The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-05-15
RECORD CROWD IN
BELHAVEN ATTENDS
SPRING FESTIVAL
Second Event of Its Type More
Widely Acclaimed Than First;
Miss Annette Noble
Chosen Queen

The second annual Spring Fes-
tival and Open House of the John
A. Wilkinson High School in Bel
haven, held on Friday night, May
l8, drew a record crowd to the
school and. was acclaimed even
more successful than the event last
year.
Principal Gene A. Purvis has an
nounced that the proceeds from
the barbecue supper served in the
|lunchroom and the bake sale
a m ounted to approximately
$325.00. This sum will go into the
General Fund, which supports
many of the activities of the school
and for which no provision is made
by state or county sources.
After supper, patrons were In
vited to visit the classrooms and
view samples of the children's
work. At eight o'clock a large
crowd was on hand for a program
in the auditorium. William Spears
of the high school faculty acted
as Master of Ceremonies for the
variety program. The Belhaven
Band, directed by Bob Ellwanger
of East Carolina College, opened
the program with two numbers,
and was followed by the high
school Glee Club singing three
numbers under the direction of
Mrs. Katie Foreman. Libby Fus-
sell and Carley Johnston won much
applause with an acrobatic dance.
They were followed by group of
sophomores and juniors who rep
resented two song and dance rou-
tines on the "Mardi Gras" theme
which they had originally done at
the Junior-Senior Banquet on the
previous Friday night. Solo num-
bers were sung by Misses Juanita
Logan and Patricia Wilkinson,
high school seniors.
The highlight of the program
was the browning of the Queen of
the Festival, Miss Annette Noble,
who had been chosen by vote of
the student body. The stage was
set for the coronation with a gol-
den throne against a background
of gold and red. Red and white
roses and a red carpet leading to
the throne added to the brilliance
of the scene. Mr.. Spears first in
troduced Miss Carolyn Bess, last
years Queen; then the Queens at
tendants, also chosen by student
vote, came down the aisle and took
their places on the stage. They
were Miss Becky Lupon, Miss Mar
garet Ann Paul, Miss Nancy Daw,
and Miss Shirley Liverman. Miss
Noble, beautifully gowned in blue,
then took her place on the throne.
introduced in pairs and forming
the rest of the court were the prin-
cesses from the elementary and
primary grades: Joan Daniels, Deb
Younce, Gayle DUDLEY, Cheryl
Baker, Janet Wright, Sandra DAN
iels, Susan Daniels, Gail Williams,
Lucille Perry, Daphne O'Neal, and
Carolina Crimson.
Miss Bess crowned the new
Queen, who will reign until next
year, and presented her with a
bouquet.
Comments from the audience in
Dictated that the program was one
of the most enjoyable ever held
at the school and everyone seemed
especially impressed with the beau
ty of the Queen and her court and
the setting in which they were
presented.
Winners of prizes in contests in
connection with the festival were
Mrs. Grace Lupton's eighth grade
for the best advertising poster and
Mrs. Lola Harris room for selling
the most tickets to the supper.
Editors note: Two accidents
marred the occasion. Mrs. Alma
Swindell sustained a broken leg on
leaving the festival, when she step
ped from the elevated sidewalk in
front of the school, and Mrs. Wal
ter O'Neal suffered broken arm
when she fell as she left the build
ing.