May 31, 2013 Coats Museum News
In 1940, farming was the backbone of the Coats economy. The Department of Agriculture announced the Grove committeemen. They were Mrs. Owen Odum, W.L. Franklin, Mrs. E.H. Lasater, Mrs. Stewart Turlington, O.R. Simpson, Z.B. Stewart, and T.J. Barnes. Is that correct? Did women serve on agriculture committees yet could not serve on jury duty?
Dr. Clyde Erwin spoke to the 1940 graduating class at Coats. Thirty-seven seniors received diplomas. Check the list and see if you have kin among on it. The graduates were J.A. Britt, Bernice Byrd, Willa Mae Byrd, Clara Cobb, Dorothy Denning, Glenn Eanes, Raymond Ennis, Cecil Fuquay, George Fuquay, Mary Gardner, Sudie Glover, Edna Hayes, Jerry Jerome, Jewel Johnson, Edna Langdon, W.M. Langdon, Maude Miller, Lois Odum, Eloise Penny, Netral Pollard, Vada Ryals, Doris Satterfield, George Thomas Smith, Lula Jane Sorrell, LeRoy Stewart, Edna Stewart, Shirley Sorrell, Malcolm Stewart, Lottie Surles, Delaney Turlington, Mabel Reid Turlington, Verna Turlington, Frances Whittington, Grace Williams, Homer Williams and Helen Wood. Delaney Turlington was valedictorian and Eloise Penny had the second highest grades. Chief Marshal was Jocelyn Hayes. Assistant Marshals were Edna Whittington, Mildred Johnson, Doris Fay Raynor, and Eva Wright (Harnett County News May 23, 1920). Are any of these people alive today?
Some leaders in Coats were unwilling to give up on getting water in town. J.B. Williams, mayor of the town, noted that 179 people who voted were not property owners (Harnett County News May 23, 1940).
The Harnett County GOP had less than 300 out of 2500 registered voters turn out to vote for the N.C. House of Representatives. J.C. Langdon defeated J.O.West of Dunn. Langdon would face off against D.H. Senter or Neill McKay Ross, Democrats. HCBOC’s decision to extend Highway 40 westward to Buies Creek fulfilled the dream of many citizens. The road, which terminated at Coats, connected with Highway 421 near Buies Creek. The board had more than once requested that Grove Township have an improved road to the county seat. Since there was disagreement over which route the road should take, some petitioned a route through Spence’s Crossroads in Neills Creek community. The only way to please everyone was to improve both routes (Harnett County News May 30, 1949).
W.E. Nichols, Coats’ “number one” businessman and farmer, was among the visitors to the courthouse. He was there on behalf of some measure of public benefit. Coats mail carrier Harry Lee was elected vice president of Central Carolina Letters Carriers Association (Harnett County News June 6, 1940). Was the post office on wheels in 1940?
Mrs. Anna Matthews Byrd, 72 year-old widow of J. McKay Byrd, died at her home on a Saturday morning. She had been in failing health. Mrs. Byrd was the daughter of the late Neill and Sara Jones Matthews. She was survived by two sons: Fred A. Byrd and John Byrd and four daughters: Elsie Garton, Mrs. Carlos Stewart, Mrs. J. Lester McKay and Mrs. Clarence Stewart (Harnett County News July 11, 1940)
L.M. Johnson, W.M. Keene, Joel Ennis and M.E. Ennis operated markets in Coats that offered fresh produce for those who attended the Ennis Reunion at the home of Edward Ennis. The former homeplace of Marion Ennis welcomed a full day of speeches, music, entertainment, and a picnic lunch. Officials for the Ennis Reunion were J.B. Ennis, Miss Florence Ennis, Paul Strickland, and M.E. Ennis. Harnett County had nine dairies and they all received an “A” grade by Sanitarian K.W. Ballentine. Carson’s and Hayes’s Dairies were in Grove Township (Harnett County News July 18, 1940).
Simple beauty of colonial days was revived in the wedding of Miss Virginia Langdon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.L. Langdon of Slocumb. The groom was J. Calvin Jeffries of Raleigh and Tampa, Florida. The wedding took place on the west lawn of the home of the bride. Friends from points near and far attended the wedding. Mrs. A.E. Lynch, pianist, and Miss Mae Marshbanks, violinist, presented music. J. David Langdon, brother of the bride, was one of the ushers. Her sister, Josephine Langdon, was a maid of honor. Larry Lloyd Langdon, small brother of the bride, was ring bearer. The bride wore a gown of white dotted Swiss with net joke and full long sleeves with ruffled cuffs. From the fitted Basque effect waist flowed the full old fashioned skirt. Her only ornament was a pair of pearls. The guests were invited into the house for a handsomely appointed reception. Mayor and Mrs. H.C. Blackwell and Dr. and Mrs. L.H. Campbell helped receive guests. Mrs. W.E. Nichols and Mrs. W.M. Keene assisted with the reception (Harnett County News July 18, 1940). Did you say-“Wow”? Did they have lawns at all points on the compass? Where was this house in Slocumb? Where is Slocumb? Where was their house when they lived in Coats?
The summer of 1940 was one of prolonged absence of rainfall. Considerable damage was done to the growing crops and those in preparation for harvest. Tobacco farmers had the greatest loss and corn experienced from 10 to 15 percent loss. Cotton, agriculture’s “camel” crop, was able to withstand the hot weather without much moisture (Harnett County News July 25, 1940).
Mrs. Elsie Garton, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John McKay Byrd of Coats, was appointed U.S. Commissioner. “For a decade, Mrs. Elsie Garton has been a consistent spectator and student of procedures at the Federal Court here” (quoted from Under the Dome-News and Observer). When she was sworn in, her statement was “I had rather see a good trial than “Gone with the Wind”. Her hobbies were golf and fishing. About a year ago, she made a hole-in-one at the Raleigh Golf Association (Harnett County News August 8, 1940).
Wonder how the Coats folks reacted to having a native daughter being given the honor of serving as the first woman in the history of Raleigh to hold an U.S. Commissioner seat.
I do know that Mrs. J.T. Holland, 67, died at her home in Coats. She was widely known. She suffered a heart attack and died immediately. Services were at the Erwin Episcopal Church. Mrs. Holland was the daughter of Levi and Clarkey Biggs Ennis of a well-known Johnston County family. Her husband was a mill worker and after his death, she moved to Coats. Her siblings who survived her were Lee Daniel Ennis, Mrs. M.J. Williams, Mrs. P.A. Wiggins and Miss Nancy Ennis (Harnett County News August 22, 1940).
Who remembers when the Durham and Southern (established as Cape Fear and Northern Railroad) came through Coats and even better who recalls when the last train came through the towns in the area that it served? That information is found in our Durham and Southern Railroad Exhibit at the museum. Check it out. Do you know if anyone was ever killed by the train in Coats—read next week.
A special thank you goes to Becky Adams and Hilda Pope who both gave memorials to the museum to honor Eugene Stewart and Ruth Jernigan. The Kiwanis Club also remembered her. Ruth had visited the club many times with her daughter Betty Manning who was serving as president. Death is taking so many of our beloved and respected citizens this year.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COATS MUSEUM NEWS APPEARED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON MAY 31, 2013.
In 1940, farming was the backbone of the Coats economy. The Department of Agriculture announced the Grove committeemen. They were Mrs. Owen Odum, W.L. Franklin, Mrs. E.H. Lasater, Mrs. Stewart Turlington, O.R. Simpson, Z.B. Stewart, and T.J. Barnes. Is that correct? Did women serve on agriculture committees yet could not serve on jury duty?
Dr. Clyde Erwin spoke to the 1940 graduating class at Coats. Thirty-seven seniors received diplomas. Check the list and see if you have kin among on it. The graduates were J.A. Britt, Bernice Byrd, Willa Mae Byrd, Clara Cobb, Dorothy Denning, Glenn Eanes, Raymond Ennis, Cecil Fuquay, George Fuquay, Mary Gardner, Sudie Glover, Edna Hayes, Jerry Jerome, Jewel Johnson, Edna Langdon, W.M. Langdon, Maude Miller, Lois Odum, Eloise Penny, Netral Pollard, Vada Ryals, Doris Satterfield, George Thomas Smith, Lula Jane Sorrell, LeRoy Stewart, Edna Stewart, Shirley Sorrell, Malcolm Stewart, Lottie Surles, Delaney Turlington, Mabel Reid Turlington, Verna Turlington, Frances Whittington, Grace Williams, Homer Williams and Helen Wood. Delaney Turlington was valedictorian and Eloise Penny had the second highest grades. Chief Marshal was Jocelyn Hayes. Assistant Marshals were Edna Whittington, Mildred Johnson, Doris Fay Raynor, and Eva Wright (Harnett County News May 23, 1920). Are any of these people alive today?
Some leaders in Coats were unwilling to give up on getting water in town. J.B. Williams, mayor of the town, noted that 179 people who voted were not property owners (Harnett County News May 23, 1940).
The Harnett County GOP had less than 300 out of 2500 registered voters turn out to vote for the N.C. House of Representatives. J.C. Langdon defeated J.O.West of Dunn. Langdon would face off against D.H. Senter or Neill McKay Ross, Democrats. HCBOC’s decision to extend Highway 40 westward to Buies Creek fulfilled the dream of many citizens. The road, which terminated at Coats, connected with Highway 421 near Buies Creek. The board had more than once requested that Grove Township have an improved road to the county seat. Since there was disagreement over which route the road should take, some petitioned a route through Spence’s Crossroads in Neills Creek community. The only way to please everyone was to improve both routes (Harnett County News May 30, 1949).
W.E. Nichols, Coats’ “number one” businessman and farmer, was among the visitors to the courthouse. He was there on behalf of some measure of public benefit. Coats mail carrier Harry Lee was elected vice president of Central Carolina Letters Carriers Association (Harnett County News June 6, 1940). Was the post office on wheels in 1940?
Mrs. Anna Matthews Byrd, 72 year-old widow of J. McKay Byrd, died at her home on a Saturday morning. She had been in failing health. Mrs. Byrd was the daughter of the late Neill and Sara Jones Matthews. She was survived by two sons: Fred A. Byrd and John Byrd and four daughters: Elsie Garton, Mrs. Carlos Stewart, Mrs. J. Lester McKay and Mrs. Clarence Stewart (Harnett County News July 11, 1940)
L.M. Johnson, W.M. Keene, Joel Ennis and M.E. Ennis operated markets in Coats that offered fresh produce for those who attended the Ennis Reunion at the home of Edward Ennis. The former homeplace of Marion Ennis welcomed a full day of speeches, music, entertainment, and a picnic lunch. Officials for the Ennis Reunion were J.B. Ennis, Miss Florence Ennis, Paul Strickland, and M.E. Ennis. Harnett County had nine dairies and they all received an “A” grade by Sanitarian K.W. Ballentine. Carson’s and Hayes’s Dairies were in Grove Township (Harnett County News July 18, 1940).
Simple beauty of colonial days was revived in the wedding of Miss Virginia Langdon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.L. Langdon of Slocumb. The groom was J. Calvin Jeffries of Raleigh and Tampa, Florida. The wedding took place on the west lawn of the home of the bride. Friends from points near and far attended the wedding. Mrs. A.E. Lynch, pianist, and Miss Mae Marshbanks, violinist, presented music. J. David Langdon, brother of the bride, was one of the ushers. Her sister, Josephine Langdon, was a maid of honor. Larry Lloyd Langdon, small brother of the bride, was ring bearer. The bride wore a gown of white dotted Swiss with net joke and full long sleeves with ruffled cuffs. From the fitted Basque effect waist flowed the full old fashioned skirt. Her only ornament was a pair of pearls. The guests were invited into the house for a handsomely appointed reception. Mayor and Mrs. H.C. Blackwell and Dr. and Mrs. L.H. Campbell helped receive guests. Mrs. W.E. Nichols and Mrs. W.M. Keene assisted with the reception (Harnett County News July 18, 1940). Did you say-“Wow”? Did they have lawns at all points on the compass? Where was this house in Slocumb? Where is Slocumb? Where was their house when they lived in Coats?
The summer of 1940 was one of prolonged absence of rainfall. Considerable damage was done to the growing crops and those in preparation for harvest. Tobacco farmers had the greatest loss and corn experienced from 10 to 15 percent loss. Cotton, agriculture’s “camel” crop, was able to withstand the hot weather without much moisture (Harnett County News July 25, 1940).
Mrs. Elsie Garton, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John McKay Byrd of Coats, was appointed U.S. Commissioner. “For a decade, Mrs. Elsie Garton has been a consistent spectator and student of procedures at the Federal Court here” (quoted from Under the Dome-News and Observer). When she was sworn in, her statement was “I had rather see a good trial than “Gone with the Wind”. Her hobbies were golf and fishing. About a year ago, she made a hole-in-one at the Raleigh Golf Association (Harnett County News August 8, 1940).
Wonder how the Coats folks reacted to having a native daughter being given the honor of serving as the first woman in the history of Raleigh to hold an U.S. Commissioner seat.
I do know that Mrs. J.T. Holland, 67, died at her home in Coats. She was widely known. She suffered a heart attack and died immediately. Services were at the Erwin Episcopal Church. Mrs. Holland was the daughter of Levi and Clarkey Biggs Ennis of a well-known Johnston County family. Her husband was a mill worker and after his death, she moved to Coats. Her siblings who survived her were Lee Daniel Ennis, Mrs. M.J. Williams, Mrs. P.A. Wiggins and Miss Nancy Ennis (Harnett County News August 22, 1940).
Who remembers when the Durham and Southern (established as Cape Fear and Northern Railroad) came through Coats and even better who recalls when the last train came through the towns in the area that it served? That information is found in our Durham and Southern Railroad Exhibit at the museum. Check it out. Do you know if anyone was ever killed by the train in Coats—read next week.
A special thank you goes to Becky Adams and Hilda Pope who both gave memorials to the museum to honor Eugene Stewart and Ruth Jernigan. The Kiwanis Club also remembered her. Ruth had visited the club many times with her daughter Betty Manning who was serving as president. Death is taking so many of our beloved and respected citizens this year.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COATS MUSEUM NEWS APPEARED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON MAY 31, 2013.