November 17, 2017 Coats Museum News
The season was fall in the year 1966. Unrest had been rampant in both America and abroad. The protest against the Vietnam War had built momentum as marchers had displayed their opposition to the US involvement. Sixty-six thousand had marched to the Washington Monument in May. Rallies against the war in Vietnam had been staged in seven cities at home and in Europe. The US had bombed fuel storage facilities near the North Vietnamese cities of Hanoi and Haiphong, ending the policy of avoiding urban areas. The Pentagon had announced that 5,008 Americans had died in Vietnam during the year. Our small town of Coats would see that we were not exempt from causalities of that Vietnam War as the names Donny Campbell, Jerry Dennis, Albert Johnson, Larry McCoy, William Parnell, Donald Stewart and Sherrill Willis would give up their lives in the unpopular war.
History continued to be recorded during 1966 as it was reported that 2,377 corporate mergers occurred in the US and tripled the 1960 rate. The moon had eight unmanned visitors from earth in 1966 that either orbited or soft-landed-five of them had carried the markings of the Soviet Union: three were American. The US automakers had offered 367 basic 1967 models while baseball drew a record 25.2 million.
The mod look had arrived from London in full force replete with-women first-fishnet stockings, undershirt tops, mannish jackets, little girl shoes and mini-but sometimes maxi skirts. Men got to wear skinny fitted pants, wide colorful ties and shirts with floral wallpaper style prints.
After a series of secret meetings between the NFL and rival AFL, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle announced a merger of the two leagues. Regular season play was to begin in 1970 and the first Super Bowl was set for 1967 (Dickson, Paul, From Elvis to E-Mail, Federal Street Press: Massachusetts-1999, pp 149-152).
Death had once again found its way to Coats and had taken beloved Andrew Lawrence Johnson, a former Grove Township constable. Mr. Johnson’s Tuesday death was followed with a service which was conducted by Revs. Howard Beard and Ralph Byrd. That service was held at the Coats United Methodist Church and his burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Mr. Johnson had been a mechanic and was a veteran of WWI. Surviving him were his wife, Mrs. Lela Avery Johnson; two sons, Douglas and Leon; a daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Ennis. Mrs. Ida Fish was his sister (Daily Record Oct. 5, 1966).
When I was growing up about four miles northeast of Coats near the Johnston –Harnett County line, the various Popes owned land joining my dad’s on several farms. The one thing that always came to our minds was that the Pope’s produced not only good crops but some really outstanding athletes. One of them was Raymond Pope. Raymond also proved to be a hero on the Vietnam battle field. Private Raymond Pope, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Pope of Route 1, Coats, had completed reconnaissance training at Army Armor Center, Fort Knox, Kentucky. He had received eight weeks training in the methods of scouting and patrolling with emphasis on the operation of jeeps on rugged terrain and other camouflage techniques. (The story of his valor in the jungles of Vietnam would not be known until his untimely death in an automobile accident after he returned home from service to his country.)
Coats had been visited again by the death angel and this time took a younger man. Thirty-seven year-old Elo Champion had died on Thursday. His services were held at the Overby Funeral Chapel. His burial was in the Bethel Church Cemetery. Survivors were his wife, Mrs. Margaret Champion, and two siblings-Mrs. Peggy Norris and Burt Champion (Daily Record Oct. 10, 1966). Does anyone know why he died so young?
So many times I have been asked about the Terre Hill Industry in Coats. According to an article in the paper, the Terre Hill Industry and Coats had both been pleased at having Coats as the site of a new plant in 1966.About thirty machines had been set up in the community building and the place was a beehive of activities. Gordon Davis, general plant manager, had been “more than pleased” with the cooperation and reception that they had received with the Coats citizens. Grady Matthews, president of the Coats Area Development Association, and Haywood Roberts had worked closely with the Coats project that produced ladies lingerie. Grady had said that plans were to move forward to construct a building to house the industry in Coats. Eighteen acres of land had been purchased from Herbert L. Johnson to build the plant. Mrs. Rachel Langdon was office manager; Mrs. Doris Stewart was plant supervisor and Mrs. Grace Gillis and Mrs. Mozelle Carroll were two of the many employees according to the October 14, 1966 edition of the Daily Record.
Surely more names connected with the plant will come up as the plant becomes established on the current site of Grey Flex. Recently when Robert Pleasant visited the museum, our faithful board member and weekly volunteer genealogist Peggy Robinson, jumped with excitement to see Robert who worked at the plant with her. More information about the plant is that Frances Tart Matthews, wife of Grady, gave the museum the first gown off the assembly line that had been presented to Grady. She also gave the museum the gold shovel used to break ground for the Terre Hill plant.
Isn’t it amazing when you hear or read someone’s name, it brings back wonderful memories of that person. There was a family in the general area where I grew up that had about as many children as there were in my household. They rode my school bus and as with my siblings, I am sure the bus driver counted to make sure he had all of us. This couple was the epitome of what I picture as everlasting love. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Allen Norris could be seen riding down the road in their vehicle and Mrs. Norris was always sitting right up beside him. The only other couple that I can recall doing that was Mr. and Mrs. Willis Cobb who passed our house many times when my sisters and I were chopping weeds from the cotton, corn, tobacco or any other crop that Dad wanted to keep us busy doing. It was heartbreaking to me to hear when one of those life mates had passed away leaving the seat in the vehicle empty.
There had been some good news at the Norris household. Miss Janet Marie Norris had married Granville Robert (G.R) Stephenson, Jr. at Prospect Church by Rev. Eugene Hales. Sondra Ennis and Ann Stewart provided music. Parents of the bride were Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Allen Norris and parents of G.R. were Mr. and Mrs. G.R. Stephenson, Sr. The bride had worn a full- length brocade satin gown (Daily Record Oct. 19, 1966).
Mrs. Lillie Matthews Cobb of Durham had died and her funeral services were held at the Coats Baptist Church and the burial was in the Bethel Primitive Church Cemetery (Daily Record Oct. 19, 1966). Again, I ask, “What was her connection to the Coats and Bethel Church?”
This I do know. Mrs. U.M. Ennis was selected the 1966 Club Woman of the Year at the Oak Dale HD Club (Daily Record Oct. 24, 1966).Now that was an interesting lady. She had married a young man from the old Sorrell School area. Mr. Ennis served with the Raleigh Fire Department scores of years. After his retirement, the couple moved down to what I assume was his family’s farm. You recall if you were raised on a farm during the sixties and before, you know all about suckering tobacco, milking a cow, hog killings and killing snakes that sliver through the yard and occasionally find their way into the house seeking a meal of four legged critters. From what I have been told the couple left that city life and fitted right into the rural setting which is obvious from her great involvement with the Oak Dale Home Demonstration Club.
Herbert L. Johnson was selected to the state board of realtors where he was joined by 64 other honorees. Elsewhere Mr. and Mrs. James Gardner Moore announced the birth of a daughter at BJMH in Dunn. The mother was the former Betty Carol Godwin (Daily Record Oct. 26, 1966).
Life is never dull at the museum. It seems to be an excellent place to reconnect or to meet new people. Recently, Myrtle Bridges dropped in when two sisters were visiting from out of town to donate some display items from the Joseph Coates family. Myrtle had brought a couple of bags of dried golden delicious apples for the volunteers to munch upon; and hence, the conversation led to talking about the Methodist Church and their Nov.11th Bazaar. The visitors then learned that Myrtle was one of artist who has painted pictures for our next exhibit. The rest of the story is that Frankie from VA .wanted a painting with a rooster in it and believe it or not, Myrtle had just finished one. Frankie and her husband followed Myrtle home and purchased the oil painting to take back to Virginia. The best part of the story is that the couple drove down from Chester, VA last weekend to go to the Methodist Church big event.
The volunteers enjoyed a visit from Teresa Honeycutt last Thursday who brought a check from the Coats Woman’s Club to honor the memory of Florine Penny who was a faithful club member for decades. The museum folks appreciate this club for being so generous and faithful in giving to the museum. These ladies are to be commended for all they do behind the scene in supporting events in the town. Thank you goes again to the Coats Woman’s Club.
The season was fall in the year 1966. Unrest had been rampant in both America and abroad. The protest against the Vietnam War had built momentum as marchers had displayed their opposition to the US involvement. Sixty-six thousand had marched to the Washington Monument in May. Rallies against the war in Vietnam had been staged in seven cities at home and in Europe. The US had bombed fuel storage facilities near the North Vietnamese cities of Hanoi and Haiphong, ending the policy of avoiding urban areas. The Pentagon had announced that 5,008 Americans had died in Vietnam during the year. Our small town of Coats would see that we were not exempt from causalities of that Vietnam War as the names Donny Campbell, Jerry Dennis, Albert Johnson, Larry McCoy, William Parnell, Donald Stewart and Sherrill Willis would give up their lives in the unpopular war.
History continued to be recorded during 1966 as it was reported that 2,377 corporate mergers occurred in the US and tripled the 1960 rate. The moon had eight unmanned visitors from earth in 1966 that either orbited or soft-landed-five of them had carried the markings of the Soviet Union: three were American. The US automakers had offered 367 basic 1967 models while baseball drew a record 25.2 million.
The mod look had arrived from London in full force replete with-women first-fishnet stockings, undershirt tops, mannish jackets, little girl shoes and mini-but sometimes maxi skirts. Men got to wear skinny fitted pants, wide colorful ties and shirts with floral wallpaper style prints.
After a series of secret meetings between the NFL and rival AFL, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle announced a merger of the two leagues. Regular season play was to begin in 1970 and the first Super Bowl was set for 1967 (Dickson, Paul, From Elvis to E-Mail, Federal Street Press: Massachusetts-1999, pp 149-152).
Death had once again found its way to Coats and had taken beloved Andrew Lawrence Johnson, a former Grove Township constable. Mr. Johnson’s Tuesday death was followed with a service which was conducted by Revs. Howard Beard and Ralph Byrd. That service was held at the Coats United Methodist Church and his burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Mr. Johnson had been a mechanic and was a veteran of WWI. Surviving him were his wife, Mrs. Lela Avery Johnson; two sons, Douglas and Leon; a daughter, Mrs. Evelyn Ennis. Mrs. Ida Fish was his sister (Daily Record Oct. 5, 1966).
When I was growing up about four miles northeast of Coats near the Johnston –Harnett County line, the various Popes owned land joining my dad’s on several farms. The one thing that always came to our minds was that the Pope’s produced not only good crops but some really outstanding athletes. One of them was Raymond Pope. Raymond also proved to be a hero on the Vietnam battle field. Private Raymond Pope, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Pope of Route 1, Coats, had completed reconnaissance training at Army Armor Center, Fort Knox, Kentucky. He had received eight weeks training in the methods of scouting and patrolling with emphasis on the operation of jeeps on rugged terrain and other camouflage techniques. (The story of his valor in the jungles of Vietnam would not be known until his untimely death in an automobile accident after he returned home from service to his country.)
Coats had been visited again by the death angel and this time took a younger man. Thirty-seven year-old Elo Champion had died on Thursday. His services were held at the Overby Funeral Chapel. His burial was in the Bethel Church Cemetery. Survivors were his wife, Mrs. Margaret Champion, and two siblings-Mrs. Peggy Norris and Burt Champion (Daily Record Oct. 10, 1966). Does anyone know why he died so young?
So many times I have been asked about the Terre Hill Industry in Coats. According to an article in the paper, the Terre Hill Industry and Coats had both been pleased at having Coats as the site of a new plant in 1966.About thirty machines had been set up in the community building and the place was a beehive of activities. Gordon Davis, general plant manager, had been “more than pleased” with the cooperation and reception that they had received with the Coats citizens. Grady Matthews, president of the Coats Area Development Association, and Haywood Roberts had worked closely with the Coats project that produced ladies lingerie. Grady had said that plans were to move forward to construct a building to house the industry in Coats. Eighteen acres of land had been purchased from Herbert L. Johnson to build the plant. Mrs. Rachel Langdon was office manager; Mrs. Doris Stewart was plant supervisor and Mrs. Grace Gillis and Mrs. Mozelle Carroll were two of the many employees according to the October 14, 1966 edition of the Daily Record.
Surely more names connected with the plant will come up as the plant becomes established on the current site of Grey Flex. Recently when Robert Pleasant visited the museum, our faithful board member and weekly volunteer genealogist Peggy Robinson, jumped with excitement to see Robert who worked at the plant with her. More information about the plant is that Frances Tart Matthews, wife of Grady, gave the museum the first gown off the assembly line that had been presented to Grady. She also gave the museum the gold shovel used to break ground for the Terre Hill plant.
Isn’t it amazing when you hear or read someone’s name, it brings back wonderful memories of that person. There was a family in the general area where I grew up that had about as many children as there were in my household. They rode my school bus and as with my siblings, I am sure the bus driver counted to make sure he had all of us. This couple was the epitome of what I picture as everlasting love. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Allen Norris could be seen riding down the road in their vehicle and Mrs. Norris was always sitting right up beside him. The only other couple that I can recall doing that was Mr. and Mrs. Willis Cobb who passed our house many times when my sisters and I were chopping weeds from the cotton, corn, tobacco or any other crop that Dad wanted to keep us busy doing. It was heartbreaking to me to hear when one of those life mates had passed away leaving the seat in the vehicle empty.
There had been some good news at the Norris household. Miss Janet Marie Norris had married Granville Robert (G.R) Stephenson, Jr. at Prospect Church by Rev. Eugene Hales. Sondra Ennis and Ann Stewart provided music. Parents of the bride were Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Allen Norris and parents of G.R. were Mr. and Mrs. G.R. Stephenson, Sr. The bride had worn a full- length brocade satin gown (Daily Record Oct. 19, 1966).
Mrs. Lillie Matthews Cobb of Durham had died and her funeral services were held at the Coats Baptist Church and the burial was in the Bethel Primitive Church Cemetery (Daily Record Oct. 19, 1966). Again, I ask, “What was her connection to the Coats and Bethel Church?”
This I do know. Mrs. U.M. Ennis was selected the 1966 Club Woman of the Year at the Oak Dale HD Club (Daily Record Oct. 24, 1966).Now that was an interesting lady. She had married a young man from the old Sorrell School area. Mr. Ennis served with the Raleigh Fire Department scores of years. After his retirement, the couple moved down to what I assume was his family’s farm. You recall if you were raised on a farm during the sixties and before, you know all about suckering tobacco, milking a cow, hog killings and killing snakes that sliver through the yard and occasionally find their way into the house seeking a meal of four legged critters. From what I have been told the couple left that city life and fitted right into the rural setting which is obvious from her great involvement with the Oak Dale Home Demonstration Club.
Herbert L. Johnson was selected to the state board of realtors where he was joined by 64 other honorees. Elsewhere Mr. and Mrs. James Gardner Moore announced the birth of a daughter at BJMH in Dunn. The mother was the former Betty Carol Godwin (Daily Record Oct. 26, 1966).
Life is never dull at the museum. It seems to be an excellent place to reconnect or to meet new people. Recently, Myrtle Bridges dropped in when two sisters were visiting from out of town to donate some display items from the Joseph Coates family. Myrtle had brought a couple of bags of dried golden delicious apples for the volunteers to munch upon; and hence, the conversation led to talking about the Methodist Church and their Nov.11th Bazaar. The visitors then learned that Myrtle was one of artist who has painted pictures for our next exhibit. The rest of the story is that Frankie from VA .wanted a painting with a rooster in it and believe it or not, Myrtle had just finished one. Frankie and her husband followed Myrtle home and purchased the oil painting to take back to Virginia. The best part of the story is that the couple drove down from Chester, VA last weekend to go to the Methodist Church big event.
The volunteers enjoyed a visit from Teresa Honeycutt last Thursday who brought a check from the Coats Woman’s Club to honor the memory of Florine Penny who was a faithful club member for decades. The museum folks appreciate this club for being so generous and faithful in giving to the museum. These ladies are to be commended for all they do behind the scene in supporting events in the town. Thank you goes again to the Coats Woman’s Club.