October 9, 2015 Coats Museum News
The date 1855 is an important year in our Harnett County history. It marks the year that part of Cumberland County officially became recorded as Harnett County. To celebrate the Centennial, the dates October 9-15th, 1955 were picked. The paper shared with the public that money was needed to make the event successful. Does anyone remember what the citizens of the small town of Coats did to make their part of the centennial “successful”? According to the Daily Record, July 8, 1955 edition, many things were planned in Coats such as issuing permits to allow the men to shave and women to wear “war paint” (makeup). Each permit had cost 50 cents. If a man did not purchase a permit, he had to grow a beard and if a woman did not, she was fined. Beard buttons were sold. On the “Beard Buttons” it had “Harnett County 1855-1955”. I am a bearded—brother.” I don’t know what was to go in the blank but I do know the permits were billfold size and were numbered and signed by the finance chairman who was Curtis Guy for Coats and Owen Odum for the Coats Area. I bet you were wondering if the men and women out on the farms were part of the package, right. What do you think the chances of someone in the area having one of those buttons?
I do know that Harnett County ordered eight new buses to transport school students. C.H. Hood was maintenance supervisor (Daily Record July 11, 1955). Did students who lived in town walk to school in 1955?
Outside of Coats, death visited the home of Mrs. Walter Ennis. Her daughter, Mrs. Woodrow Turlington, 44, of Sanford, had died. Her services were held at the Red Hill Church and cemetery. Her husband Woodrow, two sons-Walter and Bob Turlington, and three daughters- Shirley Fay, Mrs. Eddie Biggers, and Miss Linda Gail Turlington, survived her. Her siblings were Buniard, Austin, Otis, Hunter, Mrs. H.E. Creech, Lillian Ennis and Mrs. Frank Moffitt.
Events of a happier nature were celebrated by the Whittenton and Ennis families. The third Whittenton Family Reunion was celebrated on Dunn, Route 3 while the Ennis Family Reunion was to be held on July 17th at Primitve Zion. New officers were suggested: John G. Ennis-president, Curtis Ennis-vice president, Thurman Ennis-secretary, and Clyde Ennis-treasurer. Suggested board members were John Alvis Ennis, Howard “Skinny” Ennis, Otis Ennis, Delmer Ennis, Kirkland Ennis, Paul Strickland, Lindsey Ennis, Jerry Ennis, Edward Ennis and Gilmer Ennis (Daily Record July 12, 1955). I bet you recognize some of those Ennis names. I have a question about the Whitttenton Reunion. Is this the Green Whittington family? The spelling is different and the Whittingtons had been having reunions about as long as the Ennis family-right?
Folks around Bailey’s Crossroads were busy with social activities. Mr. and Hunter Stevens and children of Ocala, Florida and Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Stevens of Benson visited Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nordan. Jim and Ray Lee of Coats spent the weekend visiting their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Waylon Bailey, Mrs. Glenard Bailey and daughters-Tess and Lucinda, Mrs. R.A. Tony, Jr. and son Bobby had a family gathering at Carolina Beach. Little Shelia Matthews of Coats spent a few weeks with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Buck Byrd, while her parents were in South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Willard Wood and children-Jean, Kennie, Ronnie, and Dempsie and Mr. and Mrs. John Mills and children-Duffie, Linda, and Brenda- visited Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Suggs and sons-Ricky and Randy- and Mr. and Mrs. Carson Suggs spent time in Baltimore visiting Mr. and Mrs. Roy Nordan and children-J.R., Jo Ann, and Sandra Nordan (Daily Record July 19, 1955). Wonder if all those families traveled in one vehicle? I had to wonder as I looked at the dates how they could be traveling to these places during the busy season of tobacco on the farms.
Local to international news had headlines such as “Bank of Harnett Is Merged with Durham and Trust”, “Ike Believes Reds Really Want peace”. “Doris Duke Sues Magazine for 3 Million” and “Farmers to Cast Votes On Saturday.”
When was the last time you voted on a Saturday? I do know that the Harnett County Schools needed 26 teachers for the 1955-56 school year and Mrs. Bessie Stone of Coats lost her mother, Mrs. Mary Caroline Moore, 83, who had died at her daughter’s house in Erwin. Mrs. Ellis Kennedy was Mrs. Stone’s sister (Daily Record July 20, 1955).
When do the first cotton flowers appear on the cotton stalks? The Daily Record reported that boll weevils were on the increase in cotton fields across Harnett County. H.A. Turlington had only one percent infestation and all farmers were urged to keep weekly check on their cotton plants. There was better news on the tobacco crop. Buck Currin had called from Georgia to report that tobacco prices were $52.50 compared to $47.00 last year.
Speaking of prices, shall we take a walk down the aisle of a food market in 1955 and price a few of the articles needed in most households. A pound of margarine was 19 cents. A ten-pound bag of sugar was 95 cents while a 10-pound bag of flour was only 76 cents. A pound of coffee was 78 cents. Meats were also available in the freezer section. (Do you recall reading years ago when most meats were purchased alive or in cans?) In 1955, shoppers could purchase smoked picnics for 39 cents per pound; turkeys were 53 cents per pound; 12 oz. of franks for 35 cents and shrimp went for 43 cents a pound. Which of those purchases would have the highest increase in cost today?
Peter Minzy Tyndall, 88, of Dunn had died after a long illness. He had retired from the Erwin Mills in 1930. Mrs. Martha Daniels of rural Coats was a daughter. Elsewhere in the Coats area, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Edwin Parker announced the birth of a son, James Frank, in Good Hope Hospital (Daily Record July 21, 1955).
Mrs. Shell Stewart of Coats had spent Thursday visiting her daughter, Mrs. Harold Byrd. The county health inspector checked the health standards of Carson and Hack’s Grill and Clyde’s Grill. The City Market, Coats Variety, and Red Star Grocery were graded. Hayes Abattoir and Joe and Carson’s Dairy were also visited (Daily Record July 22, 1955).
Once again the folks at the museum are saddened by the death of one who had a major impact on the success of our museum. Many people may not be aware that Edward Turlington built our Cotton Museum in 2005 and our Kress and Nell Penny Williams Exhibit Hall in 2013. H.L. and several of the volunteers had the opportunity of working with Ed on both of those building projects. It was for certain that he cared about people and was a leader in giving financially and encouraging his friends likewise to support their hometowns. His laugh, his jovial personality and leadership will be missed by so many. Thank you H.L. for selecting the Coats Museum Endowment to give a final thank you to your former student and friend-Edward Turlington.
A big thank you goes to Don Stewart for his gift of two copies of the last edition of the Dunn Dispatch in 1978. Many candidates running for office had advertised in that awesome edition. While working at the museum last Thursday in walked two couples for a tour. One of the men was Larry Johnson, President and Museum Director of the Stone Store Museum in Campo, CA. With Larry was his brother–in-law Charles Creech of the Johnston County Historical Society in Smithfield. Larry (Class of 1955) and his sister Carmen (1965) graduated from Coats High.
With long research from the volunteers at the Coats Museum, we have located the names of over 700 men and women from our area who have served in the armed forces. We are excited about the event that is being planned to recognize those individuals who have served following WWII to current. If you have defended or are defending our country during this era, please be a part of this event. We are hearing people say over and over,” I didn’t know he was a veteran.” Drop by the museum to pick up information on how to be a part of this November 14th event on the Coats Heritage Square by going to www.coatsmuseum.com and print a form to attend.
The date 1855 is an important year in our Harnett County history. It marks the year that part of Cumberland County officially became recorded as Harnett County. To celebrate the Centennial, the dates October 9-15th, 1955 were picked. The paper shared with the public that money was needed to make the event successful. Does anyone remember what the citizens of the small town of Coats did to make their part of the centennial “successful”? According to the Daily Record, July 8, 1955 edition, many things were planned in Coats such as issuing permits to allow the men to shave and women to wear “war paint” (makeup). Each permit had cost 50 cents. If a man did not purchase a permit, he had to grow a beard and if a woman did not, she was fined. Beard buttons were sold. On the “Beard Buttons” it had “Harnett County 1855-1955”. I am a bearded—brother.” I don’t know what was to go in the blank but I do know the permits were billfold size and were numbered and signed by the finance chairman who was Curtis Guy for Coats and Owen Odum for the Coats Area. I bet you were wondering if the men and women out on the farms were part of the package, right. What do you think the chances of someone in the area having one of those buttons?
I do know that Harnett County ordered eight new buses to transport school students. C.H. Hood was maintenance supervisor (Daily Record July 11, 1955). Did students who lived in town walk to school in 1955?
Outside of Coats, death visited the home of Mrs. Walter Ennis. Her daughter, Mrs. Woodrow Turlington, 44, of Sanford, had died. Her services were held at the Red Hill Church and cemetery. Her husband Woodrow, two sons-Walter and Bob Turlington, and three daughters- Shirley Fay, Mrs. Eddie Biggers, and Miss Linda Gail Turlington, survived her. Her siblings were Buniard, Austin, Otis, Hunter, Mrs. H.E. Creech, Lillian Ennis and Mrs. Frank Moffitt.
Events of a happier nature were celebrated by the Whittenton and Ennis families. The third Whittenton Family Reunion was celebrated on Dunn, Route 3 while the Ennis Family Reunion was to be held on July 17th at Primitve Zion. New officers were suggested: John G. Ennis-president, Curtis Ennis-vice president, Thurman Ennis-secretary, and Clyde Ennis-treasurer. Suggested board members were John Alvis Ennis, Howard “Skinny” Ennis, Otis Ennis, Delmer Ennis, Kirkland Ennis, Paul Strickland, Lindsey Ennis, Jerry Ennis, Edward Ennis and Gilmer Ennis (Daily Record July 12, 1955). I bet you recognize some of those Ennis names. I have a question about the Whitttenton Reunion. Is this the Green Whittington family? The spelling is different and the Whittingtons had been having reunions about as long as the Ennis family-right?
Folks around Bailey’s Crossroads were busy with social activities. Mr. and Hunter Stevens and children of Ocala, Florida and Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Stevens of Benson visited Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nordan. Jim and Ray Lee of Coats spent the weekend visiting their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Waylon Bailey, Mrs. Glenard Bailey and daughters-Tess and Lucinda, Mrs. R.A. Tony, Jr. and son Bobby had a family gathering at Carolina Beach. Little Shelia Matthews of Coats spent a few weeks with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Buck Byrd, while her parents were in South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Willard Wood and children-Jean, Kennie, Ronnie, and Dempsie and Mr. and Mrs. John Mills and children-Duffie, Linda, and Brenda- visited Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Suggs and sons-Ricky and Randy- and Mr. and Mrs. Carson Suggs spent time in Baltimore visiting Mr. and Mrs. Roy Nordan and children-J.R., Jo Ann, and Sandra Nordan (Daily Record July 19, 1955). Wonder if all those families traveled in one vehicle? I had to wonder as I looked at the dates how they could be traveling to these places during the busy season of tobacco on the farms.
Local to international news had headlines such as “Bank of Harnett Is Merged with Durham and Trust”, “Ike Believes Reds Really Want peace”. “Doris Duke Sues Magazine for 3 Million” and “Farmers to Cast Votes On Saturday.”
When was the last time you voted on a Saturday? I do know that the Harnett County Schools needed 26 teachers for the 1955-56 school year and Mrs. Bessie Stone of Coats lost her mother, Mrs. Mary Caroline Moore, 83, who had died at her daughter’s house in Erwin. Mrs. Ellis Kennedy was Mrs. Stone’s sister (Daily Record July 20, 1955).
When do the first cotton flowers appear on the cotton stalks? The Daily Record reported that boll weevils were on the increase in cotton fields across Harnett County. H.A. Turlington had only one percent infestation and all farmers were urged to keep weekly check on their cotton plants. There was better news on the tobacco crop. Buck Currin had called from Georgia to report that tobacco prices were $52.50 compared to $47.00 last year.
Speaking of prices, shall we take a walk down the aisle of a food market in 1955 and price a few of the articles needed in most households. A pound of margarine was 19 cents. A ten-pound bag of sugar was 95 cents while a 10-pound bag of flour was only 76 cents. A pound of coffee was 78 cents. Meats were also available in the freezer section. (Do you recall reading years ago when most meats were purchased alive or in cans?) In 1955, shoppers could purchase smoked picnics for 39 cents per pound; turkeys were 53 cents per pound; 12 oz. of franks for 35 cents and shrimp went for 43 cents a pound. Which of those purchases would have the highest increase in cost today?
Peter Minzy Tyndall, 88, of Dunn had died after a long illness. He had retired from the Erwin Mills in 1930. Mrs. Martha Daniels of rural Coats was a daughter. Elsewhere in the Coats area, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Edwin Parker announced the birth of a son, James Frank, in Good Hope Hospital (Daily Record July 21, 1955).
Mrs. Shell Stewart of Coats had spent Thursday visiting her daughter, Mrs. Harold Byrd. The county health inspector checked the health standards of Carson and Hack’s Grill and Clyde’s Grill. The City Market, Coats Variety, and Red Star Grocery were graded. Hayes Abattoir and Joe and Carson’s Dairy were also visited (Daily Record July 22, 1955).
Once again the folks at the museum are saddened by the death of one who had a major impact on the success of our museum. Many people may not be aware that Edward Turlington built our Cotton Museum in 2005 and our Kress and Nell Penny Williams Exhibit Hall in 2013. H.L. and several of the volunteers had the opportunity of working with Ed on both of those building projects. It was for certain that he cared about people and was a leader in giving financially and encouraging his friends likewise to support their hometowns. His laugh, his jovial personality and leadership will be missed by so many. Thank you H.L. for selecting the Coats Museum Endowment to give a final thank you to your former student and friend-Edward Turlington.
A big thank you goes to Don Stewart for his gift of two copies of the last edition of the Dunn Dispatch in 1978. Many candidates running for office had advertised in that awesome edition. While working at the museum last Thursday in walked two couples for a tour. One of the men was Larry Johnson, President and Museum Director of the Stone Store Museum in Campo, CA. With Larry was his brother–in-law Charles Creech of the Johnston County Historical Society in Smithfield. Larry (Class of 1955) and his sister Carmen (1965) graduated from Coats High.
With long research from the volunteers at the Coats Museum, we have located the names of over 700 men and women from our area who have served in the armed forces. We are excited about the event that is being planned to recognize those individuals who have served following WWII to current. If you have defended or are defending our country during this era, please be a part of this event. We are hearing people say over and over,” I didn’t know he was a veteran.” Drop by the museum to pick up information on how to be a part of this November 14th event on the Coats Heritage Square by going to www.coatsmuseum.com and print a form to attend.