March 22, 2013 Coats Museum News
It was in January of 1939 that Jan Garber, internationally known orchestra leader, had not forgotten Harnett County, which gave him many a boost when he was starting out on his career. Mrs. J.R. Butler, the widow of Dr. H.C. Roberts and a prominent Coats woman, had recently visited the celebrated Coconut Grove in Los Angeles where Garber’s orchestra was playing an engagement. When he heard that someone from his home state was in the audience, he came to Mrs. Butler’s table. He was even more surprised to find out that she was from Coats where he had played along with playing in Lillington and Dunn. He returned to the stage and dedicated the next number to Mrs. Butler and her party (Harnett County News January 19, 1939).
Back in Coats, Inspector Ballentine was making his rounds in the town. He inspected the safety of the markets of L.M. Johnson and M.E. Ennis (Harnett County News February 2, 1939).
Miss Ruby Turington of Coats was employed as clerical assistant in the Clerk of Court Howard Godwin’s office. Was she Lon and Laura Frances Turlington’s daughter? Our own R.D. Ennis of the Oakdale area served on the PCA board that announced that the association had a large legal reserve. In the same paper it was written that two Harnett men were hurt in a three-car accident. Roy Langdon and Chester Hayes were rushed to Rex Hospital after being injured in that wreck on the Dunn Benson Road. Was that road the US 301? What did rushed mean in 1939? I do know that pneumonia was the killer that invaded the homes of many in our area. Andrew Jackson Matthews, 86, died of the illness at his home in Coats. Miss Nannie Matthews was the only surviving daughter (Harnett County News February 9, 1939).
Once again farmers were told what they already knew. Tobacco prices were lower in 1938 compared to 1937. The tobacco averaged 22.5 cents per pound (Harnett County News February 16, 1939).
The Coats PTA announced that funds made on the “Snow White and Seven Dwarfs” would go into the general fund. A proposal to build a gymnasium for Coats was discussed by M.O. Phillips and J.T. Jerome. Did they build one? Others in the community were likely talking about the death of W.L. Mitchell, 78, who had died near Angier. Three of his sons were Bunnie, Ernest, and James Mitchell (Harnett County News February 16, 1939).
Sheba Jean Cutts, two-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hermie Cutts, died in Pittman Hospital from burns she had received while playing with fire. She had one sister Lillian and a brother Billie Cutts. Also, Mrs. Bettie Elizabeth Strickland, 69, widely known resident of Coats, Route One, had died at the home of her son, E.W. Strickland. She was the widow of John Wiley Strickland, a prominent farmer. She was mother to E.W., B.S. and Fannie Strickland. Some good news that week was from the schools that Coats girls basketball team was the logical favorite of the ten high schools to play at Campbell College. Coats girls romped Lillington 49-29 in the finals. Does anyone know someone who played on that team (Harnett County News February 23, 1939)?
Dixie Grill and Willis’ Café were inspected for food safety. What is the difference in a café and a grill (Harnett County News march 2, 1939)?
The news was filled with death notices. J.W. Bain, 91, a former resident of Coats, had died in Durham on Saturday. Services were conducted at the Primitive Baptist Church in Coats. He was survived by two daughters -Mrs. R.H. Rambeau and Mrs. R.O. Stewart. Did you recall that Mr. R.O. Stewart was a former postmaster of Coats when it was located beside the current home of Mrs. Frances Matthews? That post office burned and it did contain some important church records according to some folks.
Another widely known farmer, Jesse J. Adams, of Johnston County had died at his home near Benson. He had been ill for the past few years. Pneumonia and heart ailment had made him critically ill. Burial was in the Coats Cemetery following services in the Coats Primitive Baptist Church by Elder O.S. Young and Elder J.B. Lee. He was son of James Henry and Esther Ann Adams. Although he spent most of his life in Johnston, he resided in Coats for a number of years where he was engaged in the dairy business. He was survived by four sons-J.R., G.R., G.A., and J.B. and by four daughters-Mrs. Ora Pollard, Mrs. Sallie Honeycutt, and Mrs. Mamie Colville. (Who was the fourth?) A.B., W.H., and Joe J. Adams were his brothers. Molinda Allen Adams had died four years prior to her husband (Harnett County News March 16, 1939).
Herbert L. Johnson was chosen to serve the remainder of the term of the late Russell D. Boseman’s term as county surveyor. He was endorsed by Democratic Precinct Chairman Zeb Stewart and Commissioner Ford D. Jackson of Neill’s Creek (March 16, 1939). Are any of those names familiar to you?
Do you wonder if any of my questions are answered by readers? Yes, they are. Last week, I received a call from Leo McDonald from Lillington to answer my question about who knew anything about the car owned by Roger Coats who worked at the Pat F. Pope Lumber Mill. Leo, who has restored several vintage cars, said that the car was purchased by Leon Kelly of Lillington from Mr. Coats’ daughter, Louise. Mr. Kelly was owner of Roller Mills that made Golden Eagle Flour. Leo’s research indicated that the car was originally shipped to Parrish Ford Dealership in Benson. Leo is now the proud owner and restorer of that 1911 Ford roadster. He has promised to bring it to Coats on April 13, when the Coats Museum will have its “Grand Reopening Brunch” at 10am till 12. The public is invited to the big day on Coats Heritage Square.
Thank you goes to Carsie Denning, Sr. for his memorial donation to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor the memory of Mrs. Frances Kelly Langdon. Thanks also goes to Lynda and Robie Butler and Jeanette Johnson for their memorial contribution to the museum to honor Mrs. Langdon. Lynda and Jeanette were honored with a donation to the museum by their brother Dorsey Daniel and his wife Pauline.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COLUMN APPEARED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON MARCH 22, 2013.
It was in January of 1939 that Jan Garber, internationally known orchestra leader, had not forgotten Harnett County, which gave him many a boost when he was starting out on his career. Mrs. J.R. Butler, the widow of Dr. H.C. Roberts and a prominent Coats woman, had recently visited the celebrated Coconut Grove in Los Angeles where Garber’s orchestra was playing an engagement. When he heard that someone from his home state was in the audience, he came to Mrs. Butler’s table. He was even more surprised to find out that she was from Coats where he had played along with playing in Lillington and Dunn. He returned to the stage and dedicated the next number to Mrs. Butler and her party (Harnett County News January 19, 1939).
Back in Coats, Inspector Ballentine was making his rounds in the town. He inspected the safety of the markets of L.M. Johnson and M.E. Ennis (Harnett County News February 2, 1939).
Miss Ruby Turington of Coats was employed as clerical assistant in the Clerk of Court Howard Godwin’s office. Was she Lon and Laura Frances Turlington’s daughter? Our own R.D. Ennis of the Oakdale area served on the PCA board that announced that the association had a large legal reserve. In the same paper it was written that two Harnett men were hurt in a three-car accident. Roy Langdon and Chester Hayes were rushed to Rex Hospital after being injured in that wreck on the Dunn Benson Road. Was that road the US 301? What did rushed mean in 1939? I do know that pneumonia was the killer that invaded the homes of many in our area. Andrew Jackson Matthews, 86, died of the illness at his home in Coats. Miss Nannie Matthews was the only surviving daughter (Harnett County News February 9, 1939).
Once again farmers were told what they already knew. Tobacco prices were lower in 1938 compared to 1937. The tobacco averaged 22.5 cents per pound (Harnett County News February 16, 1939).
The Coats PTA announced that funds made on the “Snow White and Seven Dwarfs” would go into the general fund. A proposal to build a gymnasium for Coats was discussed by M.O. Phillips and J.T. Jerome. Did they build one? Others in the community were likely talking about the death of W.L. Mitchell, 78, who had died near Angier. Three of his sons were Bunnie, Ernest, and James Mitchell (Harnett County News February 16, 1939).
Sheba Jean Cutts, two-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hermie Cutts, died in Pittman Hospital from burns she had received while playing with fire. She had one sister Lillian and a brother Billie Cutts. Also, Mrs. Bettie Elizabeth Strickland, 69, widely known resident of Coats, Route One, had died at the home of her son, E.W. Strickland. She was the widow of John Wiley Strickland, a prominent farmer. She was mother to E.W., B.S. and Fannie Strickland. Some good news that week was from the schools that Coats girls basketball team was the logical favorite of the ten high schools to play at Campbell College. Coats girls romped Lillington 49-29 in the finals. Does anyone know someone who played on that team (Harnett County News February 23, 1939)?
Dixie Grill and Willis’ Café were inspected for food safety. What is the difference in a café and a grill (Harnett County News march 2, 1939)?
The news was filled with death notices. J.W. Bain, 91, a former resident of Coats, had died in Durham on Saturday. Services were conducted at the Primitive Baptist Church in Coats. He was survived by two daughters -Mrs. R.H. Rambeau and Mrs. R.O. Stewart. Did you recall that Mr. R.O. Stewart was a former postmaster of Coats when it was located beside the current home of Mrs. Frances Matthews? That post office burned and it did contain some important church records according to some folks.
Another widely known farmer, Jesse J. Adams, of Johnston County had died at his home near Benson. He had been ill for the past few years. Pneumonia and heart ailment had made him critically ill. Burial was in the Coats Cemetery following services in the Coats Primitive Baptist Church by Elder O.S. Young and Elder J.B. Lee. He was son of James Henry and Esther Ann Adams. Although he spent most of his life in Johnston, he resided in Coats for a number of years where he was engaged in the dairy business. He was survived by four sons-J.R., G.R., G.A., and J.B. and by four daughters-Mrs. Ora Pollard, Mrs. Sallie Honeycutt, and Mrs. Mamie Colville. (Who was the fourth?) A.B., W.H., and Joe J. Adams were his brothers. Molinda Allen Adams had died four years prior to her husband (Harnett County News March 16, 1939).
Herbert L. Johnson was chosen to serve the remainder of the term of the late Russell D. Boseman’s term as county surveyor. He was endorsed by Democratic Precinct Chairman Zeb Stewart and Commissioner Ford D. Jackson of Neill’s Creek (March 16, 1939). Are any of those names familiar to you?
Do you wonder if any of my questions are answered by readers? Yes, they are. Last week, I received a call from Leo McDonald from Lillington to answer my question about who knew anything about the car owned by Roger Coats who worked at the Pat F. Pope Lumber Mill. Leo, who has restored several vintage cars, said that the car was purchased by Leon Kelly of Lillington from Mr. Coats’ daughter, Louise. Mr. Kelly was owner of Roller Mills that made Golden Eagle Flour. Leo’s research indicated that the car was originally shipped to Parrish Ford Dealership in Benson. Leo is now the proud owner and restorer of that 1911 Ford roadster. He has promised to bring it to Coats on April 13, when the Coats Museum will have its “Grand Reopening Brunch” at 10am till 12. The public is invited to the big day on Coats Heritage Square.
Thank you goes to Carsie Denning, Sr. for his memorial donation to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor the memory of Mrs. Frances Kelly Langdon. Thanks also goes to Lynda and Robie Butler and Jeanette Johnson for their memorial contribution to the museum to honor Mrs. Langdon. Lynda and Jeanette were honored with a donation to the museum by their brother Dorsey Daniel and his wife Pauline.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COLUMN APPEARED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON MARCH 22, 2013.
