The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-11-15
A GREAT DAY.

New School Build
ing for Croatan Normal Almost
Completed and Paid For-Ad-
dresses by State Auditor Dixon
and Others-A Good Band.
Saturday was a great day with
the Croatans at Pembroke, the
occasion being an educational ral-
" in which more than 500 par
ticipated. The occasion was in
tended for two purposes: first, to
stir up more interest in educa-
ton among this people; and Sec
ond, to raise money to defray the
expenses of erecting the new
school building at Pembroke,
which will be completed with
three or four more days work.
The building when finished will
cost about $4,000, all of which
had been raised except 600; and
after the exercises Saturday the
board of trustees announced that
nearly all of the $500 was in
sight, which amount must be
paid before the building can be
turned over to the board of trus-
tees. School opened the first Of
October in the old building at
Pates, where it will continue un-
til the new building is completed
and settled for, which will proba-
bly, be done this week. The new
building is between the old school
house and Pembroke, being situ-
ated near the right of way of the
Seaboard Railroad about three
quarters of a mile from Pates
and quarter of a mile from the
depot at Pembroke. 1t is two
story, with several class rooms,
and an auditorium that will seat
nearly 500 people. The house is
handsome in appearance and is a
building of which the Croatans
may justly feel proud. But back
to the beginning.
Something after IL o'clock
Saturday morning in the audito-
rum of the new building at Penn
broke, Prof. H. L. Edens. princi-
pal of the Croatan Normal, in
troduced the speaker of the day,
DR.. B. F. Dixon, State Auditor, Of
Raleigh. DR.. Dixon spoke for
about an hour, delivering an able
address convincing all pres
ent of the necessity of an
education. He said he spoke
to the Croatans in the old school
building two years ago. but had
an audience of only about 40
people. He was surprised to see
the progress the Croatans are
making. After DR.. Dixon's
speech there was some music fur
nished by the Croatan brass
band, aud then Prof. Edens an
nounced that an hour would be
given to eat and take a little rec
reation, after which they would
meet again in the auditorium and
have some more speaking. But
Immediately after this announce,
ment all present were given {
chance to pay over to the trus
tees any amount they would con
tribute to settle the debt of $6Ot
due on the building, and it wa:
interesting to see how readily
these people came forward ano
handed over their mites to clear
up the Indebtedness. Many
of the old Croatans, gray
headed, stopped and totterin.
with age, who have never hat
the opportunity of spending
day in school, could be seen push
ing their way through the crow
to hand over their hard-earne'
money in order that their childrel
may have the advantage of a.
education.
During the dinner hour. a
the request of Dr.. Dixon, P he
tographer Blackburn, of Lumber
ton, who was present, took fey
pictures of the crowd and tn
building.
About one O'Clock in the a.
ternoon, while the band was mai
ing lively with music, the crow
assembled again in the auditC
rum to hear more speaking. Th
music ceased and Prof. Eder
made a few remarks, after whic
ex-Sheriff Geo. B. Mcleod mac
a lively speech. Then Prof. j. /
Bivins, State Superintendent
the Croatan and colored norm
schools, spoke for fifteen
twenty minutes. Prof. Blvl
Group is most prevalent during
dry cold weather of the early wln'
months. Parents of young childr
should be prepared for it. All that