Photos:The old Carter’s Esso gas station on south Main street was torn down to make way for the Edenborough Shopping Center. James Carter now has Carter’s Exxon on U.S. 401 South. The building stood on Main Street 38 years. Carter’s father acquired it in 1947. (May 24, 1973)
Hoke High School’s top 14 graduates: from left, Steven Poole, Phillip Cole, Evelyn Ernest, Julie Kicklighter, Charlene Averitt, Donald Plummer, and Eddie Inman. Top row, Cathy Coler, Debbie Denton, Kristy Frahm, Cathy Newton, Marilyn Barnes, Beth Wood and Rita Gillis. (May 24, 1973)
• 75 Years Ago •
May 24, 1945
Belk-Hensdale will open a store here June 1. The store will open in the building recently occupied by J.A. Baucom Cash store, it was announced by J.W. Hensdale of Fayetteville.
The concern purchased the merchandise stock of the Baucom store and leased the building for five years. During the past week alterations and remodeling have been in progress and new merchandise is being arranged for the formal opening of the store. Plans have been made to retain most of the personnel of the Baucom sales staff, and these men and women will be on hand to greet customers on opening day. It is the policy of the company to employ local people when possible.
J.A. Baucom, who sold his stock of general merchandise to the Belk-Hensdale stores, plans to open a sales agency for all types of electrical home appliances as soon as they become available for civilian consumption. He expects to feature the Frigidaire line of appliances.
Lt. Eldred Helton, son of Mrs. Mary Helton of Timberland, has been liberated from a German prisoner of war camp, according to a Red Cross notification received Tuesday by Mrs. Helton. Lt. Helton, member of the airforces, was shot down over Germany some months ago.
From Poole’s Medley, by D.Scott Poole: “I never think of the Civil War that I do not recall the homespun dresses Southern ladies wore. Nor will I forget the roasted potatoes for supper, the butter, syrup and corn hoecake for breakfast; and the vegetables, bacon and corn pone for dinner. We had plenty but you see what it was.
We did not always have even corn bread, but sweet potatoes were a fine substitute for bread. And potatoes took the place of bread for years after war was over. For some years times were harder after war than during hostilities, and outliers and deserters were more dangerous than Yankees.
When we went visiting our neighbors were hospitable and kind, and gave us roasted potatoes several times a day. There was but little land cleared during the Civil War. The fences had to be repaired some before the war was over. One of grandfather Poole’s men, Ben Poole, came and worked one month for mother the second last year of the fighting.
• 47 Years Ago •
May 24, 1973
Hoke County Schools may qualify for $41,000 Indian Education Act assistance if they can meet federal requirements by June 8. The funds will be based on a rate of $61 per Indian child. Hoke schools have 678 Indian students enrolled. The funds can be used for vocational, dental, psychiatric, counseling, math, language and arts.
During April, 2,401 Hoke Countians from 575 families received food stamps. Totaling $56,885. In one family the mother worked for $1.30 an hour.
A bill to stagger the terms of Hoke Board of Education members passed the Senate and became law last week. The law provides the five-member board be elected on a non-partisan basis.
• 25 Years Ago •
May 24, 1995
Strong storms rip through the county uprooting trees and downing power lines. EMS Director Mitchell Byrd said there were reports of funnel clouds in Bowmore and Arabia. One home had a tree through the roof.
House of Raeford poultry plant says it is enlarging. Personnel Director Eric Wowra says the new 250,000 square-foot building is a response to increased sales. The building will house a distribution center and processing center for value-added items.
Owners of garbage collection services in Hoke rallied to oppose county policies. Representatives rom John’s Trash, Northwest Sanitations, A.O.K. Sanitations, McCamie’s Trash Service and Hoke Trash Service complained about the way the county charged and regulated haulers. “Their complaints are legitimate,” responded County Manager Bernice McPhatter.
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