November 27, 2015 Coats Museum News
Over sixty years have passed since a group of ladies of Barclaysville gathered at the community building there to have the meeting of the Goodwill HD Club. Mrs. E.L. Parrish, vice president of the club, presided and Mrs. Jarvis Pleasant assisted. Officers for the 1956-57 year would be Mrs. Johnnie Barnes, president; Mrs. E.L. Parrish, vice president; Mrs. Carson Gregory, secretary and Mrs. Rebeth Mitchell, treasurer. Mrs. J.B. Joyner and Mrs. Willie Joyner were co-hostesses for the meeting.
Sad news had come to our area from Durham where Jesses Houston Ennis, 41, son of Mr. Bennett and Cora Ammons Ennis, had died in McPherson Hospital after several years of illness. That was awfully young to die even 60 years ago. Do you wonder as you read when someone died young in those years that it might have been cancer that killed them. I know that obituaries wrote that death occurred after an extended illness but I don’t remember ever mentioning in any of my news that death was the result of cancer. Is there a McPherson Hospital in Durham today and was it a specialty treatment hospital?
This I do know. Ennis had spent most of his life in Durham and he was survived by his wife, the former Gladys Wade, a son Jessie Errol Ennis and two brothers-Thirl and and Kirkland Ennis; a sister, Mrs. Charles South, and three half sisters-Mrs. George Sorrell, Bonnie Faye and Peggy Faye. Delano Ennis of Erwin was a half-brother. Burial was in the Ennis Cemetery near Benson.
The atmosphere at the homes of several Coats connected families was likely more pleasant. Mrs. T. E. Barnes announced the engagement of her daughter, Miss Wilma Barnes of Raleigh, who was to marry Billy Caldwell of Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Mrs. Barnes announced that the wedding would take place on December 18th. Miss Barnes was a graduate of Coats High School and ECU. Lt. Caldwell was a NC State graduate. Miss Callie Sanders and Don Ferrell Sorrell announced that they would marry on November 26th. Don was the son of Maude and Lentis Sorrell (Daily Record Oct. 21, 1955).
The Sorrell name appeared again in the Daily Record. John L. Sorrell, Sr., 66, was killed instantly about 5:45 on Monday afternoon when he drove his car into the path of the Atlantic Coastline passenger train. Mr. Sorrell was the son of the late Mary Eliza Hodges and William Richardson Sorrell. The paper stated that Sorrell was one of the largest and most successful farmers in this section of Harnett County. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Mae Johnson Sorrell, two sons-John L. Sorrell, Jr. and Richard; four daughters-Mrs. Gordon Townsend, Mrs. Johnny Willoughby, Miss Edith Sorrell, and Miss Jean Sorrell. His brothers and sisters were W.T., Sr., J.W., Sr., Mrs. Ernest (Lula) Alphin, Mrs. J.B. (Maggie) Ennis, and Mrs. Walter (Stella) Ennis (Daily Record Oct. 22, 1955).
It is worth time spent writing the columns just to receive feedback from the readers. So many farmers shared their memories of tobacco farming and how it has changed. The following man could have brought about some of those changes. He was Pat Lynch of Dunn who manufactured tobacco harvesters and expected them to sell as fast as World Series tickets.
Another couple was planning a big wedding. Miss Shirley Norris of Coats and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Miller of Dunn were helping with the wedding reception of Miss Frances Mangum and Specialist 3rd Class, Henry Earl Roye of San Angelo, Texas and Fort Bragg (Daily Record Oct. 25, 1955),
Does anyone remember Kenneth Phillips? Was he a relative of Mr. M.O. Phillips? I do know that he had attended Coats High School prior to his attending NC State. He had spent the weekend with his mother Mrs. Gladys Phillips of Coats. Mrs. Phillips had accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Dixon to Western Carolina the following weekend.
Second Lt. Neal Barnes, 23, son of Everett Barnes of rural Angier, had graduated from the associate quartermaster company officer course. He was a 1953 NC State College graduate. Barnes had entered the army in June 1955. His wife, Betty, lived in Colonial Heights, Virginia (Daily Record Oct. 27, 1955). Did you observe that the NC State was referred to as “College”?
Just a side note on Neal Barnes—He drove down for our Defenders of the Red, White and Blue event and posted his flag on the Heritage Square grounds as a Lt. Colonel. Do any of you remember going to air shows in our county? The October 28, 1955 edition of the Daily Record indicated that all were ready for the big one at the Dunn –Erwin Airport on October 30th. As many as 150 flyers were expected and 15 to 20 local pilots were to perform. Wonder if Keith Finch and Eugene Stewart were among those pilots (Daily Record Oct. 28, 1955)?
Does anyone recall how the school had Halloween events to raise money for school projects? Do you remember that a Halloween King and Queen were crowned? Is there anyone reading this column who can recall the winners in 1955? According to the Echoing Memories (1956), there were two queens-Sondra Ennis and Laura Turlington. Murray Phillips won the Kingship.
William E. “Bill” Salmon, who served as sheriff longer than any other man in the county’s history in 1955, had died at the Dunn Hospital. He must have been a down to earth fellow as well because I can recall my father, who likely never even shook hands with the sheriff, spoke of him as if he were a good friend. I also know that “Bill” was brother to Attorney Neill McKay Salmon who had died only a few months earlier and they were buried in the same cemetery in the same row. Interestingly, the brothers’ tombstones are just alike as is the son of Neil McKay who died this summer. Marie, the wife of the younger Neill McKay, shared with me the beautiful story that she is having her husband’s marker cut just like his dad and uncle’s.
For those of you who enjoy military uniform collections, your time is waning to see the collection that we were fortunate to have on loan for the past year or so. In early 2016, we will be returning the loaned uniforms and artifacts to the veterans who generously put them on display. We will be setting up new exhibits and will likely never have such a military exhibit again. Drop by any Sunday from 2-5pm or on Thursdays from 9-3pm. It is all decorated for Christmas and we have several large groups scheduled for tours the next few weeks.
We are able to operate our museum as a nonprofit because of the generosity of many people. Patsy and Stacy Avery are at the top of the list in supporting the museum financially and on site operations. They have honored Judith O’Quinn and Daryll and Marina Roberts with donations to the museum. Thank you so much, Stacey and Patsy. Randy and Rhonda Denning Stephenson have also made many honorariums and memorial gifts to the museum. They have now added their names to the donor plaque. Thank you again. The museum folks have so much to be thankful—many interested visitors and faithful supporters.
Over sixty years have passed since a group of ladies of Barclaysville gathered at the community building there to have the meeting of the Goodwill HD Club. Mrs. E.L. Parrish, vice president of the club, presided and Mrs. Jarvis Pleasant assisted. Officers for the 1956-57 year would be Mrs. Johnnie Barnes, president; Mrs. E.L. Parrish, vice president; Mrs. Carson Gregory, secretary and Mrs. Rebeth Mitchell, treasurer. Mrs. J.B. Joyner and Mrs. Willie Joyner were co-hostesses for the meeting.
Sad news had come to our area from Durham where Jesses Houston Ennis, 41, son of Mr. Bennett and Cora Ammons Ennis, had died in McPherson Hospital after several years of illness. That was awfully young to die even 60 years ago. Do you wonder as you read when someone died young in those years that it might have been cancer that killed them. I know that obituaries wrote that death occurred after an extended illness but I don’t remember ever mentioning in any of my news that death was the result of cancer. Is there a McPherson Hospital in Durham today and was it a specialty treatment hospital?
This I do know. Ennis had spent most of his life in Durham and he was survived by his wife, the former Gladys Wade, a son Jessie Errol Ennis and two brothers-Thirl and and Kirkland Ennis; a sister, Mrs. Charles South, and three half sisters-Mrs. George Sorrell, Bonnie Faye and Peggy Faye. Delano Ennis of Erwin was a half-brother. Burial was in the Ennis Cemetery near Benson.
The atmosphere at the homes of several Coats connected families was likely more pleasant. Mrs. T. E. Barnes announced the engagement of her daughter, Miss Wilma Barnes of Raleigh, who was to marry Billy Caldwell of Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Mrs. Barnes announced that the wedding would take place on December 18th. Miss Barnes was a graduate of Coats High School and ECU. Lt. Caldwell was a NC State graduate. Miss Callie Sanders and Don Ferrell Sorrell announced that they would marry on November 26th. Don was the son of Maude and Lentis Sorrell (Daily Record Oct. 21, 1955).
The Sorrell name appeared again in the Daily Record. John L. Sorrell, Sr., 66, was killed instantly about 5:45 on Monday afternoon when he drove his car into the path of the Atlantic Coastline passenger train. Mr. Sorrell was the son of the late Mary Eliza Hodges and William Richardson Sorrell. The paper stated that Sorrell was one of the largest and most successful farmers in this section of Harnett County. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Mae Johnson Sorrell, two sons-John L. Sorrell, Jr. and Richard; four daughters-Mrs. Gordon Townsend, Mrs. Johnny Willoughby, Miss Edith Sorrell, and Miss Jean Sorrell. His brothers and sisters were W.T., Sr., J.W., Sr., Mrs. Ernest (Lula) Alphin, Mrs. J.B. (Maggie) Ennis, and Mrs. Walter (Stella) Ennis (Daily Record Oct. 22, 1955).
It is worth time spent writing the columns just to receive feedback from the readers. So many farmers shared their memories of tobacco farming and how it has changed. The following man could have brought about some of those changes. He was Pat Lynch of Dunn who manufactured tobacco harvesters and expected them to sell as fast as World Series tickets.
Another couple was planning a big wedding. Miss Shirley Norris of Coats and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Miller of Dunn were helping with the wedding reception of Miss Frances Mangum and Specialist 3rd Class, Henry Earl Roye of San Angelo, Texas and Fort Bragg (Daily Record Oct. 25, 1955),
Does anyone remember Kenneth Phillips? Was he a relative of Mr. M.O. Phillips? I do know that he had attended Coats High School prior to his attending NC State. He had spent the weekend with his mother Mrs. Gladys Phillips of Coats. Mrs. Phillips had accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Dixon to Western Carolina the following weekend.
Second Lt. Neal Barnes, 23, son of Everett Barnes of rural Angier, had graduated from the associate quartermaster company officer course. He was a 1953 NC State College graduate. Barnes had entered the army in June 1955. His wife, Betty, lived in Colonial Heights, Virginia (Daily Record Oct. 27, 1955). Did you observe that the NC State was referred to as “College”?
Just a side note on Neal Barnes—He drove down for our Defenders of the Red, White and Blue event and posted his flag on the Heritage Square grounds as a Lt. Colonel. Do any of you remember going to air shows in our county? The October 28, 1955 edition of the Daily Record indicated that all were ready for the big one at the Dunn –Erwin Airport on October 30th. As many as 150 flyers were expected and 15 to 20 local pilots were to perform. Wonder if Keith Finch and Eugene Stewart were among those pilots (Daily Record Oct. 28, 1955)?
Does anyone recall how the school had Halloween events to raise money for school projects? Do you remember that a Halloween King and Queen were crowned? Is there anyone reading this column who can recall the winners in 1955? According to the Echoing Memories (1956), there were two queens-Sondra Ennis and Laura Turlington. Murray Phillips won the Kingship.
William E. “Bill” Salmon, who served as sheriff longer than any other man in the county’s history in 1955, had died at the Dunn Hospital. He must have been a down to earth fellow as well because I can recall my father, who likely never even shook hands with the sheriff, spoke of him as if he were a good friend. I also know that “Bill” was brother to Attorney Neill McKay Salmon who had died only a few months earlier and they were buried in the same cemetery in the same row. Interestingly, the brothers’ tombstones are just alike as is the son of Neil McKay who died this summer. Marie, the wife of the younger Neill McKay, shared with me the beautiful story that she is having her husband’s marker cut just like his dad and uncle’s.
For those of you who enjoy military uniform collections, your time is waning to see the collection that we were fortunate to have on loan for the past year or so. In early 2016, we will be returning the loaned uniforms and artifacts to the veterans who generously put them on display. We will be setting up new exhibits and will likely never have such a military exhibit again. Drop by any Sunday from 2-5pm or on Thursdays from 9-3pm. It is all decorated for Christmas and we have several large groups scheduled for tours the next few weeks.
We are able to operate our museum as a nonprofit because of the generosity of many people. Patsy and Stacy Avery are at the top of the list in supporting the museum financially and on site operations. They have honored Judith O’Quinn and Daryll and Marina Roberts with donations to the museum. Thank you so much, Stacey and Patsy. Randy and Rhonda Denning Stephenson have also made many honorariums and memorial gifts to the museum. They have now added their names to the donor plaque. Thank you again. The museum folks have so much to be thankful—many interested visitors and faithful supporters.