolph was a descendent of George Miller, the famous balladeer of the Civil War era who was unsuccessfully hanged several times. That’s another good story on its own. Chances are few of you knew that info but I bet some of you recall how tall and athletic Rudolph was and that Luke Barefoot’ s wife Pauline was one of the Brown children.
How exciting it is to meet individuals who are so passionate about finding their roots. William McLeod, a retired principal in Robeson County, visited us Thursday from Fayetteville to seek information about his Harnett County ancestors---Becky Adams, Peggy Robinson and Mr. McLeod spent most of the day with excellent results. Doris Cooke Thompson visited to seek pictures for her sister-in-law Lucille Blackwelder Cooke. Some will remember Rayvon and Lucille from their days at Coats School in the 1950’s. Charles Tart is always entertaining as he plays the museum’s piano to the delight of those within hearing range as he did last Thursday. Lynda Butler, Kathy Weeks and I enjoyed working to compile our information for our military book, “The Defenders of the Red, White and Blue.”
A big thank you goes to Ann Jones who has been such an asset in Coats for many years. Ann is so faithful to so many causes in Coats and the museum volunteers are so appreciative when she remembers her friends. Her latest honorarium was for Florine Penny who celebrated her 97th birthday and her memorial was for Lib Guy to the Coats Museum Endowment. Thank you, Ann.
One of the comebacks often made to an older parent or grandparent is “Yeah, you had to walk six miles to school every day!” Was there any validity to that walking to school remark? The statement was indeed made by our ancestors not too far removed from us today? These small rural schools were sometimes referred to as field schools because, in many instances, they were in a field or opening and in some cases were empty buildings not being used by one of those who had the school bearing the family’s name. Those which eventually consolidated with Coats Grove #3 were Grove #1 (Ennis 1,1A and Oakdale), Grove #2 (Gregory 2 and Fair Hope 2A), Grove #4 (Turlington 4, 4A, 4B), Grove #5 (Parker 5 (Wiggins students joined that school earlier), Grove #6 (Sorrell 6 and 6A), Grove #7 (Penny Rock Ridge).
How did the students get to their schools before the early 1920’s when school “trucks” came on the campuses? Gustavo Stewart did offer a wagon with a cover for some students in the Grove #4 Turlington district in 1916 to attend the Coats Grove #3. That was for one year only for shortly thereafter Turlington increased class space. What happened to all these rural school buildings after the students left them to attend the Coats Union School (Grove #3)?
This I do know. Johnson and Norris advertised that they would sell the J.A. Langdon Store building and garage, a four room frame house and the old Bethel School as well as seven houses on Washington Street in Coats (Daily Record Oct. 25, 1961). The old Bethel School was really the Grove # 2 Gregory (Fair Hope) School and was likely referred to in later years as the Bethel School because it was located across from the Bethel Church which is on the county line road and is currently used for gospel groups to perform.
The Golden Emblem, the highest award that can come to a local chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA), was awarded to the chapter of Coats High School under the leadership of M.O. Phillips. Honors continued to come to the Grove Township. The Oakdale HD Club was presented a $30.00 check for their exhibit of “Food Supply (for one person) in a Fallout Shelter.” Mrs. U.M. Ennis had a five-year perfect attendance while Mrs. Rob Adams had a one-year one. What was the big deal about bomb shelters and civil defense in 1961?
Mrs. Ida Strickland Ennis, 83, of Benson had died on Tuesday night. Mrs. Ethel Cooper and Mrs. Lois Johnson and one son, Mr. M.E. Ennis of Coats, survived her. Johnson and Norris continued to be very busy as we travel through October of 1961).They sold the Desota Motor Court in Dunn and a valuable farm 2 ½ miles north of Dunn (Daily Record Oct. 26, 1961).
Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Coats and son Ronald were dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Watson of Angier. Other Coats families were likely visiting their relatives in the Good Hope Hospital. Mrs. Betty Williams and Mr. Robert Morris were patients there (Daily Record Oct. 31, 1961).
How does one become a postmaster? In October of 1961, nine persons wanted to be postmaster of the third class Coats Post Office in Grove Township. They were Louis H. Dupree, Charles R. Ennis, Chester L. Ennis, Joseph A. Lee, Gwendolyn S. Parrish, Ophelia F. Roberts, Peggy Senter, Charles H. Stovall and Jerry L. Williams (Daily Record Nov. 1, 1961).
Does anyone know which candidate was picked? Do you know where the post office was located in 1961? The Heritage of Coats, North Carolina shares pictures and locations of all the former post offices in Coats. Did you know that the post offices were once located in a person’s house in a community. Barclaysville, Troyville, Turlington and the Stewart Academy at Bailey’s Cross roads had post offices where folks went to pick up their mail. It was interesting that the post office kept records of those who received the most mail. Do you know how the mail arrived at home post offices in the 1800’s? Who knows when mail was delivered to people’s houses for free? What does RFD mean?
Carson Gregory was in the news for something other than politics and Poland China hogs. Carson had donated a building lot to the Coats Junior Order. Plans were underway for the construction of a council meeting place and recreation center on the land. The popular official had been a member of the Junior Order for 28 years. Wade Turlington was councilor of the Coats Junior Order. The deed also gave the Junior Order unrestricted use of the pond adjoining the land.
Mrs. Frances Matthews was ill in the Good Hope Hospital. Do you know who her husband was? Was he the man who fought the gorilla, chimpanzee or some other furry animal in a cage when a carnival came to Coats in years past?
It was a fact that A.H. Denton, 69, a retired farmer of Coats, had died Wednesday morning. The Rev. Toby Stone and Rev. R.O. Byrd conducted the service. He was survived by his daughters-Mrs. Liston Stewart and Mrs. Billy Lee and by five sons. Willie and Don Denton were from Coats. Mrs. O.G. Lamm was his sister from Coats ((Daily Record Nov. 2, 1961). Did A.H. Denton’s name appear in last week’s column when it was reported that his three year-old granddaughter had died in October?
Mrs. Mack R. Hudson of Bailey’s Crossroads had gone to New York City with 150 other home demonstration club members from N.C. They visited the United Nations Headquarters (Daily Record Nov. 3, 1961).
A pack house and a barn valued at several thousand dollars were a total loss along with several hundred dollars worth of contents in the buildings due to a fire Harold and Carl Turlington of near Turlington Crossroads jointly owned the property. Barbara Stewart, a former Coats scholar and Miss Coats High, was selected to be in the Meredith College Chorus. Carol Gwin of Mobile, Alabama announced her engagement to Lacy Langdon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Merchant Langdon. Mrs. Zola Roberts hosted the Turlington HD Club where Mrs. Ruby Parker gave a demonstration on “Home Nursing.” On display was a hooked rug made of scraps of cloth by Mrs. Roberts. Young Helen Lockamy was guest of honor at her 11th birthday party (Daily Record Nov. 6, 1961).
A cradle shower was given for Mrs. Ann Godwin Huff. Hostesses were Mrs. Jean Walker, Mrs. Helen Carroll, Mrs. Garland Huff, and Mrs. Willie Strickland. The event was at the home of Mrs. B. L. Godwin. Do you recognize the names of the following attendees: Mesdames Henry Turlington, W.R. Langdon, Carroll Hall, Howard Weaver, T.O. Dorman, E.B. Jernigan, Lester Holmes, W.C. Noles, T.C. Godwin, Owen Bennett, Garland Huff, Newton Byrd, Tyrus Powell, Wade Norris, Willie Strickland, J.D. Fish, Billy Walker, Helen Carroll, Stephen Parrish, Melgill Carroll, Miss Dean Holmes and Clarence McGill? Do you remember any of those ladies? Are any of them alive in 2017?
I do know that Miss Bettie Lou Wood and Rudolph Miller had exchanged wedding vows in a candlelight ceremony at Lee’s Grove F.W. Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon. The bride was the daughter of Bettie Mae Wood and Rudolph was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Miller. Mrs. Leray Ennis was the bride’s attendant and Theron Miller was best man. Leray Ennis and Theron Miller, Jr. were ushers. Mr. Miller was engaged in farming (Daily Record Nov. 6, 1961).
Who are these Millers? Rudolph Miller’s family lives on the old Fairground Road and behind his house is the Ella Reeves house that the story is shared that soldiers camped and ate on the porch of it during the Civil War. It has been told that even Sherman himself was there. Over in front of the Miller house was the site of the Tom Brown’s blacksmith shop where Tom operated it. Rudolph was a descendent of George Miller, the famous balladeer of the Civil War era who was unsuccessfully hanged several times. That’s another good story on its own. Chances are few of you knew that info but I bet some of you recall how tall and athletic Rudolph was and that Luke Barefoot’ s wife Pauline was one of the Brown children.
How exciting it is to meet individuals who are so passionate about finding their roots. William McLeod, a retired principal in Robeson County, visited us Thursday from Fayetteville to seek information about his Harnett County ancestors---Becky Adams, Peggy Robinson and Mr. McLeod spent most of the day with excellent results. Doris Cooke Thompson visited to seek pictures for her sister-in-law Lucille Blackwelder Cooke. Some will remember Rayvon and Lucille from their days at Coats School in the 1950’s. Charles Tart is always entertaining as he plays the museum’s piano to the delight of those within hearing range as he did last Thursday. Lynda Butler, Kathy Weeks and I enjoyed working to compile our information for our military book, “The Defenders of the Red, White and Blue.”
A big thank you goes to Ann Jones who has been such an asset in Coats for many years. Ann is so faithful to so many causes in Coats and the museum volunteers are so appreciative when she remembers her friends. Her latest honorarium was for Florine Penny who celebrated her 97th birthday and her memorial was for Lib Guy to the Coats Museum Endowment. Thank you, Ann.