May 23, 2014 Coats Museum News
How many of these young people who attended the birthday party of Billy Jean Byrd are living in 2014? Billy Jean was the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Ralph Byrd and she celebrated her 11th birthday at their home with the following friends and siblings: Patty Sue McLamb, Lena Frances Pope, Rosa Turlington, Patricia Byrd, Faye Avery, Linda Byrd, Mildred Dorman, Judy Byrd, Ethel Dorman, Rebecca Weaver, Jackie Matthews, Elizabeth Dorman, Lois Jernigan, Shelby Jean Barbour, and Larry Byrd.
While the youngsters were celebrating at the birthday party, the Coats Jr. Woman’s Club met at the home of Mrs. Ray Langdon with Mrs. Leroy Stewart as co-hostess. The club had raised almost a $100.00 from card games for the community building project. Two new members were Mrs. Eugene Stewart and Mrs. Leon Honeycutt. Possibly they had heard that Mr. Ed Nichols of Coats had enlisted at the University of Florida where he played football (Dunn Dispatch Feb. 25, 1949).
Bad news had come to a Bailey’s Crossroads family when they were notified that their son, Mack L. Pollard, was killed while riding a bicycle. He was a Clinton automobile mechanic and was buried in the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Cemetery (Dunn Dispatch Feb. 28, 1949).
Mr. and Mrs. M.G. Wright of Dunn announced the birth of a daughter, Nancy Wynona Wright. Effie was the former Effie Gunter whose father was for years the train depot agent in Coats (Dunn Dispatch March 2, 1949).
Mrs. J.B. Williams was named president of the Page Book Club. The club had met at the home of Mrs. W. E. Nichols where the place was decorated for a 3-course dinner. Pink carnations with fern were flanked with white tapers in a silver candelabrum. In addition to the election of Williams, Mrs. Exie Smith was vice president and Mrs. Reggie Parrish as secretary and treasurer. Mrs. Stuart Turlington and Mrs. Nichols were delegates to the convention. The club donated $100.00 to the community building project.
Mrs. J.R. Butler and Mrs. Haywood Roberts were hostesses to the Coats Woman’s Club. The club finalized plans for a beauty contest while others in the town were on trips outside the town. Mr. and Mrs. Clem Godwin and Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Penny had spent the weekend in Winston Salem. Miss Annie Ruth Penny had spent the weekend with her cousin Grace Penny. Mr. Willie Wood was improving after suffering a stroke of paralysis. (Remember that he was one of the first barbers in Coats?) Mrs. J.F. Parrish had visited her sister in Miami, Florida.
The American Legion Post had sponsored a BBQ supper and flag campaign. All proceeds went to the community building project. Mr. and Mrs. Wade Stephenson of Wilson were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Alton Grimes. Mr. Mayton Upchurch was able to be back at work after a serious operation. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hough visited her brother in Columbia, S.C. Mrs. H.C. Stewart and her daughter, Evangeline, were accompanied by Fred Sexton to visit Archie Stewart who was very ill. The Coats YWA met and had a community mission project of giving a Sunshine Basket to an elderly lady, Mrs. Mattie Coats, and a Bible to a small girl in the neighborhood (Dunn Dispatch Mar. 4, 1949).
The basketball season is over and it was announced that Lois Smith had made the second team in the Harnett County All Tourney Team for 1949 (Dunn Dispatch Mar. 7, 1949).
A beauty contest was planned at Coats on March 9th and 10th. After a regular showing of “Ambush Trail” at the Coats Theater, popular singer Jeanine Ennis of Coats presented a program of musical selections. Town businesses sponsored contestants. The contestants were some of the prettiest girls around Coats. Evangeline Stewart, Jeanine Ennis, Alice Stewart, Sue Stewart, Margie Barefoot, Sue Turlington, Betsy Stewart, Betty Sue Willis, Joyce Grimes, Doris Johnson, Imogene Pollard, Wilma Barnes, Peggy Weaver, Addie Pope, Laura Pope, Sylvia Ingold, Mary Jo Johnson, Gertrude Byrd, Dorothy Pope, Joyce Turlington, Doris Messer, Elgie Gray Byrd, Joyce Parrish, Zenobia Surles, Gloria Roycroft, Eunice Stewart, Annie Ruth Stewart, Mrs. Rachel Langdon, Mrs. Clyde Ennis, Mrs. Charles Beasley, Audrey Lamm, Fannie Sue Langdon, Irene Grimes and Dorothy Grimes.
While the judges selected the ten most beautiful girls, Mr. Willie Strickland and his string band entertained. Mr. Autry showed his regular feature, “Meeting of Millie”. The high school band played several numbers while the judges selected the winners. There was no extra charge for the events. All proceeds went to the community building project (Dunn Dispatch Mar. 7, 1949).
A Veterans Memorial was being put up on the courthouse square in Lillington. A stone and bronze monument was to honor the 117 men of Harnett County who had lost their lives in the two World Wars. The names of the 19 in WWI and the 98 in WWII who lost their lives were inscribed on the memorial. The cost of the memorial was $3,000.00 and financed by the county. The Daniel Boone marker was moved across the square nearer the welfare building by permission of the HCBOC (Dunn Dispatch Mar. 7, 1949).
Questions-Can you name some of the Coats veterans whose names are on the memorial? Can you tell me where the memorial is located today? Have any names been added from WW I and WWII? Are there names of other veterans from other wars on the monument today? Lastly, where is this Daniel Boone marker?
This I do know. The March 9, 1949 edition of the Dunn Dispatch printed that Harnett County was to gain 200 miles of roads from the 200 million Road Bond issue if it passed. A petition was heard by the HCBOC for a road in Grove. It was a stretch on Highway 40 (current 27) between Coats and Black River.
The Coats High School Seniors had been practicing “Again, Out Again”, an exciting 3-act farce with a college rooming house setting. Read to recognize the stars of the play. Jeanine Ennis played Mrs. Quick; Lucille Jackson was Elmira, her maid. Neal Barnes was Mrs. Quick’s husband; Evangeline Stewart starred as Candy, the Quick’s daughter. Dorothy Pope was a college student named Honey. Honey’s husband was Shelton Ennis and J.A. Langdon played Professor Walter Meade, an archaeologist. Darwin Whittington was Henry Hall, a businessman. Aunt Dodie, a wealthy woman was portrayed by Mary Jo Johnson. Lynn Lane, a beautiful model, was acted by Imogene Stephenson. Lunette Sorrell’s role was Ruth, a college student, and Ruthleen Weaver acted the role of Dr. Hattie Hook, a chiropractor. To see this student production, the cost was 25 and 35 cents (Dunn Dispatch Mar. 9, 1949).
An amazing group of visitors stopped at the museum after having lunch in Dunn where the Coats High School Class of 1954 celebrated their 60th reunion. Amazing in the sense that most of them barely looked to be 60 and second in the sense that once again it verified that the small, former Coats High School provided a solid foundation for some very successful careers.
Thank you to Max Matthews, Jr. for adding a brick to the Walk of Ages where he will be recognized as the CACC 2013 Farmer of the Year. Gratitude also goes to Patsy and Stacy Avery for their donations to honor Connie and Mike Johnson and to honor the memory of Mary Langdon, Grantham Avery and Preston Johnson. Patsy and Stacy remind me of the folks that I am writing about now who worked so hard to get the community building. Another very dedicated couple of the museum is Carsie and Jenny Denning who gave a large sum last week to help retire the debt on the exhibit hall.
Veterans from the Korean to the current Afghanistan War are reminded either to share a list of items that could be used in the museum or wish to be interviewed. Someone is at the museum on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday to talk to you about the upcoming exhibit—“Honor-You Earned It”.
How many of these young people who attended the birthday party of Billy Jean Byrd are living in 2014? Billy Jean was the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Ralph Byrd and she celebrated her 11th birthday at their home with the following friends and siblings: Patty Sue McLamb, Lena Frances Pope, Rosa Turlington, Patricia Byrd, Faye Avery, Linda Byrd, Mildred Dorman, Judy Byrd, Ethel Dorman, Rebecca Weaver, Jackie Matthews, Elizabeth Dorman, Lois Jernigan, Shelby Jean Barbour, and Larry Byrd.
While the youngsters were celebrating at the birthday party, the Coats Jr. Woman’s Club met at the home of Mrs. Ray Langdon with Mrs. Leroy Stewart as co-hostess. The club had raised almost a $100.00 from card games for the community building project. Two new members were Mrs. Eugene Stewart and Mrs. Leon Honeycutt. Possibly they had heard that Mr. Ed Nichols of Coats had enlisted at the University of Florida where he played football (Dunn Dispatch Feb. 25, 1949).
Bad news had come to a Bailey’s Crossroads family when they were notified that their son, Mack L. Pollard, was killed while riding a bicycle. He was a Clinton automobile mechanic and was buried in the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Cemetery (Dunn Dispatch Feb. 28, 1949).
Mr. and Mrs. M.G. Wright of Dunn announced the birth of a daughter, Nancy Wynona Wright. Effie was the former Effie Gunter whose father was for years the train depot agent in Coats (Dunn Dispatch March 2, 1949).
Mrs. J.B. Williams was named president of the Page Book Club. The club had met at the home of Mrs. W. E. Nichols where the place was decorated for a 3-course dinner. Pink carnations with fern were flanked with white tapers in a silver candelabrum. In addition to the election of Williams, Mrs. Exie Smith was vice president and Mrs. Reggie Parrish as secretary and treasurer. Mrs. Stuart Turlington and Mrs. Nichols were delegates to the convention. The club donated $100.00 to the community building project.
Mrs. J.R. Butler and Mrs. Haywood Roberts were hostesses to the Coats Woman’s Club. The club finalized plans for a beauty contest while others in the town were on trips outside the town. Mr. and Mrs. Clem Godwin and Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Penny had spent the weekend in Winston Salem. Miss Annie Ruth Penny had spent the weekend with her cousin Grace Penny. Mr. Willie Wood was improving after suffering a stroke of paralysis. (Remember that he was one of the first barbers in Coats?) Mrs. J.F. Parrish had visited her sister in Miami, Florida.
The American Legion Post had sponsored a BBQ supper and flag campaign. All proceeds went to the community building project. Mr. and Mrs. Wade Stephenson of Wilson were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Alton Grimes. Mr. Mayton Upchurch was able to be back at work after a serious operation. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hough visited her brother in Columbia, S.C. Mrs. H.C. Stewart and her daughter, Evangeline, were accompanied by Fred Sexton to visit Archie Stewart who was very ill. The Coats YWA met and had a community mission project of giving a Sunshine Basket to an elderly lady, Mrs. Mattie Coats, and a Bible to a small girl in the neighborhood (Dunn Dispatch Mar. 4, 1949).
The basketball season is over and it was announced that Lois Smith had made the second team in the Harnett County All Tourney Team for 1949 (Dunn Dispatch Mar. 7, 1949).
A beauty contest was planned at Coats on March 9th and 10th. After a regular showing of “Ambush Trail” at the Coats Theater, popular singer Jeanine Ennis of Coats presented a program of musical selections. Town businesses sponsored contestants. The contestants were some of the prettiest girls around Coats. Evangeline Stewart, Jeanine Ennis, Alice Stewart, Sue Stewart, Margie Barefoot, Sue Turlington, Betsy Stewart, Betty Sue Willis, Joyce Grimes, Doris Johnson, Imogene Pollard, Wilma Barnes, Peggy Weaver, Addie Pope, Laura Pope, Sylvia Ingold, Mary Jo Johnson, Gertrude Byrd, Dorothy Pope, Joyce Turlington, Doris Messer, Elgie Gray Byrd, Joyce Parrish, Zenobia Surles, Gloria Roycroft, Eunice Stewart, Annie Ruth Stewart, Mrs. Rachel Langdon, Mrs. Clyde Ennis, Mrs. Charles Beasley, Audrey Lamm, Fannie Sue Langdon, Irene Grimes and Dorothy Grimes.
While the judges selected the ten most beautiful girls, Mr. Willie Strickland and his string band entertained. Mr. Autry showed his regular feature, “Meeting of Millie”. The high school band played several numbers while the judges selected the winners. There was no extra charge for the events. All proceeds went to the community building project (Dunn Dispatch Mar. 7, 1949).
A Veterans Memorial was being put up on the courthouse square in Lillington. A stone and bronze monument was to honor the 117 men of Harnett County who had lost their lives in the two World Wars. The names of the 19 in WWI and the 98 in WWII who lost their lives were inscribed on the memorial. The cost of the memorial was $3,000.00 and financed by the county. The Daniel Boone marker was moved across the square nearer the welfare building by permission of the HCBOC (Dunn Dispatch Mar. 7, 1949).
Questions-Can you name some of the Coats veterans whose names are on the memorial? Can you tell me where the memorial is located today? Have any names been added from WW I and WWII? Are there names of other veterans from other wars on the monument today? Lastly, where is this Daniel Boone marker?
This I do know. The March 9, 1949 edition of the Dunn Dispatch printed that Harnett County was to gain 200 miles of roads from the 200 million Road Bond issue if it passed. A petition was heard by the HCBOC for a road in Grove. It was a stretch on Highway 40 (current 27) between Coats and Black River.
The Coats High School Seniors had been practicing “Again, Out Again”, an exciting 3-act farce with a college rooming house setting. Read to recognize the stars of the play. Jeanine Ennis played Mrs. Quick; Lucille Jackson was Elmira, her maid. Neal Barnes was Mrs. Quick’s husband; Evangeline Stewart starred as Candy, the Quick’s daughter. Dorothy Pope was a college student named Honey. Honey’s husband was Shelton Ennis and J.A. Langdon played Professor Walter Meade, an archaeologist. Darwin Whittington was Henry Hall, a businessman. Aunt Dodie, a wealthy woman was portrayed by Mary Jo Johnson. Lynn Lane, a beautiful model, was acted by Imogene Stephenson. Lunette Sorrell’s role was Ruth, a college student, and Ruthleen Weaver acted the role of Dr. Hattie Hook, a chiropractor. To see this student production, the cost was 25 and 35 cents (Dunn Dispatch Mar. 9, 1949).
An amazing group of visitors stopped at the museum after having lunch in Dunn where the Coats High School Class of 1954 celebrated their 60th reunion. Amazing in the sense that most of them barely looked to be 60 and second in the sense that once again it verified that the small, former Coats High School provided a solid foundation for some very successful careers.
Thank you to Max Matthews, Jr. for adding a brick to the Walk of Ages where he will be recognized as the CACC 2013 Farmer of the Year. Gratitude also goes to Patsy and Stacy Avery for their donations to honor Connie and Mike Johnson and to honor the memory of Mary Langdon, Grantham Avery and Preston Johnson. Patsy and Stacy remind me of the folks that I am writing about now who worked so hard to get the community building. Another very dedicated couple of the museum is Carsie and Jenny Denning who gave a large sum last week to help retire the debt on the exhibit hall.
Veterans from the Korean to the current Afghanistan War are reminded either to share a list of items that could be used in the museum or wish to be interviewed. Someone is at the museum on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday to talk to you about the upcoming exhibit—“Honor-You Earned It”.