May 26, 2023 Coats Museum News
Surely many of you have memories of Mr. Mayton Upchurch. Mayton was 95 years old and had moved to Coats 60 years ago. He was a veteran of the World War I but what amazed the Daily Record reporter was that at his age he had a full head of hair, bushy dark eyebrows and his real teeth.
The Daily Record interviewed H.L. Sorrell, Jr., Dan Andrews and Joe Bowden who were commissioners-elect for The Harnett County Board of Commissioners for 1992-96. Zoning which was a very hot topic in the county was one of the questions asked to the newly elected officials. Mr. Sorrell stated that he felt zoning should be uniform throughout the county not just in his District 3. He stated that zoning is not always understood but is needed to protect the investment that the property owners have in their land.
Mr. Sorrell stated in reference to the needs in his district that his side of the county does not have county water. He said it was only fair that his district should have water to protect one’s property from fire damage, to have lower insurance rates and to have safe drinking water. In regard to a county attorney serving full time, he felt that the issue should be studied before rushing into hiring someone. All three of the men agreed that it was important to stay in closer contact with department heads. Sorrell said it was easy for people on the outside to look in and say things are not going as they should, but he said it is a different story when you’re on the inside.
I think most of us can identify with Mr. Sorrell’s statement. I think as years have passed many people are more understanding of the demands of different occupations. Two good examples would be recognizing the great responsibilities placed on educators and pastors.
Mr. Sorrell said it was important to think positively and promote the county’s many positives such as good roads, water, schools, an All-American City and Campbell University.
Speaking of Campbell University, there was to be a wedding at the Campbell House for Michelle Sears who was engaged to marry Michael Junior on December 10th. Michelle, daughter of Elsa Sears and the late Carlie Sears, was a 1990 graduate of Triton High School (Daily Record Nov. 11, 1992).
The Coats Museum project was up and going again. Sidelined because of other community involvements, a rejuvenated committee and board of directors had embarked on a campaign to renew interest in the project. A new roof had been raised and exterior work was to include siding and windows. According to M.O. Phillips, the old building was a two- room school used from approximately 1918-1923. The building was removed from NC 27 to a sight behind the Coats Community Building.
One room was planned to be a historical room with displays of early relics of the area. The second room was to be set up as an old classroom. To finance the project, an elaborate evening of fundraising and door prizes had been planned. The Coats Museum Board of Directors consisted of Godfrey Beasley, Gail Pope, Mary Denning, Ann Beasley, Sherrill Coats, Christine Akerman Parrish, Darrell Smith, Julia Stewart, Hazel Barnes, Donnie Matthews, James Grimes, Jeffrey Turlington, Keith Parrish, M.O. Phillips and Chairman Carsie Denning (Daily Record Nov. 12, 1992).
Tommy Ennis reported that the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church was planning its biggest Harvest Sale and Barbecue on November 21th. Kathy and Mike Ennis had adopted a precious little girl from Guatemala. Leslie was six months old when she arrived at the Raleigh Durham Airport. Mike and Kathy shared about the adoption to the mixed couples class at the Coats Baptist Church. Leslie was four and one half years old in 1992.
The Coats Senior Center had planned a tour of Wilmington to see its historic homes dressed in their Christmas best (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1992).
Death had come to Daisy M. Hughes, 82, of Route One, Coats at the Harnett Manor Care Center. Her funeral services were held at the Red Hill PFW Baptist Church with Revs. Bobby Caudle and Billy Smith officiating. Jack Moore was her brother (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1992).
Do you wonder how the big fundraiser came out for the Coats Museum? According to the paper, it was a huge success. Holly Turlington sang to the group; Misty Daniel played the drum roll and Jeff Stewart won the grand prize.
The Boy Scout Troop 779 of Coats was planning for their memorial lights in conjunction with the Living Nativity Scene at the Coats Baptist Church. What was the cost of one memorial lighted bag? One light went for $5.00 and three for $10.00. Dr. Harold Dixon was working with the project. The money would enable the Scouts to travel to Fort A.P. Hill, VA. for the National Jamboree. Dr. Linda Robinson said they wanted to sell enough to “go all the way uptown”.
Other news shared that Johnnie V. Williams was scheduled for open heart surgery but due to an emergency, the doctor postponed it. Guess what Johnnie said-“Oh, well-I got to attend the Veteran’s Day Fish Fry.”
Ruth Parrish, Wilma Byrd and Thomas and Belle Williams had gone to Danville, VA to attend the funeral of James H. Parrish. How many of you can recall from an earlier column that James had brought his band organ (calliope) to make beautiful music for a fundraiser in town? Wonder what happened to the calliope after he died?
Lee Gregory, 86, of Benson, had died on Sunday. His services were held at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church by Rev. Warren Bock. Surviving him was his wife Thelma Gregory, and two sisters- Velma Gregory Smith and Myrtle Gregory Nordan (Daily Record Nov. 23, 1992).
How many of you will agree that the word tornado brings fear to mind. A tornado ripped through the northeastern part of Harnett County in the area of Carson Gregory Road, Denning Road, Bethel Church Road, Abattoir Road and the County Line Road. The storm destroyed 10 mobile homes, 15 barns, and 10 houses in that section. Four people were injured. Stories shared that a camper parked beside Ron’s Barn was totally demolished. Ricky Hord of the Buies Creek Fire Department said he heard that the storm took the water out of a pond and set a man’s airplane down in the pond. Another man said he saw a cow flying past his window.
James Walker, who lives off Denning Road, said that his dog house was lifted off the ground and came through his sliding doors and stopped in his living room. He also shared that his freezer was blown from the back of the house to some 50 feet away lying in front of a pond (Daily Record Oct. 23, 1992).
The storm continued into Johnston County where it took a large farmhouse being restored off a brick foundation and dumped it into the Massengill Pond. That story I can verify because that farm house belonged to H.L. and me and I am not sure about the flying cow but we did lose 7 cows in that storm. So after that storm, when we heard the word of a tornado possibility, we felt real fear.
A sincere thank you goes to the Kiwanis Club and to Marc and Jean Powell for giving memorials for H.L. Linda Cobb, Lenny Parker, Sandra Howard and Robie Butler did a fantastic job on selling new memorial and honorarium bricks to be cemented next to the Walk of Ages. There is a bunch of history on those walkways.
Surely many of you have memories of Mr. Mayton Upchurch. Mayton was 95 years old and had moved to Coats 60 years ago. He was a veteran of the World War I but what amazed the Daily Record reporter was that at his age he had a full head of hair, bushy dark eyebrows and his real teeth.
The Daily Record interviewed H.L. Sorrell, Jr., Dan Andrews and Joe Bowden who were commissioners-elect for The Harnett County Board of Commissioners for 1992-96. Zoning which was a very hot topic in the county was one of the questions asked to the newly elected officials. Mr. Sorrell stated that he felt zoning should be uniform throughout the county not just in his District 3. He stated that zoning is not always understood but is needed to protect the investment that the property owners have in their land.
Mr. Sorrell stated in reference to the needs in his district that his side of the county does not have county water. He said it was only fair that his district should have water to protect one’s property from fire damage, to have lower insurance rates and to have safe drinking water. In regard to a county attorney serving full time, he felt that the issue should be studied before rushing into hiring someone. All three of the men agreed that it was important to stay in closer contact with department heads. Sorrell said it was easy for people on the outside to look in and say things are not going as they should, but he said it is a different story when you’re on the inside.
I think most of us can identify with Mr. Sorrell’s statement. I think as years have passed many people are more understanding of the demands of different occupations. Two good examples would be recognizing the great responsibilities placed on educators and pastors.
Mr. Sorrell said it was important to think positively and promote the county’s many positives such as good roads, water, schools, an All-American City and Campbell University.
Speaking of Campbell University, there was to be a wedding at the Campbell House for Michelle Sears who was engaged to marry Michael Junior on December 10th. Michelle, daughter of Elsa Sears and the late Carlie Sears, was a 1990 graduate of Triton High School (Daily Record Nov. 11, 1992).
The Coats Museum project was up and going again. Sidelined because of other community involvements, a rejuvenated committee and board of directors had embarked on a campaign to renew interest in the project. A new roof had been raised and exterior work was to include siding and windows. According to M.O. Phillips, the old building was a two- room school used from approximately 1918-1923. The building was removed from NC 27 to a sight behind the Coats Community Building.
One room was planned to be a historical room with displays of early relics of the area. The second room was to be set up as an old classroom. To finance the project, an elaborate evening of fundraising and door prizes had been planned. The Coats Museum Board of Directors consisted of Godfrey Beasley, Gail Pope, Mary Denning, Ann Beasley, Sherrill Coats, Christine Akerman Parrish, Darrell Smith, Julia Stewart, Hazel Barnes, Donnie Matthews, James Grimes, Jeffrey Turlington, Keith Parrish, M.O. Phillips and Chairman Carsie Denning (Daily Record Nov. 12, 1992).
Tommy Ennis reported that the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church was planning its biggest Harvest Sale and Barbecue on November 21th. Kathy and Mike Ennis had adopted a precious little girl from Guatemala. Leslie was six months old when she arrived at the Raleigh Durham Airport. Mike and Kathy shared about the adoption to the mixed couples class at the Coats Baptist Church. Leslie was four and one half years old in 1992.
The Coats Senior Center had planned a tour of Wilmington to see its historic homes dressed in their Christmas best (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1992).
Death had come to Daisy M. Hughes, 82, of Route One, Coats at the Harnett Manor Care Center. Her funeral services were held at the Red Hill PFW Baptist Church with Revs. Bobby Caudle and Billy Smith officiating. Jack Moore was her brother (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1992).
Do you wonder how the big fundraiser came out for the Coats Museum? According to the paper, it was a huge success. Holly Turlington sang to the group; Misty Daniel played the drum roll and Jeff Stewart won the grand prize.
The Boy Scout Troop 779 of Coats was planning for their memorial lights in conjunction with the Living Nativity Scene at the Coats Baptist Church. What was the cost of one memorial lighted bag? One light went for $5.00 and three for $10.00. Dr. Harold Dixon was working with the project. The money would enable the Scouts to travel to Fort A.P. Hill, VA. for the National Jamboree. Dr. Linda Robinson said they wanted to sell enough to “go all the way uptown”.
Other news shared that Johnnie V. Williams was scheduled for open heart surgery but due to an emergency, the doctor postponed it. Guess what Johnnie said-“Oh, well-I got to attend the Veteran’s Day Fish Fry.”
Ruth Parrish, Wilma Byrd and Thomas and Belle Williams had gone to Danville, VA to attend the funeral of James H. Parrish. How many of you can recall from an earlier column that James had brought his band organ (calliope) to make beautiful music for a fundraiser in town? Wonder what happened to the calliope after he died?
Lee Gregory, 86, of Benson, had died on Sunday. His services were held at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church by Rev. Warren Bock. Surviving him was his wife Thelma Gregory, and two sisters- Velma Gregory Smith and Myrtle Gregory Nordan (Daily Record Nov. 23, 1992).
How many of you will agree that the word tornado brings fear to mind. A tornado ripped through the northeastern part of Harnett County in the area of Carson Gregory Road, Denning Road, Bethel Church Road, Abattoir Road and the County Line Road. The storm destroyed 10 mobile homes, 15 barns, and 10 houses in that section. Four people were injured. Stories shared that a camper parked beside Ron’s Barn was totally demolished. Ricky Hord of the Buies Creek Fire Department said he heard that the storm took the water out of a pond and set a man’s airplane down in the pond. Another man said he saw a cow flying past his window.
James Walker, who lives off Denning Road, said that his dog house was lifted off the ground and came through his sliding doors and stopped in his living room. He also shared that his freezer was blown from the back of the house to some 50 feet away lying in front of a pond (Daily Record Oct. 23, 1992).
The storm continued into Johnston County where it took a large farmhouse being restored off a brick foundation and dumped it into the Massengill Pond. That story I can verify because that farm house belonged to H.L. and me and I am not sure about the flying cow but we did lose 7 cows in that storm. So after that storm, when we heard the word of a tornado possibility, we felt real fear.
A sincere thank you goes to the Kiwanis Club and to Marc and Jean Powell for giving memorials for H.L. Linda Cobb, Lenny Parker, Sandra Howard and Robie Butler did a fantastic job on selling new memorial and honorarium bricks to be cemented next to the Walk of Ages. There is a bunch of history on those walkways.