The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-03-29
GOV. HODGES
COUNTED ON FOR
MAIN SPEAKER
General Assembly Also Invited to
Attend Dedication OF Bridge
April 18th

Governor Luther H. Hodges of
North Carolina is scheduled to top
the list of speakers at the formal
dedication of the William B. Um-
stead Bridge spanning Croatan
Sound, on Thursday, April 25, it
was announced this week by South
ern Albemarle Association Presi-
dent Melvin r. Daniels.
While North Cardinals chief
executive had not definitely accept
ed the invitation to deliver the
main address, Daniels stated that
he had been advised by Ed Rankin,
private secretary, to place Gov
ernor Hodges name on the pro-
gran. There had been some ques-
ton whether the Governor could
be present as he has stated that
he did not like to make out of town
engagements in advance while the
General Assembly was in session.
Members of the General Assem-
bly, are also being formally invited
to the bridge dedication. Individual
invitations to each have been for
warded. r. Bruce Etheridge, Dare
County representative, who is
scheduled to deliver them this
week, with a tentative program OF
the event. The programs also in
clude events of the Dare Coast
Pirates Jamboree scheduled for the
week end of April 1928.
Formal invitations have also
gone to State Highway Commission
Chairman A. H. Graham and each
of his commissioners, also to other
State officials, and to members of
Congress from North Carolina and
other dignitarieS.
Big Parade
The program as set up now 1or
the dedication exercises begins at
Drinkwater's Folly at IL o'clock
with a colorful parade that will
move across the bridge to Manns
Harbor where the ceremonies in
5 clude the speeches followed by the
gigantic picnic dinner. A feature
of the exercises will be music by
colorful high school bands from
Elizabeth City, Washington, Plym-
outh and Williamson. In the pa
rade will be numerous floats, in
GLIDING one sponsored by Manteo
Rotary Club in cooperation with
West Virginia Pulp and Paper
Company, the Manteo Lions Club,
Wanchese Ruritan Club, Dare
County Library and military units.
Daniels stated the Coast Guard,
Navy, Army and Marine Corps
would each be asked to provide
floats for the occasion.
1--WE are very anxious to have
as many floats as possible, and l
would appreciate it if any large
firms or corporations such as Vlr-
ginia Power and Electric Company,
Norfolk-Carolina Telephone and
Telegraph Company and others
would contact me relative to
this" said Daniels.
With the assistance of Dick
Jordan, manager of The Lost
Colony, the official program of the
celebration was being prepared
this week and will be ready for
distribution within a few days.
Adding color to the celebration
will be costumed pirates, many
aboard boats that will be thanking
either side of the bridge.
From a bevy of Southern Abe
marie beauties, the name of one
will be drawn an d selected as
queen Of the dedication to ride
aboard the Rotary-sponsored float.
Other sponsors will be attendants
to the queen.
After the program at Manns
Harbor and the picnic dinner, the
scene of activity will move back
to Manteo where the Dare Power
Boat Association will present JAM
boree Eve speedboat races. Begin
nings at 8 o'clock there will be
two hours of racing including a 55
minute relay race, followed by an
elimination race. At 4:20 there
will be a Ladies Race, with wives
and or friends of DPBA-members
competing. At 4:40 there will be a
second elimination event followed
at 5 o'clock by the final heat.
On Thursday evening, as finale
of the events of the day, there will
ming at 8 o'clock there will be
cotf,s Macs Head Casino.