October 19, 2012 Coats Museum News
On May 9, 1934, nearly 49 percent of the children who were turned out of the textile mills in N.C. returned to schools. Was that because of child labor laws? I do know that lower rates were anticipated from Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph. It was proposed that a one party line in residences pay $2.50: two party, $2.00; four party lines, $1.50; rural, $2.00; business, $3.00 and rural businesses, $3.10 per month. Did you ask “Really?”
Also on May 9th, Mrs. B.I. Stephenson died after an illness of several months. She died on Tuesday morning at 6:30 at her Route One, Angier home. She was the former Miss Nell Grimes, daughter of B.F. and Nellie Ennis Grimes of Angier. Her husband, Mrs. W.E. Holland, Mrs. R.C. Pleasant, and Grimes Stephenson survived her. Mrs. R.M. Coats was her sister as were W.F. Grimes, A.T. Grimes, Floyd and J.M. Grimes her brothers.
The Harnett County News May 10, 1934 edition also reported that on May 9th that Carlos Dixon, a member of the Future Farmers of America Chapter of Coats, won first place in the District One Annual Livestock Judging Contest held at State College. The contest was judging beef, cattle, swine, and meat cuts. Each chapter sent two boys to compete. The Coats team also won first place as a team. Johnnie Barnes joined Carlos Dixon on that team. Is Carlos the father of Gwen, Betty Ellen and Harold and is Johnnie the father of Billy, Janice and David?
The Democratic Primary had several names from Coats. The local men were J.B. Ennis and M.C. Stewart running for commissioner; Bernard Hudson was running for the Harnett Board of Education (Harnett County News June 1934).
The 1934-35 allotment of teachers in District 6-Coats, Oakdale, and Turlington had 24 teachers. High school had 5 and elementary had 19 for the total of 24. The Coats Colored Elementary School had 6 teachers (Harnett County News-late, 1934).
W.H. Gregory, 63, lifelong resident of Harnett County and Angier businessman died. He had been interested in the town and community, which made him one of Harnett’s outstanding citizens. Burrell W. Barbour died at his home at age 79. He was survived by several children, one being Mrs. Lucy Williams of Coats (Harnett County News July 12, 1934).
Death had visited the Coats families and seemed to hang around as more and more names appeared in the news. One of the deaths was that of Mrs. Lemuel Byrd, 68, of Coats, who died in a Raleigh hospital. She had been ill for several weeks. Her funeral was held at the Coats Baptist Church and interment was in the Coats City Cemetery. A huge crowd attended the funeral where numerous floral designs were the last tribute showing the love and esteem in which Mrs. Byrd was held. Mrs. J. Manley Willis, Zola Byrd, Walter and Alsey (A.R.) Byrd and her husband survived her (Harnett County News July 18, 1934).
Within a month, another family was faced with the death of a loved one. Mrs. Ben Dixon, 77, died at her home on Friday, September 21st. The funeral was at her home and interment was in the family cemetery. Her husband and three children survived Mrs. Dixon: Mrs. J.F. Denning, Mrs. F. L. Denning, and Robert Dixon. Mrs. Irene Lambert was her sister and Amos Coats was a half-brother (Harnett County News Post September 21, 1934).
Surely you are exhausted from attending all the funerals so let’s visit the cost of some groceries in 1934. One hundred pounds of sugar could be purchased for $5.19 or a 25 pound bag for $1.33, and 10 pounds for $.53. Unbelievable did you say. Read on. Seedless grapes cost 3-15ounce packages for 25 cents. Two #2 cans of applesauce cost 19 cents and a quart jar of sour or dill pickles was 12 cents. The Sunny Brand of flour cost $3.49 for 98 pounds. These prices were on sale at H.D. Carson’s Progressive Store in Lillington but surely Coats grocers sold the items for similar prices (Harnett County News October 12, 1934).
The Angier-Coats Schools won honors at the N.C. State Fair. F.W. Reams’s classes took first place in the October 14, 1934).
In Coats, E.R. Partin was to be bonded for $1,000.00 for police officer and $500.00 for tax collector. He was sworn in as a police officer. Mayor W.E. Nichols appointed M.C. Stewart and T.O. Beasley to investigate on what could be done on building a jail and to see what CWA project would do to assist. Yes, that alphabet project was part of the New Deal that gave jobs throughout the country during a time that the country needed to get upon its feet (Coats Town Board meeting minutes, October 15, 1934).
A large two-story building belonging to Mr. Stewart Turlington, who lived near Coats, had been destroyed by fire on Monday night. In the barn were fodder, cottonseed, and a number of others things besides the wagons and other farm equipment. The Dunn Fire Department came in time to save the other buildings near the barn. Turlington had $50 of insurance but the barn was valued at $2,000.00. A suspect was jailed on circumstantial evidence (Harnett County News December 12, 1934). Speaking of fodder, who knows what fodder is? Read the column next week and we will discover Carsie Denning’s memories of “fodder pulling”.
We had hundreds of visitors from all over to come into the museum during Farmer’s Day. These were the most eager group that we have ever had in seeking out information about houses, businesses, and family history. Kenneth Williams, Jr. brought wonderful military information about his dad and a fallen comrade during the Vietnam War for us to add to our military collections. Others were content to just sit in the theater room and watch videos of our veterans and senior citizens who have shared so many memories of war and living. The museum volunteers really enjoyed Sharon Stevens of Averasboro Tourism and other Dunn leaders who visited our museum last Friday morning.
A big thank you goes to Patsy and Stacy Avery who have come forth to sponsor an exhibit in our new exhibit hall. Forgive me for being personal but this is a good story. Many years ago my dad gave me two car license plates-a 1918 and 1926. A month or so ago, my cousin Mark Valsame of the North Carolina Archives sent me a picture of my youthful dad in a 1918 convertible. Upon looking at the car’s license plate, I saw it to be the same one that Dad had given to me. What would be the odds of that happening since my dad had dozens of cars during his 88 years on earth. This weekend Kent Langdon shared with me that my dad had taught his grandmother to drive a car. You guessed it. That is the same car that I have a picture of with the license plate. Thank you to H.L Sorrell for his memorial endowment gifts to honor my dad, Jonah C. Johnson, and his Uncle Bill Williams who shared the same birthday.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COATS MUSEUM NEWS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON OCTOBER 19, 2012.
On May 9, 1934, nearly 49 percent of the children who were turned out of the textile mills in N.C. returned to schools. Was that because of child labor laws? I do know that lower rates were anticipated from Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph. It was proposed that a one party line in residences pay $2.50: two party, $2.00; four party lines, $1.50; rural, $2.00; business, $3.00 and rural businesses, $3.10 per month. Did you ask “Really?”
Also on May 9th, Mrs. B.I. Stephenson died after an illness of several months. She died on Tuesday morning at 6:30 at her Route One, Angier home. She was the former Miss Nell Grimes, daughter of B.F. and Nellie Ennis Grimes of Angier. Her husband, Mrs. W.E. Holland, Mrs. R.C. Pleasant, and Grimes Stephenson survived her. Mrs. R.M. Coats was her sister as were W.F. Grimes, A.T. Grimes, Floyd and J.M. Grimes her brothers.
The Harnett County News May 10, 1934 edition also reported that on May 9th that Carlos Dixon, a member of the Future Farmers of America Chapter of Coats, won first place in the District One Annual Livestock Judging Contest held at State College. The contest was judging beef, cattle, swine, and meat cuts. Each chapter sent two boys to compete. The Coats team also won first place as a team. Johnnie Barnes joined Carlos Dixon on that team. Is Carlos the father of Gwen, Betty Ellen and Harold and is Johnnie the father of Billy, Janice and David?
The Democratic Primary had several names from Coats. The local men were J.B. Ennis and M.C. Stewart running for commissioner; Bernard Hudson was running for the Harnett Board of Education (Harnett County News June 1934).
The 1934-35 allotment of teachers in District 6-Coats, Oakdale, and Turlington had 24 teachers. High school had 5 and elementary had 19 for the total of 24. The Coats Colored Elementary School had 6 teachers (Harnett County News-late, 1934).
W.H. Gregory, 63, lifelong resident of Harnett County and Angier businessman died. He had been interested in the town and community, which made him one of Harnett’s outstanding citizens. Burrell W. Barbour died at his home at age 79. He was survived by several children, one being Mrs. Lucy Williams of Coats (Harnett County News July 12, 1934).
Death had visited the Coats families and seemed to hang around as more and more names appeared in the news. One of the deaths was that of Mrs. Lemuel Byrd, 68, of Coats, who died in a Raleigh hospital. She had been ill for several weeks. Her funeral was held at the Coats Baptist Church and interment was in the Coats City Cemetery. A huge crowd attended the funeral where numerous floral designs were the last tribute showing the love and esteem in which Mrs. Byrd was held. Mrs. J. Manley Willis, Zola Byrd, Walter and Alsey (A.R.) Byrd and her husband survived her (Harnett County News July 18, 1934).
Within a month, another family was faced with the death of a loved one. Mrs. Ben Dixon, 77, died at her home on Friday, September 21st. The funeral was at her home and interment was in the family cemetery. Her husband and three children survived Mrs. Dixon: Mrs. J.F. Denning, Mrs. F. L. Denning, and Robert Dixon. Mrs. Irene Lambert was her sister and Amos Coats was a half-brother (Harnett County News Post September 21, 1934).
Surely you are exhausted from attending all the funerals so let’s visit the cost of some groceries in 1934. One hundred pounds of sugar could be purchased for $5.19 or a 25 pound bag for $1.33, and 10 pounds for $.53. Unbelievable did you say. Read on. Seedless grapes cost 3-15ounce packages for 25 cents. Two #2 cans of applesauce cost 19 cents and a quart jar of sour or dill pickles was 12 cents. The Sunny Brand of flour cost $3.49 for 98 pounds. These prices were on sale at H.D. Carson’s Progressive Store in Lillington but surely Coats grocers sold the items for similar prices (Harnett County News October 12, 1934).
The Angier-Coats Schools won honors at the N.C. State Fair. F.W. Reams’s classes took first place in the October 14, 1934).
In Coats, E.R. Partin was to be bonded for $1,000.00 for police officer and $500.00 for tax collector. He was sworn in as a police officer. Mayor W.E. Nichols appointed M.C. Stewart and T.O. Beasley to investigate on what could be done on building a jail and to see what CWA project would do to assist. Yes, that alphabet project was part of the New Deal that gave jobs throughout the country during a time that the country needed to get upon its feet (Coats Town Board meeting minutes, October 15, 1934).
A large two-story building belonging to Mr. Stewart Turlington, who lived near Coats, had been destroyed by fire on Monday night. In the barn were fodder, cottonseed, and a number of others things besides the wagons and other farm equipment. The Dunn Fire Department came in time to save the other buildings near the barn. Turlington had $50 of insurance but the barn was valued at $2,000.00. A suspect was jailed on circumstantial evidence (Harnett County News December 12, 1934). Speaking of fodder, who knows what fodder is? Read the column next week and we will discover Carsie Denning’s memories of “fodder pulling”.
We had hundreds of visitors from all over to come into the museum during Farmer’s Day. These were the most eager group that we have ever had in seeking out information about houses, businesses, and family history. Kenneth Williams, Jr. brought wonderful military information about his dad and a fallen comrade during the Vietnam War for us to add to our military collections. Others were content to just sit in the theater room and watch videos of our veterans and senior citizens who have shared so many memories of war and living. The museum volunteers really enjoyed Sharon Stevens of Averasboro Tourism and other Dunn leaders who visited our museum last Friday morning.
A big thank you goes to Patsy and Stacy Avery who have come forth to sponsor an exhibit in our new exhibit hall. Forgive me for being personal but this is a good story. Many years ago my dad gave me two car license plates-a 1918 and 1926. A month or so ago, my cousin Mark Valsame of the North Carolina Archives sent me a picture of my youthful dad in a 1918 convertible. Upon looking at the car’s license plate, I saw it to be the same one that Dad had given to me. What would be the odds of that happening since my dad had dozens of cars during his 88 years on earth. This weekend Kent Langdon shared with me that my dad had taught his grandmother to drive a car. You guessed it. That is the same car that I have a picture of with the license plate. Thank you to H.L Sorrell for his memorial endowment gifts to honor my dad, Jonah C. Johnson, and his Uncle Bill Williams who shared the same birthday.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT THIS COATS MUSEUM NEWS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE DAILY RECORD ON OCTOBER 19, 2012.