Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1946-07-27

among the rural people and became
Interested IN seeing home demon
Sirati"n activities started hcrc. She
enlisted the sympathy and support
of the county commissioners and Tho
county board of education Cm.lv IN
1914. RCcaiiS" of the efforts she had
made. and the enthusiasm of a small
Sruup of farm women. the North
Carolina Extension Service appoint
I'd Mrs. pIummcr hunlc dvnon>tra-
tiun agent III the county in Feb
rHary. 1914, and she served cuntin-
UpuSly and with marked results a.
the CuIniy'S only home a-tu. dur
nG the more than thirtv-'wo %cal.;
until her retirement at the end .:
June this year.
Al first the appointment was ON
part-timc basis fur only two
months Of the year. but the demand
for her services became 50 great
that she actually worked full tim"
and without extra pay for the Other
ten months. After passage OF TIL
Smlth-LCVur act. the county COM
MISSloue:S. at rCQIcs, OF 4 group 81
farmers. arranged tn cooperate IN
The employment -; county farm
demonstration agent. and this adGi-
uonal service became effective Jan
uary |. 1915.
Some OF the inspiration for the
first home demonstration work i'm
Vance county came from frequent
visits OF Mrs. \. l.. Capchart. Of
Granville county. 10 Henderson Ia
sci! the produce from hcr farm ana
garden. Mrs. Il. J. C0rbi,t. wife Of ~
Henderson induStrialiSt. became in-
l"rcSicd ~ the project and gave her
cooperation.
Corn and Tomato Clubs.
The first work undertaken wa,
that of corn and tomato club.
among farm boys and girls. Soon
three clubs of girls were organized
al WILLIAMSBURG. MIddlcburg and
COk"Sbury. These were followed b.
formation of b"ttuTmCui societies in
the schools, The program later canl.
l" be known a. horne demonstration
clubs. and the corn and tomato club:
hccam" III" exclusive function of
F"ur-li boys and girls.
The original appropriations fn,
home demonstration activities IN In
county consisted Of S75 each b. III.
county commission and the Coul.
IS board of education. bu. tins la,c,
vas increased iu 200 'hrrIini.
state and Federal supplements. Ani
tor twenty-five years until 1899
Mrs. Plumwcr carried the Ii:r,!,u
and possibility Of her work a.onr.
as Il was not until In" latter ycal.
mat n" first was given an assist
ant. whose duties included Fuur-H
work among the Young people.
Hundreds of Club Members.
I6fHy ih"r" al" more than 500
Tura! women in Vance county who
~" members If hom" dcmGnsrrg-
non clubs. and between 300 and 400
boys and girls enrolled in the Four
II clubs. Through two wars. two
bonmS and major depression. Mrs.
RUNNER carried on for 4 generation
IN developing HON" life in the rural
sections of Vance county. Her oulv
rival IN length of service is Mr.,
rosa Rcdicrm IN Arson county, an !
IN" two will be known i'm the his
tory Of the work in North Carolina
Is pioneers IN behalf of better rural
living.
Best People In The World"
1T has always been my cndcavor
10 lead and encourage and not 80
command" Mrs. Plummcr said. and
results Of her lahorS attest the man
nor in which the farm women of the
county have responded To her an
pcalS and her programs. The bcS;
people in the world are i'm Vanc
county, and some of the best pee.
pie in the county are active in home
demonstration work." she added.
The practical side of life has been
emphasized in all projects through
the years. Coming of the war re-
vealed a rather startling defect in
the physical condition of the young
people, as so many boys were turn.
cd down for military service on ac-
count of various ailments. and stress
was placed in the latter years on
proper nutrition and diet for the
family. Mrs. Plummer thinks there
are increasing evidences of improve
ment in this respect.
Horse and Buggy Days.
In the early days the county and
home agents had no office TO de-