October 16, 2015 Coats Museum News
When you hear the name Salmon, whom do you think of? In Coats, many likely think of Marie Salmon who gave her all teaching young people in the school there. It is not uncommon to have former students ask about Marie when they visit our museum and share how she affected their lives. Marie was not a Harnett native but her husband Neill McKay Salmon was from Lillington. In 1955, he lost his mother who was only 41. She was the wife of the former State Senator Neill McKay Salmon. I don’t have to wonder what she would have thought of her future daughter-in-law if she had lived to meet her.
I also know that another family that an early effect on the town of Coats was the Bain family. The paper added several names connected with that family. Dr. C.D. Bain and his sister, Miss Mattie Bain, had visited their brother, Rev. G.A. Bain in Burlington.
That same edition of the Daily Record recorded that several of the Coats 4-H youth had gone to Raleigh. Carson Gregory, Jr. and Barnes Clayton were among those who went from across the state. Girls going to Camp Millstone were Eloise Johnson and Sue Holder and Junior 4-H boys were Wayne Stanley and Eddie Ray Thornton. Years later Sue and Carson, Jr. would marry.
Coats leaders involved in the Harnett County Centennial planning were Owen Odum, Mrs. Mattie Highfill, Curtis Guy, Herbert Johnson, Miss Mattie Bain, Mrs. O.K. Keene, Charlie Turlington, Haywood Roberts and R. Hal Smith. Mrs. Mattie Highfill was to write an original pageant depicting the story of county schools. The pageant was to include school students. A barbecue supper with Senator Kerr Scott as guest was suggested (Daily Record July 27, 1955).
I’m curious to know how many of our readers remember Mrs. Mattie Highfill. I grew up in a family of ten children and I think she taught all of us. Being the ninth of those ten, I heard all the tales about Mrs. Highfill. I recall being scared to death of her but to this day, I can recite perfectly the poem, “In Flanders Fields.” She was a very talented artist and we are so fortunate to have a couple of her paintings in the museum.
A Centennial Essay Contest was planned with topics being Government Organization-Past and Present; Story of Religion (either a church or denomination); Development and Progress of Agriculture in Harnett County (emphasis on tobacco or cotton); Contrasting Industries in 1855 and 1955; General History of Education in Harnett County (or history of Campbell College or a local school); or Transportation and Communication in Harnett County, with studies of the history of railroads, development of roads and highways, and the newspaper development through the years. The essay had to be 1500 to 2000 words and had to be in the young writers own words giving resources. Each school would have a winner and the county winners would win prizes. Contestants were urged to visit resource people in the community, libraries, and the State Archives and History. Essays had to be handed into the schools by September 30, 1955 (Daily Record July 29, 1955).
The Coats Fellowship Club had planned for the centennial at Carson and Hack’s Grill. They revealed plans for a stockade. Carson Gregory would give lumber to build it and M.O. Phillips offered to build it. Mr. O.K. Keene was elected judge and the following elected officers to help him enforce the stockade law were Curtis Guy, Kenneth Makey, J.D. Lamm, Raymond Ennis and L.E. McKnight. Haywood Roberts made the motion to have the Fellowship members sell beard and cosmetic permits and T.O. Beasley seconded.
Carson Gregory gave a report on the status of the school athletic field lights installation. Two meetings with CP&L had not resulted in a cost estimate yet, and he told the members to be open to helping when the time comes. Howard Barnes was accepted as a new member of the club.
Amongst all this centennial talk, a few of the locals who were not mentioned were likely more concerned about having to serve as a juror in the next few weeks. Those summoned for the August 15 term were George Ransom Pope, Dalton Beasley, Delma S. Langdon, Charles A. Stewart, Jesse H. Parrish, Willie Strickland, and B. C. Britt (Daily Record Aug. 3, 1955).
Ted Malone of Coats was a new member of the county board of welfare. Malone was the visiting teacher for the county board of education and the probation officer for the Harnett County Juvenile Court. The HCBOC agreed that the county courthouse was hot enough to merit air-conditioning but unfortunately the building was not a fit subject for such modern improvements.
The revolving window fan stored in an outhouse on the square had not been installed this season because a blade had been stolen from the fan. The theft occurred within a few feet of the county jail. Did you ask”WHAT?”
Remember Connie? It was a fast moving hurricane that was getting dangerous (Daily Record Aug. 4, 1955).
M.O. Phillips had met with Russian farmers in a Des Moines hotel. The Erwin Peerless Theatre, one of the oldest in the state, was to get a new look. The highway patrol planned to curb “creeping drivers” on heavily traveled roads on Sundays (Daily Record Aug. 5, 1955).
Mr. and Mrs. George Holmes of Coats were the parents of a daughter at Dunn Hospital on August 2. The mother was the former Elease Hairr (Daily Record Aug. 9, 1955).
The citizens of Harnett remembering the punch of Hurricane Hazel prepared for Hurricane Connie which was hovering off the coast of the state (Daily Record Aug. 10, 1955).
The storm was scheduled to hit the state and the Dunn area prepared for the storm’s blow. Churches were opened for needed shelter. Connie was subsiding but Diane was growing. Harnett was ready. Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Edward Matthews of Coats announced the birth of their daughter, Barbara Ann, in Good Hope Hospital. Mrs. Matthews was the former Ruth Stone (Daily Record Aug. 12, 1955).
The coast of N.C. was alerted for Hurricane Diane. The bad weather caused by Hurricane Connie had prevented the scheduled the cleaning of the Williams Cemetery. All people with property interests were encouraged to help clean up the cemetery on the new scheduled date. Picnic baskets were encouraged. A.E. “Lonnie” Surles, 79, of rural Benson, had died at Johnston Memorial Hospital. Roscoe Surles of Coats was his son (Daily Record Aug. 15, 1955).
Do you recall whether Connie and Diane did damage to the Harnett County. Read next week to verify your answer.
The volunteers had much fun sharing the material heritage of the Coats area to about 130 enthusiastic Coats Elementary School third graders, teachers and volunteers last Thursday. We were so impressed that several of those young students had visited museums in Raleigh, New York and elsewhere and were also appreciative for how much the teachers had taught their young ones about their Coats community history. Thank you, Benson Mayor Massengill and Caroline, for taking time to visit our museum. You join a long list of mayors from other towns throughout the state to visit us.
How awesome will it be for our veterans to record history for their descendants as they participate in the celebration for the defenders of our freedom on camera by being a part of the event at the Coats Heritage Square on the afternoon of November 14th where we are recognizing those individuals who have been defenders of the red, white and blue since the end of WWII. Knowing who will participate will make our volunteers’ work easier as they prepare flags and refreshments. Veterans, volunteers are at the museum every Thursday and every Sunday afternoon where you can get a form and more information about the veterans’ event.
Thank you Geneva and J.W. Sorrell, Jr. for your memorial donation for your neighbor and friend, H.A. Turlington, Jr. Junior Barbour, a Vietnam veteran, gave a memorial for his dad, J.B. Barbour, Sr. and brother Faison. Junior, the volunteers appreciate the donation and the loaning of your Vietnam items for display. Thank you to those who have given to the Coats Museum Endowment with birthday memorials for Col. Kress Williams and Jonah C. Johnson and to honor Lynda Butler and Patsy Avery for their recent birthdays.
When you hear the name Salmon, whom do you think of? In Coats, many likely think of Marie Salmon who gave her all teaching young people in the school there. It is not uncommon to have former students ask about Marie when they visit our museum and share how she affected their lives. Marie was not a Harnett native but her husband Neill McKay Salmon was from Lillington. In 1955, he lost his mother who was only 41. She was the wife of the former State Senator Neill McKay Salmon. I don’t have to wonder what she would have thought of her future daughter-in-law if she had lived to meet her.
I also know that another family that an early effect on the town of Coats was the Bain family. The paper added several names connected with that family. Dr. C.D. Bain and his sister, Miss Mattie Bain, had visited their brother, Rev. G.A. Bain in Burlington.
That same edition of the Daily Record recorded that several of the Coats 4-H youth had gone to Raleigh. Carson Gregory, Jr. and Barnes Clayton were among those who went from across the state. Girls going to Camp Millstone were Eloise Johnson and Sue Holder and Junior 4-H boys were Wayne Stanley and Eddie Ray Thornton. Years later Sue and Carson, Jr. would marry.
Coats leaders involved in the Harnett County Centennial planning were Owen Odum, Mrs. Mattie Highfill, Curtis Guy, Herbert Johnson, Miss Mattie Bain, Mrs. O.K. Keene, Charlie Turlington, Haywood Roberts and R. Hal Smith. Mrs. Mattie Highfill was to write an original pageant depicting the story of county schools. The pageant was to include school students. A barbecue supper with Senator Kerr Scott as guest was suggested (Daily Record July 27, 1955).
I’m curious to know how many of our readers remember Mrs. Mattie Highfill. I grew up in a family of ten children and I think she taught all of us. Being the ninth of those ten, I heard all the tales about Mrs. Highfill. I recall being scared to death of her but to this day, I can recite perfectly the poem, “In Flanders Fields.” She was a very talented artist and we are so fortunate to have a couple of her paintings in the museum.
A Centennial Essay Contest was planned with topics being Government Organization-Past and Present; Story of Religion (either a church or denomination); Development and Progress of Agriculture in Harnett County (emphasis on tobacco or cotton); Contrasting Industries in 1855 and 1955; General History of Education in Harnett County (or history of Campbell College or a local school); or Transportation and Communication in Harnett County, with studies of the history of railroads, development of roads and highways, and the newspaper development through the years. The essay had to be 1500 to 2000 words and had to be in the young writers own words giving resources. Each school would have a winner and the county winners would win prizes. Contestants were urged to visit resource people in the community, libraries, and the State Archives and History. Essays had to be handed into the schools by September 30, 1955 (Daily Record July 29, 1955).
The Coats Fellowship Club had planned for the centennial at Carson and Hack’s Grill. They revealed plans for a stockade. Carson Gregory would give lumber to build it and M.O. Phillips offered to build it. Mr. O.K. Keene was elected judge and the following elected officers to help him enforce the stockade law were Curtis Guy, Kenneth Makey, J.D. Lamm, Raymond Ennis and L.E. McKnight. Haywood Roberts made the motion to have the Fellowship members sell beard and cosmetic permits and T.O. Beasley seconded.
Carson Gregory gave a report on the status of the school athletic field lights installation. Two meetings with CP&L had not resulted in a cost estimate yet, and he told the members to be open to helping when the time comes. Howard Barnes was accepted as a new member of the club.
Amongst all this centennial talk, a few of the locals who were not mentioned were likely more concerned about having to serve as a juror in the next few weeks. Those summoned for the August 15 term were George Ransom Pope, Dalton Beasley, Delma S. Langdon, Charles A. Stewart, Jesse H. Parrish, Willie Strickland, and B. C. Britt (Daily Record Aug. 3, 1955).
Ted Malone of Coats was a new member of the county board of welfare. Malone was the visiting teacher for the county board of education and the probation officer for the Harnett County Juvenile Court. The HCBOC agreed that the county courthouse was hot enough to merit air-conditioning but unfortunately the building was not a fit subject for such modern improvements.
The revolving window fan stored in an outhouse on the square had not been installed this season because a blade had been stolen from the fan. The theft occurred within a few feet of the county jail. Did you ask”WHAT?”
Remember Connie? It was a fast moving hurricane that was getting dangerous (Daily Record Aug. 4, 1955).
M.O. Phillips had met with Russian farmers in a Des Moines hotel. The Erwin Peerless Theatre, one of the oldest in the state, was to get a new look. The highway patrol planned to curb “creeping drivers” on heavily traveled roads on Sundays (Daily Record Aug. 5, 1955).
Mr. and Mrs. George Holmes of Coats were the parents of a daughter at Dunn Hospital on August 2. The mother was the former Elease Hairr (Daily Record Aug. 9, 1955).
The citizens of Harnett remembering the punch of Hurricane Hazel prepared for Hurricane Connie which was hovering off the coast of the state (Daily Record Aug. 10, 1955).
The storm was scheduled to hit the state and the Dunn area prepared for the storm’s blow. Churches were opened for needed shelter. Connie was subsiding but Diane was growing. Harnett was ready. Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Edward Matthews of Coats announced the birth of their daughter, Barbara Ann, in Good Hope Hospital. Mrs. Matthews was the former Ruth Stone (Daily Record Aug. 12, 1955).
The coast of N.C. was alerted for Hurricane Diane. The bad weather caused by Hurricane Connie had prevented the scheduled the cleaning of the Williams Cemetery. All people with property interests were encouraged to help clean up the cemetery on the new scheduled date. Picnic baskets were encouraged. A.E. “Lonnie” Surles, 79, of rural Benson, had died at Johnston Memorial Hospital. Roscoe Surles of Coats was his son (Daily Record Aug. 15, 1955).
Do you recall whether Connie and Diane did damage to the Harnett County. Read next week to verify your answer.
The volunteers had much fun sharing the material heritage of the Coats area to about 130 enthusiastic Coats Elementary School third graders, teachers and volunteers last Thursday. We were so impressed that several of those young students had visited museums in Raleigh, New York and elsewhere and were also appreciative for how much the teachers had taught their young ones about their Coats community history. Thank you, Benson Mayor Massengill and Caroline, for taking time to visit our museum. You join a long list of mayors from other towns throughout the state to visit us.
How awesome will it be for our veterans to record history for their descendants as they participate in the celebration for the defenders of our freedom on camera by being a part of the event at the Coats Heritage Square on the afternoon of November 14th where we are recognizing those individuals who have been defenders of the red, white and blue since the end of WWII. Knowing who will participate will make our volunteers’ work easier as they prepare flags and refreshments. Veterans, volunteers are at the museum every Thursday and every Sunday afternoon where you can get a form and more information about the veterans’ event.
Thank you Geneva and J.W. Sorrell, Jr. for your memorial donation for your neighbor and friend, H.A. Turlington, Jr. Junior Barbour, a Vietnam veteran, gave a memorial for his dad, J.B. Barbour, Sr. and brother Faison. Junior, the volunteers appreciate the donation and the loaning of your Vietnam items for display. Thank you to those who have given to the Coats Museum Endowment with birthday memorials for Col. Kress Williams and Jonah C. Johnson and to honor Lynda Butler and Patsy Avery for their recent birthdays.