davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1954-12-23
Old Supersiiiions About
Eating OF Mince Pies

Many writers say the mince pie
originated in Germany, while 9TH
ers claim that III beginning is lost
In the annals ofiedstory. Nonethe-
less, 1t was ant lsential part of
the Yuletide ce 9tion In early
England. sw
Old superstitions held that any
person refusing to eat mince pie
would be unlucky for the coming
year. Should he accept the invi.
tation. and partake of mince pie
during the holiday season. he
would have the same number of
happy months duridg the year as
the number of houses at which he
ate mince pie.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1954-12-23
NelUs Grandfather Read !.
THE ISSUE OF NOVEMBER 5, 1914


ness men have requested that the
water works whistle be blown daily
at IL: 80 A. M and 1880 P. M.
A motorist lost the crank to his
auto and asks same be returned to
the News window.
Niswander Bros. Just received q
whole car load of storm buggies.
An item stated that a local hotel
went under new arrangement. The
proprietor got married.
Honoring Miss Anna Jeanette
Boone of Lima, Mrs. N. W. Cunning
ham entertaiDed Miss Boone and ter
guests at a dinner party.
Forty masked members of the
Church of Christ attended IIallow.
cen party at the Forrest Mumma
home.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1954-12-23
Early Controversy Over
Exact Christmas Date

The origin Of many Of our Christ
mas customs can be traced back
to prehistoric times, with some
pagan customs being modified to
ft into the Christian observances.
Even today. while December Is
is almost universally celebrated as
Christmas. some countries, such as
Armenia. celebrate 1t on January
9. the Epiphany. or spiritual birth
Of Jesus.
There was considerable contro-
versy in the early days Of Chris
tianity as to whether the physical
birth or the spiritual birth of Jesus
should be celebrated And those
who believed the spiritual birth
should be celebrated even dis
agreed among themselves about
the date. some holding that II took
place on March Is. others that II
occurred on December 25.
The theologians finally agreed
upon December Is as the correct
date and such has been celebrated
since the year s54
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1954-12-23
News our
Fathers Read

From The Issue, of December q, 1922
The busiest place in town is the
local postoffice this, holiday season.
Christmas mail is assuming noun
famous proportions with 90 to 75
sacks of mail leaving the office daily,
and an equal urhber of incoming
sacks.
Miss Elma Schiferly presented an
impressive vesper organ recital of
Christmas music at the college
chapel.
Benjamin Augsburger and Thomas
McElroy shot red fax on the Clymer
farm north of town. Old timers say
this is the first red fox bagged in this
vicinity since William Lewis brought
one to town some p years ago.
An old time spelling and ciphering
contest was held 1t the Black school
with z. T. Showalter emerging cham
pion over the young 'uns.
Everybody isf entertaining company
for Christmas in Orange township ex-
cept Mrs. j. ]. Gallant who has been
entertaining the grippe the past
week.
E. w. Liable shipped 4 head of reg
istered shofthorn cattle to Florida
from Pandora.
Omar Amstutz is home from Bryan
high school.
Local firms are preparing for the
ice harvest with the mercury skidding
+, to 90 below.
Memo Bixel of the Dixie Motor Co
has been appointed registrar for au.
| tomobile tags in the district.
Mr.. and Mrs. Noah Niswander at.
tended the National Farmers Exposi.
ton at Toledo.
Mrs. Godfrey Amstutz is visiting ir
Orrville with her brother and family
Miss Consuelo Wise student al
Ohio State University, is visiting hel
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Abe Wise.
DR.. S. K. Mosiman rendered the
vesper address at the Methodist
| Church in Gilboa.
| Miss Helen Durano, high school in.
| structor, will spend the holidays al
her home in Evanston, ILL., Miss
Kathryn SPOTS, another instructor
will visit at Akron. Z. C. Robert;
will leave for Columbus.
Robert Hughson is home for the
holidays from Ohio State University
| Miss Ruth Castanien, high schoo
instructor and her sister at the col
lege, Miss Mabel Castanien, viii
spend the holidays at Upper San
dusky.
Ed Moser of Aberdeen, Idaho. sol
of Mr.. and Mrs. Noah Moser 0! Bluff
ton, won first place in the two row
barley competition at the Fourth In
ternational Grain and Hay Show a
Chicago.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1954-12-23

THE U. S. NAVY keeps up-to-date
some 6,700 nautical charts and 1000
aeronautical charts, and publishes 8
million copies a year.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17
CECIL S. MIDGET OF
STUMPY POINT PASSES

Cecil Sigsbee Midget, fisher
man and lifelong resident of
Stumpy Point, passed away at
his home late Tuesday after a
lingering illness. The funeral
services were held Wednesday
afternoon at 8 pm. at the
Stumpy Point Methodist Church,
conducted by his pastor, Rev. A.
L. G.. Stevenson. Burial followed
in the Stumpy Point Cemetery.
He was the son of the late
Bethany Gray and Thomas Lee
Midget, and was a member of
the Stumpy Point Methodist
Church. 1tl
Surviving are his wife, Mrs.
Ola Gray Midget; two daugh-
tiers, Mrs. Milton Hooper and
Mrs. Faye Siegrist, both of
Stumpy Point; one son Donald
Midget of Stumpy Point; six
grandchildren; and three broth
Edward Midget of Stumpy
ers, John Midget of Mashoes,
Point and Lee Midget of
Norfolk, Va.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17
DUCK GETS ROAD BUILT
BY STATE IN AUGUST

Raleigh. - Emmett Winslow,
Commissioners of the First High
way Division, today said that 8.5
miles of paving had been COM
pleted by the State Highway
Commission in his division dur
ing August.
In Camden, State highway
forces laid a sand asphalt wear
ing surface ON the following secl
ondarv roads, and their lengths:
from US II in South Mills to US
II, about IL miles south of South
Mills, 1.6 miles; and from Lambs
Corner to Sawyers Creek Bridge,
81 miles. Both Newly-surfaced
roads are 16 feet in width.
In Dare County, contractor
forces finished a mixed-in-place
sand bituminous pavement from
Dock south for 3.8 miles. The
road is Is feet wide.
Camden and Dare are in the
First Division along with BERTHE,
Chowan. Currituck, Gates, Hert-
ford, Hyde Martin, Northampton,
Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyr
rell, and Washington. Division
headquarters are in Ahoslxie. w.
N. Spriull is division engineer.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17
FISHING TOURNEY NEXT
WEEK AT CHlCAMICOMlCO

A Fishing Contest offering
several valuable prizes will be
held next week for surf-casters
in the vicinity of Chicamicomico.
Dates are September 1925. The
area is between two upright
pieces of machinery on Pea Is
land on the North, and Salvo on
the South, a distance of some
eight miles.
Ample sleeping and eating ac-
commodations offer the sports
men modern conveniences dur
ing their stay at Rodanthe next
week. Information may be OBJ
tanned from A. H. Gray's Store,
Waves; Zeke's Place, Rodanthe;
and Owens Motor Court, Rodan-
the. Many valuable awards will
be made.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17
OCEAN PIER ANGLERS
HAVING EXCELLENT LUCK

Mays Head.-Anglers fishing
from the ocean piers in the Mays
Head and Kitty Hawk region
have been catching plenty of
trout and kingfish or sea mullet
during the past week. They have
also been landing plenty Of spot.
Operators of Jennette's Pier in
Lower Mays Head reported that
several small channel bass had
been taken from the oceans surf
by anglers casting from the piers.
Jennette's Pier at certain sea-
sons during the Autumn is one
of the best bets for channel bass
along this coast. The big fish of
the species are usually taken
during northeasters in October.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17
LOST COLONY
STAR TO BE IN
DISNEY FILM

Ann Martin of Cherokee, who
played the role of Eleanor Dare
in Paul Green's symphonic
drama The Lost Colony this year,
has been given a role as Mrs.
Davy Crockett in a TV-trilogy
built up around that noted front
iersman and the Creek War. Sc
quences of the first of the trilogy
are being filmed at Cherokee in
Western North Carolina at the
present time.
1t was only by chance that
Miss Martin happened to get the
role in the film. She had return
ed to her home at the Indian
School of the Cherokee reserva-
ton to vacation with her parents
for a few days when studio rep
resentatives of the new film saw
her and Immediately offered her
the part.
In addition to the female lead
of The Lost Colony the Davy
Crockett trilogy will include a
couple of hundred full blooded
Cherokee Indians and several
members of the cast of Kermit
Hunters symphonic drama 'Un-
to These Hills" From the Chero-
kee and Great Smokes region
the picture-making unit will
move to Chattanooga where the
final shooting of the trilogy will
be held.
Miss Martin is only one of
many Lost Colony cast members
who have gained recognition for
their acting and theatrical abil-
ity. Andy Griffith who once
played Sir Walter Raleigh in the
drama and Ainslee Pryor, who
had been cast as The Priest and
Governor John White, are now
making the grade in Broadway
productions. Ann Wyn Arm
strong and Helene McLain will
return to the Fred Warning show
this winter. Each has been cast
in prominent roles of The Lost
Colony and they are also men,
bers of The Lost Colony Chorus.
Robert Armstrong, male lead of
The Lost Colony, is also sched-
ueld for Broadway productions
See STAR, Page Four
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17

The building of the Croatan
Sound Bridge may easily be ex-
pected to hasten the construction
of many year projects on roads
that lead to the bridge and call
for the expenditure of many
hundreds of thousands of dollars
in order that the traffic increase
caused by the bridge may be
adequately accommodated.
Largest of these projects will
be improvement of u. S. 264
through Hyde County and east
ern Beaufort as well as in the
southwest corner of Dare Coun-
ty. At present U. S. 264 is made
quate to handle the traffic of to-
day, which is jamming a road de-
signed 80 years ago in the days
of the model T ford. Not less
than a half million dollars will
be required to bring this road
PARKWAY up to standard.
Likewise will some improve
ments be needed to U. S. "a and
of a certainty, the increased traf-
fic will force a step-up in service
over Alligator River.
Highway forces are now pre-
pairing for the widening and inn
provement of the road leading
from the Roanoke Island end of
the Bridge via Fort Raleigh and
to the ocean. This will call for
considerable expenditure of
funds.
Promoters of the proposed toll
road from Virginia Beach to
Kitty Hawk are now more hope
full of selling bonds to finance
this project since the assurance
of state construction of a free
bridge across Croatan Sound will
provide an essential link for the
continuation of tourist travel. If,
as and when such bonds are sold
and the road is built, it will be
due to the bridge, more than any
other reasons, and, it. should
mean the expenditure of two or
three million dollarssffor con-
struction in this area.l
Altogether, the Croatan Bridge
project might easily set in mo-
ton train of construction that
will total upwards of ten million
dollars of which no small amount
will be spent locally to the bene-
fit of our local labor and business
interests. This looks like a wind
fall, now that other sources of
revenue, particularly commercial
fishing, are drying up.
The bridge, which will be two
years in the building will by vir-
tue of publicity attending its
construction, as well as its COM
pletion, gradually build up traf-
fic, and accelerate the demand
for the Alligator River bridge
which will mean another short
route to open up vast amount
of travel in this area.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17
PRICE MEEKiNS, FORMER
NEGRO COAST GUARD,
DIES NEAR MA NJ TIE o

The death of Norfleet Price
Meekins, 81 at his home near
Manteo Friday night removes a
highly esteemed citizen, and one
who had many friends through
out the section. He was for 26
years a member of the crew of
the all-Negro Coast Guard sta
ton at Pea Island and had been
retired for several years.
He was the son of the late
Theodore Robinson Meekins and
Henrietta White Meekins, his
father having been lost near
Oregon Inlet while a member Of
the crew of Pea Island station
in 1917. He is survived by his
wife, Mrs. Bessie Daniels Meek
ms; one son.. Theodore r. Meek
ms of Manteo; three daughters,
Mrs. James Lee of New York;
Mrs. Clarence Austin and Miss
Pensacola Meekins of Manteo.
He is also survived by the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters,
Lloyd Meekins, Douglas Meek
ms of Manteo; Nicholas Meekins,
and Theodore Roosevelt Meekins
Of New York and Noah Meekins
of Baltimore, and Mrs. John
Savage.
Rev. Kelly Golden preached
his funeral Sunday, at Haven
Creek Methodist Church. His
former white comrades of the
nearby Coast Guard stations
added the military part of the
funeral. A solo was sung by Mrs.
w. M. Simmons, and two num-
bers by the church choir; Sweet
Hour of Prayer" and Farther
Along" Active pallbearers were
former comrades: Lonnie Gray,
Make Berry, Haywood Wise,
Maloyd Scarborough, w. M. Sim
mons and Reuben Gallop. Honor
airy pall-bearers were deacons of
his church: Marshall Collins,
Dave Alexander, G.. H. Midget,
George Pledger, Balfour Wescott,
Charles Whedbee and Leo
Tillett, '6F
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17
OFFICIALS CONFER
ON FERRY SAFETY
AT OREGON INLET
Safety and Efficiency Aim OF
U. S. c. G. and Highway.
Dept. in Friendly Meeting

Safety and efficiency methods
of operation of State-owned fer
ries at Oregon Inlet were ex-
plored in detail by representa-
tives of the State Highway De-
partment and the U. S. Coast
Guard at an on-deck conference
lasting most of the day Thursday
and out of it will come a closer
cooperation between the Marine
Safety Division of the Coast
Guard and the Ferry Operations
division of the Highway Depart
ment.
Under present interpretations
of regulations ferries or other
craft not operated for a fare or
for profit do not come within the
jurisdiction of marine inspection
and Fridays conference, called
by mutual agreement between
Admiral Russell E. Wood, COM
mandant of the Fifth District
and Chairman A. H. Graham, of
the Highway Commission, was
concerned primarily with recon-
mendations that might come for
the greater safety and efficiency
of the operation.
Among the matters worked
out will be included direct radio
contact between ferry boats and
the Coast Guards radio system
by which, if help should be need
ed, it could be Immediately CALI
ed for. The representatives of the
Coast Guard came, as they de-
clared, to suggest helpfully
rather than to impose regulations
as they apply to normal CONNER
cial operations.
Present for the conference,
representing the State, were Div
ision Engineer w. N. Spruill,
District Engineer George Mack
and Ferry Superintendent John
Wilson. Representing Admiral
Wood were Capt. E. H. Theile,
chief of the Marine Safety Divi-
sion and Commander w. ]. Con-
nelly, Marine Inspector for Vir-
GINA and North Carolina. Chief
Warrant Officer Harold Glynn,
group commander of Cape Hat
See OFFICIALS, Page Four
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17
SUBDISTRICT INSTITUTE
PLANNED BY METHODISTS

A subdistrict institute for church
school workers will be held in the
Hatteras Methodist Church at Hat
teras on Thursday, September
23rd, at 1920 am, it has been an
nounced by Methodist officials.
District directors of work in the
children, youth and adult divisions
will be present, along with other
instructors, to present information
concerning church school work. All
pastors, church school superintend-
ents, assistant superintendent, di-
visional superintendent, teachers,
helpers, and all other church
workers are urged to plan To at
end.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17
BOARDING HOMES
IMPORTANT FOR
CARE OF AGED
Dare County Needs More
Such Homes, Welfare Su-
perintendent Advises

More and more, licensed
homes for adults are solving
problems and helping to work
out difficult situations through
out North Carolina" said Mrs.
Meekins, Superintendent of the
Dare County Department of
Public Welfare, in discussing the
need for these homes in Dare
County.
c h a n G S IN recent years
throughout North Carolina in
housing, in customs. and in livisg
habits have been reflected in the
growing need for the develop
ment of licensed boarding homes
for the aged and infirm, Mrs.
Meekins said.
The trend toward smaller
homes and apartment living has
resulted in fewer households
with spare rooms and fewer
three generation households. In
many homes, both parents are
working, some having the chill
dren provided for in licensed
day care centers,
For most older people, the
family pattern has changed
materially since the living ar
engagements were established in
the middle years of life. Many
people need to change their liv-
ing arrangements in their later
years, not only because their
family and economic circum-
stances are different, but also be-
cause their own needs have
changed.
The Dare County Department
of public welfare, accordisg to
Mrs. Meekins, renders services to
older people by supplying infor-
nation about available special
lied boarding home care in Ii
censed boarding homes. This pro-
gram recognizes the fact that
many older people who are on
their own need kind of housing
arrangement that affords COM
partnership. personal attention,
and service short of actual nurs-
ing care.
In general, these boarding
homes are licensed by the State
Board of Public Welfare for
small number of older persons in
order to assure home-like at
mosphere. The services given
mean that the older person has
not only a comfortable place to
live, but also a satisfying social
setting. In North Carolina we
now have a total of $50 licensed
boarding homes for the aged and
infirm. Of these homes, IS per
cent are for white persons and
IS per cent for Negroes. Licens-
ing requirements set up by the
State Board of Public Welfare,
in accordance with State Law,
include satisfactory standards of
health, sanitation, fire safety,
and general welfare
In Dare County, there is need
for additional licensed boarding
homes to care for the needs of
older people. Particularly we
need homes that will (here spec
fly particular needs for homes
for white persons. or for Negroes,
or for any other specialized
types).
Il hope that anyone who is in
terested in getting information
will contact the welfare office"
said Mrs. Meekins. eve can then
give additional facts, including
the financial basis upon which
the aged provide for this type Of
service.
"By helping to provide these
homes and encouraging their
contribution to the needs of older
people, citizens of the commun-
ity may meet at least a part of
their responsibility to this rapid
/ ly growing segment of our citi-
zenry."
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-09-17
CRIPPLE CHILDR'N
ATTEND TWO-WK.
EASTR SEAL CAMP

Physically handicapped chill
dren from all sections of North
Carolina came together this
month to attend the First Annual
Easter Seal Camp for Crippled
Children at Camp New Hope,
near Chapel Hill.
The Dare County Chapter of
the North Carolina Easter Seal
Society is headed by Mrs. w. B.
Fearing of Manteo.
Twenty-three counties were
represented among the fifty-five
children at the camp, many of
them sponsored by their own
county Easter Seal Chapters and
civic groups. The children, who
ranged in age from six to fifteen,
had varying orthopedic handi-
caps, but braces and crutches
seemed to have very little affect
upon the participation in games
and activities. There was the
same amount Of swimming,
handicraft, picnics, games and
hiking trips found at any sum-
mer camp, though many were
modified in order that all the
children could join.
An active project of the Coun-
ty Easter Seal Chapters through
out North Carolina and the State
Society is a summer camp pro-
gram and campsite especially for
the orthopedically handicapped
children of North Carolina, now
estimated at more than $4,000.
Mr.. Albin Pikutis, State Easter
Seal Director said that ''The cost
of suitable land and building ma
terials has delayed construction
of our own campsite, but the
tremendous number of applica-
tons received for our Easter Seal
Camp this year shows that there
is a critical need for these facili-
ties in North Carolina. 1t was a
difficult task to write so many
children that they could not at
tend because our facilities could
accommodate only fifty-five
campers.
A Physical Therapist from
Memorial Hospital in nearby
Chapel Hill was on hand to make
certain that the children main
tanned their special therapies
and exercises. An Occupational
Therapist from the Asheville
Orthopedic Hospital instructed
the children in many types of
handicraft projects that they
could make at home as well as
at camp.
Announcing that the camping
project had exceeded all the ex-
pectations of the State Society,
Mr.. Pikutis stated, 'All children
profit from the health and social
experiences which summer camp
provides, but these crippled chill
dren at Easter Seal Camp have
much greater need for these
services. In many cases the Grip
pied child has spent too much
time indoors, or in the hospital.
He needs the chance to make
friends and develop his person
atty in a friendly, receptive en-
vironment."