Roger Kammerer's "Pitt's Past" ColumnScope and Content Note
Searching
Pitt's Past Database
Pitt's Past
Scope and Content: Since 1984, local historian Roger Kammerer has written a regular column, now called "Pitt's Past," for the Greenville Times, a bi-weekly tabloid newspaper first published in 1981. These articles describe many aspects of the history of Pitt County's people, places, and important events. Included are columns about notable individuals; cities, towns, and small communities; such important buildings as the Pitt County Courthouse; steamboats on the Tar River; schools; churches; the service of individuals in various wars; and the social life and customs of people during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Many of the articles contain "odd and unusual" tidbits concerning people, places, and animals. Some of the articles contain illustrations--photographs or sketches drawn by Mr. Kammerer. An article in the October 4-17, 1983, issue of the paper contains a biographical sketch of Mr. Kammerer. This database, compiled by Matthew L. Miller, Emily Gore, Christopher Bingham, and Katherine Moore includes abstracts for each of the articles written by Mr. Kammerer during the period 1983-present. The abstracts summarize the content of major articles, but do not contain references to all of the many "odd and unusual tales" recounted by the author. The presence of illustrations in an article is noted in the abstract. The abstracts are arranged in reverse chronological order. The Greenville Times is available on microfilm in the North Carolina Collection.
Searching: Use your web browser's "Edit" and "Find" commands to search the database by key word, or simply scroll through the database.
Pitt's Past Database
2005
November 9-22, 2005
"Two Unlikely Visitors to Greenville: Tom Thumb & Fidel Castro's Sister" On April 12, 1845, the shortest man in history, Tom Thumb, came to Tarboro, where he was shown at the Pender Hotel. He was twenty-seven inches high and weighed twenty-five pounds. He made his living by selling photographs of himself. According to an advertisement that appeared in a Tarboro newspaper, Tom Thumb was scheduled to appear in Greenville and Washington after his visit there.
On July 31, 1969 Fidel Castro’s sister, Juanita, gave two talks at East Carolina University. She denounced her brother’s rule and stated that she was helping Cuban refugees flee his regime. Her speeches reflected strong anti-Communist sentiment. She believed that ninety-five percent of Cubans were unhappy with Fidel Castro and that one day Cuba would become free again.
October 26-November 8, 2005
"Louis Armstrong in Greenville" Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. He sang on the streets as a child and was influenced by the jazz he heard there. He taught himself to play the cornet and began playing in the local clubs. In 1922 he joined Joe "King" Oliver’s band in Chicago, which started his recording career. He then started his own band, the Hot Seven (originally the Hot Five). He married in 1942 and bought a house in Queens, New York. He averaged three hundred concerts a year, appeared in thirty films, and wrote two autobiographies. Armstrong was nicknamed "Satchmo," short for Satchelmouth, which was a joke about the size of his mouth. On November 3, 1959, "Satchmo" came to Greenville, where he performed in the Raynor-Forbes Tobacco Warehouse. More than 1,000 persons attended.
October 12-25, 2005
"Pitt County's First Train, 1882" The first train that came through Pitt County arrived in Bethel on September 12, 1882, on the newly completed Seaboard-Raleigh Railroad. Citizens of a three-county region celebrated this occasion with speeches and a dinner. The Tarboro Southerner covered this event, and the resulting article is included. The railroad had been chartered in 1868, but financial reverses caused many delays in its completion. It was not until 1890 that a train would come through Greenville.
September 28-October11, 2005
"Pitt County Fair Remembered" The first Pitt County Agricultural Fair was held on September 17 and 18, 1884. The show of goods was to be sent to Raleigh for a state exhibition. Another fair did not occur until 1898, when the Greenville Tobacco Fair Association sponsored the event. A horse race, bands, and dancers were added for entertainment. The horse race, a popular event, continued for years to come, but another fair was not held until 1911. In 1919, Haywood Dale, W. M. Price, and R. L. Smith built a horse racing track and a baseball diamond with a grandstand and an exhibition hall. This site is now occupied by Guy Smith Stadium. The fair achieved success during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1936 local posts of the American Legion assumed sponsorship of the fair; the following year it was moved to a site on Highway 43, where the Medical Pavilion stands today. The fair was discontinued in 1943 because of World War II. It remained at the same location until 1950. In 1951 the fair was moved to the intersection of Airport Road and NC 11/US 13, and in 1978 it was moved to its current location on Greenville Boulevard NE near US 264.
September 14-27, 2005
"Eleanor Roosevelt in Greenville" Less than one month before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, on November 17, 1941, Eleanor Roosevelt visited East Carolina Teacher's College. She actually arrived by plane in Greenville, South Carolina, and had to drive to Greenville, North Carolina. She toured the town, visiting Sheppard Memorial Library and the college campus. Mrs. Roosevelt held a press conference at the home of the college president, ate dinner on campus, and gave a talk, "A Day at the White House." She left for Washington, D.C., immediately following the speech.
August 31-September 13, 2005
"Agnes De Mille in Greenville" Agnes de Mille, the niece of Cecil B. de Mille, was born in Harlem, New York, in 1909. Agnes’s family moved to Hollywood when she was young. Because of her love for dance she pleaded with her parents to allow her to take lessons. She attended UCLA to pursue dancing and acting, then moved back to New York. After a short stint in London, de Mille was invited in 1939 to join the American Ballet Theatre. Her first ballet, “Black Ritual,” was the first to use black ballet dancers. During her career, de Mille choreographed various well-known ballets and musicals, including "Oklahoma" and "Carousel." At the request of one of her former assistants, Mavis Ray, de Mille visited East Carolina University on January 10, 1968, where she gave a program in McGinnis Auditorium. De Mille suffered a stroke in 1975. She died in 1993.
August 17-30, 2005
None
August 3-16, 2005
None
July 20-August 2, 2005
"Tom Mix in Greenville" Thomas Hezekiah Mix was born in Cameron County, Pennsylvania, in 1880. It was not until 1904 that he headed west to try is hand as a cowboy. At the St. Louis World Fair Mix met Will Rogers. They would remain friends for life. Mix had dedicated himself to fine-tuning his rodeo skills. In 1910 he began his movie career when he was hired with Hoot Gibson to appear in a western. Mix would go on to appear in between 300 and 400 films and to become the first actor to promote his horse as a star. Tom Mix was a "straight-shooting, non-drinking, non-smoking, non-swearing" cowboy who set an example for children and adult Wild West fans. Tom Mix came to Greenville on December 1, 1933, and on October 8, 1936. He died in an automobile accident in 1940 at the age of sixty.
July 6-19, 2005
"Jack Dempsey in Greenville" Jack Dempsey was born William Harrison Dempsey in 1895 in Manassa, Colorado. He left home when he was sixteen to travel the west. On his freight train trips he learned how to fight simply to survive. His fighting career took off when he encountered Jack “Doe” Kerns, a fight manager. Under the guidance of Kerns, Dempsey knocked out several well-known fighters, including Jess Willard, early in his career. During his career, Dempsey amassed forty-nine knock-outs, twenty-five of which took place in the first round. On September 18, 1941, he visited Greenville with the Cole Brothers Combined Circus. Huge crowds gathered around the headliner just to shake the hand of the world-famous boxer.
June 22-July 5, 2005
"Hoot Gibson in Greenville" Born in Tekamah, Nebraska, Edmund Richard Gibson learned how to ride a horse at a young age. Because of his interest in hunting owls, he was nicknamed "Hoot." He joined the circus at age thirteen and was stranded in Colorado. He worked as a cowpuncher until 1910, when a film director hired him for a short silent film. He competed in rodeos while he appeared in two other films. In 1912 he won the World’s All-Around Champion Cowboy award. He then began to appear as a stunt double for such stars as Harry Carey. He did a short stint in the Army during WWI but returned in 1919 to become a major western movie star. He went on to appear in more westerns than any other Hollywood movie star and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hoot Gibson came to Greenville on October 3, 1937, with the Hagenbeck-Wallace railroad circus. He died of cancer in 1965.
June 8-21, 2005
"Carl Sandberg in Greenville" Famous for his writings on the life of the workingman, Carl Sandberg was a poet, biographer and newspaper columnist. He was born in Galesville, Illinois, where he was schooled until he reached the eighth grade. He fought in the Spanish-American War and then attended Lombard College. He moved from job to job in his youth until joining the Wisconsin Social Democratic Party. His biography of Abraham Lincoln and his book, Complete Poems, won Pulitzer prizes. On April 24, 1939, Carl Sandberg gave a program to a packed audience at Wright Auditorium on the campus of East Carolina Teachers College. He died on July 22, 1967.
May 25-June 7, 2005
"Will Rogers in Greenville" Will Rogers, the cowboy humorist, came to Greenville on April 6, 1926, and performed two times in front of a total of 5,000 fans. Rogers (1879-1935) was born on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma. He later joined a wild west show as a trick roper. He entered the Guinness Book of World Records for throwing three lassos at once. Rogers toured the world, wrote a syndicated news column and six books, appeared in 50 silent films and 21 talking movies, and was a popular radio personality. He died at the age of 55 when his plane crashed in Alaska.
May 11-24, 2005
'"Amelia Earhart's Visit to Greenville" Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) beat the records for speed, altitude, and distance in aviation. She came to visit Greenville alone in her car on January 15, 1936. Earhart spoke in front of an audience of more 1,500 at the East Carolina Teachers College. She humored the audience with stories of all of the celeberties she had been mistaken for and she told detailed stories of her adventures in aviation. She stressed to the audience that air travel was the safest of all forms of travel.
April 27-May 10, 2005
"William Jennings Bryan in Greenville In April of 1918, William Jennings Bryan came to Greenville. Bryan (1860-1925) was a lawyer, newspaper editor, and Democratic leader. He was nominated three times for president. While visiting Greenville, he roomed at the Princeton Hotel at the corner of Greene and Washington Streets. Then he spoke to up to seven hundred citizens at White’s Theatre on Fifth Street. The subject of his speech was "The Fundamentals of Man's Relations to the Government, Society, and to God."
April 13-26, 2005
None
March 30-April 12, 2005
"St. Andrews Protestant Episcopal Church St. Andrews Protestant Episcopal Church is the last frame church in the central business district. It served the black Episcopal congregation until 1970. St. Andrews was organized in 1903 by Archdeacon William George Avant. By 1951, the church was in such bad condition that the church members met in the home of Winnie Godette. In 1953 the church was rededicated after receiving a gradual flow of contributions and becoming a mission church of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The churches merged in 1970.
March 16-29, 2005
"The Pitt County Prison" From 1939 to 1964, Pitt County had a prison on Belvoir Road near the airport. Before the 1930s, the chain gang system was the system of labor used. This system put serious law offenders to work. The prisoners were housed in "Cage Camps," which were camps on wagons that moved to work sites. In the 1930s the county brought together all of the prisoners by housing them in a prison. The Pitt County Prison was for housing some of the state's toughest prisoners. By 1961 the state decided to save money by consolidating prisons. In 1964 the Pitt County Prison was decommissioned and prisoners were sent to the Vance County Prison. The old prison was eventually torn down to allow for the expansion of the airport.
March 2-15, 2005
"Remembering the ECU Victory Bell and the First Football Team 2005 marks the 73rd football season at East Carolina University. The football team was started by C. Kenneth Beatty, who received no pay for coaching. The victory bell, which is located on the west side of Memorial Gymnasium, was given to ECU by the Veterans Club. It was to be rung after games won by the Pirates. Plans to secure the bell began in 1951, and it was officially presented on October 10, 1953. ECU is holding a Victory Bell Commemorative Service on March 29, 2005.
February 16-March 1, 2005
"Local Valentine's Traditions" Valentine's Day was meant something different in the year 1900 than it does today. Local boys got into mischief. They would run around town tearing down signs and breaking windows. The newspaper warned people to protect their homes from the pranksters. Another local tradition was the giving of "Penny-awfuls." Sold in stores, these insulting cards allowed the sender to show his or her dislike for someone.
February 2-15, 2005
"Tar River Bridge Dedication in 1929" The old steel bridge that is soon to be reconstructed on the Town Common used to be located on Greene Street and was dedicated to World War I veterans in 1929. Work began on the bridge in 1927 and was completed two years later at a cost of 150,000. Bronze plaques were placed at each end of the bridge and they state that the bridge was dedicated on June 21, 1929 (even though the dedication date was actually April 27, 1929). Many townspeople attended the dedication ceremony.
January 19-February 1, 2005
None
January 5-18, 2005
"In Search of Charles Read" Charles Read was a leading politician in colonial days. In the spring of 1773 he fled his native state of New Jersey, where he faced a long jail sentence for bankruptcy. Read moved to Martinborough, North Carolina, where he died in 1774. Martinborough was renamed Greenesville in 1786. Today, it is thought that Reade Street in Greenville is named for him.
December 22-January 4, 2005
"All Lit Up--Christmas Tree Lights The General Electric Company began to market Christmas tree lights in 1901 after Thomas Edison sold his factory to them. Greenville did not have electricity until 1905, and it was not until 1916 that electric Christmas tree lights were used in Greenville. By 1928, the town erected a large Christmas tree atop of the traffic island at Five Points. This practice would stop by 1960, but the tradition of placing a Christmas tree in front of a business office was started by the Merchants Association in 1929 and continues to this day.
Return to Top
2004
December 8-21, 2004
None
November 24-December 7, 2004
"Pitt County Places" As Pitt County becomes more urban, historic landmarks are disappearing. Pulling out an old map can help us remember the "obscure and unusual places" of Pitt County's past, in particular, the towns of Keelsville, Toddy, and Maupin.
November 10-23, 2004
"Grigg T. Tyson Narrative" Grigg T. Tyson (1854-1922) was a farmer near Ballard's Crossroads, and he was one of the first to advocate planting cover crops and saving the forests. He organized the Tyson-May Family reunion in 1920. Mrs. Grigg T. Tyson III donated narratives, maps, and other old papers of Grigg T. Tyson to the East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University. The narrative in this column is about Tyson's father, who was left an orphan because his entire family died from the typhoid fever.
October 27-November 9, 2004
None
October 13-26, 2004
None
September 29-October 12, 2004
None
September 15-28, 2004
"Pitt County Family Researchers, Inc., Celebrating 10 Years" In 1994, William B. Kittrell and a few dedicated genealogists created The Pitt County Family Researchers, or the PCFR. This organization works to find and document Pitt County related family histories and genealogy throughout North Carolina and the United States as a whole, a task made quite difficult by the burning of the Pitt County Courthouse in the late 1850s. Initially meeting in local churches and at Pitt Community College, the PCFR, running out of space, decided to donate its collections to the Sheppard Memorial Library in Greenville in 2001. Now, after 10 years of growth and service to the community, the PCFR continues to seek out information relating to Pitt County genealogy and holds monthly meetings at the Sheppard Memorial Library. In addition, the group sponsors yearly reunions for those who seek help in discovering their family's history.
September 1-14, 2004
"Pitt County Tales" In August 1899, the drawbridge over the Tar River in Greenville collapsed. Apparently, the accident occurred during a test of the newly repaired and renovated structure. As the span fell into the river, five workers were thrown into the water. Although four of the men were rescued, John Worsley of Rocky Mount was killed in the accident.
In February 1910, the Wednesday Afternoon Club was organized by a group of young ladies from Greenville. Meeting in Miss Helen Forbes's home, the club's purpose was to encourage the ladies' practice of domestic arts, such as cooking.
In October 1908, the old beech tree on the corner of Washington and Third in Greenville was cut down by the city because it was blocking the sidewalk. The age of the tree was unknown, but it must have been old indeed considering that even the oldest person in town could not remember when it was planted.
In March 1901, there was a fight between Hill Horne and Hassell Daniel, two local boys, over the water pump in the yard of the Forbes' house in Greenville. Brandishing a small knife, Hassell stabbed Hill in the chest. Luckily for Hill, his breastbone stopped the knife from going very far. Jim Anderson, a friend of the two boys, quickly broke up the fight.
In 1891, M. R. Lang, a Greenville merchant, devised something new for the ladies of the town. In his store, Lang had a box with a large bell attached to it. When a lady placed a penny into the slot on the top of the box and a handkerchief under the bell, the bell rang and a small amount of perfume was sprayed onto the handkerchief.
August 18-31, 2004
"1901 Bethel Odd Fellows Meeting" In April of 1901, the Odd Fellows association of Bethel held a large lodge meeting. In attendance were fellow members from Greenville, Parmele and Robersonville. The meeting took place at the Bethel Methodist Church and included a speech by Professor W. H. Ragsdale on the organization and intent of the Odd Fellows as well as an enormous outdoor dinner consisting of enough barbeque, ham and chicken to feed nearly 400 people. Following the meeting, some members from outside of Bethel took a walk into town to find whiskey but discovered to their horror that the town of Bethel was a dry community where no liquor was available.
August 4-17, 2004
"History of the Greenville Bank and Trust Company" In 1901, the Greenville Banking and Trust Company was created with an office on Evans Street. At the time of its inception, the bank, headed by president Larry L. Moore, had a capital stock of $10,000. During the first quarter of the 20th Century, the bank expanded its business, which catered to local farmers and merchants, as well as its capital, which reached nearly $150,000 by 1927. Throughout its early years, the bank was known for its lavishly decorated buildings and its security-conscious staff. With the coming of the Great Depression, many banks in Eastern North Carolina were forced to close their doors; the Greenville Banking and Trust Company, because of its good business practices and enormous stock of available capital, was able to survive and even expand. As the bank expanded into nearby communities such as Bethel and Snow Hill, its officers decided that a name change was in order. In 1938, the bank was renamed the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company. During the 1940s and 50s, the company continued to expand its business and became the largest bank in Eastern North Carolina with nearly $30,000,000 in assets. In 1960, the same year that the company built a new branch on the corner of West Fifth and Washington Streets in Greenville, Wachovia Bank and Trust Company showed interest in merging with the local institution. The merger became a reality later that year and the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company ceased to be.
July 21-August 3, 2004
July 7-20, 2004
"The May Brothers, Confederate Soldiers" James Sherrod May was born in 1830 in Beaver Dam Township of Pitt County. His brother, Blaney Harper May was born in 1836, in the same location. After moving several times with their family and receiving a local education, the two brothers each became farmers in Greene and Pitt counties, respectively. With the coming of the Civil War, both brothers joined the Confederate Army. Blaney enlisted in the 7th NC Volunteers in the spring of 1861 and was subsequently captured at Hatteras Island in August of that year. After being imprisoned in New York and Massachusetts for several months, Blaney re-enlisted in May of 1862. Stationed at Petersburg, Virginia, he was mortally wounded and died in September of 1864. James May enlisted in the 63rd North Carolina in July of 1862 and was stationed in Wilmington. He died of "brain fever" in January of 1864. Luckily, the resting places of both brothers are known today; Blaney is buried in a Confederate cemetery in Petersburg, while James is buried beside his father, Rev. William Henry May, on the banks of Contentnea Creek in Pitt County.
June 23-July 6, 2004
"Taylor Harris, A True Confederate Hero" Taylor Harris was born in Chicod Township of Pitt County in 1834. With the beginning of the Civil War, Harris joined the Confederate Army and was stationed at Fort Fisher. In December of 1864, Union forces laid siege to the fort in the hopes of capturing Wilmington and cutting off the efforts of Confederate blockade-runners. During the siege, a steamer carrying medicine for North Carolina soldiers tried to break through the Union blockade. Coming under attack by Union warships, the steamer was run aground and the crew rescued. Wishing to destroy the ship and its cargo, Union sailors quickly boarded the vessel and prepared to blow it up. Inside Fort Fisher, Colonel Lamb called for volunteers to save the ship and its vital cargo. Taylor Harris was one of the volunteers and just happened to be the first man to reach the ship. Realizing that the fuse was close to igniting the waiting gunpowder, Harris acted quickly, seized the burning fuse and threw it overboard. O. L. Joyner wrote down this story in 1904, after having heard it from Harris himself.
June 9-22, 2004
"The Greenville Rotary Club" In 1919, four local businessmen, J. B. Kittrell, Dave Clark, Alex Blow, and Paul Clodfelter, decided that Greenville needed an organization for community fellowship and improvement. Knowing that Wilson had a successful Rotary Club, the businessmen contacted one of its members, Tom Pettus about the possibility of beginning a similar club in Greenville. After being approved by Rotary International and finding twenty-two community leaders to charter the club, the Greenville Rotary Club had its first official meeting in August 1919. Initially meeting in churches and even car showrooms, many of the members decided that the club needed its own building. After searching for an appropriate location, the members chose a spot on Johnston St. and construction was begun quickly thereafter. The building was completed in 1921 and would prove to be the first permanent Rotary Club facility in the world. Following many years of assistance to the community, including donations to fire and medical services as well as sponsorship of numerous community events, the Greenville Rotary Club sparked interest for additional clubs to be created in Farmville, Ayden and Bethel.
May 26-June 8, 2004
"Jonathon Bowling: Portrait of an Artist" Born in Kentucky, Jonathon Bowling lived in Belgium for much of his childhood before discovering his love of art while attending college at the University of Kentucky. Bowling followed his girlfriend to North Carolina in 1996 and ended up furthering his two art degrees with a Masters in Sculpture from East Carolina University. In 2002, he opened an art gallery in Greenville named "The Hobbyhorse," where he displays and sells not only his own work, but that of other local artists as well. Bowling specializes in 3-D sculptures made of steel, glass, wood and even bone. Many of his pieces are representative of animals, mostly birds and fish. He says that he never goes looking for ideas or materials, he simply lets them come to him; many of his materials are things he finds on the side of the road or in dumpsters. Bowling sells many of his pieces to art galleries all over eastern North Carolina and his sculptures have become quite popular among art lovers.
May 12-25, 2004
"The Whitehurst Twins, Confederate Veterans" James Berry and John Henry Whitehurst were born near Bethel in Pitt County on October 16, 1838. Their claim to fame revolves around their service in the Civil War. James Berry was in Missouri when the war broke out and quickly enlisted in the Confederate Army. Wounded and captured at Shiloh, James escaped captivity and re-enlisted in an Arkansas regiment. Again captured at Tullahoma, TN in 1863, James was held prisoner in Ohio until the end of the war. Returning home to Pitt County after the war, James became a farmer and married Mary Elizabeth Manning in 1866. During the 1880s, James traveled across much of the United States. Mary died in 1894 but James remarried in 1897 to Mary E. Whitehurst. At his death in 1928, James could count 12 children from both marriages. John Henry Whitehurst led a much simpler life than his twin brother. When the Civil War erupted, John was working for his future mother-in-law, Martha Carson, as a farm laborer. Enlisting in the Eighth North Carolina, John was captured at Cold Harbor in 1864 and remained a prisoner until the end of the war. After the war, John returned home to farm in Carolina Township where he served as a Justice of the Peace. He married Zilphia Ann Carson and the couple had 10 children. John Henry died in 1919. The Whitehurst twins, who attended numerous Confederate reunions in Greenville, are thought to be the oldest surviving set of twins, Union or Confederate, who fought in the Civil War.
April 28-May 11, 2004
"Blount Coleman Pearce" Blount Coleman Pearce, born in New Bern in 1829, lived most of his life in Greenville. Blount was in the mercantile business and was in a partnership with Robert Kinsaul, selling cotton and transporting goods up and down the Tar River. In 1855, Blount married Ann Kinsaul. The couple had two children, Ada and Joseph D., a noted singer and a dentist respectively. During the Civil War, Blount Pearce served in the Confederate army while his wife worked in the military hospital in Greenville. Following the war, Blount was a staunch Democrat and a member of the Greenville Masonic Lodge. He was the first man in North Carolina to be arrested for being a KKK member. In 1872, Blount was elected Pitt County Register of Deeds but left Greenville in 1880 following the death of his wife. Blount worked for several years as a traveling salesman but returned to Pitt County in the 1890s, serving as a Deputy US Marshall and remarrying to Maggie Hunt of Sanford. Shortly thereafter, Blount moved to Sanford and was elected Treasurer of newly formed Lee County. He died in Sanford in 1911.
April 14-27, 2004
None
March 31-April 13, 2004
"Susan Virginia Streeter Atkinson" Susan Virginia Streeter was born in 1825 in Greene County, the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner. In 1843 she married Peyton Ashley Atkinson of Pitt County and thereafter resided at his plantation "Bensboro," north of the Tar River. Mr. Atkinson, continually active in local politics, was a very wealthy man who purchased several tracts of land in the area and acquired nearly 117 slaves. The couple had six children but four would die before reaching their first birthday. With the death of Peyton Atkinson in 1863, Susan received nearly $250,000 from his will. For several years, she managed her holdings and her late husband's business ventures while looking after their two still living children, Benjamin Streeter and Francis Marion. Susan remarried to William Whitehead in the late 1860s but this marriage was short lived as she quickly divorced him for whipping her. After suing Whitehead for her property, Susan struggled to run her plantations with the help of her two sons. As if she had not been through enough tragedy, both Benjamin and Francis died in the early 1880s, leaving her virtually alone in the world. Susan Virginia Streeter Atkinson died in 1895, having outlived her entire family and sold off almost all of her family's land.
March 17-30, 2004
"Lewis Bond: Furniture Maker" Lewis Bond was born in 1795 in Pitt County and sometime around 1815, after being apprenticed to a cabinetmaker, started his own furniture shop in Greenville. By 1820, Bond moved to Tarboro and opened a furniture making business there. During this period he married Sydney Nelson and had a number of children. Following Sydney's death in 1832, Lewis remarried to Mary E. Norman. Keeping up with the latest styles of furniture, Bond ran his business successfully until 1846, when his son, Francis Lewis Bond, took over the operation. Lewis Bond died in 1858. F. L. Bond was very successful in Tarboro and contributed a great deal of money to help build a new Methodist church in town in 1856. He married Martha Dancy, a dressmaker, in 1849 and the newlyweds moved to Goldsboro shortly after the wedding. Returning to Tarboro by 1860, F. L. Bond gave up the furniture business and switched to making surgical instruments. Following a brief experience in Wilmington as a cabinetmaker after the Civil War, he returned to Tarboro and worked as a sewing machine operator in his wife's dressmaking shop. F. L. Bond met a sad end when, in 1890, during a bout of depression, he jumped off a bridge into the Tar River and drowned.
March 3-16, 2004
"Dr. George Hatem" George Hatem, the son of poor Lebanese immigrants, moved with his family from Buffalo, N.Y. to Greenville in the 1920s. Attending local high school and UNC Chapel Hill, George studied to become a doctor. With the coming of the depression and its resulting lack of jobs for those in the medical profession, George went to Lebanon to attend medical school at the American University in Beirut. Following his graduation from both American University and the University of Geneva in Switzerland, Dr. Hatem traveled to China where he helped in the eradication of venereal disease in Shanghai and Beijing. During the Communist Revolution, he examined and made acquaintance with Mao Tse-tung, who made Hatem an advisor to the Chinese Ministry of Public Health. Over the next 55 years, Dr. Hatem made China his home, returning occasionally to Greenville to visit with family and friends. Through his efforts to eradicate venereal disease and leprosy in China, he was the recipient of several awards including the Albert Lasker Public Service Award. Dr. George Hatem died in 1988 in Beijing following a ten-year battle with cancer.
February 18-March 2, 2004
None
February 4-17, 2004
"Rev. Needham Bryan Cobb" The story of Needham Cobb began with his birth in Jones County in 1836. After attending school in Orange County and graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, Cobb served as President of Wayne Institute and Normal College and taught Greek and Latin at Goldsboro Female College. In 1856, he turned to law and received a Master's degree from UNC Chapel Hill, the first student ever to do so. Cobb practiced law in Pitt and Wayne counties for several years, while at the same time teaching himself to write in shorthand. Before the Civil War, he worked as an editor for the Biblical Recorder and attended many meetings of the State Legislature, taking shorthand notes for the press. In 1859, Cobb became a Baptist minister and began preaching and baptizing across the eastern part of the state. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Cobb first served as a chaplain in the 14th North Carolina but soon became General Superintendent of Army Colporteurs, delivering bibles to the troops and assisting in the field hospitals in Virginia and North Carolina. Following the war, Rev. Cobb worked as an editor for the North Carolina Baptist Almanac, served as the president of the Baptist State Convention, and was elected Mayor of Lilesville, NC. A trustee of Wake Forest College, Cobb retried to Sampson County in 1895, where he would die ten years later. Needham Cobb married twice, first to Martha Cobb and later to Ann Fennell, and fathered fifteen children.
January 21-February 3, 2004
None
January 7-20, 2004
"Remembering Greenville Places" The Independent Market, located on Dickinson Avenue and selling meats and groceries, was in business from 1931 to 1958. Operated by Charles J. Cannon, the interesting thing about the store is that it never sold any tobacco or alcohol.
J. G. "Scrappy" Proctor opened Proctor's Limited, which specialized in men's clothing, in Greenville in 1964. Before establishing his own store, Proctor had worked in two other clothing stores with Nesbitt Proctor and Curtis Perkins respectively.
W. J. Smith and N. O. Van Nortwick established the North Side Lumber Company, located north of Greenville on the road to Bethel, in 1928. The lumberyard, which was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1948, was known for employing nearly 50 people and having one of the best selections around.
In 1954, L. T. Hardee and Charlie Cox established the Colonial Heights Super Market. They had a substantial parking lot for those days, accommodating as many as 80 cars. In addition, a children's clothing store was also located in the building and run by the owners' wives.
In 1933, John Allen Conway, Sr. opened the Greenville Marble and Granite Works on Memorial Drive. In 1949, Conway's son took over the business and continued providing the Greenville area with monuments and other marble wares.
Charles Horne founded Horne Electric Company in 1948 on Pennsylvania Avenue. In 1964, Wilson C. Rhodes, an electrician with many years of experience, assumed ownership of the company.
Founded in 1942 by W. D. Boyd, the W. D. Boyd Paint and Wallpaper Company was located on Evans Street. Specializing in aluminum siding as well as painting and wallpapering contracts, the company employed 12 people by 1965.
In 1919, H. L. Hodges, Sr. established H. L. Hodges and Company, a combination grocery and farming supply store. Later, the business changed to a hardware store. H. L. Hodges, Jr. took over the store, which now included sporting goods, in 1965.
T. I. Wagner and J. E. Waldrop founded Wagner-Waldrop Motors, Inc. in 1948. Located on Dickinson Avenue, the dealership originally sold only Lincoln-Mercury but added Rambler later on to attract more customers.
V. A. Merritt established V. A. Merritt and Sons in 1928. Located on Evans Street, the company sold a full line of electrical appliances.
Return to Top
2003
December 10-23, 2003
"A Civil War Diary" Kinchen Jahu Carpenter, a native of Rutherford County, North Carolina, served in Company I of the 50th North Carolina Regiment during the Civil War. During his service, from May 1862 to May 1865, Carpenter kept a diary of his experiences. The diary mentions numerous events, such as Carpenter's first days in training at Camp Mangum, the 50th's fighting in the Seven Day's battles near Richmond, as well as several expeditions in Eastern North Carolina. Carpenter mentions Greenville many times, as his regiment conducted numerous operations in the surrounding region in 1863, from Kinston to New Bern to Washington, always trying to outmaneuver the Union troops garrisoned in around New Bern and the along the coast. Carpenter and his regiment were sent west to Georgia in 1864, but returned to North Carolina to fight at the Battle of Bentonville in March 1865. The men of the 50th North Carolina, including Carpenter, received paroles on May 1, 1865 following the surrender of Lee's and Johnston's armies.
November 26-December 9, 2003
"Stories From the Past" In 1950, Greenville resident Bryce Cummings, as well as his parents Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Cummings, appeared as characters in a work of western fiction, "Gee Whillikins," written by his aunt Mrs. Adda Mae Sharp of Denton, Texas. Mrs. Sharp had already written several school textbooks for the Texas school system, but this was her first attempt at fiction. Later, Mrs. Sharp wrote several more works of fiction, including the Woodland Frolic Series.
In February 1922, Greenville businessman George W. Hemby announced that he had patented a new type of coffin. This new coffin would have shelves on which to place flowers, a strip on top to place vases on, and would be easier to lower into the ground, as the ropes would unfasten themselves. Hemby also announced that this design was the newest of its kind anywhere in the county.
In Belvoir Township in March of 1900, Mr. Jesse James went to the home of Mr. E. S. Lewis in order to marry his daughter. Mr. Lewis objected to the marriage, but James was not deterred, returning that night with his brother Sam to take Miss Lewis by force. When the two James brothers arrived, a gunfight broke out. No one knows who started the fight, but it ended with Mr. Lewis and Jesse James wounded and Sam James dead.
One night in 1911, Greenville residents were awakened by three pistol shots. As it turned out, a possum had gotten into the poultry house of the Manning family. Miss Pink Manning had gone outside to investigate and, upon finding the possum, shot it three times; this caused the neighbors to believe that a burglary was in progress.
In 1851, an outbreak of Small Pox was reported in Pitt County. Several residents suffered from the disease including: Mrs. Zilpha Brown, David House, Rev. Lanier Griffin, John Hardy, Oliver Dixon, Benjamin Cory, and Lewis Smith.
In September 1958, sightings of the Aurora Borealis, with its brilliant display of colors, were reported in the skies over Eastern North Carolina. It was also reported that it affected the telegraph wires between Greenville and Tarboro.
In May 1901, during a terrible hailstorm, it was reported that nearly 18 inches of black hail fell on W. Hartsfield's farm near Ayden, some of it almost 1.5 inches in diameter.
Louis Flake came to Greenville with his family in October 1897 to have their pictures taken. While in the studio, the Flake family had nearly 187 pictures taken altogether, 17 pictures of each family member individually and 17 of Mr. and Mrs. Flake together.
November 12-25, 2003
"The Spencer Harris Plantation House" In 1853, Spencer Harris, one of Pitt County's most affluent planters, built a new plantation house near Falkland Township off modern Highway 121. The house was built in the Greek revival style of the day. When Spencer Harris died in 1872, he left the house to his widow, Margaret, and their youngest son, William. William Harris, a prosperous cattle dealer in Pitt County, lived in the house until his death in 1905. The house then passed to William's brother, John Spencer Harris, who lived in it until 1908. In 1911 William Howard Harris acquired the house from his late father. The Lewis family became the property owners in 1923 and rented it out to the Garris family. In 2000 Judge J. B. Lewis sold the house to Tom and Jeanette Painter, who have restored the structure to its original appearance and grandeur.
October 28-November 11, 2003
None
October 15-28, 2003
"Random History Items" Joe M. Butterworth, a merchant in Bethel in the 1960s, was a WWII navy buddy of President John F. Kennedy. Serving together on "PT" boats in the Pacific, Butterworth remembers Kennedy as "just a fine officer and a fine all round fellow." Following the war, Butterworth and Kennedy kept in touch and Butterworth greeted the presidential-hopeful when he visited Greenville in 1960.
In 1891 a trophy was created for the 1890 Baseball Club of Greenville to commemorate their previous season's play. The trophy, constructed by Robert Humber, was made up of a tripod of miniature baseball bats with a game-winning ball suspended beneath it. Mollie Rouse painted each of the players' names on the ball. To this day no one knows what became of the trophy.
In 1887 the Pitt County jail saw a unique business proposition come its way in the form of horse-trading. An inmate in the jail traded his horse, in the custody of the prison, for the horse of an interested party on the outside.
In 1903 the local newspaper in Greenville contained an editorial that commented on the lack of manners among the youth of the town. The unknown author, after mentioning several observations as to how Greenville's youth incorrectly acted towards one another, stated that "we would like to see the present generation of 18 and 20 year olds acquire some of the gentility, grace and dignity of other days."
October 1-14, 2003
None
September 17-30, 2003
"University Scoffed at Woman Druggist" Born in 1878, Miss Mabel Barnhill of Bethel, N.C., became one of the state's first female pharmacists. Early on in life, Mabel knew she wanted to become a druggist but, following high school, she was denied entrance to the University of North Carolina because she was a woman. Attending Page's School of Pharmacy in Greensboro instead, Miss Barnhill won her license to practice pharmacy in 1906 and quickly went into business with her uncle in Bethel. When her uncle died in 1912, Mabel inherited the store and in 1917 opened a new store in Bethel known as "The Matinee Drug Company." Said to be ahead of her time in her use of herbs to cure various ailments, Miss Mable Barnhill died 1941, having opened another store in Weldon, N.C.
September 3-16, 2003
"W. L. Mayo" In 1952, W. L. Mayo, a Pitt county tobacco and corn farmer received the honorary title of "Father of the Year" by the Cincinnati Junior Chamber of Commerce. The reason Mr. Mayo was chosen for this award was largely due to his investment in his children's, twelve sons and two daughters, education. Working his farm with the help of his family, Mayo was able to help his children pay for college. By 1952 seven children had already graduated, five from N.C. State alone, and two more were enrolled, the rest of the children being too young. Despite the fact that all but one of his sons had chosen fields other than agriculture, Mr. Mayo was not disappointed, as he stated, "I let them make up their own minds what they want to do."
August 20-September 2, 2003
"John Lang Remembers" John Lang, in 1926 an 83-year-old Civil War veteran, spoke of his experiences as a soldier in the 27th North Carolina regiment. His memory brought back the story of the regiment's first colonel, who abandoned his men at Kinston, but was then replaced by Col. Cook, whom Lang and the other soldiers of the regiment liked very much. Mr. Lang spoke of his seeing Robert E. Lee on several occasions, a train derailment in the Virginia mountains, the time during the Battle of the Wilderness when a fellow Confederate soldier stole his ham, as well as the final days of the war when he was assigned to guard a train at Appomattox Station, Virginia.
August 6-19, 2003
"Greenville Parties and Clubs" On October 28, 1901, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. King of Greenville celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary by hosting a large party in their home on Dickinson Avenue. The party was a great success with many attendees including Senator F. G. James and Dr. J. L. Wooten.
In 1898 a ladies' group by the name of "Sub Rosa" was formed in Greenville. Some of the first members were Bettie Tyson, Rosalind Rountree, Annie Perkins and Rosa Hooker. In February of the next year, the group put on a fabulous masquerade ball at Germania Hall.
The "Twenty-Five Club" was formed in Greenville in 1945 at the Olde Towne Inn by businessmen Dick Stokes, Jack Nobles and Royce Jones in order to promote an annual dance.
July 23-August 5, 2003
"Remembering Greenville Places" Opened in 1924, the Pitt Drug Company was owned by W. H. Norris, a prominent Greenville citizen and member of the Board of Aldermen.
The Wayside Tea Room and Gift Shop was opened in Greenville in 1922 by Mrs. Travis Hooker at what is now the intersection of Dickinson and Memorial.
Established near Greenville by Drs. O. J. Allen and Charles Laughinghouse, the Blount's Dairy received its name in 1927 when it was purchased by Marvin O. Blount and Sons of Bethel.
The Kelvinator Company was located in Greenville in the 1930s. Dealing with electrical refrigeration and "Philco" radios, the company was led by E. G. Flanagan.
J. G. "Scrappy" Proctor was a major player in the Greenville men's clothing business. He was associated with W. L. Nesbit in 1939, Curtis Perkins in 1946 and opened his own store, Proctor Limited, in 1964.
Wilbur Hardee started the Port Terminal Inn in 1948. Located on the old Washington Highway, it was the home of "Hardee's Barbeque."
The Independent Market, located on Dickinson Avenue, was in business from 1931 to 1958. Operated by Charles J. Cannon, the interesting thing about the store is that it never sold any tobacco or alcohol.
Mr. J. D. Parker and his wife opened the New Pirra Restaurant and Oyster Bar in August 1954. The restaurant was a replacement for an older one of the same name, which had been destroyed by fire.
In the 1950s the Greenville Golf Range and Miniature Golf Course was located on Memorial Drive. It was operated by Simon Moye and Charlie Bill Moye and was completely re-modeled in 1965.
July 9-22, 2003
"Dr. Jenness Morrill, County Doctor" Retiring in 1937, Dr. Jenness Morrill of Falkland had served as a Pitt county physician for nearly 50 years. Throughout most of his long years of service, Dr. Morrill was the only physician in Pitt County and as such was visited frequently by patients and made numerous house calls all across the county. Several interesting events occurred during his travels, such as his saving a young girl from an un-ceasing nosebleed through the use of adrenaline. One of his patients accidentally drank from a bottle of tincture of cayenne pepper. During his 50 years in practice in Falkland, Dr. Morrill prescribed over a quarter-million remedies, traveled nearly half a million miles to visit patients, and delivered 1,400 babies.
June 24-July 8, 2003
"History of Antique Rocking Chair" In 1982, David Lawrence Morrill of Falkland had in his living room a prized antique rocking chair. The story of this chair goes back to the late 18th Century, when Morrill's ancestor, Rev. Issac Morrill of Massachusetts, purchased it; it has stayed in the family ever since. According to family legend, the Marquis de Lafayette, while in the home of Governor David Morrill of New Hampshire, sat in this chair in 1824 during his tour of the United States. In 1877, following the death of the governor, his widow moved to Marlboro, N.C., now part of Farmville, to be near her two sons, William Henry Morrill and Dr. Samuel Morrill. In this way the chair was eventually handed down to David Lawrence Morrill of Falkland, where it hopefully still resides.
June 11-23, 2003
"Tournament in Falkland" In February 1871 a tournament was held in Falkland--an event involving "tilting" or non-combat forms of Knightly exercises. Tournaments such as these were actually one of the most popular types of entertainment in Eastern North Carolina following the Civil War. This tournament in Falkland involved not only several ring competitions, in which sixteen knights from the surrounding counties participated, but also a lavish dinner and a nighttime ball. The tournament, organized by O. L. C. Pitt, W. B. F. Newton, John Harris, and Charles V. Newton, was a great success with many fully costumed participants and numerous spectators.
May 28-June 10, 2003
None
April 16-29, 2003
"Thomas Jordan Jarvis, Governor" In 1915, Thomas Jordan Jarvis, Confederate veteran, lawyer, legislator, governor and minister to Brazil, died in Greenville. Over his years of public service, Jarvis did much to help the people of North Carolina. As governor in the early 1880s, Jarvis had compiled many achievements in public education and industrialization. For the city of Greenville, Thomas Jordan Jarvis is best remembered as the man most responsible for the establishment of the East Carolina Teachers Training School in 1907, later to become East Carolina University. At his death, the people of Greenville, and eastern North Carolina as a whole, honored him with lavish flower arrangements. In March of 2003, a plaque was placed at his grave in Cherry Hill Cemetery in Greenville.
April 2-15, 2003
None
March 19-April 1, 2003
None
March 5-18, 2003
"The Batchelor's Clothing Store" In 1917 the Batchelor brothers, Roy and Ed, established a men's clothing store in Greenville. They were known for keeping up an excellent stock of men's apparel and for being active in numerous civic activities, including the Greenville Golf and Country Club. Roy died in 1928 and Ed sold the business in 1956 to George Coffman, whose men's store is still one of Greenville's most renowned establishments.
February 19-March 4, 2003
None
February 5-18, 2003
"Tales from the Past" Local stories told from the past include a Dokie Ceremony held in May 1923 in Ayden and an effort to recruit Babe Ruth to be the manager of the Greenville baseball club. Other gleanings from the past are the cleanest man and the sleepiest man to hold office; the invention of a "Spectro-speedometer" by D. A. Windham of Greenville; a lost diamond found in a chicken gizzard, and the difference in telephone rates in area towns.
January 22-February 4, 2003
"Tales From Pitt's Past" Tales include the runaway marriage of Mr. Burton G. Albritton and Miss Bessie Keel; the death of the three children of George Adams in Craven County, N.C.; the mysterious poisoning of Mrs. W. H. Mizelle; and the fatal accident at the McLohorn and Baldree steam mill of Pitt County.
January 8-21, 2003
None
December 25-January 7, 2003
None
Return to Top
2002
December 11-24, 2002
"William H. Atkinson, 106" William H. Atkinson was born of slave parents on May 15, 1867, in a log cabin with a dirt floor near Handy Corner, Edgecombe County, NC. He came to live in Pitt County around the turn of the century when he went to work for Jeff Fountain on the steamboat, Lillian. Atkinson later went to work on the steamboat Shiloh at Centre Bluff Landing near Bruce, Pitt County. Atkinson passed away on March 23, 1973, at the age of 106.
November 27-December 10, 2002
"Lawrence Ed Tipton-Boxing Champ" Lawrence Ed Tipton of Greenville, owner of the Ed Tipton insurance agency of Greenville, is a former professional boxer who stood for 6 rounds in a match against Joe Louis and once whipped a heavyweight-boxing champion. After a successful boxing career in and out of the Army, Tipton turned down promising Madison Square Garden bouts to enter the business world.
November 13-26, 2002
"The Bomber That Flew Under The Bridge" During the 1940s, Greenville became a "liberty town" for many soldiers. One of the soldiers, Frank Lang, flew a dive-bomber under the Greene Street Bridge in 1943. Witnesses Buddy Waters and Charles Dudley recall riding in a car over the bridge at the time that the plane was about to fly under them.
October 30-November 12, 2002
None
October 16-29, 2002
None
October 1 -15, 2002
None
September 18-October 1, 2002
"A Club, A Dance and A Runaway Marriage" Mrs. T. E. Hooker and friends organized the "First Friday Afternoon Musical Club" for interested ladies in the town of Greenville. The club was limited to 20 members.
An elaborate German (dance) took place in Perkins Hall on a Friday night in December 1908. The hall was decorated with lanterns and American flags from Ellsworth of New York. Walter Wilson, Jr. with Miss Nell Skinner and others led the German dance. A list of attendees is provided.
Mr. W. H. Strum and Miss Ada Norris applied for a marriage license at the Register of Deeds office in Pitt County during October 1893. Ms. Norris's parents did not want her to marry Mr. Strum, and they vowed to stop the wedding. Mr. Strum waited for his chance, and he and Ms. Norris were married within 30 feet of the bride's father, without him even knowing of the union.
September 4-17, 2002
"ECU Trivia" Samples of trivia include:"Beans," the campus mascot of the 1940s; the first football season in 1932 and the first football victory in 1933 over Campbell; the transformation of the college hog lot into a lake and a beautification program; and the student "Y" store.
August 21-September 3, 2002
"Tobacco Crop Was a Big Gamble" Kammerer provides a description of Greenville's 61st market year in the selling of tobacco, where the bidding for a pile started at 39 cents. The life of a tobacco farmer was a gamble; one that the farmer hoped would pay off at the market.
August 7-20, 2002
"Junius H. Rose: Educator and Civic Leader" A Pitt County educator, principal and superintendent, J. H. Rose almost missed the life he found in education. He wanted to be a railroad man, but was persuaded by his professor at Trinity College (now Duke) to take a position in education in Kinston. From there, he came to Pitt County and remained for the rest of his life. Known to be very involved with the students, Rose even missed the announcement of his appointment as superintendent because he was on a trip with students. Rose was active in his church, Jarvis Memorial, and in statewide civic organizations.
July 24-August 6, 2002
None
July 10-23, 2002
"Parties, Kids and Dances" Stories of area birthday parties and other activities involving the young inclu May 29-June 11, 2002
"Robert Lee Humber: Cultural Leader, Advocate for World Peace and Art Patron" Dubbed as "Greenville's greatest contribution to the world," Robert Lee Humber, Jr. (1898-1970) single-handedly launched a "movement" for World Federation. Because of that movement, the N.C. General Assembly passed his resolution in 1941, becoming the first legislative body in history to endorse World Federation. Humber traveled to other states over a period of ten years, and as a result, his resolution was adopted by 16 more states. In his studies abroad and at home, Humber developed an appreciation for the arts, and began another campaign in 1943 to establish an art museum in North Carolina. He convinced the N.C. General Assembly of 1947 to give 1 million dollars for the purchase of art. Largely because of this initiative, the N.C. Museum of Art opened in Raleigh in April 1956.
May 15-28, 2002
"John 'Ghost' Eliot: Noted State Educator" The son of George Eliot of Lower Little River, Cumberland County, N.C., John "Ghost" Eliot taught throughout eastern North Carolina for 52 years. Eliot was a classmate of President James K. Polk at the University of North Carolina, and is remembered for his teaching excellence in Latin, geometry, algebra, chemistry, mineralogy, surveying and the classics. Eliot died at Johnson's Mills in Pitt County on November 13, 1881. He was buried in the yard of the Salem Church of Christ. His gravestone, which includes an incorrect date, was discovered in October 2001 on the east side of St. John's Episcopal Church. It is unknown who moved the stone from its original site.
May 1-14, 2002
"Area Stories From Pitt's Past" Kammerer recounts local stories, including those of a shooting at a church in Swift Creek township in October 1887 and an instance of hogs getting into the home of Simon Moye of Winterville. Other stories told are a local farmer who walked 12,496 miles to and from his farm over a period of 45 years and a silver cup awarded to a local child with "perfect" teeth. The Greenville Cotillion Club held the first series of dances. An old mule, claimed by his owner Charles Case to be over 30 years old, that was brought into town in 1901.
April 17-30, 2002
"History of Hanrahan" Also called Pleasant Hill, Hanrahan, about 2 miles North of Grifton, was a small village located on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Hanrahan was named for James A. Hanrahan, a Pitt County native educated at Wake Forest College and at Georgetown, and a Civil War veteran. James A. Hanrahan was married to Susan M. Worthington. James and his brother-in-law, J. T. Worthington, erected a mill for grinding flour and corn and for ginning cotton. When James A. Hanrahan died in 1891, J. T. Worthington remained as a prominent member of the Hanrahan community.
April 3-16, 2002
None
Return to Top
October 31-November 13, 2001
None
October 17-30, 2001
None
October 3-16, 2001
"Article of Civil War Interest: Civil War Letters to the Governor" A letter from Mrs. Peyton Atkinson of Greenville to Governor Zebulon Vance describes the terror endured by the citizens of Greenville during a "Yankee" raid on the city. Mrs. Atkinson states that Confederate troops were ordered to leave Greenville by General Martin only a short time before the raid. She expresses her dislike for this action and tells the Governor that the citizens of Greenville would have been spared if General Martin would have ordered his troops to protect the town of Greenville. She calls for an investigation into this matter. In addition, Mrs. Laura Dudley Griffin, widow of Confederate veteran Robert L. Griffin, tells of growing up in a house that sat on the line between Pitt and Craven Counties.
September 19-October 2, 2001
"Pitt County Reunions" Kammerer offers a compilation of articles regarding reunions, birthdays and other events from the 1930s. Birthday celebrations include the 79th birthday of James R. D. Moore of Marlboro, the 87th birthday of Aaron P. Turnage of Farmville, the 84th birthday of Mattie J. Smith of Farmville, and the 78th birthday of G. W. Griffin of Greenville. The reunion of members of the James Thomas Smith Camp No. 17, United Spanish War Veterans, took place at the home of Mr. Peyton T. Anderson, located between Farmville and Bruce. The quadruple anniversary celebration of members of the Joyner and Wilkerson families took place at the old Green Springs Farm, near Farmville.
September 5-18, 2001
"The Proctor Hotel" Located at the corner of Evans and Third Streets in downtown Greenville, the Proctor Hotel opened on June 20, 1913. The Proctor Hotel was formed by brothers from Grimesland, W. E. and J. O. Proctor, and was designed by architects Hooks and Rogers of Charlotte. Through the years, the hotel has changed ownership many times and has been considered for demolition, but the building still stands. The building is currently owned by Woody Whichard and is being renovated for office space.
August 22-September 4, 2001
None
August 8-21, 2001
None
July 25-August 7, 2001
None
July 11-24, 2001
None
June 27-July 10, 2001
"An Encounter with Blackbeard" A tradition concerning an encounter with Blackbeard was told to Wilbur C. Ormond of Charlotte. Ormond is a descendant of a Mr. Laughinghouse, who supposedly was visited by Blackbeard and drew swords with him. An excellent swordsman, Laughinghouse was asked to join Blackbeard's crew. Mr. Laughinghouse politely refused, saying that he intended to live in Bath and start his family there.
June 13-26, 2001
"Strict Rules at ECTC" With a set schedule, including a wake-up time of 6:30, a day full of classes and set meal times, East Carolina Teachers College was a place where abiding by the strict rules was a part of the college guidelines. Students could have visitors only on Sundays. Riding in automobiles, with or without chaperones, was strictly forbidden on Sundays.
May 30-June 12, 2001
"East Carolina College Golden Anniversary Pageant" "East Carolina's Spade," written by Emma L. Hooper of the English Department and directed by Dr. Kenneth N. Cuthbert of the Music Department, documents the history of East Carolina University. Beginning with the groundbreaking ceremony held by ex-governor Jarvis, the play consists of four episodes that chronicle future developments.
May 16-29, 2001
"W. R. Smith Remembers Old Greenville" Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Smith share their memories of Greenville in 1900, with a population of about 1,500, a few stores, and many surrounding farms. Mr. Smith formed the Pitt County Buggy Company and later the Greenville Buggy Company. Smith never believed that he would see paved streets or automobiles in Greenville, but he lived to see both.
May 2-15, 2001
None
April 18-May 1, 2001
"Pitt and Greene Electric Membership Corporation" J. Cleveland Parker, of near Fountain, N.C., along with J. Lee Tugwell, Seth Barrow, W. C. Hinson, T. H. Rouse and O. L Erwin, applied for incorporation of Pitt and Greene Electric Membership Corporation on May 31, 1937. These men also composed the original board of directors. The men canvassed the surrounding rural area to obtain easements for lines to be built. The first lines were completed and energized in April of 1938. The Pitt and Greene Electric Membership Corporation grew to be a multi-million-dollar organization, serving thousands of customers.
April 4-17, 2001
"W. Haywood Dail, Jr. An East Carolina Builder" Famous for confessing to literally chewing up all votes against locating what is now East Carolina University in Greenville, W. Haywood Dail, Jr., was a farmer, tobacconist, car dealer, builder, brick maker, highway commissioner, and avid horse racer. A native of Greene County, Dail made the brick for the first buildings at ECU.
March 21-April 3, 2001
None
March 7-20, 2001
"The Scrap Drive of September 1942" On September 30, 1942, Governor Broughton issued a proclamation designating October 1-21 as a period of statewide salvage for the war effort. In Greenville, residents responded by donating many items to the scrap pile located in front of the Pitt County Courthouse. These included two hearses donated by the Flanagan Funeral Home. The Double-Cola Bottling Company contributed four tons of bottle caps.
February 21-March 6, 2001
None
February 7-20, 2001
"Articles of Interest" Historical articles of interest to Pitt County include former Pitt County historian Jesse L. Jackson's recollections of early trips to Reedy Branch Church, and Mrs. Josie Joyner McArthur's memory of going to Farmville as a little girl in 1870.
January 24, 2001-February 6, 2001
"The Vanishing Cityscape" Early Greenville landmarks that are no longer in existence include the first Hardee's hamburgers drive-in, where you could buy a cheeseburger for $.20 and French fries for $.10 in 1960, and the Union Carbide Plant, which is now University Commons strip mall.
January 10-23, 2001
None
December 27, 2000-January 9, 2001
"1974 Predictions for the Year 2000" Articles published in 1974 reflect the vision of Phil Carrol, a local developer, and of the late Leo Jenkins, former chancellor of East Carolina University, as to the nature of Greenville in 2000. Carrol's envisioned a population of 80,000 to 100,000 and the formation and growth of medical and educational institutions, causing "excellent growth in this area." Former Chancellor Jenkins believed that East Carolina would have a larger adult enrollment than college-age enrollment and that university professors would function more like counselors than instructors. Jenkins predicted that there would be no more cars on the campus and that soccer would be the most popular sport.
Return to Top
2000
December 13-26, 2000
"Christmas Traditions and Syllabub" Christmas traditions of the past in Greenville included dances, balls and hops, late suppers, and jousting tournaments. Often on Christmas Eve, people would be out with firecrackers, tinhorns and drums, making noise and celebrating throughout the night. As part of a Christmas-time feast, a local table might include ham, barbecue, sausage, turkey, oysters, biscuits, oranges, apples, ice cream, eggnog and syllabub. Syllabub is a Southern drink, often served at Christmas gatherings, that was made of whipping cream and scuppernong wine.
November 29-December 12, 2000
"Articles of Interest" Articles from the late 1800s and early 1900s from the Daily Reflector, Tarboro Southerner, and the Eastern Reflector, focusing on early families and hard-to-believe occurrences, are included. Examples include stories of Mrs. J. F. Briley's 24-pound turtle that she caught with a fishing pole and line lead and Mr. Charles Harris, one of Pitt County's early settlers, who was reported to be 122 years old upon his death in 1860.
November 15-28, 2000
"Articles of Civil War Interest" Articles from area newspapers are pulled together to tell tales of the Civil War, including the story of Matthew Hart, an area Civil War veteran who engaged in 17 battles and on each occasion tied a red string around his arm. Dan Thomas, who lived and died in Pitt County, was the only Confederate to plant a flag on the enemy's works at Gettysburg.
November 1-14, 2000
None
October 18-31, 2000
"Smith and Skinner's Hospital" Before the modern facility of Pitt Memorial Hospital was established, Doctors Joseph Smith and Louis Cotton Skinner operated a clinic and emergency hospital at 123 West Third Street in the old Moye house across from the Pitt County Courthouse. They were remembered for serving Black patients when other doctors refused to.
October 4-17, 2000
None
September 20-October 3, 2000
None
September 6-19, 2000
"East Carolina History Preserved" East Carolina University has preserved its heritage through the names of campus buildings. Throughout campus, many buildings are named for individuals or families who played a part in establishing the school. As an example, the Ross-Lewis Gateway on Fifth Street honors Miss Kate Lewis, an original faculty member and head of the Art Department, and Miss Ola Ross, who was the school registrar for 43 years. Other examples include the Joyner Library, named for Dr. James Y. Joyner, superintendent of public instruction and the first chairman of the Board of Trustees; the Mamie E. Jenkins building, named for the charter member of the English Department; and the Austin Building, named for Herbert E. Austin, charter faculty member and professor of science and geography.
August 23-September 5, 2000
None
August 9-22, 2000
"Jarvis Memorial Methodist Church" Formerly known as St. Paul's, Jarvis Memorial Methodist Church was formed shortly after 1883. A growing church, renamed for the ex-governor, Thomas J. Jarvis, in 1907, Jarvis Memorial continues to expand. It sponsored a new Methodist church, St. James, in 1955.
July 26-August 8, 2000
None
July 12-25, 2000
"The Hurricane of 1913" Before weather forecasts, and before hurricanes were named, a major hurricane hit the Greenville area. Said to be the worst storm to ever visit this area, the storm damage and toll of life was "appalling in every respect."
June 28-July 11, 2000
None
June 14-27, 2000
None
May 31-June 13, 2000
None
May 17-30, 2000
None
May 3-16, 2000
None
April 19-May 3, 2000
"Remembering Blount-Harvey's" Once known as "the shopping center of Eastern North Carolina," Blount-Harvey Co., Inc. of Greenville was a place that carried an extensive collection of goods, from farm supplies to silk spools. The first firm in Pitt County to purchase group insurance for its employees, the first to sign a contract with Mastercard and UPS, and the first place in town to install an automatic door for its customers, Blount-Harvey's was the leading area shopping center. Due to changing economic costs, the Blount-Harvey store closed its department store in 1985.
April 5-18, 2000
"East Carolina Village of Yesteryear Reopens to the Public" (illustrations included) Damaged by the flood in the fall of 1999, the Village of Yesteryear reopens after being restored with money from FEMA and the state of North Carolina. The village features a general store, post office, schoolhouse, log church and house, train depot, tobacco museum, blacksmith shop, transportation, museum and numerous other farm buildings.
March 22-April 4, 2000
None
March 8-21, 2000
"Autobiography of Freeman Hemby" Freeman Hemby, former slave and well-known Greenville resident, tells of his life as a slave and as a free man. Hemby died December 29, 1948, at the age of 100 and was buried at Cooperfield Cemetery. The father of fourteen children, Hemby outlived all of his children except three. He had 175 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, and 25 great-great grandchildren at the time of his death.
February 23-March 7, 2000
"Frederick Augustus Olds: Creator of the State Museum" Fred A. Olds (1847-1935) son of Lewis Poindexter Olds and Pauline E. Evans, created the State Hall of History in 1914. The State Hall of History collection later became the North Carolina Division of Archives and History. Olds died July 2, 1935, at Dorthea Dix Hospital.
February 9-22, 2000
"General Allen 'Hal' Turnage" Pitt County native General Allen "Hal" Turnage had a distinguished career as a Marine officer, including serving as commander of the Third Marine Division during the Bougainville and Guam campaigns in World War II. General Turnage was born near Farmville, N.C. on Jan. 3, 1891, the son of William Jason Turnage and Ora Smith. General Turnage died at the age of 80 in 1971 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
January 26-February 8, 2000
None
January 12-25, 2000
None
December 29, 1999-January 11, 2000
"The Millennium As Predicted in 1950" Ideas from leading American scientists and economists in 1950 about the year 2000 are examined, including the predictions that population growth would slow, that the first man-made star would be circling around the earth, and that Americans would be working a shorter work week, possibly even a 30-hour week fixed by law.
Return to Top
1999
December 15-28, 1999
None
December 1-14, 1999
"The Earthquake of 1886" The Great Charleston Earthquake of 1886 caused an aftershock in Greenville and Pitt County that resulted in several incidents and reports in the area.
November 17-30, 1999
"A History of Whitehurst Station" The small community of Whitehurst Station or "Grindool" had a very rich social and educational history.
November 3-16, 1999
"Alfred Forbes" A Greenville businessman in the late 1800s, Alfred Forbes had various accomplishments related to education, business, and land ownership. Forbes lived from 1829 until 1905 and was the son of Robert Forbes and Gracey Tyson. He was married to Clara Jane Williams for thirty-four years and was the father of seven children.
October 20-November 2, 1999
"The G. B. W. Hadley House" George Bacon Wood Hadley (1869-1933), born in La Grange, N.C. to Dr. Jacob Milton Hadley and Lizzie E. Kilpatrick, was educated at Davis Military Academy and was graduated from Western Maryland College. Hadley engaged in numerous business and farming activities. In 1912-1913, he built one of many fine, large homes on Evans Street. The home was demolished in 1973.
October 6-19, 1999
"The A. B. Ellington Bookstore" A. B. Ellington (1857-1941) started a Greenville legacy still felt today. Beginning with the "Racket Store," this proprietor began to sell books at East Carolina Teacher's Training School. Ellington had an interesting business career and life in the Greenville area.
September 22-October 5, 1999
None
September 8-21, 1999
None
August 25-September 7, 1999
"First Courthouse Marker" Pitt County's first courthouse was located on what is now Highway 33 East, across from the entrance to the Brook Valley subdivision. Starting in 1924, a campaign was begun to preserve the old house, which had served as the courthouse from 1760 until 1774. These efforts failed, but in October 1930, the Daughters of the American Revolution erected a marker at the site to commemorate the historic structure.
August 11-24, 1999
"White's Theater" The local movie house on Fifth Street started by Samuel Tilden White had a profound impact on the social life in Greenville. Although it had several owners (it became the Park Theater under Henry J. Paradon in 1924 and the State Theater under Van Jones), it stood as a beacon of wholesome entertainment for the area.
July 27-August 10, 1999
None
July 14-27, 1999
None
June 30-July 13, 1999
None
June 2-15, 1999
"A History of Globe Hardware" The current Globe Hardware store located on West Fifth Street has almost always been a downtown landmark. Started by J.H. Hart and G. W. Baker in 1896, the store later was owned in part by George Wood Bacon Haldey, Ernest L. and Grover C. Davis, James L. Harris Jr., Van C. Flemming Jr., E. H. Taft Jr., M. K. Blount, and F. L. Blount. The Herbert Wilkerson family has operated it since 1954.
June 16-29, 1999
"The Courthouse Cornerstone" The Pitt County Courthouse, located on Third Street between Evans and Washington streets, was completed in 1911.
May 19-June 1, 1999
None
May 5-18, 1999
"A History of Hanrahan" The town of Hanrahan, located west of Greenville, was named after James A. Hanrahan's store. Several mills and a post office of the early town existed following the Civil War. James A. Hanrahan and J. T. Worthington were two of the town's important founders.
April 21-May 4, 1999
None
April 7-20, 1999
"Pitt County Stories" Five interesting yet unrelated stories document important periods in Greenville's development. The first discusses the history of slot car racing in Greenville from 1966 to present. The second reminds the reader that Ray Charles was the first concert artist to play in Minges Stadium in 1967. The third gives an interesting snippet of information about a former slave in 1940 who had nineteen wives. The fourth describes a 1789 counterfeiter's punishment. The fifth recounts a legend concerning lost dynamite located under the Greenville YWCA building.
March 24-April 6, 1999
None
March 10-23, 1999
None
February 24-March 9, 1999
"Old Pitt County Home" In a response to a need to provide for lower income residents, Pitt County developed the old "Poor House." It operated from the late 1820s to 1980s.
February 10-23, 1999
None
January 27-February 9, 1999
"Pitt County in World War I" Pitt County's human involvement in the Great War was tremendous, including two lieutenant colonels, four majors, five captains, three first lieutenants, and seven second lieutenants. Twenty-nine men never returned from war. There are now memorials for these fallen soldiers at Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church.
January 13-26, 1999
None
December 30, 1998-January 12, 1999
None
Return to Top
1998
December 16-29, 1998
None
December 2-15, 1998
None
November 18-December 1, 1998
"History of Tyson's Primitive Baptist Church" From its foundation in 1796 until its dissolution in the 1980s, this landmark church, sometimes known as Tyson's Meeting House, had a very interesting history. Located in western Pitt County, it brought importance to Farmville.
November 4-17, 1998
None
October 21-November 3, 1998
"Halloween Parties" Three Halloween parties are described: a Presbyterian Church Halloween party, October 1931; a Halloween birthday party, October 1931, for "Little Miss Jennie C. Joyner;" and a Baptist Church Halloween party, October 1920.
October 7-20, 1998
"The Osceola Band" Originally started by Alfred A. Forbes in 1872, the Osceola Band gave some very memorable performances for the residents of Pitt County.
September 23-October 6, 1998
None
September 22-16, 1998
[Issue missing]
September 9-15, 1998
"A History of Ficklen Stadium" ECU's football stadium appears to be a uniform structure of recent date. However, the stadium began with a building campaign in 1960. Originally containing 17,000 seats, the structure has been expanded several times.
August 26-September 9, 1998
None
August 12-25, 1998
"Remembering Union Carbide" Union Carbide was a Greenville industrial landmark after it arrived as National Carbon Corporation in 1943. Even though it expanded several times at its location at the intersection of Evans Street and Greenville Boulevard, the plant was closed and the building razed in 1995 to make room for a shopping center.
July 29-August 11, 1998
"C. T. Mumford's [sic] Store" This store on Evans Street is an "uptown" Greenville landmark. An ever-growing entrepreneur and community leader, Charles Thomas Munford (1862-1943), otherwise known as C. T., was a longtime member of the Chamber of Commerce and Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church.
July 15-28, 1998
None
July 1-14, 1998
None
June 17-30, 1998
"Odd and Unusual Tales" Several stories, almost windows of the past, ranging in subject from a little boy's shirt to natural disasters, are recounted.
June 3-16, 1998
None
May 20-June 2, 1998
None
May 6-19, 1998
"Confederate Re-Union" A Confederate reunion was held in Greenville September 1895, and its participants and events are discussed.
April 22-May 5, 1998
"Two Artists Named Hearne" The biographies of Edward Warren Hearne and Georgia Pearsall Hearne are given along with some of their most notable artworks.
April 8-21, 1998
None
March 25-April 7, 1998
None
March 11-24, 1998
"The Old Brick Store" The Old Brick Store on Evans Street has been hidden from the world by several renovations in its history. Started by George E. B. Singletary in 1854 and continued by Samuel M. Schultz in 1895, this store served as quarters in the Civil War and later became a grocery and a bank. The building became the Greenville Banking and Trust Company, and the discovery was made in 1913 discovered that the original brick walls still remained.
February 25-March 10, 1998
None
February 11-24, 1998
"A History of Cottendale" Cottendale, located near Falkland, was the home of two extraordinary people: Robert Randolph Cotten and his wife, Sallie Southall Cotten. Involved in cultural, governmental, military, agricultural, and business activities, Robert Cotten and his wife are probably most remembered for the large tobacco farm in the county.
January 28-February 10, 1998
"A History of the Town Common" Greenville had a Town Common along what is today called First Street. From its first uses in 1787 as a place for grazing livestock, it has had an interesting history. The site was so important that a ferry outlet and a warehouse were located there.
January 14 -27, 1998
None
December 31-January 13, 1998
None
Return to Top
1997
December 17-30, 1997
"Christmas in 1927" A local newspaper article from the period describes how Christmas was celebrated locally in 1927.
December 6-29, 1997
"Greenville Baseball in 1911" Baseball and all its excitement helped create some of Greenville's most interesting recreational activities in 1911. Players participated in several series against Ayden and Kinston. Some of the prominent players from that 1911 team made it big in Greenville after their diamond careers.
December 2-November 19, 1997
"Rueben C. Bland: Father of 34 Children" Reuben Bland became famous--or infamous--for all his children.
November 5-18, 1997
"A History of the Old Memorial Baptist Church" The old Memorial Baptist Church building, from its beginning in July 1827 until its demolition in 1973,was a cherished landmark in Greenville.
October 22-November 4, 1997
"The Jesse R. Moye House" The merchant Jesse R. Moye and his house, located near the intersection of West Fifth and Pitt streets, shared an interesting history.
October 8-21, 1997
None
September 24-October 7, 1997
"Courthouse Square" During the 1930s until the late 1960s, the area around Greenville's Courthouse Square was a busy section of town.
September 10-23, 1997
None
August 27-September 9, 1997
"Repress Brothers Barbecue Remembered" Repress Brothers barbecue, so famous Lyndon Johnson requested it, was a mainstay in Greenville for years. The business was located on North Greene Street until 1972.
August 13-26, 1997
"The Universalist Church of Greenville" The "Unitarian Universalist Congregation" in Greenville was once known as the Universalist Church.
July 30-August 12, 1997
[Issue missing]
July 16-29, 1997
"A History of Bell Arthur" A small village located in western Pitt County, Bell Arthur developed after 1907, when the Norfolk and Southern Railroad built a line through the area. The community lost its charter in 1956. In 1964, approximately 240 people lived in the village.
July 2-15, 1997
None
June 18-July 1, 1997
None
June 4-17, 1997
"Tales of the Odd and Unusual"
May 21-June 3, 1997
None
May 7-20, 1997
"A History of Riverside Nursery" Not many people are alive who can remember the Riverside Nursery. However, the history of this nursery, which operated along the Tar River from 1884 until 1907, is very interesting and important to recall.
April 23-May 6, 1997
None
April 9-22, 1997
"The William H. Long House" This article provides a short history of William Long's house on East Fourth Street.
March 26-April 8, 1997
"Tales of the Odd and Unusual" Briefly describes two steamboat tales from 1884 and 1942, the county's first recorded tornado in 1910, and a humorously poor circus in 1874.
March 12-25, 1997
"The Town Clock of Greenville" This article gives a short history of Greenville's town clock.
February 26-March 11, 1997
"ECU Founder's Day Remembered" Discusses the history of founder's/homecoming day for East Carolina that stopped as a formal celebration for the school. East Carolina began its Founder's Day Celebration on March 5, 1932 as a formal celebration for the school. It was discontinued during World War Two and held once more in 1947. This important tradition should be revived.
February 12-25, 1997
"Greenville's Two Confederate Monuments" Greenville has two memorials honoring Pitt County's fallen Confederate soldiers--one in Cherry Hill Cemetery and the monument erected in 1915 in front of the courthouse.
January 29-February 11, 1997
"East Carolina University: 'did you know that...'" This article gives interesting facts about sports, classes, enrollment, and organization information at East Carolina University.
January 15-28, 1997
None
January 1-14, 1997
None
Return to Top
1996
December 18-31, 1996
None
December 4-17, 1996
"The Great Explosion of 1903" One evening in March 1903, oil and gasoline storage tanks of the Standard Oil Company caught on fire.
November 20-December 3, 1996
None
November 6-20, 1996
"Dr. David Richard Wallace: Pioneer Physician, Educator, and the first Eminent Psychiatrist of Texas" A native of Pitt County, David Richard Wallace made extraordinary contributions to his profession.
October 22-November 5, 1996
"Tales of the Season" Tales about a haunted house and bridge and the Pactolus light help to accentuate the Halloween atmosphere.
October 9-22, 1996
"Pitt County in the Movies" Not many people would know about the various portrayals of the county in movies or the two local movie stars, Lath Morris and Kathryn Youngblood, who starred in several films.
September 25-October 8, 1996
None
September 11-24, 1996
None
August 28-September 10, 1996
"The Cupola of East Carolina's Heritage" Austin Building, with its soaring bell tower, was an important feature of the campus of East Carolina College. However, Austin's bell tower is long gone. Years later, East Carolina University decided to replicate the cupola. This structure is located in front of Joyner Library.
August 14-27, 1996
"Bohunk--ECU Sports Tradition" Today people describe the ECU/NCSU football games with as much zeal as fans described ECU's early basketball rivalry with Atlantic Christian (now Barton) College. This competition was heightened by the use of a wooden basket trophy.
July 31-August 13, 1996
"Rockdale and Other Places" Pitt County is dotted with small communities. Villages in Beaver Dam Township, including Rockdale, Smithtown, and Cobbdale, have unique histories.
July 17-30, 1996
"A History of Greene Springs Park" Developed beginning in 1937, Greene Springs Parks was restored in the 1950s under the direction of the Public Works Department. The Woman's Club and a garden club assisted the city with this project.
July 3-16, 1996
"Tales of the Odd and Unusual" Contains various stories including: a necktie party, the wandering trunk, wayward balloon, and "rats by the half bushel."
June 19-July 2, 1996
None
June 5-18, 1996
"A History of the Railroad in Greenville" Greenville's interesting railroad heritage began in 1879 with the charter of the Goldsboro, Snow Hill, and Greenville Railroad. However, the railroad that really sparked Greenville's business and residential development, a branch of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, reached the town on August 21, 1889.
May 22-June 4, 1996
None
May 8-21, 1996
"The Great Greenville-Washington Relay Race" A monumental series of sporting activities began in 1925 between high schools from Greenville and Washington. These relay races later developed into competitive high school track in 1961.
April 24-May 7, 1996
"A History of Grimesland Seine Beach" The atmosphere at a local beach along the Tar River that existed near Grimesland from 1860 until the 1960s can only be described in one way: heavenly.
April 10-23, 1996
None
March 27-April 9, 1996
None
March 13-26, 1996
"The Rough and Ready Fire Company" The first volunteer fire company in Pitt County was made up of forty black male volunteers.
February 28-March 12, 1996
"Remembering Five Points" Five Points in downtown Greenville--the intersection of Evans Street, Fifth Street, and Dickinson Avenue had its origins in the nineteenth century.
February 14-27, 1996
None
January 31-February 13, 1996
"Another Landmark Gone: The O'Hagan-Laughinghouse House (Flynn Christian Fellowship Home)" The former home of the O'Hagan and Laughinghouse families on Pitt Street was lost in a January 6, 1996, fire.
January 17-30, 1996
"A History of the Greenville Masonic Lodge" Thomas Cooper established the first lodge in Pitt County at Crown Point in 1766. Sharon Lodge was established in 1822. The Woodson Lodge Number 16, Knights of Pythias, was founded in 1874. In 1888, Greenville had five lodges. Many lodges emerged in Pitt County after 1900.
January 3-16, 1996
None
Return to Top
1995
December 20, 1995-January 2, 1996
[Issue missing]
December 6-19, 1995
"A History of Simpson" The town of Simpson (Chicod) has had an interesting history.
November 22-December 5, 1995
"Pitt County Life in the 1880s" Describes and lists some of the items a person would find in a house or in society during this period.
November 8-21, 1995
"100 Years of Telephone Service" Pitt County has had telephone services for nearly 100 years. Telephone service has had an important impact on the county's development.
October 25-November 7, 1995
"Tales of the Season" Halloween legends are very important to Pitt County's continuing folk heritage. These are just some of the county's most famous legends to put people in the Halloween spirit.
October 11-24, 1995
"Remember the Old Restaurants" Several locally owned restaurants operated in Greenville from the 1930s through World War Two. However, some of these downtown eateries continued to serve customers until the 1980s.
September 27-October 10, 1995
"Greenville School History" Important issues and decisions made during the half-century after 1903 helped to shape Greenville's school system.
September 13-26, 1995
None
August 30-September 12, 1995
"Beaver Dam Township in 1829" This piece is taken from an earlier article |
|
