October 23, 2015 Coats Museum News
Hurricanes Connie and Diane had people living in the coastal areas of N.C. on edge. After Connie had spared the area, Hurricane Diane was due to hit. Carolina and Topsail Beaches were evacuated. In Coats, however, the family of Mrs. Rosa Katherine Byrd, age 69, of Coats was receiving news of her death. The lady had died at Good Hope Hospital. Mrs. Byrd was a native of Johnston County and was the widow of Ben E. Byrd. Four sons were Hubert, Newton, Jesse, and Victor and six daughters were Mrs. Otha Jones, Miss Betty A. Byrd, Mrs. Elmon Parker, Mrs. John Holmes, Mrs. R.C. Thomas, and Mrs. Linwood Johnson, who survived her. Junnie and Otha Stevens were her brothers (Daily Record Aug. 16, 1955).
Believe it or not, Hurricane Diane was a good girl and did no wind damage in the Grove Township area. She did give heavy rains which did not prevent the pulling of the names of Alex Byrd and G. Rob Adams to be summoned for jurors for the criminal session and that of Johnnie A. Stewart for civil court on September 12 (Daily Record Aug. 17, 1955).
Miss Pamela Stewart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Stewart, was honored on her sixth birthday at Tyler Park. Mike and Debbie King attended along with Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Keene of Coats. Carl and Harold Turlington had become the satisfied owners of an International Harvester mechanical cotton picker from McLamb Farm Machinery Company (Daily Record August 19, 1955).
The flood deaths from Hurricane Diane had reached 300 in the New England states and disease was a threat. The jobless and homeless had wondered what would happen to them; however, in our area there was pleasant news: Miss Virginia McLamb was engaged to marry Cpl. Stephen David Core, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.O. Core, and Barbara Stewart of rural Coats had modeled at the Fashion Review of Leder Bros. of Dunn.
Fred Holmes was serving aboard the attack aircraft carrier, USS Lake Champlain. He was an airman, USN, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Holmes of rural Coats. Before entering the US Navy in 1952, he had graduated from Coats High School. Fred’s grandmother, Mrs. Rosa Katherine Byrd, was reported as having died in Good Hope a few paragraphs above. Wonder if he was allowed to come home for her funeral (Daily Record Aug. 22, 1955).
This I do know. Joseph Fish who graduated from Coats in 1957 and was a career military veteran before his death a few years ago was one of those servicemen who worked in personnel helping fellow service men to return home when there were situations which merited bringing home the soldier for the crisis. One such case that Joseph assisted with was when Alonzo Johnson became deathly ill and his son, Albert Johnson, was stationed in Vietnam. Joseph’s wife, the former Faye Moran, thought Albert Johnson reached home before his father died, but that Albert was killed in a helicopter crash while returning to his group in Vietnam.
Faye M. Fish will carry an American flag in memory of Joseph at our November 14th “Defenders of the Red, White and Blue”. Joe and Faye had two children, Dale and Tammy Fish, who have followed their dad in serving our country. Dr. Dale Fish is a retired Lt. Colonel and teaches courses associated with Homeland Security for two universities while Tammy is currently a Lt. Colonel serving in Texas after a tour in Afghanistan. Tammy also has a doctor’s degree. The museum folks are so excited to have the Fish family military pictures in our Research Library.
Mr. and Mrs. Blount Whiteside, Jr. were newlyweds. Mrs. Whiteside was the former Jennette Bramble of Fayetteville (Daily Record Aug. 23, 1955). Does anyone remember when Mrs. Whiteside taught school at Coats High?
The local tobacco markets were to open in Dunn. It was expected to be the biggest year in history with “big fat” checks for the golden leaf. Mrs. Delmer Ennis headed up the Dunn Curb Market. Does anyone know what that was? I do know that lamps were selling for $7.95. For $1.98 the lamp could be carried home. The Curb Market money could make a good purchase.
In 1954, more than one third of the Harnett County land was harvested. Harnett County had 6,730 peach trees; 2,248 cows were milked and 2,939 cows were beef cattle. The farm population in 1954 was 25, 771. The total damage from floods caused by Hurricane Diane was over one and one half billion according to the last figures (Daily Record Aug. 24, 1955).
The senior year had finally arrived for the class of 1956. The Coats dignified seniors stepped proudly into the role. Mrs. Charles T. Smith and Miss Lynch were the co-sponsors for the class. Memories made in the freshmen year were when there were 75 of them under the supervision of Miss Edith Allen and Mr. Ray W. Coon. The freshmen party at Pullen Park had been a great way to say farewell to the year of adjustments. Gone were the happy hours spent with Miss Sue Bullock and Mr. James Valsame who often had quite a time calming down the sophomores’ effort to have a fun year. Evelyn Campbell and Jean Ryals had been selected to represent the class in the May Court.
As ‘jolly juniors” the class welcomed the challenge to work hard to accomplish the goals to become prepared seniors. Mrs. Hockaday and Mr. Clifford Z. Adams were helpful in meeting that goal, especially in raising money to finance their Junior–Senior Banquet, the theme of which was “Moonlight and Roses.” The juniors sold billfolds, Christmas cards and had a Talent and Stunt night. Were those billfolds for those fat checks?
I do know that the first task the seniors had was to elect officers for the class and they selected Billy Smith as president; Virginia Norris as vice president; Sue Ennis as secretary and Faye Avery as treasurer. For mascots, they chose Clark Langdon and Deborah Tunstall. The red and white carnations were the class flowers and the motto stated, “It is the soldier who has fought the hardest and the most discouraging battle who wears the hero’s medal.”
The seniors selected “The Echoing Memories” as the name of the school yearbook and within we find that the class picked their superlatives among the classmates. The “Best-All-Round” pair was Evelyn Campbell and Billy Smith; the “Most Studious” honors went to Lena Pope and Jimmy Honeycutt. Faye Avery and Lacy Langdon were picked as “Most Likely to Succeed.”Virginia Norris and Fred Holder were voted “Most Popular.” Dwight Tripp and Willadean Johnson were recognized as “Most Dependable.” “Neatest” of the class of ’56 went to Lois Jernigan and Larry Johnson. Linda Byrd and Burney Williams won the prize as being the “Wittiest” and the “Friendliest” couple was Jean Ryals and Russell McLean. Della Jackson and Glenwood Byrd were obviously the “Cutest.” Sue Ennis and McKinley Whittington were the “Most Athletic” and the “Beau and Belle” of the class were Lois Jernigan and Fred Allen Elliott. The “Most Original” went to Sue McLamb and James Moore. “Best Sports” were Billy Jean Byrd and Benny Holmes. The “Most Talented” of the class was voted to be Virginia Norris and Russell McLean. Who was the “Most Intellectual”? Of course the class voted themselves that honor in 1956 (The Echoing Memories 1956-Coats High School).
Grady Matthews is a name that often comes up when museum tours are given. Grady fought a chimpanzee and there are many visitors who share their version of the fight. Thank you to his wife Frances for her memorial donation for Grady. We love her wonderful stories about Grady.
The dates on the calendar are flipping quickly and many of our veterans and/or their survivors are picking up forms to participate in our “Defenders of the Red, White and Blue” event to be on the Heritage Square on November the 14th. Please promptly return those forms to the folks at the museum so we can better prepare for the event. We are discovering that many folks are sadly not aware of the branch of service that a parent served in for our country. Forms can be found on our website www.coatsmuseum.com. One can pick up a form at the museum on Thursdays (9-3pm) or Sundays (2-5pm). Time is running out.
Hurricanes Connie and Diane had people living in the coastal areas of N.C. on edge. After Connie had spared the area, Hurricane Diane was due to hit. Carolina and Topsail Beaches were evacuated. In Coats, however, the family of Mrs. Rosa Katherine Byrd, age 69, of Coats was receiving news of her death. The lady had died at Good Hope Hospital. Mrs. Byrd was a native of Johnston County and was the widow of Ben E. Byrd. Four sons were Hubert, Newton, Jesse, and Victor and six daughters were Mrs. Otha Jones, Miss Betty A. Byrd, Mrs. Elmon Parker, Mrs. John Holmes, Mrs. R.C. Thomas, and Mrs. Linwood Johnson, who survived her. Junnie and Otha Stevens were her brothers (Daily Record Aug. 16, 1955).
Believe it or not, Hurricane Diane was a good girl and did no wind damage in the Grove Township area. She did give heavy rains which did not prevent the pulling of the names of Alex Byrd and G. Rob Adams to be summoned for jurors for the criminal session and that of Johnnie A. Stewart for civil court on September 12 (Daily Record Aug. 17, 1955).
Miss Pamela Stewart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Stewart, was honored on her sixth birthday at Tyler Park. Mike and Debbie King attended along with Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Keene of Coats. Carl and Harold Turlington had become the satisfied owners of an International Harvester mechanical cotton picker from McLamb Farm Machinery Company (Daily Record August 19, 1955).
The flood deaths from Hurricane Diane had reached 300 in the New England states and disease was a threat. The jobless and homeless had wondered what would happen to them; however, in our area there was pleasant news: Miss Virginia McLamb was engaged to marry Cpl. Stephen David Core, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.O. Core, and Barbara Stewart of rural Coats had modeled at the Fashion Review of Leder Bros. of Dunn.
Fred Holmes was serving aboard the attack aircraft carrier, USS Lake Champlain. He was an airman, USN, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Holmes of rural Coats. Before entering the US Navy in 1952, he had graduated from Coats High School. Fred’s grandmother, Mrs. Rosa Katherine Byrd, was reported as having died in Good Hope a few paragraphs above. Wonder if he was allowed to come home for her funeral (Daily Record Aug. 22, 1955).
This I do know. Joseph Fish who graduated from Coats in 1957 and was a career military veteran before his death a few years ago was one of those servicemen who worked in personnel helping fellow service men to return home when there were situations which merited bringing home the soldier for the crisis. One such case that Joseph assisted with was when Alonzo Johnson became deathly ill and his son, Albert Johnson, was stationed in Vietnam. Joseph’s wife, the former Faye Moran, thought Albert Johnson reached home before his father died, but that Albert was killed in a helicopter crash while returning to his group in Vietnam.
Faye M. Fish will carry an American flag in memory of Joseph at our November 14th “Defenders of the Red, White and Blue”. Joe and Faye had two children, Dale and Tammy Fish, who have followed their dad in serving our country. Dr. Dale Fish is a retired Lt. Colonel and teaches courses associated with Homeland Security for two universities while Tammy is currently a Lt. Colonel serving in Texas after a tour in Afghanistan. Tammy also has a doctor’s degree. The museum folks are so excited to have the Fish family military pictures in our Research Library.
Mr. and Mrs. Blount Whiteside, Jr. were newlyweds. Mrs. Whiteside was the former Jennette Bramble of Fayetteville (Daily Record Aug. 23, 1955). Does anyone remember when Mrs. Whiteside taught school at Coats High?
The local tobacco markets were to open in Dunn. It was expected to be the biggest year in history with “big fat” checks for the golden leaf. Mrs. Delmer Ennis headed up the Dunn Curb Market. Does anyone know what that was? I do know that lamps were selling for $7.95. For $1.98 the lamp could be carried home. The Curb Market money could make a good purchase.
In 1954, more than one third of the Harnett County land was harvested. Harnett County had 6,730 peach trees; 2,248 cows were milked and 2,939 cows were beef cattle. The farm population in 1954 was 25, 771. The total damage from floods caused by Hurricane Diane was over one and one half billion according to the last figures (Daily Record Aug. 24, 1955).
The senior year had finally arrived for the class of 1956. The Coats dignified seniors stepped proudly into the role. Mrs. Charles T. Smith and Miss Lynch were the co-sponsors for the class. Memories made in the freshmen year were when there were 75 of them under the supervision of Miss Edith Allen and Mr. Ray W. Coon. The freshmen party at Pullen Park had been a great way to say farewell to the year of adjustments. Gone were the happy hours spent with Miss Sue Bullock and Mr. James Valsame who often had quite a time calming down the sophomores’ effort to have a fun year. Evelyn Campbell and Jean Ryals had been selected to represent the class in the May Court.
As ‘jolly juniors” the class welcomed the challenge to work hard to accomplish the goals to become prepared seniors. Mrs. Hockaday and Mr. Clifford Z. Adams were helpful in meeting that goal, especially in raising money to finance their Junior–Senior Banquet, the theme of which was “Moonlight and Roses.” The juniors sold billfolds, Christmas cards and had a Talent and Stunt night. Were those billfolds for those fat checks?
I do know that the first task the seniors had was to elect officers for the class and they selected Billy Smith as president; Virginia Norris as vice president; Sue Ennis as secretary and Faye Avery as treasurer. For mascots, they chose Clark Langdon and Deborah Tunstall. The red and white carnations were the class flowers and the motto stated, “It is the soldier who has fought the hardest and the most discouraging battle who wears the hero’s medal.”
The seniors selected “The Echoing Memories” as the name of the school yearbook and within we find that the class picked their superlatives among the classmates. The “Best-All-Round” pair was Evelyn Campbell and Billy Smith; the “Most Studious” honors went to Lena Pope and Jimmy Honeycutt. Faye Avery and Lacy Langdon were picked as “Most Likely to Succeed.”Virginia Norris and Fred Holder were voted “Most Popular.” Dwight Tripp and Willadean Johnson were recognized as “Most Dependable.” “Neatest” of the class of ’56 went to Lois Jernigan and Larry Johnson. Linda Byrd and Burney Williams won the prize as being the “Wittiest” and the “Friendliest” couple was Jean Ryals and Russell McLean. Della Jackson and Glenwood Byrd were obviously the “Cutest.” Sue Ennis and McKinley Whittington were the “Most Athletic” and the “Beau and Belle” of the class were Lois Jernigan and Fred Allen Elliott. The “Most Original” went to Sue McLamb and James Moore. “Best Sports” were Billy Jean Byrd and Benny Holmes. The “Most Talented” of the class was voted to be Virginia Norris and Russell McLean. Who was the “Most Intellectual”? Of course the class voted themselves that honor in 1956 (The Echoing Memories 1956-Coats High School).
Grady Matthews is a name that often comes up when museum tours are given. Grady fought a chimpanzee and there are many visitors who share their version of the fight. Thank you to his wife Frances for her memorial donation for Grady. We love her wonderful stories about Grady.
The dates on the calendar are flipping quickly and many of our veterans and/or their survivors are picking up forms to participate in our “Defenders of the Red, White and Blue” event to be on the Heritage Square on November the 14th. Please promptly return those forms to the folks at the museum so we can better prepare for the event. We are discovering that many folks are sadly not aware of the branch of service that a parent served in for our country. Forms can be found on our website www.coatsmuseum.com. One can pick up a form at the museum on Thursdays (9-3pm) or Sundays (2-5pm). Time is running out.
