The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-12-31

CHARLES R. EVANS, after hold
ing the Manteo postmastership
longer than any other man, steps
down January 1, having recently
asked for his retirement under
physical disability and will be-
come one of the first in Manteo
named Evans, ever to draw re-
tired pay. Charlie Evans made
Manteo a good postmaster, and
throughout his career the office
has maintained good service. He
watched it grow from September
1, 1884 to a second class office
doing a business of more than
100000 a year. The office now
has four clerks. In all his career
as postmaster there were no CON-
plants until following the election
of Eisenhower, when the Republi-
cans became clamorous for the
office. Then from various interest
ed sources, complaints, some of
them completely ridiculous began
to pour into the postoffice depart
ment, which upon careful investi-
cation the inspectors found com
plete denials from all who lived
nearby and knew the postmaster.
But such is politics as many prac-
tice it in this Democracy.
However, the postmaster sawed
wood, and recently finding that
his long hours had taken toll Of
him, and on advice to slow W, he
asked for mis- retire nent.
Another veteran of the post
office is retiring also. John D.
O'Neal, one Of Manteo's finest
men steps down TINS week, and his
place has been temporarily filled
by Frank White, long a member
of the Harrington Grocery svaff
', Mantco.
Postmaster Evans succeeded the
late Roscoe Jones who held the
office through the preceding Re-
publican administrations. o. j.
Jones of Manteo, a brother of
Roscoe also served as postmaster
for several years before the cleo
ton of Woodrow Wilson.
Ray w. Jones of Manteo has
been appointed temporary post
master to succeed Mr.. Evans. He
is a son of Roscoe C. Jones, and
has been in business in Manteo
for several years.
After having served as post
master since 1884, Mr.. Evans was
appointed Postmaster under Civil
Service in May 1889. In his more
than 20 years in the office he has
handled many millions of dollars,
particularly in the war years
when there was much military
activity in the area.
The Evans family have always
been active in the public life of
Manteo and Dare County. His
father, who came to Manteo in the
eighties, the late Asa v. Evans,
with his wife, Mrs. Celia Evans
and three others, were the organ
izers and long were active in the
Manteo Mount Olivet Methodist
Church. A. V. Evans was long
active and a leader in politics,
serving as County Democratic
Chairman for many years, several
terms as Register of Deeds, town
councilman, etc.
From early days Charles
Evans has been a hustler. AS a
school boy, he began working
from early to late, and was the
first in Manteo, when in his boy
hood, to establish a newspaper
route, and he supplied the Vir-
ginian-Pilot to the community
each day. Back forty and fifty
years ago, the Norfolk morning
paper didn't arrive in Manteo I'M
til the steamer came in about z
pm.
In the succeeding years, Mr..
Evans established himself in a
mercantile business which contin-
ued to operate successfully until
wiped out by the fire which swept
the Manteo business district in
1889. Along with other affairs,
Mr.. Evans has continued active in
real estate development, and with
his brother, H. W., have developed
ocean front property and a mer-