March 19, 2021 Coats Museum News
The year 1987 had its numbers. New Mexico recorded the most highway deaths per 100,000 residents with 40.6, while Connecticut was the safest at 12.1. The annual cost of a Yale education was $17,020. What is that number today? The cost is $75, 925. If you think that number is large, read this number that Vincent van Gogh’s “Irises” commanded --$53.9 million at an auction (Dickson, Paul. From Elvis to E-Mail. Massachusetts: Federal Street Press, 1999, pp.290-295).
A Coats woman became the mother of the first baby born in Harnett County in 1987. Susan Rehak gave birth to her son, J.C. Anton Rehak at 4:38 pm, January 1, 1987. While Mrs. Rehak was in labor for almost 24 hours, others were eating black eyed peas and chittlins’ at Roy Tew’s Tobacco warehouse. Max Matthews and Tommy Ennis were among those who enjoyed some mighty fine eating that was a typical New Year’s tradition.
Other news reported in Wanda‘s “Coats Social Notes” was that sympathy was extended to the family and friends of Mrs. Estelle Stewart at her passing. Mrs. William Stewart also mourned the loss of her mother. J.C. Lucas was extended sympathy at the loss of his wife, Carolyn. The deaths of these outstanding ladies surely left a void in the community.
Some good news was also reported by Wanda Pollard. Congratulations went to Dr. Linda Moore Robinson who was one of the 24 recipients of the Centennial Alumni Award at Campbell University. Dr. Robinson’s father was also a celebrity in that he appeared on television. He had attended the Safety Seat Belt meeting and was a representative for the Association of family Practitioners. Tommy Williford, Chief of Police for Coats, went on record as thanking the businesses and individuals who helped with the Christmas Need Program. He reported that it was wonderful time for helping those less fortunate in the community. Karen Whittington Barbour and husband, Woody Barbour, spent time with her parents, Billy and Margie Whittington, over the Christmas holidays (Daily Record Jan. 2, 1987).
Members of the Coats Lions Club reported about the Christmas party they had celebrated at Pope’s Barn. Mr. Dudley Langdon welcomed the 22 couples attending and each lady attending received a door prize of either a live poinsettia or a craft item made by Imogene Stephenson. The club members celebrated the projects they had accomplished through the years such as making and distributing fruit baskets for shut-ins; assisting with Farmer’s Day; offering a community calendar, and providing equipment for the Little League ball field (Daily Record Jan. 5, 1987).
Did you note that it mentioned that twenty-two couples attended the party? Does that mean that there were 22 members in the club? Surely there were a few who were unable to attend. Either way, it is important for the public to be aware that this group has over and over given their time and money to improve the schools, community, and other organizations in the Coats area and beyond (Daily Record Jan. 5, 1987). (Were any females in the club at that time?)
Who remembers the Garland Coats Barber Shop on Main Street? Some were classmates of Mike and Penny, Garland and Lunette’s children. Garland and Lunette Coats celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Mike and Janice Coats and Penny Coats hosted the event.
Elsewhere, Dudley and Teresa Langdon were celebrating, too. They celebrated the birth of a second daughter, Amanda Nell Langdon. Amanda’s older sister was two-year –old Alia Kelley Langdon. Her grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Daywood E. Langdon of Coats. (Just a note of information about the grown-up Amanda .She was awarded a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree. Her Grandfather Daywood was an outstanding farmer and community leader. He was a row crop farmer but his pastures always had beautiful beef cattle grazing the green grasses. Wonder if Dr. Amanda acquired her love of big animals from her granddad.)
More social notes by Wanda shared another birth announcement. Congratulations went to Tim and Kathy Peede at the birth of their daughter, Katherine Elizabeth Peede. Kathy was the daughter of M.T. and Doris Strickland and Mike was the son of Fleming and Catherine Peede. Do you think there was a big pink bow at the Coats IGA?
Do you remember when growing up, some family names seemed to get more respect than others? Walter Franklin was a name my dad seemed to hold in high esteem. One of his daughters married into the Campbell family of Buies Creek. In fact, she taught my brother Stacey and my dad would say, she came from a “good” family. Do we laugh at such statements today?
I do know that Bobby and Ramona Franklin were waiting for the return of their daughter and new baby as soon as their son-in-law came back from Germany. Can we conclude that he was in the military? Today, it could be a position with a corporation or possibly obtaining a degree from a university there.
What do you think of when you hear the name-Jerry McLamb? Jerry was the owner of DuraBilt Engine, Co. and Tony Mangum, owner o f Mangum’s Paint and Body Shop, hosted a New Year’s party for their employers, their families, friends and customers of their businesses.
Joe Lee, Jr., was not able to have Christmas at home. He was in Wake Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. He was treated for a blockage. Benny Stephenson and wife-Ruby- owners of the Coats Video, reported a great Christmas because four of their children and families were home for the holidays.(Daily Record Jan. 7, 1987). (Who can name the four children—were there more? I do know one is Randy, husband of one of our outstanding board members, Rhonda Denning Stephenson.
Are there some events you can remember as if they just happened yesterday? The following is one that will be etched in my memory till death. I was tasked with watchng students who were classified as second load bus riders. Until their buses returned to school, they had to stay in certain rooms with a teacher to tend to their needs. On this particular day-we waited and waited but no returning school bus. Whispers from others in the school were that a terrible accident was being attended to in the area of Bass’s Store. Naturally with buses on the road, horrible scenarios invaded my mind while trying not to display any anxiety to the students.
Here is what the January 14, 1987 edition of the Daily Record reported of that incident. Residents were evacuated from a dangerous site on NC 27 about five miles east of Coats. A gasoline tanker was carrying 8,800 gallons of gasoline when a car pulled out in front of the tanker. When the bumpers hit, the tanker overturned and spilled 3,000 gallons of the gasoline. The Coats, Erwin and Dunn Fire Departments sprayed foam on the spill to neutralize the vapor and retard the chance of an explosion. Henry Johnson, coordinator of the Emergency Management, praised Keith McLeod, Fire Chief of Coats, and the other fire departments for their quick and efficient response.
The folks at the Coats Museum invite you to visit coatsmuseum.com and read previous columns, military and census records, Coats Cemetery records, and many more records of interest.
The year 1987 had its numbers. New Mexico recorded the most highway deaths per 100,000 residents with 40.6, while Connecticut was the safest at 12.1. The annual cost of a Yale education was $17,020. What is that number today? The cost is $75, 925. If you think that number is large, read this number that Vincent van Gogh’s “Irises” commanded --$53.9 million at an auction (Dickson, Paul. From Elvis to E-Mail. Massachusetts: Federal Street Press, 1999, pp.290-295).
A Coats woman became the mother of the first baby born in Harnett County in 1987. Susan Rehak gave birth to her son, J.C. Anton Rehak at 4:38 pm, January 1, 1987. While Mrs. Rehak was in labor for almost 24 hours, others were eating black eyed peas and chittlins’ at Roy Tew’s Tobacco warehouse. Max Matthews and Tommy Ennis were among those who enjoyed some mighty fine eating that was a typical New Year’s tradition.
Other news reported in Wanda‘s “Coats Social Notes” was that sympathy was extended to the family and friends of Mrs. Estelle Stewart at her passing. Mrs. William Stewart also mourned the loss of her mother. J.C. Lucas was extended sympathy at the loss of his wife, Carolyn. The deaths of these outstanding ladies surely left a void in the community.
Some good news was also reported by Wanda Pollard. Congratulations went to Dr. Linda Moore Robinson who was one of the 24 recipients of the Centennial Alumni Award at Campbell University. Dr. Robinson’s father was also a celebrity in that he appeared on television. He had attended the Safety Seat Belt meeting and was a representative for the Association of family Practitioners. Tommy Williford, Chief of Police for Coats, went on record as thanking the businesses and individuals who helped with the Christmas Need Program. He reported that it was wonderful time for helping those less fortunate in the community. Karen Whittington Barbour and husband, Woody Barbour, spent time with her parents, Billy and Margie Whittington, over the Christmas holidays (Daily Record Jan. 2, 1987).
Members of the Coats Lions Club reported about the Christmas party they had celebrated at Pope’s Barn. Mr. Dudley Langdon welcomed the 22 couples attending and each lady attending received a door prize of either a live poinsettia or a craft item made by Imogene Stephenson. The club members celebrated the projects they had accomplished through the years such as making and distributing fruit baskets for shut-ins; assisting with Farmer’s Day; offering a community calendar, and providing equipment for the Little League ball field (Daily Record Jan. 5, 1987).
Did you note that it mentioned that twenty-two couples attended the party? Does that mean that there were 22 members in the club? Surely there were a few who were unable to attend. Either way, it is important for the public to be aware that this group has over and over given their time and money to improve the schools, community, and other organizations in the Coats area and beyond (Daily Record Jan. 5, 1987). (Were any females in the club at that time?)
Who remembers the Garland Coats Barber Shop on Main Street? Some were classmates of Mike and Penny, Garland and Lunette’s children. Garland and Lunette Coats celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Mike and Janice Coats and Penny Coats hosted the event.
Elsewhere, Dudley and Teresa Langdon were celebrating, too. They celebrated the birth of a second daughter, Amanda Nell Langdon. Amanda’s older sister was two-year –old Alia Kelley Langdon. Her grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Daywood E. Langdon of Coats. (Just a note of information about the grown-up Amanda .She was awarded a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree. Her Grandfather Daywood was an outstanding farmer and community leader. He was a row crop farmer but his pastures always had beautiful beef cattle grazing the green grasses. Wonder if Dr. Amanda acquired her love of big animals from her granddad.)
More social notes by Wanda shared another birth announcement. Congratulations went to Tim and Kathy Peede at the birth of their daughter, Katherine Elizabeth Peede. Kathy was the daughter of M.T. and Doris Strickland and Mike was the son of Fleming and Catherine Peede. Do you think there was a big pink bow at the Coats IGA?
Do you remember when growing up, some family names seemed to get more respect than others? Walter Franklin was a name my dad seemed to hold in high esteem. One of his daughters married into the Campbell family of Buies Creek. In fact, she taught my brother Stacey and my dad would say, she came from a “good” family. Do we laugh at such statements today?
I do know that Bobby and Ramona Franklin were waiting for the return of their daughter and new baby as soon as their son-in-law came back from Germany. Can we conclude that he was in the military? Today, it could be a position with a corporation or possibly obtaining a degree from a university there.
What do you think of when you hear the name-Jerry McLamb? Jerry was the owner of DuraBilt Engine, Co. and Tony Mangum, owner o f Mangum’s Paint and Body Shop, hosted a New Year’s party for their employers, their families, friends and customers of their businesses.
Joe Lee, Jr., was not able to have Christmas at home. He was in Wake Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. He was treated for a blockage. Benny Stephenson and wife-Ruby- owners of the Coats Video, reported a great Christmas because four of their children and families were home for the holidays.(Daily Record Jan. 7, 1987). (Who can name the four children—were there more? I do know one is Randy, husband of one of our outstanding board members, Rhonda Denning Stephenson.
Are there some events you can remember as if they just happened yesterday? The following is one that will be etched in my memory till death. I was tasked with watchng students who were classified as second load bus riders. Until their buses returned to school, they had to stay in certain rooms with a teacher to tend to their needs. On this particular day-we waited and waited but no returning school bus. Whispers from others in the school were that a terrible accident was being attended to in the area of Bass’s Store. Naturally with buses on the road, horrible scenarios invaded my mind while trying not to display any anxiety to the students.
Here is what the January 14, 1987 edition of the Daily Record reported of that incident. Residents were evacuated from a dangerous site on NC 27 about five miles east of Coats. A gasoline tanker was carrying 8,800 gallons of gasoline when a car pulled out in front of the tanker. When the bumpers hit, the tanker overturned and spilled 3,000 gallons of the gasoline. The Coats, Erwin and Dunn Fire Departments sprayed foam on the spill to neutralize the vapor and retard the chance of an explosion. Henry Johnson, coordinator of the Emergency Management, praised Keith McLeod, Fire Chief of Coats, and the other fire departments for their quick and efficient response.
The folks at the Coats Museum invite you to visit coatsmuseum.com and read previous columns, military and census records, Coats Cemetery records, and many more records of interest.