November 6, 2011 Coats Museum News
The year was 1924. Calvin Coolidge had been president since the death of Warren Harding on August 2, 1923. Whereas several presidents had died on the Independence Day, Coolidge was the first to be born on that day (Harnett County News December 19, 1923). This era had been a time of growth for the country. The citizens were content. Immigration was limited; nations had to repay the money that they had borrowed to help with the World War. Coolidge cut taxes for people who made big salaries. Each new policy made someone happy. He was known as “Silent Cal” because he never said more than he had to. In 1927, he held a news conference and he handed each reporter a note that said, “I do not choose to run for president again.” During Coolidge’s presidency of 1923-1929, Mickey Mouse appeared in his first movie, “Steamboat Willie”. Charles Lindbergh flew his plane, “The Spirit of St. Louis”, from New York to Paris. The Charleston was the favorite dance (Bumann, Joan and John Peterson, 40 Presidents, Facts and Fun, Willowisp Press, Inc. 1981).
In Harnett County, a business meeting of the Medical Society was held in Dunn in the Chamber of Commerce Room. Dr. M.L. Barefoot was elected president and Dr. H.C. Roberts was elected vice president (Harnett County News January 10, 1924). Dunn readers, did you know that there was a Chamber of Commerce in your town in 1924? If so, do know where the room was located where they met?
This I do know. On the extreme eastern edge of Harnett County where it borders to Johnston County, there dwelled the type of people who believed in cooperation. They joined hands with their neighbors across the line and erected one of the most modern of rural high schools to be found in this section of the country. Modern in every respect, this school was made of brick, tile, and glass. It had six commodious classrooms, well equipped. Its auditorium compared with any city type. The whole building was made bright and airy through glass by day and electricity by night. Old methods of brain development and child training lost out in this community. The three little shacks of Ennis School which formerly housed the children and instructors were listed with things to be forgotten. These people concentrated their minds and attention on the new order of things. A source of community pride; a center where a people were surcharged with progressive ideas and who loved each other and cooperated with one another in things that made their community a more desirable place in which to dwell. These people called their school “Oakdale”. Right appropriate it was for these people who inhabited that territory were of sturdy citizenry.
Who were these citizens who had children in that new brick school? Names that were recalled are Bailey, Coats, Cobb, Denning, Ennis, Horton, Hudson, Ivey, Johnson, Nordan, Norris, Parker, Pollard, Pope, Ryals, Stewart,Thornton and Turlington. Surely there are many others. Tell me if you know.
It was written that a visitor was impressed with the charm of the newness, neatness, and cleanliness of the classrooms. At the opening, crimson paper hearts were strung around the walls of the classrooms. The heart of the people was in the school. No main street office was kept any better than every room, nook, and corner of the Oakdale School.
Oakdale School ran its grades from one to ten with music added. The faculty was composed of Miss Margaret Hudson as principal and Miss Ellie Williford, Miss Ethel Graham, Miss Eva Ennis, Mrs. G.E. Parker, Jr., Miss Ina Massengill, Miss Grace Matthews, and Miss Ila Ennis were teachers. There were 229 students in the first session and 84 were in the first grade.
A Parent Teacher Association was organized. Reverand J.F. Monies and the editor of the News spoke. (The Harnett County News was referred to as the News at that time.) The officers elected were W.T. Bailey as president, Harvey Turlington as vice president and Mrs. G.E. Parker, Jr. as secretary and treasurer. Mr. J. D. Ennis was program chairman. There were seventeen charter members of the Oakdale PTA (Harnett County News February 7, 1924).
You did catch that the editor of the News spoke at the opening of Oakdale so you now can understand the vivid picture that he painted of the school for us to see in our minds today since there is no known complete picture of the school?
Wonder if anyone talked about the recent death of former President Woodrow Wilson or the fact that the tomb of King Tut was to be opened after 3300 years.
How many of you know what a picture record is? Mott Golf of Dunn gave our Coats Museum a 78 “picture record “ along with several other 78’s and 33RPM records. Thanks, Mott. Who can guess the label on that picture record? The museum volunteers really enjoyed the visits from members of the Coats High Class of 1961. Ed Turlington, president of that class, built our Cotton Museum. The class also collected enough money at their 2008 Class Reunion to place a Bronze Level plaque on our Wall of Honor. Dozens of them bought raffle tickets for the Coats Museum fundraiser in 2010. Because of strong supporters such as those in this class, the Coats Museum will continue to grow if others will give similar support.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON NOVEMBER 6, 2011.
The year was 1924. Calvin Coolidge had been president since the death of Warren Harding on August 2, 1923. Whereas several presidents had died on the Independence Day, Coolidge was the first to be born on that day (Harnett County News December 19, 1923). This era had been a time of growth for the country. The citizens were content. Immigration was limited; nations had to repay the money that they had borrowed to help with the World War. Coolidge cut taxes for people who made big salaries. Each new policy made someone happy. He was known as “Silent Cal” because he never said more than he had to. In 1927, he held a news conference and he handed each reporter a note that said, “I do not choose to run for president again.” During Coolidge’s presidency of 1923-1929, Mickey Mouse appeared in his first movie, “Steamboat Willie”. Charles Lindbergh flew his plane, “The Spirit of St. Louis”, from New York to Paris. The Charleston was the favorite dance (Bumann, Joan and John Peterson, 40 Presidents, Facts and Fun, Willowisp Press, Inc. 1981).
In Harnett County, a business meeting of the Medical Society was held in Dunn in the Chamber of Commerce Room. Dr. M.L. Barefoot was elected president and Dr. H.C. Roberts was elected vice president (Harnett County News January 10, 1924). Dunn readers, did you know that there was a Chamber of Commerce in your town in 1924? If so, do know where the room was located where they met?
This I do know. On the extreme eastern edge of Harnett County where it borders to Johnston County, there dwelled the type of people who believed in cooperation. They joined hands with their neighbors across the line and erected one of the most modern of rural high schools to be found in this section of the country. Modern in every respect, this school was made of brick, tile, and glass. It had six commodious classrooms, well equipped. Its auditorium compared with any city type. The whole building was made bright and airy through glass by day and electricity by night. Old methods of brain development and child training lost out in this community. The three little shacks of Ennis School which formerly housed the children and instructors were listed with things to be forgotten. These people concentrated their minds and attention on the new order of things. A source of community pride; a center where a people were surcharged with progressive ideas and who loved each other and cooperated with one another in things that made their community a more desirable place in which to dwell. These people called their school “Oakdale”. Right appropriate it was for these people who inhabited that territory were of sturdy citizenry.
Who were these citizens who had children in that new brick school? Names that were recalled are Bailey, Coats, Cobb, Denning, Ennis, Horton, Hudson, Ivey, Johnson, Nordan, Norris, Parker, Pollard, Pope, Ryals, Stewart,Thornton and Turlington. Surely there are many others. Tell me if you know.
It was written that a visitor was impressed with the charm of the newness, neatness, and cleanliness of the classrooms. At the opening, crimson paper hearts were strung around the walls of the classrooms. The heart of the people was in the school. No main street office was kept any better than every room, nook, and corner of the Oakdale School.
Oakdale School ran its grades from one to ten with music added. The faculty was composed of Miss Margaret Hudson as principal and Miss Ellie Williford, Miss Ethel Graham, Miss Eva Ennis, Mrs. G.E. Parker, Jr., Miss Ina Massengill, Miss Grace Matthews, and Miss Ila Ennis were teachers. There were 229 students in the first session and 84 were in the first grade.
A Parent Teacher Association was organized. Reverand J.F. Monies and the editor of the News spoke. (The Harnett County News was referred to as the News at that time.) The officers elected were W.T. Bailey as president, Harvey Turlington as vice president and Mrs. G.E. Parker, Jr. as secretary and treasurer. Mr. J. D. Ennis was program chairman. There were seventeen charter members of the Oakdale PTA (Harnett County News February 7, 1924).
You did catch that the editor of the News spoke at the opening of Oakdale so you now can understand the vivid picture that he painted of the school for us to see in our minds today since there is no known complete picture of the school?
Wonder if anyone talked about the recent death of former President Woodrow Wilson or the fact that the tomb of King Tut was to be opened after 3300 years.
How many of you know what a picture record is? Mott Golf of Dunn gave our Coats Museum a 78 “picture record “ along with several other 78’s and 33RPM records. Thanks, Mott. Who can guess the label on that picture record? The museum volunteers really enjoyed the visits from members of the Coats High Class of 1961. Ed Turlington, president of that class, built our Cotton Museum. The class also collected enough money at their 2008 Class Reunion to place a Bronze Level plaque on our Wall of Honor. Dozens of them bought raffle tickets for the Coats Museum fundraiser in 2010. Because of strong supporters such as those in this class, the Coats Museum will continue to grow if others will give similar support.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON NOVEMBER 6, 2011.