May 20, 2016 Coats Museum News
How many of you recognize the name Mrs. Eva (W.E.) Nichols? Whenever her name comes up in the museum, there are so many positive comments made. She loved not only the town of Coats but also worked tirelessly for Harnett County as well. In March of 1958, Mrs. Eva Nichols of Coats made a spirited plea for a new welfare building as a member of the Harnett County Board of Welfare (Daily Record Mar. 7, 1958). Where was the county welfare building in 1958?
This I do know. Pvt. and Mrs. Boyd Clayton announced the birth of a daughter and the April term of court had Marvin Earp, Harvey Stewart, Arthur Jernigan, Johnnie R. Stewart, Wilton Faircloth, Stanford Stewart, and Maylon Byrd as potential jurors in Lillington (Daily Record Mar. 4, 1958).
Elsewhere, the Coats PTA had Superintendent G.T. Proffit as speaker. A panel of students discussed ways to take care of school property. Those on the panel were Carol McGee, Jone Godwin, Kenneth Ennis, Larry Denning, Julia Ann Whittington, Vickie Lou Lee, and Patsy Byrd as moderator. A skit on the “Birth of the Blues” was given. Ann Beasley, Carolyn Phillips, Becky Honeycutt and Norma Lee Johnson performed a dance. Harold Dixon was a drum; Phillip Nordan, a trumpet; Ronnie Langdon, a jailbird; and Vickie Lou Lee and Ruth Lewis, trees. Marjorie Byrd was a whippoorwill. The person who had to explain everything going on was Barbara Stewart (Daily Record Mar. 7, 1958).
Other school news shared with the paper was that “Finders Creepers”, a comedy, was chosen as the junior class play with a cast of 15 students. Cecil Fuquay was the faculty director. Student stars were Sybil Beasley, Linda Parrish, Larry Denning, Harold Dixon, Phillip Nordan, Vickie Lou Lee, Marjorie Byrd, Lewis Smith, Frances Matthews, Jimmy Johnson, David Weaver, Ronnie Langdon, Janice Pope, Billy Pope and Jerry Poole.
Out in the Bailey’s Crossroads area, Mrs. Naomi Hudson entertained at her home the Ebenezer Presbyterian Women of the Church. Mrs. Wade Coats, Mrs. Kirkland Ennis, Mrs. Melvin Avery, Mrs. Nelson Ennis, Mrs. Charlie Nordan, Mrs. Charles Denning, and Mrs. Frank Elliott were among those present. Nearby, the Oakdale HD Club had Mrs. Rob Adams as hostess. She introduced the program topic “Use and Care of Small Electrical Equipment”. Mrs. Edgar Norris, Jr. gave a demonstration as she spoke on that topic. Mrs. Rena Ennis, the oldest member, was given an honorary membership to Oakdale.
While the women folk of the Oakdale gathered for the club meeting, possibly the men were talking baseball at the Weeks and Creech County Store at the Bailey’s Crossroads. Surely they all had opinions as to whether Tommy Byrne had made the right decision to quit professional baseball at age 38.
Some of the men might have shared that their wives had been attending the night classes in the home economics room at the Coats School and had learned all kinds of ideas to keep them busy. The landscaping class by John Hinton Parker had finally happened. Mrs. Frank Elliott had won the rose bush door prize. The average attendance for the adult educational program was forty-nine members. Mrs. Mack R. Hudson, Mrs. Kirkland Ennis, Mrs. Joe Johnson, Leta Gold Lee, Mary Stewart, Mildred Creech, and Mrs. Wade Coats were awarded perfect attendance for attending all sessions (Daily Record Mar. 10, 1958).
Do you remember reading last week about the spelling bee competition between the Coats sixth graders and Beth Russell of the Dunn Wayne Avenue School? The Coats students were up against the Wayne Avenue School again. C.L. O’Neal and Brenda Stephenson went up against Beth Russell. The winning school took on Boone Trail School. Who was this winning school?
I do know that the District 10 of the HD Clubs had visited the Erwin Mills. Four hundred women from various counties had held sessions at the Coats Baptist Church with Mrs. Delmer Ennis presiding. Mrs. Millard S. Whittington had headed up the luncheon arrangement (Daily Record Mar. 11, 1958).
Ernestine Creech of the Oakdale area had plans announced for her wedding to Jerry Denning, son of Mrs. Hattie Denning and the late Lonnie Denning. Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Creech were parents of Ernestine who was a senior at Coats High School (Daily Record Mar. 12, 1958).
So who did you think would win the Harnett County Spelling Bee? The Coats spellers took all their competitors down to win the First Harnett County Spelling Bee. To win the television, the students had to out spell the students from eight schools. Who were these first champions? History records that they were C.L. O’Neal, Larry Tadlock, Sandra Wolf, Brenda Stephenson, Mike Cook and Becky Ennis. Do you wonder what ever happened to Beth Russell, the Wayne Avenue spelling whiz? I just wonder what happened to the television the Coats spellers had won. Could they watch television during school time?
Spring was on the calendar and Mrs. Clifton Ammons and Mrs. Donald Holloway were busy entertaining at a bridal party for Miss Susan Turlington, bride-elect of Mr. J.M. Mewborn (Daily Record Mar. 24, 1958).
The Oakdale HD Club continued to be in the news. This time it was when the ladies made drapes for a neighbor who had lost their home to a fire. Mrs. W.T. Messer was hostess. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cooper from a nearby area had announced the birth of a son, Thomas Edward. The new mom was the former Clara M. Barefoot.
Other good news continued to be shared to the folks of Harnett County when it was announced that the Salk vaccine was abundant for the county residents. Twenty-one thousand shots were given and 5,000 people had completed the series of three doses. Without shots, the U.S. Surgeon General warned of a polio outbreak (Daily Record Mar. 25, 1958).
Back in town, Haywood Roberts was seeking re-election to the Harnett County Board of Education. The Coats Fire Chief, businessman and farm owner had served the unexpired term of the late W.E. Nichols. Red Thomas of Erwin opposed Roberts for the seat. Woodrow Hill of Dunn announced that he would run against Carson Gregory for the N.C. House seat. Hill promised to represent all the people and not a small group. Hill was an ardent Democrat and was active on many boards in the community. Mr. Hill resided in Dunn and Gregory was from rural Coats (Daily Record Mar. 27, 1958). Wonder what had been going on in the political arena that had not made the newspaper.
The Harnett County Courthouse-the “Courtroom” got some sprucing up. The judge got a new water pitcher and new silk flags had been bought by the Harnett County Bar Council (Daily Record April 7, 1958).
Six-term Carson Gregory made it official that he would seek re-election to the N.C. House. In the school, the Coats PTA planned to buy a trophy for their sixth grade spelling champs of Harnett County, but outside of the school, it was party time for several local youth to celebrate birthdays. Mrs. Dave House honored her son Bill with a big party. Mrs. Carlos Stewart and Mrs. Leon Guy assisted. Mrs. Louise Jackson had lots of her daughter’s friends over for Reggie’s party. Check the list to see if you or someone you know attended the 8th birthday of Reggie. Cathy Peede, Dianne Williams, Bill House, Don House, Lou Stewart, Ann Stewart, Beth Stephenson, Phyllis Williams, Vicky Stephenson, Phyllis Sox, Dan Stewart, Betty Ellen Dixon, Ken Stewart, Mary Ellen Johnson, Jeanette Stewart, Ronnie Stewart, Kemp Stewart, Truela Gail Pleasant, Sondra Ennis, Hope Stewart, Dale Ennis, Gale Ennis, Connie Stewart, Junior Ennis, Debbie Lee, Diane Partin, Becky Wilmoth, and Miss Peggy Senter (Daily Record April 7, 1958). That’s a bunch of little kids but who was Junior Ennis?
Eddie Vaughan and Hilda Avery were married in late1957 and were parents of three beautiful daughters. Eddie worked for the Fayetteville Observer and Hilda in the office of Superintendent G.T. Proffit and later for Attorney Willis Brown in Fayetteville. After their separation, Eddie worked in publishing in California. Upon his return to Coats and after the death of his brother Jimmie Vaughn, Eddie has faithfully volunteered at the museum. Hilda died last week and H.L. and I have given a memorial donation to the museum to honor the good memories Eddie and Hilda enjoyed. Thank you goes to Lenee Sorrell Smith for her donations to honor her mom on Mother’s Day and to honor the memory of her cousin, Joey T. Johnson.
How many of you recognize the name Mrs. Eva (W.E.) Nichols? Whenever her name comes up in the museum, there are so many positive comments made. She loved not only the town of Coats but also worked tirelessly for Harnett County as well. In March of 1958, Mrs. Eva Nichols of Coats made a spirited plea for a new welfare building as a member of the Harnett County Board of Welfare (Daily Record Mar. 7, 1958). Where was the county welfare building in 1958?
This I do know. Pvt. and Mrs. Boyd Clayton announced the birth of a daughter and the April term of court had Marvin Earp, Harvey Stewart, Arthur Jernigan, Johnnie R. Stewart, Wilton Faircloth, Stanford Stewart, and Maylon Byrd as potential jurors in Lillington (Daily Record Mar. 4, 1958).
Elsewhere, the Coats PTA had Superintendent G.T. Proffit as speaker. A panel of students discussed ways to take care of school property. Those on the panel were Carol McGee, Jone Godwin, Kenneth Ennis, Larry Denning, Julia Ann Whittington, Vickie Lou Lee, and Patsy Byrd as moderator. A skit on the “Birth of the Blues” was given. Ann Beasley, Carolyn Phillips, Becky Honeycutt and Norma Lee Johnson performed a dance. Harold Dixon was a drum; Phillip Nordan, a trumpet; Ronnie Langdon, a jailbird; and Vickie Lou Lee and Ruth Lewis, trees. Marjorie Byrd was a whippoorwill. The person who had to explain everything going on was Barbara Stewart (Daily Record Mar. 7, 1958).
Other school news shared with the paper was that “Finders Creepers”, a comedy, was chosen as the junior class play with a cast of 15 students. Cecil Fuquay was the faculty director. Student stars were Sybil Beasley, Linda Parrish, Larry Denning, Harold Dixon, Phillip Nordan, Vickie Lou Lee, Marjorie Byrd, Lewis Smith, Frances Matthews, Jimmy Johnson, David Weaver, Ronnie Langdon, Janice Pope, Billy Pope and Jerry Poole.
Out in the Bailey’s Crossroads area, Mrs. Naomi Hudson entertained at her home the Ebenezer Presbyterian Women of the Church. Mrs. Wade Coats, Mrs. Kirkland Ennis, Mrs. Melvin Avery, Mrs. Nelson Ennis, Mrs. Charlie Nordan, Mrs. Charles Denning, and Mrs. Frank Elliott were among those present. Nearby, the Oakdale HD Club had Mrs. Rob Adams as hostess. She introduced the program topic “Use and Care of Small Electrical Equipment”. Mrs. Edgar Norris, Jr. gave a demonstration as she spoke on that topic. Mrs. Rena Ennis, the oldest member, was given an honorary membership to Oakdale.
While the women folk of the Oakdale gathered for the club meeting, possibly the men were talking baseball at the Weeks and Creech County Store at the Bailey’s Crossroads. Surely they all had opinions as to whether Tommy Byrne had made the right decision to quit professional baseball at age 38.
Some of the men might have shared that their wives had been attending the night classes in the home economics room at the Coats School and had learned all kinds of ideas to keep them busy. The landscaping class by John Hinton Parker had finally happened. Mrs. Frank Elliott had won the rose bush door prize. The average attendance for the adult educational program was forty-nine members. Mrs. Mack R. Hudson, Mrs. Kirkland Ennis, Mrs. Joe Johnson, Leta Gold Lee, Mary Stewart, Mildred Creech, and Mrs. Wade Coats were awarded perfect attendance for attending all sessions (Daily Record Mar. 10, 1958).
Do you remember reading last week about the spelling bee competition between the Coats sixth graders and Beth Russell of the Dunn Wayne Avenue School? The Coats students were up against the Wayne Avenue School again. C.L. O’Neal and Brenda Stephenson went up against Beth Russell. The winning school took on Boone Trail School. Who was this winning school?
I do know that the District 10 of the HD Clubs had visited the Erwin Mills. Four hundred women from various counties had held sessions at the Coats Baptist Church with Mrs. Delmer Ennis presiding. Mrs. Millard S. Whittington had headed up the luncheon arrangement (Daily Record Mar. 11, 1958).
Ernestine Creech of the Oakdale area had plans announced for her wedding to Jerry Denning, son of Mrs. Hattie Denning and the late Lonnie Denning. Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Creech were parents of Ernestine who was a senior at Coats High School (Daily Record Mar. 12, 1958).
So who did you think would win the Harnett County Spelling Bee? The Coats spellers took all their competitors down to win the First Harnett County Spelling Bee. To win the television, the students had to out spell the students from eight schools. Who were these first champions? History records that they were C.L. O’Neal, Larry Tadlock, Sandra Wolf, Brenda Stephenson, Mike Cook and Becky Ennis. Do you wonder what ever happened to Beth Russell, the Wayne Avenue spelling whiz? I just wonder what happened to the television the Coats spellers had won. Could they watch television during school time?
Spring was on the calendar and Mrs. Clifton Ammons and Mrs. Donald Holloway were busy entertaining at a bridal party for Miss Susan Turlington, bride-elect of Mr. J.M. Mewborn (Daily Record Mar. 24, 1958).
The Oakdale HD Club continued to be in the news. This time it was when the ladies made drapes for a neighbor who had lost their home to a fire. Mrs. W.T. Messer was hostess. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cooper from a nearby area had announced the birth of a son, Thomas Edward. The new mom was the former Clara M. Barefoot.
Other good news continued to be shared to the folks of Harnett County when it was announced that the Salk vaccine was abundant for the county residents. Twenty-one thousand shots were given and 5,000 people had completed the series of three doses. Without shots, the U.S. Surgeon General warned of a polio outbreak (Daily Record Mar. 25, 1958).
Back in town, Haywood Roberts was seeking re-election to the Harnett County Board of Education. The Coats Fire Chief, businessman and farm owner had served the unexpired term of the late W.E. Nichols. Red Thomas of Erwin opposed Roberts for the seat. Woodrow Hill of Dunn announced that he would run against Carson Gregory for the N.C. House seat. Hill promised to represent all the people and not a small group. Hill was an ardent Democrat and was active on many boards in the community. Mr. Hill resided in Dunn and Gregory was from rural Coats (Daily Record Mar. 27, 1958). Wonder what had been going on in the political arena that had not made the newspaper.
The Harnett County Courthouse-the “Courtroom” got some sprucing up. The judge got a new water pitcher and new silk flags had been bought by the Harnett County Bar Council (Daily Record April 7, 1958).
Six-term Carson Gregory made it official that he would seek re-election to the N.C. House. In the school, the Coats PTA planned to buy a trophy for their sixth grade spelling champs of Harnett County, but outside of the school, it was party time for several local youth to celebrate birthdays. Mrs. Dave House honored her son Bill with a big party. Mrs. Carlos Stewart and Mrs. Leon Guy assisted. Mrs. Louise Jackson had lots of her daughter’s friends over for Reggie’s party. Check the list to see if you or someone you know attended the 8th birthday of Reggie. Cathy Peede, Dianne Williams, Bill House, Don House, Lou Stewart, Ann Stewart, Beth Stephenson, Phyllis Williams, Vicky Stephenson, Phyllis Sox, Dan Stewart, Betty Ellen Dixon, Ken Stewart, Mary Ellen Johnson, Jeanette Stewart, Ronnie Stewart, Kemp Stewart, Truela Gail Pleasant, Sondra Ennis, Hope Stewart, Dale Ennis, Gale Ennis, Connie Stewart, Junior Ennis, Debbie Lee, Diane Partin, Becky Wilmoth, and Miss Peggy Senter (Daily Record April 7, 1958). That’s a bunch of little kids but who was Junior Ennis?
Eddie Vaughan and Hilda Avery were married in late1957 and were parents of three beautiful daughters. Eddie worked for the Fayetteville Observer and Hilda in the office of Superintendent G.T. Proffit and later for Attorney Willis Brown in Fayetteville. After their separation, Eddie worked in publishing in California. Upon his return to Coats and after the death of his brother Jimmie Vaughn, Eddie has faithfully volunteered at the museum. Hilda died last week and H.L. and I have given a memorial donation to the museum to honor the good memories Eddie and Hilda enjoyed. Thank you goes to Lenee Sorrell Smith for her donations to honor her mom on Mother’s Day and to honor the memory of her cousin, Joey T. Johnson.